The significance of lamp in the Indian culture

In almost every indian home a lamp is lit daily  before the altar of the lord. all auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp , which is often maintained right through the occasion.

The lord is the "Knowledge principal" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all Knowledge. 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. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolises our vasanas (desires) 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.