How many hours do we keep the swami deepam alive....

[vgane]

Share:

Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Share Link

I agree with Mr Padmanabhan's post...We light the Puja room early in the morning before sunrise, but I got to know the real reason from him

Normally once the puja & naivaidhayam are completed the lamp is put off with milk or even with turmeric stick...

 

[sangom]

Mr. Sharma,
You seem to be learned in the ways and practice of our religion. I believe in Brahman and follow Advaita philosophy and to an extent Kabir-Panth.

What is the reason for Swami Deepam?
God does not need deepam, surely in this day of electric light you do not need deepam to see God.
I can understand the symbolism of deepam, or Kalpooram etc., but it is not for lighting.
So what is the purpose of keeping the deepam for 90 minutes?
I do light a lamp in the alter at home but it is electric candle.

Dear Shri Prasad,

I am taking your above post though what I write below is in general and for the OP as well, because you have given some well-structured questions. Hope you will not mind this.

1. What is the reason for Swami Deepam?

As you know, we had no electric lights till very recently (say, 50 or 60 years ago) in most parts of India. Even the street lighting was done with kerosene or other (vegetable) oil lamps. Temples also had only oil lamps. In different parts of the country different types of vegetable oil were preferred.

At the house-hold level, when the darkness was about to engulf the world, soon after sunset, the custom was to light the lamps so that the normal routines of the house during the night (mainly the evening prayers, meals, some amount of family get-together and chatting/gossipping and then retiring to bed, etc.) could be carried out smoothly. Since the Hindu households generally revolved around a God, the custom was to light the lamp before the pooja first and then the rest. In traditional Kerala households even today a lighted lamp is first placed on the front verandah so as to get the full view of passers-by. The belief is that by doing this the Goddess of prosperity enters the lighted house and the goddess of poverty, suffering, etc., departs from that house. (This is an idea resonating in the śrī sūktaṃ as—क्षुत्पिपासामलां ज्येष्ठामलक्ष्मीं नाशयाम्यहम् । अभूतिमसमृद्धिंच सर्वां निर्णुद मे गृहात् । गन्धद्वारां दुराधर्षां नित्यपुष्टां करीषिणीम् ।ईश्वरीग्ं सर्वभूतानां तामिहोपह्वयेश्रियम् । kṣutpipāsāmalāṃ jyeṣṭhāmalakṣmīṃ nāśayāmyaham | abhūtimasamṛddhiṃca sarvāṃ nirṇuda me gṛhāt | gandhadvārāṃ durādharṣāṃ nityapuṣṭāṃ karīṣiṇīm |īśvarīgṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ tāmihopahvayeśriyam |).

The above sums up the reason for Swami Deepam and the importance attached to it in Tabra households.

2. God does not need deepam, surely in this day of electric light you do not need deepam to see God.
I can understand the symbolism of deepam, or Kalpooram etc., but it is not for lighting.
So what is the purpose of keeping the deepam for 90 minutes?

It is not God who wants us to light a deepam for Him but rather, we are the people who want to light the Swami Deepam first because, as I said above, most Hindu household chores used to be centred around the God-concept. Unlike Karpooram, which is also used for a sudden and more brilliant illumination of the deity's idol or the pooja at home, but not a long term lighting device, deepam was always for lighting and removal of darkness; but when the electricity came the original purpose got 'overpowered', so to say.

Now, coming to the crucial point of 90 minutes in the OP, I will say, with all humility, that the original poster seems to have been misled by whatever was the source of his knowledge.

A "muhurtham" can be approximately 48 minutes, not 90, and this is also on the assumption that day and night are equal and each has 15 muhurtas. The 30 muhurtas have been named - from brāhma to yumigadyuti. This is the astrological classification of Muhurta which is roughly defined as 18 X 30 X 30 twinklings of the eye or two ghadikas.

In astrology there is another sense for muhurtha which is the auspicious time length for performing auspicious functions like marriage, upanayana, seemanthonnayana, etc. Here, the process is to find out the suitable period after filtering out five constituents of the pañcāṃga, viz., tithi, vāra, nakṣatra, yoga, karaṇa. It may so happen that any one of these five constituents change and make the time inauspicious. So, the length of such a muhurtha will depend on the particular circumstances. Those days which have some of these good combinations for suitable length of time are listed in the usual pañcāṃgas.

I therefore feel that there is no logical background for the 90 minutes' limit. In actuality, the practices followed are very many. Some people insist that the swami deepam should "burn itself out" and should not be put out, while some others feel that it is a very bad omen if the swami deepam gets "put out" even by wind, the fan being switched on carelessly, etc. Therefore, it is better that no rule is laid down and each person is allowed to follow his/her preference.

 

[HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA]

lets check with prasad ji on the needs of GOD from now on..

 

[sangom]

lets check with prasad ji on the needs of GOD from now on..

...unless of course, you have got the list of God's needs - duly signed by God, or like the Ten Commandments - and we can check with you, sir.

