LAMPS AND DIYAS

When we encounter the term "Diya," we instinctively think of Diwali since millions of them are ignited on this festive occasion. Diyas are just so essential to Indian culture that each day during the morning and evening prayers, they are ignited in residences and shrines. The illumination of diyas accomplishes an auspicious ritual. A lamp's lighting has profound spiritual significance. All rituals, regular spiritual exercises, auspicious assemblies, religious celebrations, and new initiatives commence with the illumination of the lamp. The lamp's light dispels illiteracy, brings wealth, prosperity, and happiness, and imbues us with knowledge. A diya symbolizes power, innocence, fortune, and righteousness. One particular school of thought believes that "the filth in the human psyche, like selfishness, hate, greed, and jealousy, equates to the oil in the diya." The cotton used to make the wick symbolizes "the atma," or one's personal identity or soul. Thus, the lamp's illumination symbolizes the requirement of letting go of all worldly convictions in order to become awakened. The voyage from gloom to illumination, or "Tamaso-ma-jyotir-gamaya," is effectively depicted when the significance underpinning the diyas' core message is comprehended.

The Correlation of Diyas and Diwali

According to folklore and scientific knowledge, there are five main components: air, water, fire, land/earth, and ether/space, and it has been claimed that only fire is the cleanest of the five since it can cleanse but without being tarnished itself. When you employ water to wash anything, the water turns unsanitary, the air gets polluted, land becomes contaminated, and sometimes even ether gets dirty and contaminated. When you immerse something like that in fire, it not just gets cleansed, but also remains pristine. This is the reason why fire is used for cleansing as well as a testimony to all holy occasions, including weddings as well as other important rituals.

While the majority of the population are conscious of the requirement to ignite countless diyas for Diwali, it's dubious that most are conscious of the importance of lighting plain or decorative diyas. Deepavali, which consists of the two words deep (light) and vali (a row), is more typically referred to as Diwali. To pour in illumination and scare away gloom, a row of lamps will be lit outside the house as well as inside its patio. 

As per common perception, the first Diwali festival did take place when Lord Ram arrived in Ayodhya after 14 years away. Since he had to traverse dense, gloomy forests, the villagers paved the full journey through the settlement and all of the way up to the palace with Diyas so that he and his entourage could readily be able to get home. It is also believed that igniting every one of these lamps was performed to symbolize the triumph of goodness over evil. It also is remarkable that Diwali falls on an Amavasya, also referred to as the day of the new moon, when the sky is pitch black. Because of the absence of light, it is also believed that this is the period when forces of darkness are the most dominant. You can expel evil forces as well as the gloom by igniting numerous diyas. Lighting a diya activates the Sun's location in a person's natal chart, rendering the timing more favorable.  The spark of a Diya has always been pointing upward, suggesting that we, therefore, must strive to guide our spirits upwards, forward towards the Creator. In Hindu mythology, each element of the Diya symbolizes a deity: the ghee or oil symbolizes Lakshmi, the brilliance of the light symbolizes Saraswati, and the flame's heat symbolizes Durga. 

FAQS

Q1. How many diyas should you light in front of a God or Goddess?

You must sew two threads together within the Deepam and ignite it. One or more lamps can be illuminated, but at least 2 threads should be connected.

Q2. Which direction should a diya face?

Diyas should face North or North-East.

Q3. Which are the types of Diya’s you have?

Ashta Lakshmi Diyas, Designer diya with stand, Brass kamal oil lamp, Sangu and chakra Diya, Annapakshi vilakku, Brass peacock Deepam vilakku, Wall Mount diyas with bell for any occasion, Agal vilakku for home and temple, divine Kamatchi vilakku, Brass Leaf shaped deepam, Parrot diya, Two parrots with one face diya,

Two wicks (Dvimukhi) bring harmony and peace to all kinds of relations. Three wicks (Trimukhi) blessed with progeny. Four wicks (Chaturmukhi) bring all round prosperity and sumptuous food. Five wicks (Panchmukhi) showers Akhand Aishwarya or Wealth.

Vastu shastra considers an Akhand diya (Akhand Jyoti) diya to be auspicious for an unbroken flame.

Diyas could be made of LED Diya; Clay Diya; Water Sensor Diya; Reflection Diya; Floating Diya; Terracotta Diya; Cow Dung Diya; Crystal Diya; etc.