Hindus- What is the significance of lightening a wick before the idol, folding hands before it and bowing?

Question

your head before Lords Idol?

I asked Hindus not maniacs

well all answers are correct but pls think there is a deeper meaning too-yes even more deep.

WELL AN ADDITION TO THE QUESTION- what significance does the bells in temple have?Why do we ring bell when we enter the temple

very nice answer Darjelling but please pay attention all-these customs of Hinduism have great symbolic spiritual meaning as Bear says -he is absolurely correct about symbolic meaning of lightening the wick but I please answer the other three too

Hindus please.......you do it everyday(almost) come on now I have to have the perfect answer

excellent Poorna you got the third one (ie bowing) right but we must solve the remaining two also.Its vey important to know the significance of these because these have deep meaning and we should not see them just as a custom.Knowledge doesnt hurt us. does it?

Poorna you almost answered about bell too...

Very nice answer Hari Om but the question is still not fully resolved.You gave an excellent answer for burning of wick

Ravipati has given a nice answer too.thanks

Answer 1

Bear has answered correctly about the lightening a wick and folding hands.

The purpose of temple in Hinduism is to gain positive, divine energy and meditate.

In Karpagrubha there is very dim light only.

One has to concentrate on the idol and come out meditate on the idol.

Bowing is to surrender our ego to the almighty because ego is created in our head that is in our brain.
A person realise the truth when he attain a stage called no mind.
Only with the mind we Identity ourself(previously recorded in our mind as thoughts) as name, form, relations like that.

But these are all not truth and temporary.

When you surrender your mind to god, you surrender yourself.

Bells. Just to remind that we are entering in a divine place.
When one hear bell rings, that sound somewhat resembles the sound "AUM"

Answer 2

You have some excellent answers and they have all tried to explain the meaning and significance very well. I am feeling proud that we have such knowledgable people here. Congratulation.

Every thing we do has some deep significance and this is what we need to understand.


Lightning a wick: This is basically Agni and Agni has been given the most importance in Rig Veda. It works like a carrier and Yagna were performed where what ever put into Agni was taken as carried to gods to make them stronger. Earlier Yagna was performed in every house but with time this changed and instead lighting a wick started.

Remember when we light the wick it is in front of God (We do not call it idol but for us it is God) through it our offerings are passed on. In old texts they say it is not possible for ordinary people to give offering directly to God so this medium i.e. fire is required. And those who can offer to the almighty the supreme power directly are above us the common people. has some deep meanings which have been described by others so am not going further.

Folding hands and Bowing: both have deep significance and denote total surrender and devotion before the supreme being. This is done in diffrent ways from touching mother earth with 5 parts of the body to 8 parts. This is again total submission. It also helps the magnetic movements in our body and the charge thus developed is useful and helpful.

Answer 3

Namaste ~

According to an article I found recently:

* all auspicious functions begin with the lighting of a lamp
* light symbolizes knowledge
* the Lord is Chaitanya, the principle of knowledge, the source of
knowledge, the illuminator of all knowledge
* the light is worshipped as the Lord himself
* we light a wick for this reason: "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 vasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vasanas 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."

******
the prayer that goes with the lighting of a lamp:

Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute

translation:
I prostrate to the dawn / dusk lamp whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the supreme Lord) which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life

Peace & Love
LPM

Answer 4

1. Lighting the wick:: Ignorance is represented as darkness. This has to be dispelled. This is possible only through knowledge or Jnana which is represented by light.

2. Folding the hands: one hand represents the soul- jeevatma and the other hand represents paramatma- cosmic soul. The union of jeevatma with paramatma is shown folding both the hands.

3.Bowing: This is normally done by lying flat on ground making all eight parts to touch the ground. This is called Asthanga pranam. This signifies surrendering to God. One has to submit himself to the God that is possible only by surrendering.

Answer 5

i think it is more to do with a form of worship and a oil lamp is the most ancient. it is auspicious to light a lamp especially in the evening in a pooja room or a temple to keep peace and tranqulity alive. it also means the religious spirit of the family is lit up in front of the deity. folding hands near the centre means i humble salute you divine one, shower your good ness on me and protect me from evil. you bow or prostate as a matter of deep respect for the gods.

Answer 6

Ok This is what is my understanding
Lighting a diya (oil lamp) - The Jyoti of the Diya - Flame is used to focus your mind /concentrate and get positive energy in your body and invoke the chakras in your body for enligthment.

Namashkar-Bowing is respecting and accepting the almighty

Answer 7

Lighting the wick is like lighting a candle in church, U are announcing your presence in front of the Deity, giving it respect, and folding your hands is another sign of respect and humility before your Deity. Like "I bow To Thee" and respect thee. Hope I answered your queries.

Answer 8

because light is the purest form of matter nature or jara prakrit . we can offer something to the Lord from jara prakrit only.
so the purest form in this universe can be treated like the God which has every divine characterstics like knowledge, love , ...etc we can recieve .we offer the fume comes from the purest material has very pleasant smell , also it cleans and purify the environment where we do arti. also the Lord's conscious (form) in the form of light can be seen. and so many..................

Answer 9

God is formless and nameless.
He is seen by Rishis as Orange and gold mixed light thing with no bounds.

so God is worshipped as light or Light is seen as God.so a light or wick is lit before pooja and in the Jyoti we see the Almighty and worship him.
Panamjyoti is his name we call.So light is nothing but god.

Answer 10

Thats just the way of worshipping.
Well bowing is giving respect.
But i m not sure abt lightning a wick.
they r not compulsory.

And folding hand is called "Namaskar" thats wht u do when u meet someone bigger than u and the god is the biggest.