The light that a lamp emits is ever a symbol of knowledge and dispelling of darkness. ‘Let there be light’, said God, and there was light; and this truth is common to all cultures all over the world.
Evolution of Lamps
The word ‘lamp’ is derived from the Greek word ‘lampas’, meaning a torch. The most common model was originally adapted from Egyptian sources, but as its domestic use became more widespread, it gradually took complex forms.
The Western theory considers the origin of lamp during the stone-age as early as 70,000 B.C. The primitive man wandered for food and seldom hunted after sunset because he considered darkness as demon and the Sun as the giver of light. But with the passage of time, he discovered fire and found it gave light and heat; and he therefore saw fire as a deity.
Shapes
Originally a lamp consisted of a hollowed-out rock filled with some absorbent material soaked with animal fat and ignited. The Eskimos still use these lamps. In the Mediterranean and the East, the earliest lamp had a shell shape, and sections were cut out to provide space for the lighting area. Later, pottery or metal lamps replaced these.
Another basic primitive lamp was found in Egypt and China where the lamp was made of clay and bronze. They had a spike in the centre to support the wick. Gradually shapes of lamps became complex in metals assuming animal, plant or vegetable form. Large versions of lamps for use in circuses and public places appeared during the 1st century, AD.
Designs, Shapes & Kinds
Earlier, the designs of pedestals for lamps were round or rectangular, and were made of stone or wood. Later, these pedestals were raised in height and were called ‘deep stambhas’ to emit more light. Made of stone, they were used in the courtyards of forts and temples and had provision for placing more lamps. These lamp-stands were later given designs like the branches of the Peepal and Pine trees, the shape of the head of a peacock, garuda, swan, with handles in the form of snakes.
The oldest lamp design is the ‘Deep’, and excavations at Mohenjo-Daro have shown the existence of streetlights more than five thousand years ago where each main street of a town had a ‘deep-stambh’ and small lights over the main gates of the houses.
Oils Used
Only oil was used for lighting torches and lamp posts; and as edible oils were expensive, cheaper oils from castor, linseed and sesame were used. Slowly and ultimately ‘ghee’ or butter and edible oils were used. In Hindu culture, use of sesame oil is supposed to be auspicious. While most homes light their lamps with sesame oil on Saturdays, it is also a practice to tie black sesame seeds in a cloth and place it in an earthen lamp filled with sesame oil. This is supposed to ward off evil.
Use & Symbol of Lamps
Lamps are an important part of Indian culture, and electricity has not been able to replace the traditional significance of a humble lamp in the lives of the Indian people. Before the start of any cultural function, it is considered auspicious to lit big lamp stands of brass.
Lighting lamps is a symbol of wealth where the lamp is the symbol of Goddess Laxmi. The objects in which ceremonial fire is lit, arouse feelings of reverence, hence these objects have been made with utmost care. Light stands for life-sustaining forces - the God of Fire. The scriptures say ‘Tamasoma Jothirgamaya’ (Lead me thou from darkness to light) and ‘Suryansha Sambhavo Deepa’ (Sun graces us with light).
Legend
The lamp is dear to the heart of Goddess Laxmi. Legend has it that once She was traveling through the skies on a dark night and saw a small ray of light below. As She approached the beam, She saw a tiny lamp in a hut throwing its radiance all around. The lamp had been lit to propitiate her. Pleased, the Goddess blessed all those who lit lamps with prosperity. This legend is applicable to all parts of India, and even today every Hindu home is lit with lamps at sunset. Lighting a lamp in a house is believed to bring prosperity, plenty and abundance to a family.
Various Kinds of Lamps
Statues of women with lamps in hand called ‘Laxmi Deep’ are placed at the main gate of forts and temples as decorative pieces. The lamp for worship of a deity is called ‘Aarti’, and the importance of ‘Aarti’ inspired metalists to make the ‘Aarti deepa’ in artistic shapes with handles for holding it. The ‘mitti ka diya’ or the earthen lamp made from clay is most common and easily available. The potter churns out thousands of designer ‘diyas’.
Where to Buy
The lamps of Gujarat, Chennai, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and other states have different designs, shapes and sizes and can be bought in handicraft centers. And if you are lucky, it is possible to find antique lamps in the ‘chor’ bazaars of Delhi and Mumbai.
Be it a mere candle or the traditional oil filled lamp, lamps when lit weave their own magic aura irrespective of their form.
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