The above was in jest. But, seriously, do we have to go personal against a member holding views contrary to ours; especially in matters religious since most of religion is Faith driven down into our psyches by parents, family, society, etc.?

 

[prasad1]

Thank you sir Sangom,

deepam was always for lighting and removal of darkness; but when the electricity came the original purpose got 'overpowered', so to say.

Therefore, it is better that no rule is laid down and each person is allowed to follow his/her preference.

I agree with your post and the views expressed in it.
Rules and regulations were made for the time and the place. They should evolve with the time and place.
Any document of rules or practice frozen in time and place is dead and useless.

We should understand the symbolism and the philosophy behind the story or parable and try to fit it to today's world.
I do light lamp, I do go to temple or puja's and understand the significance of putting off the electric light and fans and showing deepardhana.

But having seen two ladies burnt to death (a horrible way to go), I am very cautious of unattended fire.
My temple priest was alone and his unvostravam caught the fire from the swami deepam, unfortunately he was alone at the alter. He suffered for 2years and just passed away.

We now have a rule that there will be only one lamp for the pujari to carry. There will not be an unattended lamp in the temple.

 

[manoharkumar]

Rules and regulations were made for the time and the place. They should evolve with the time and place.
Any document of rules or practice frozen in time and place is dead and useless.

Dear Prasad Sir,
Accepted that the rules & practice should change, but at the same time we cannot brush away such rulesjust because they were created long time back isnt it? Changes in laid out rules created lot of controversies and many a times we ourselves are forced to go back to take shelter under these age old rules.
Ligting of camphor has been prohibited in all temples and only ghee lamps are to be shown to the deity after doing the pooja, as it was said that camphor contains chemicals which are harmful to the preist who day in day out burn them for every archana or pooja. But people still stick to the old custom of burning camphor in temples & homes.

 

[prasad1]

Dear Prasad Sir,
Accepted that the rules & practice should change, but at the same time we cannot brush away such rulesjust because they were created long time back isnt it? Changes in laid out rules created lot of controversies and many a times we ourselves are forced to go back to take shelter under these age old rules.
Ligting of camphor has been prohibited in all temples and only ghee lamps are to be shown to the deity after doing the pooja, as it was said that camphor contains chemicals which are harmful to the preist who day in day out burn them for every archana or pooja. But people still stick to the old custom of burning camphor in temples & homes.

Manokumarji,
Let me say at the outset that I agree with you.

I am a creature of habits, I know what you mean. But circumstances forces us to change practices. I used to eat sweets, but now I can not eat sweets, life is a compromise.
Some people still take their lota or shumbu and GO to a riverbank, but the advent of indoor plumbing has made that outdated practice.
Similarly if Camphor causes cancer, the social pressure should be to eliminate it.
My problem with open flame is the safety of the human life.

 

[HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA]

sangom ji,
i don't attack anyone personally . i only respond to writings in the forum and will continue to do so.

 

[HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA]

sangom ji,
i don't attack anyone personally . i only respond to writings in the forum and will continue to do so.

 

[praveen]

i don't attack anyone personally . i only respond to writings in the forum and will continue to do so.

Please respond in a manner that is not offensive or argumentative or criticizing or mocking someone else. Not everyone is as knowledgeable as some of us.!

 

[HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA]

i see only few threads here complying with all your above conditions. .

 

[manoharkumar]

Dear prasad Sir,

totally agree with your view point on Open flame, and your concern on it. But here that much importance or awareness to be caution on open flame is very less. Every where either in any temple or roadside eatery, or for that matter even in running train, open flame is in use. With the onset of Diwali accidents will happen and that too in huge numbers as people will be carrying crackers in all sort of vehicles to reach their home town.!!

 

[renuka]

Dear prasad Sir,

totally agree with your view point on Open flame, and your concern on it. But here that much importance or awareness to be caution on open flame is very less. Every where either in any temple or roadside eatery, or for that matter even in running train, open flame is in use. With the onset of Diwali accidents will happen and that too in huge numbers as people will be carrying crackers in all sort of vehicles to reach their home town.!!

Dear Sir,

You are right..I have even relatives who keep a huge glass bowl of oil with a floating wick and enough oil to burn from morning till they come back at night.

I had cautioned them before that an open flame at an altar when no one is at home is dangerous cos anything can fall on the flame and in M'sia our homes are mainly linked types so its not safe to keep open flames unattended...cos neighbour's house might catch fire.

But no one wants to listen too cos they feel that God will not have flame at the altar.

People should just take a walk through a burn's unit ward at the hospital to know how dangerous fire can be.

I feel sometimes we need to think of fellow humans first before we can think of God.

 

[prasad1]

I feel sometimes we need to think of fellow humans first before we can think of God.​

Renuka,
I am asking them to take care of themselves, because they may not care for their neighbors.

