Benefits of lighting Deepam

Different types of Deepams

·          Traditional vilakkus or lamps have five faces; that is, they are lit with five wicks. Each wick represents the five elements, the panchabhootas - earth, water, fire, sky and air. It is also believed that the five wicks represent happiness, health, wealth, landed property and progeny.

·          The lamps can be of iron that is said to eradicate the navagraha doshams

·          Brass increases wealth

·          Earthen lamps enhance knowledge and memory

·          Silver brings health, wealth and happiness. Silver kills germs. So, silver Deepam cleans the environment.

Benefits of lighting lamps with different oils and wicks(thiri):

·   Cow's ghee - Ensures radiance and Heavenly bliss, prosperity, health and happiness.

·    Ghee - Wealth, Health and Happiness. Most beneficial. Emits highly powerful energy.

·    Gingely oil/Sesame oil - Removes unforeseen dangers, inauspicious events. Good for skin. Ensures removal of obstacles and evil effects that haunt you.

·    Castor oil - Fame, Happy family life, and to gain Spiritual intellect 

·    Vegetable oil deepams release good energy in the environment. So, it makes us peaceful.

·    A lamp that has a wick made out of the stem of the banana plant is supposed to bring one good luck

·   Wick made of cotton brings good fortune of another kind.

·   Wicks made out of the stalks of lotuses bring prosperity.

Directions to be followed for placing/litting lamps:

North -  Gives Success in all ventures undertaken. Most preferable direction to place and light a lamp. You will be blessed with 8 kinds of wealth or Ashta-ishwaryas. Ensures success in everything you do.

East - Blesses good health and peace of mind

West - It will free you from debts and ensure victory over negative forces

South - Never place and light a lamp in the south. It will bring inauspicious events... 

Number of Cotton Wicks to be used...

Single wick (Eka Mukha Deepam) is normal/medium benefit

Two wicks (Dwimuka 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 Sumptous food

Five wicks (Panchamkukha deepam) showers akhanda aishwaryam (Wealth)

Six wicks (Shanmukha deepam) blesses with Akhanda Gyana (Knowledge) & Vairagyam(Renunciation)

Caution:

1. Never use steel plates underneath the lamp holders,  use clay, bronze, silver or gold, you can even place lamp holders on betel or plantain leaves. Lamps should not  touch the ground directly
   
2. Lampholders should be cleaned daily
   
3. Cotton wicks and the oil should be changed everyday 
4. Never leave lighted deepams unattended.If you are away from home, make sure to move the lamp holders  from the pooja area and place them in a small tumbler filled with little water or while doing prayers itself..add very little oil/ghee so that the diyas won’t last for hours and they blew off on its own.. Never blow off lighted deepams.  In some traditions…. the lamp is not allowed to blew off on its own.; rather sumangalis  pull the wick down when very little oil/ghee  is left and sprinkle raw milk on the wicks.

References:

http://www.dipika.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=334:the-lakshmi-lamp-its-significance&catid=1:articles&Itemid=2

http://stotrapushpalu.blogspot.com/2010/02/significance-of-deeparadhana-lighting.html

http://www.texasshiva.com/more-about/vishnu/significance-of-deeparadhana-lighting-of-lamps