Mystical Mythology of the World

Home Mystical


 

 

HINDU DIYA (DEEYA)

Diwali, the festival of lights is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Indians all over the world. It is a five day Hindu festival and during this time, homes are cleaned and windows are opened to welcome Lakshmi, goddess of wealth.

Candles and lamps are lit as a greeting to the goddess, while gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared to celebrate this happy occasion.

Lamp or “Deep” is the symbol of knowledge. Lighting the lamp of knowledge within us means to understand and reflect upon the significant purpose of each of the five days of Diwali festivities and to bring those thoughts in to our day to day lives.

Diya is a small lamp and it is also known as 'Deepak' or 'Deep'. We may call a deep, the traditional replacement of candles. The diyas could be of made of metals and blue pottery also as designer diyas have deen introduced in the stores, but usually the diyas are made by clay and then baked.

In the Hindu culture the deepaks made of clay have special significance, as they are preferred in all the holy rituals and worship of Gods and Goddesses. The small clay diyas are heavily in demand when it is time to celebrate Diwali. The bond between Diwali and diya is just as unique. Diwali is a festival of lights and the diya exists only to give light to the world.

Hindu Diya Candle

WORLD RELIGIONS COMPARED

WORLD RELIGIONS CLIPART

WORLD RELIGIONS HOME

HINDUISM HOME

HINDU SYMBOLS

DIWALI

Lighting a deep as aarti before the Gods and Goddesses is a custom but these deeps are also used for lighting entire home and premises during all the five days of Diwali festival. The deeps are filled with ghee or oil, which work as fuel for it and a wick, usually made of cotton, is adjusted in the diya.

Variants: Deeya.

I light the dawn/dusk lamp,
whose light reminds us the Knowledge Principle of the supreme Lord,
which removes the darkness of ignorance and helps us achieve all in life and after.


Swami Chinmayananda


 

   Site Index

© Copyright 2006-2023 Bella Terreno; all rights reserved.