 

[prasad1]

Dear prasad Sir,

totally agree with your view point on Open flame, and your concern on it. But here that much importance or awareness to be caution on open flame is very less. Every where either in any temple or roadside eatery, or for that matter even in running train, open flame is in use. With the onset of Diwali accidents will happen and that too in huge numbers as people will be carrying crackers in all sort of vehicles to reach their home town.!!

Sadly true.

 

[bgsharma]

Dear Mr. Padmanabhan Janakiraman,

I would like to clarify about the calculation regarding Danda.



60 sec is = one min
24 min is = 1 Nazhigai (1 Thanda)
2 1/2 Nazhigai = 1 Horai(1 hour)
3 3/4 Nazhigai = 1 subha muhurtha neram
2 subhamuhurtham = 1 jamam
8 Jamam = 1 Day (60 Nazhigai)

Regards
BGSharma

 

[HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA]

last year my mother-in-law passed on Karthigai deepam day, one of the deepam killed her she was hospitalised for 2 days but could not be saved.

My Father in Law took it differently, he said " my tapas is only so much, when i met with road accident few years back, she looked at me and i survived but I can't reciprocate.."

how about issuing fatwa to speeding cars and trucks too , as they cause more accidents than fire.

 

[prasad1]

last year my mother-in-law passed on Karthigai deepam day, one of the deepam killed her she was hospitalised for 2 days but could not be saved.

My Father in Law took it differently, he said " my tapas is only so much, when i met with road accident few years back, she looked at me and i survived but I can't reciprocate.."

how about issuing fatwa to speeding cars and trucks too , as they cause more accidents than fire.

Sir you should change your name to Ram Nam Satya hai.
You only see fatalism.

everything that is born is going to die, that is universal truth.
But you need to do the best you can, or at least try. We only have control of somethings, rest is out of our hand.
On one hand you seem to be learned person, but sometimes it does not come out that way.

 

[HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA]

I think similarly of you prasad ji,

please don't make presumptions that i'm a learned man. I've only superficial knowledge .
whatever i say is based on informal education and self study. i also had a fortune of good satsangam thats all.

Why fatalism ?


there is a story in peria puranam about elderly couple resting in a forest and the wife gets killed by an arrow , the husband didn't know from where the arrow comes, in a while a hunter comes , in grief the husband thought the hunter killed his wife and and somehow gets him before the king and sought justice . the hunter is adamant that he didn't shot the arrow but the widower is equally adamant hunter is the killer as no one with weapons of bow and arrow was found near the vicinity.

king was perplexed as there are no other saakshi ,he couldn't come to a judgement he sought for help from lord Shiva . lord asked to attend a marriage event in 2 days time at such and such place. king went with the hunter and the widower to the event . apart from marriage party and the three , two yama kinkaras also came. due to the grace of lord all the three were able to see and hear what the kinkaras talk.

one kinkara told the other , today we come to take the life of groom but how are we going to do with so many people surrounding him. the other one laughed and said hey what is this pramadam did you forget how we took the life of the lady with no weapons around . we made use of the arrow struck in the branches of the tree and made the wind to blow the arrow to her heart. compared to that this is nothing see how i do it, the story goes on with groom dying by the flames caused by some fire .

these story tells us the intelligent hidden force acting. so sometimes i leave it to fate and dont worry too much.

but our scriptures also say " muyarchi thirivinaiyakkum" so we cannot leave everything to fate and sit doing nothing and hence i suggest we do away with speeding automobiles.

opinions make a difference one day who knows? they may enforce stricter vigilance on speeding they may even ask manufacturers to set speed limit.

why not ?

see again you miss and come to conclusion that I "only" see Fatalism.

I see both as advised by our scriptures.

 

[HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA]

BTW , If the Kaarthigai deepam comes after APTHIGAM will my wife and her sisters light up the lamps as usual ? i think so , lets see.

 

[P.J.]

I agree with Mr Padmanabhan's post...We light the Puja room early in the morning before sunrise, but I got to know the real reason from him

Normally once the puja & naivaidhayam are completed the lamp is put off with milk or even with turmeric stick...

vgane Sir

The grace of early morning is Brahma muhurtham, meaning, "Time of God". This is a favorable time for sadhana, when most the world is in deep sleep. According to Ayurveda, the early morning is satvam, during the day is rajas, and tamas prevails at night.
It is traditional to rise early, before the sun, to bathe and begin your morning meditation, all in the sacred atmosphere of Brahma muhurta. Before the sun rises the earth is still, the vibrations of many minds in turmoil have yet to be stirred, so that a pure mental ray pervades your surroundings.

According to tradition, Brahma muhurta is (appx) 1.5 hours before sun rise.

When the devotee rises in this way, they are joined by other devotees, in stillness and silence. In this way, the atmosphere about you becomes sacred, congenial and supportive

Brahma Muhurtham - Adi Ayurveda - tribe.net

Sorry for the delayed reply.