There are multiple reasons why Hindus light lamps in front of gods and on other occasions. In most Hindu homes, a lamp is lit at least once or twice daily before the altar of the gods, especially in the evening. Some Hindus light a lamp all day and night and never let it go off. It is called Akhanda Deepa (an incessant lamp).

To know why Hindus light lamps, we must first know on which occasions they do so.

Hindus light a lamp on the following occasions:

1. Before or after Puja.

2. In the opening ceremonies.

3. In the morning and/or evening before an altar.

4. During the Diwali festival.

5. During the Navratri festival.

6. After the death of a person.

7. While welcoming special guests.

Why do Hindus Light Lamps?

Actually, there is no single answer to this question. There are multiple reasons for doing so. First, we will see all the reasons.

1. We should not keep the gods in the dark.

Hindus consider the idols of gods to be a part of the real gods, wash them daily, and perform Puja. They offer Naivedyam to them. They consider keeping them in the dark a bad thing. Therefore, they light lamps before the altars to adequately light them, especially in the evenings.

2. Worship of God with the five elements (Pancha Mahabhuta).

The worship of the five elements, viz., fire, water, air, earth, and space, is a part of Hindu worship. In the old days, the lamps used were earthen. This includes the earth element. Idols are washed with water. This includes the water element. Space and air are present everywhere. Therefore, to include the fire element in Puja, they light a lamp before the deities.

Nowadays, people don’t use clay lamps in general. They use a metal lamp. Metals are found inside the Earth. Therefore, this is also accepted.

3. Fire purifies everything.

Hindus believe that fire purifies everything. When we light a lamp, it purifies the environment in the house and makes the place pleasant. It is recommended to use cow ghee and cotton to light a lamp. The burning of cow ghee purifies the environment and makes the atmosphere in the room pleasant.

4. God is represented as a pillar of fire in Hindu scriptures.

In the Lingodbhava story, Lord Shiva emerges from a pillar of fire before Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. That pillar of fire represents the Supreme Brahman or Parmatma.

5. Ghosts are scared of light.

It is a belief that the houses without light, ghosts make their permanent residences. Lighting a lamp drives away ghosts.

6. Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness symbolizes ignorance.

Lighting a lamp symbolizes that we are wiping out ignorance and welcoming knowledge. Lighting a lamp is an auspicious thing, while dousing a lamp is inauspicious.

7. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes strong desires (predominantly negative ones) and the wick, ego.

When lit by spiritual knowledge, negative tendencies slowly exhaust, and the ego finally perishes.

8. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards.

Similarly, we should acquire knowledge to take us towards higher ideals.

9. It symbolizes the worship of the Supreme Soul with a soul.

In Hinduism, the pillar of light symbolizes the Supreme. Hence, it symbolizes the worship of Paramatma by our Atma (symbolized by the flame of a lamp). The creator is worshiped by his creation.

10. It serves as an extra light source at night.

In ancient times, when there was no electricity, it served as an extra light source. Nowadays, it is also a good light source for a small room. This source comes in handy if there is a power cut at night.

11. To welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

Hindus believe that in the evening, Lakshmi enters the house. Therefore, they welcome her by lighting lamps. Also, they do not sweep the house in the evening/night.

12. The light rays emitted by a lamp positively affect a person’s mood.

It is not clear what the scientific reason is behind this, but it refreshes the person’s mind. Perhaps it emits some electromagnetic radiation that opens up the mind and activates the sensory areas of the brain.

13. In the Vedic times, sages used to perform yajna to please the gods, and fire was an essential part.

Therefore, it might be the continuation of the same practice to light a lamp before the altar to please/invoke the gods.

14. Goddess Rajarajeshwari (a combined form of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati) resides in the lamp.

Rules for Lighting a Lamp in front of God:

1. The person should wash his/her face, hands, and feet.

2. The material used for the lamp should be of clay or metal.

3. Cow ghee should be used in the lamp. If it is unavailable or unaffordable, oil is also a good option, but animal fats should never be used.

4. The wick should be made of cotton or cotton thread.

5. Menstruating women/girls should avoid lighting the lamp for god.

Conclusion:

We have seen that there are multiple reasons why Hindus light a lamp. In Hinduism, there could be multiple meanings of one thing. Therefore, each individual might have his/her own reason.

Many Hindu practices have their basis in the Vedas. In the Vedic times, sages used to do yajna to please/invoke the gods. Fire (Agni) is a god in Hinduism who carries the offerings in the yajna to the gods. Therefore, this must be the continuation of the same practice in the form of lighting a lamp before the gods (fire worship).

Hindus light lamps during opening ceremonies and while welcoming guests because they consider lighting a lamp an auspicious and positive thing. If the lamp goes off independently, it is considered an omen.

I think the lighting of an earthen lamp after the death of a person symbolizes that the soul is still there, even if the body is dead. The earthen lamp symbolizes the physical body and the flame soul.