Lamp Slokas

In almost every Hindu home, a lamp is lit daily in the dusk or the dawn before the altar of Lord. In some houses, it is maintained continously termed as 'Akhanda Deepa'.

Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness represents ignorance. Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.

Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.

(This sloka is to be recited while lighting lamp)
Subham Karoti Kalyanam
Arogyam Dhana Sampadah
Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya
Dipa Jyotir Namostute

Sanskrit to English Word Translation :
Subham- auspiciousness;
karoti – which brings;
kalyanam- prosperity;
arogyam- good health;
dhanasampadah- abundance of wealth;
satrubuddhi- of the intellect’s enemy (ignorance);
vinasaya- for the destruction; dipajyotir- that lamplight;
namosthuthe- I salute thee.

Meaning:
I salute the One who is the lamplight that brings auspiciousness; prosperity, good health, abundance of wealth, and the destruction of the intellect’s enemy.

Brief explanation
This prayer is chanted before lighting the lamplight. Light is considered a symbol of auspiciousness, prosperity, and abundance. Light removes the darkness(ignorance) and makes it possible to see things clearly.

Deepajyothi Parabrahma
Deepajyothi Janardhana
Deepo me hara tu paapam
Deepaa Jyothir Namostute

I salute the Lord, the sustainer of the creation, in the form of this light. I salute this light (the Lord), may He destroy afflictions resulting from my omissions and commissions.