The festival of lamps or light is being celebrated in all parts of our country including the remotest villages and mega cities. The English word “lamp” or “light” does not convey fully the meaning and the significance of the traditional Sanskrit word Deepa or Jyothi. However, almost all the Indian languages have a word for lamp mostly derived from the Sanskrit words.

The concept of light originated when stone-age man discovered fire thousands of years ago. Obviously he used it for the purpose of light later. The Rigveda gives great importance to Agni, the God of fire who has been praised in a large number of hymns. Agni has been described as the one who illumines the three worlds by his brilliant light. He himself radiates light and thus he is self - luminous.

He is a God who shows us the way (light) to move about wherever we are. This is true, literally and metaphorically. He is described as a light in earth, in the sky and divine land (Bhumi Jyoti, Akasha Jyothi and Divya Jyoti). Today lighting a lamp to inaugurate a function has become popular, be it convocation, a lecture or a management programme. This is just to invoke the Goddess Jyoti.

Our earliest civilisation represented at Harappa and Mohenjodaro is perhaps the earliest manifestation of a lamp in its physical form. Harappa and Mohenjodaro had street lights and there was a person or persons who lighted these lamps for the convenience of the people. Some fragments of mud lamp - like objects have been found at Harappa. Perhaps these lamps were used with wicks and oil.

There are a large number of references to lamps in Sanskrit literary works from which it becomes clear that lighting the lamp was a part of social, domestic and religious life. Ramayana and Mahabharata have references to lamp made of gold which adorned the royal Palaces. Not only they were made of gold but were adorned with diamonds and other precious stones. The same is the case with Amaravathi, the celebrated capital of Indra. It is said that there was no place in Amaravathi which was dark or bereft of light.

The famous Greek Ambassador Megasthenese, who visited the royal court of Chandragupta Maurya, was astonished to see the series of lamps at temples, and houses of royalty and he felt very happy when he was welcomed with lamps by damsels. He was overwhelmed by these lamps which he had not seen in his own country. Huentsang, the famous Chinese traveller who made copies of hundreds of Buddhist manuscripts, says that during the nights wick - lamps were his only companions. Thus he literally burnt the midnight oil in good measure.

Many Buddhist Monasteries carved in rock contained small rooms which invariably had a rock cot and a small niche to keep an oil lamp so that the monks could study at night. At Nalanda University, there was an employee whose main duty was to light all the lamps in the campus including the teachers' quarters and student hostels.

We cannot imagine a temple without lamps. The sacred Nanda Deepa or perpetual lamp illumines the divinity 24 X 7 and hundreds of grants have been given towards this as evidenced by hundreds of records on stone and copper sheets. The month of Kartika is the festival of lights and many temples have hundreds of deepas adorning them. The Kartika Laksha Deepotsava is a great attraction at Dharmasthala and many other temples.

The lamps were made of mud in the early stages and it continues even to this day. In course of time, lamps made of bronze came into vogue and in huge sizes called Deepalakshmi or Deepadharini. Usually, a young woman holds in her hands a lamp. They range from three to six feet in height and are normally placed by the side of the Dvarapala images. This became very popular during and after the Vijayanagara period. Lamps decorated by various Gods like Hanuman, Nandi, Garuda and birds like peacock, swan, etc., are quite popular. Hanging lamps are another attraction in many temples.

Even the ancient sculptors were attracted by the lamps and they have been shown in temple sculptures and even wooden chariots. This concept crossed our border and reached Cambodia, Java and other countries, thousand years ago. The Stupa at Borobodur (Java), Angkor and other places have lamps carved in stone. Even ancient and medieval paintings in India have lamps. Lamp black was specially prepared for painting.

Even today at homes, good news is welcomed by lighting a lamp, not in oil but in ghee. Generally, an oil lamp is kept by the side of the body and continues to be kept at that place for some more days. Though electric bulbs have become popular, lighting the oil - lamp still continues to dominate our lives. It is bound to continue and maintain its sanctity in future also.

From darkness to light is the message of a simple lamp. It burns itself to give light to others. Let us emulate this example in our own lives. This is the message of Deepavali.