Deeparadhana or lighting a lamp or diya is an important tradition to follow during any puja or ritual. Devotees chant several mantras or slokas during Deepa aradhana.
A Diya is symbol of Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Goddess Durga as per many scriptures. Standing diya symbolizes the divine energy which can get away the darkness of sorrow and get us the brightness of joy.
Before starting any daily prayer or puja, light an oil lamp by chanting the below sloka
Subham Karoti Kalyanam
Arogyam Dhana Sampadah
Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya
Deepa Jyotir Namostute
After lighting the deepak place kumkum (vermillion), haldi (haridrika churna – turmeric) on the edges of the Lamp holders and place Akshatas near the lamp holders. In recent times, most of the devotees are using stainless steel lamps but it is recommended to use bronze, copper, silver or golden lamps.
After lighting the lamp, chant the below prayer
Deepo me hara tu paapam
Deepa Jyothir Namostuthe
What an earthen lamp means?
An earthen lamp (pramida) tells us ‘our duty to do a particular thing and undo some other thing’. The below sholka denotes it clearly..
“Vairagya thaila sampurne bhakti varthi samanvithe
Prabodha purnapathre thu gnapthi deepam vilokayeth”
It means – the oil in the lamp is ‘Vairagya’ (dispassion / renunciation from the material world), the lighting deepa is ‘Gnana Jyoti’ (divine light of wisdom) and the cotton wick or tape is the ‘bhakti’ (devotion / dedication) which makes us closer to moksha (liberation from samsara / salvation).