Lighting a lamp (Deepa Prajwalanam) is a beautiful Hindu devotional practice traditionally performed at the beginning of prayer, puja, meditation, or other auspicious occasions. The flame symbolizes divine light, knowledge, purity, and the removal of darkness.
A traditional prayer is recited while lighting a devotional lamp. The glowing flame represents the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and positivity over negativity. Reciting this sloka with devotion creates a peaceful and auspicious beginning to daily prayers, puja, meditation, and other spiritual practices.
"Subham Karoti Kalyanam
Arogyam Dhana Sampradah
Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya
Deepa Jyoti Namostute."
Meaning: The accurate meaning of the mantra is: "I fold my hands before the light that brings prosperity, auspiciousness, good health, abundance of wealth and destruction of the enemy's intellect". Here, Darkness symbolizes enemy's intellect and with the arrival of light, darkness disappears. Likewise, light (God's Grace) destroys darkness (enemy's intellect).
"Deepajyothi Parabrahma
Deepajyothi Janardhana
Deepo Me Hara Tu Paapam
Sandhya Deepa Namostute."
Meaning: The literal meaning of the mantra is: "I fold my hands before the lord, the maintainer of this creation, in the form of this light. I adore this light, which destroys all the pains resulting from my omissions and commissions".