The Significance of Lighting Oil Lamps

The light.

It is the epitome of all that is good in the world. All our beliefs that make us who we are and our faith that takes us where we need to go. The light is there, guiding us silently, making its presence known only when we feel lost and need a direction to turn to.

In India, the lighting of oil lamps goes back centuries. It is an important part of our festivals like Diwali, and of our lives in general as it represents the knowledge passed down to us through generations.

Lighting of an oil lamp is said to represent, not only illumination but also driving away malicious spirits that revel in ignorance. It also increases the mind’s ability to connect to the universe spiritually as an open mind is able to receive all the knowledge that is around.

During auspicious occasions, these oil lamps also act as guiding lights for prosperity and happiness to enter into our homes as they represent enlightened individuals that are ready to receive.

Homes aren’t the only place we light these oil lamps. You will often see them around workplaces as well. That is because whenever someone is facing a mental block at work, or some work isn’t going through, the lighting of oil lamps is said to remove those blocks, ease your path and get your work done without delay.

Finally, we light these lamps as symbols of new beginnings. Lighting an oil lamp and saying a hymn before any new endeavour has been part of Indian tradition and culture for the longest time.

Earlier lamps were lit with the help of clay diyas that would break easily and just didn’t last long enough. But now, we have metal, ornamental diyas that are beautiful and suitable to our grand ceremonies and celebrations. The Om Lamps from Chinmaya Upahar, come in a variety of sizes, are some of the most resplendent lamps that you will come across. With them, you can spread the light and truly rejoice in the historic tradition of the oil lamp!