Deepam - Lighting the lamp

Deepam:

Deepam is to remove the darkness from the mind and heart. Light is the symbol of glittering the mind. We have to be purified. We should spread happiness everywhere. The oil deepam signifies the light of knowledge, which dispels the darkness of ignorance. It shines itself and causes the objects around to shine due to its reflection. The fire which is at the middle of the five elements-Earth,Water,Fire,Air,Space-and gives them power and heat is the splendor that is at the middle of the body of all living beings. There are three Sandhyas or the juncture-one at dawn, another in the midday and one at dusk. Since the sun shines brilliantly in the midday, no additional lamp is required. But, at the other two sandhyas, an additional lamp is required.

What do the deepam, Wick, Oil and Light mean?

Deepam is full of symbolism. It means that if you have faith, you'll see God. Here's one of many pointed out by Sathguru Venkataraman: deepam(lamp) = body, wick = Sathguru, oil = faith, light = God.

Cultural Beliefs:

Burning some oil deepam in temple, some may light ghee deepam, some gingerly oil deepam and such, burning those deepam’s actually will generate some positive energy up and touches your body, it gives good vibes and such. More than what it should benefits your prayers, its more beneficial for your own self, and body.

Ghee lamp has more capacity to attract the sattvik vibrations present in the surrounding atmosphere as compared to oil lamp.

The oil lamp can attract the sattvik vibrations spread over a maximum distance of 1 meter while the ghee lamp can attract sattvik vibrations spread over till Swarga Lok (heaven)

The best oil to light up lamp before god is cow ghee. Next comes ordinary oil. “Mahua flower oil” or “ippa oil” might be extraordinary. The benefits of lighting up the deepam  with ghee oil are ultimate. We get ‘ashta aishwarya’ and ‘ashta bhoga’ (great wealth and health)

If we light the lamp with ‘amudham oil’ (in Telugu), castor oil we get fruitful marriage life, and would be able to maintain good relations between wife and husband. 

NOTE: It is said we should never light the lamp with ground nut oil before god. 

Before starting our daily prayers, we light the Oil deepam by chanting a shloka:

Subham Karoti Kalyanam, Arogyam Dhana Sampadah, 
Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya Deepa Jyotir Namostute.

‘ I salute the One who is the lamplight that brings auspiciousness; prosperity, good health, abundance of wealth, and the destruction of the intellect’s enemy (6 enemies - Kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya)’.

After lighting the deepam we chant the following shloka or prayer:

Deepajyothi Parabrahma, Deepajyothi Janardhana, 

Deepo me hara tu paapam, Deepa Jyothir Namostute

I salute the Brahman, the sustainer of the creation, in the form of this light. I salute the Lord, may He destroy afflictions resulting from my omissions and commissions.

Oils to Use:

Deities  and their favorite Oil deepam’s:

• Shree Mahalakshmi - Cow's Ghee
• Subramanya/Shreemannarayana - Sesame Oil
• Ganesha - Coconut Oil
• Devi Parashakti - Mixture of Ghee, Castor oil, Coconut oil,Ippanune (Oil extracted from a fruit resembling dried grapes),Vepanune (Oil extracted from the Neem Leaves)
• All the gods  - Sesame Oil

Rahu Ketu's Kalam Deepam:

Every planet in every day has its ruling time. Ravi, Chandra, Kuja, Budha, Guru, Sukra and Sani planets will have its Hoar timings. During the particular planet rules at a particular time. It is otherwise called a 'Hora Time'.

Likewise Rahu’s ruling time is called a Rahukalam. Likewise Ketu also has its own time but it is not in light. No one starts any ventures, or travels or any other matters during this period as Rahu Kalam as it will give negative effects. To nullify the negative effects of Rahu, antecedents quote if lighting a deepam at the point of Rahu Kalam in a Goddess deity temple, the negative effects will be nullified. By lighting a deepa in Rahu kalam, the native will get the blessings of Goddess Kanakadurga.

To guard the negative effects of Rahu kalam, the only one who could effectively nullify the negative effects of Rahu is Lord Maha Ganapati. If we light a deepam at the foot of Lord Maha Ganapati, all negative effects will be nullified. Progress can be seen and things will be fulfilled. The natives who are under the evil influence of Rahu can do so to wipe off the negative effects of Rahu.

Those natives who are suffering with more difficulties due to the effect of evil effects of other plants, the only solution available is to light a lamp at the foot of Maha Ganapati on Sunday and Wednesday. The pratima should be placed on dharba for more positive results.

Directions for Deepam:

North - For success in all ventures undertaken. Most preferable direction to place and light a lamp.
East – For good health and peace of mind.
West – For freedom from debts and victory over enemies
South - Never light a lamp in the south direction. It is considered inauspicious.

Wicks for lighting Deepam:

Cotton Wicks (vottu in Telugu) are used. We must light a minimum of two wicks in the deepam, one to represent the woman and the other to represent the man, thus symbolizing the family unit which is fundamental in spirituality. The Significance of Wicks:

• Single wick (Eka Mukha Deepam) for normal benefit.
• Two wicks (Dwimukha deepam) brings harmony and peace in the family and relatives.
• Three wicks (Trimukha Deepam) Blesses with progeny.
• Four wicks (Chathurmukha deepam) brings allround prosperity and sumptuous food.
• Five wicks (Panchamkukha deepam) showers akhanda aishwaryam or Wealth. 
• Six wicks (Shanmukha deepam) blesses with Akhanda Gyana (Knowledge) & Vairagyam (Renunciation).

When to put deepam:

Simply light a deepam in pure ghee; preferably of cow’s milk; or in mustard oil ; and say whatever your prayers are; before it’s burning flame; every morning before you go out and every evening after you return home.

Benefits:

Deepam can be lighted with different oils:  

• Cow's ghee - Ensures radiance and Heavenly bliss 
• Ghee - Wealth, Health and Happiness
• Gingely oil/Sesame oil - Removes unforeseen dangers, Inauspicious events
• Castor oil - Fame, Happy family life, and to gain Spiritual intellect 
• A lamp lit with til oil it is believed will keep the snakes away by it smell.

See the difference in your own behavior; after a couple of days; for every time you stand before the lamp and burn it; all the negative elements of negative energies which have surrounded you during the night and day time; are attracted and gravitated by the flame towards itself; for burning; and they get burned up; thereby rendering the whole atmosphere within and outside the body; pure and clear once again.

If this exercise is continued regularly for long; by all in the family; it will have such a miraculous effect; that not only the monthly bill on medicine and junk food shall come down to a very large extent; but also tensions in the minds of all shall be eased; and a sense and feel of free pure and natural happiness shall become to be realized by the self.

Scientific Reasons:

The light rays produces magnetic forces and change the atmosphere of the room and the air content in the room changes a lot, which penetrates through the skin of the human, activate the nerves penetrates thro the nerves and directly curing the blood. saligramas which will split the light in to several parts as Ultra violet, ultra red, Ultra blue, and produces ultra sound which takes the light rays in to the body. Turmeric, near those saligramas which will act as a preservative. The electromagnetic force that settles on the skin still works for three hours so that it penetrates in the body and encourages the blood cells. It also chases away the diseases.

The science of the modern day is doing a wonderful job; but it does not care to show ways of nature itself to mankind; for helping itself with; especially by giving knowledge, wisdom and intelligence of the full, complete and whole powers, strength and abilities of them.

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