Now a days, this is done in many temples too!Is it ok to light ghee lamp during pooja in replacement of camphor?
Why do we offer lamps to God? (Aarti)
Virtually every puja includes the offering of a flame to a Deity. This is aarti. This lamp is usually made with a ghee wick or a camphor (kapoor) flame. There are two basic reasons why a lighted lamp is offered. The first is purely practical. In ancient times the lamp provided illumination to see the Deity since electrical lights were not available. The lamp would be offered to the feet of the Deity, then slowly moved up to illuminate the knees, the waist and the chest, to finally illuminate the face. This would allow meditation on each part of the Deity starting from the feet.
The second reason is purely symbolic and goes back to our metaphor: the sun equals light, which equals knowledge, which equals consciousness, which equals liberation. Think of the flame as a kind of bhoga which then becomes a prasada after being offered to the Deity. The flame is then presented to the worshippers who sweep their hands across the lamp in a gesture that suggests “scooping up” the light and bathing their eyes, face and head with the blessings of knowledge, etc. In an interesting side note, when a ghee wick is prepared usually two wicks are twisted together. The two wicks combined make a larger flame and one that symbolically represents the soul and God (atma and the paramatma), combined.
http://sanskrit.org/the-offerings-of-food-and-lamps-aarati/
This thread is in Rituals, I am mindful of that.
But my practical question is why use fire when we can use a flashlight?
I have known many accidents in puja rooms, can we be practical and safe.
Does it make any difference whether the lighting in the Sanctum is done with oil, ghee, camphor or electricity ? When I look at the changes that is accepted by us in our personal life, generation after generation due to scientific advancement, it looks meaningless to preserve some old method only in the abode of God. All are HIS gift. Let us accept and go forward.
Brahmanyan
Bangalore.
Does it make any difference whether the lighting in the Sanctum is done with oil, ghee, camphor or electricity ? When I look at the changes that is accepted by us in our personal life, generation after generation due to scientific advancement, it looks meaningless to preserve some old method only in the abode of God. All are HIS gift. Let us accept and go forward.
Brahmanyan
Bangalore.
Dear Sir...
Well said.
Perfect!
Yes..even Poojas are done via Skype now.
In the mornings people switch on CDs of Suprabhatam or switch on You Tube for mantras.
Camphor is symbolic that desires/ego should be reduced to nothingness ..camphor burns off fully sans residue besides soot.
Ghee lamp according to spiritual research foundation claims that light from Ghee lamp is Sattva.
Dont know whether there is actually Sattva Rajas or Tamas light!
But logically any form of illumination is for us humans to see.
It makes no difference to God.
hiDear Sir...
Well said.
Perfect!
Yes..even Poojas are done via Skype now.
In the mornings people switch on CDs of Suprabhatam or switch on You Tube for mantras.
Camphor is symbolic that desires/ego should be reduced to nothingness ..camphor burns off fully sans residue besides soot.
Ghee lamp according to spiritual research foundation claims that light from Ghee lamp is Sattva.
Dont know whether there is actually Sattva Rajas or Tamas light!
But logically any form of illumination is for us humans to see.
It makes no difference to God.
hi
may be gheee lamp sattva......candle light can be rajas.....electrical candle light can be tamas...just kidding ..lol