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How To Light Diya: Big Mistakes To Avoid

Wondering how to properly light a diya? What are some common mistakes to avoid while lighting diya at home? As a child, I used to watch my grandmother light the Nilavilakku or the traditional lamp at home. Back then, I didn't understand its deeper significance. [READ: Why Malayalis Light Nilavilakku]

Lighting a diya or a lamp embodies our inner journey from darkness to light. The transition represents a deep metaphysical truth: the triumph of light over darkness.

Are you lighting your diyas wrong? Use these tips!


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How To Properly Light A Diya At Home

1. Never place your diya or lamp on the floor to light it in your pooja room. Keep a Thaali/Plate under it. You can keep a small brass plate under the lamp. Don't use that Thaali/Plate for any other purpose once you use it for this purpose.

2. Don't put your diya or lamp in any place where it is not clean earlier. Before you place the diya or lamp, make sure the area around it is clean. Remember, you are invoking the Devatas to visit when you light the lamp at the spot.

3. Don't light the lamp in your home when undergoing 'Pula' such as restrictions due to death in the family whether it is a husband's relative or a wife's relative.

4. Clean the puja lamp daily and avoid reusing the same lamp every day.

5. Avoid using a lamp that leaks oil, drop by drop. It is believed that if oil keeps leaking, your wealth and prosperity will also keep leaking in the same manner.

6. Don't reuse the same wicks when lighting the lamp in your puja room. Clean the lamp and insert new cotton wicks every time you light the lamp.

7. If wicks are leaking oil regularly, change your wicks and opt for lighter cotton wicks so that it doesn't absorb so much oil and leak it.

8. Don't gossip, scold or shout loudly while lighting the lamp. Chant mantras, invoke the blessings of Guru and Kul Devata while lighting the lamp. Chant, "Shree Kuladevta Sharnam" or "Shree Gurubhyo Namah" while lighting the lamp.

9. Do not let the wick burn itself out as 'karinthiri'. It shows a lack of "Shraddha" in our prayers to Devatas. Plus, it is not auspicious for your home.

10. Don't use stale/leftover oil or ghee while lighting diya.

11. Avoid using poor quality puja items especially oil. This will affect your wealth.

12. Don't blow or snuff out your Diya at the end of the puja. Use a leaf or tug gently using a matchstick so that it goes off. Do not to blow it out.

Can I light diya without taking a bath?

Having a bath cleanses your body and refreshes your mind. It is ideal to light the diya after taking a bath.

Should diya face God or us?

The flame of the wick when the diya is lit should be in east or north direction. East is more auspicious.

Which direction attracts money? According to Vastu Shastra, North direction attracts wealth and money.

Which corner is Kubera in Vastu?

North corner is considered to be Kubera Sthan in Vastu.

Which colour to wear to attract money?

Wearing green is considered to be ideal for aligning with wealth and abundance.

Which direction should diya face?

East or North East is preferable.

Which direction should diya not be placed?

Avoid south direction when placing a diya.

Which oil is best for burning diya?

Ghee is ideal, followed by sesame oil or gingelly oil.

Can we put coconut oil in diya?

You can put coconut oil in diya.

Which oil is best to light a lamp?

Ghee, sesame oil or gingelly oil and mustard oil are ideal for lighting a lamp.

Can I light diya with any oil?

Opt for sesame oil or gingelly oil or mustard oil.

Which direction is not good for pooja?

South direction is not auspicious for pooja.

Can I use coconut oil in my oil lamp?

Yes, you can use coconut oil in your lamp.

Which deepam oil is best for pooja?

Sesame oil, also known as Gingelly oil, is best for pooja. Avoid using Pancha Deepam oil as sometimes leftover oils are being used. Unless you are personally convinced that it is pure oil mix which is in the packaged oil, do not buy Pancha Deepam oil.

Just as you use the finest oil for cooking purpose, use the best oil for your pooja.

Can we use coconut oil for deepam?

You can use coconut oil for deepam. Keep it separate from your cooking oil if you use coconut oil for cooking purpose as well.

Can I use cooking oil to light diya?

No, avoid using cooking oil as it is not meant to be used for pooja.

Can I lit diya with mustard oil?

Yes, you can light diya with mustard oil.

Can we light diya with castor oil?

Yes, you can light diya with castor oil.

Can we light diya using coconut oil?

Yes, you can use coconut oil. Most South Indian households use coconut oil in their daily pooja.

Can I use ghee to light a diya?

Ghee is considered most auspicious to light a diya. If you cannot use ghee daily, you can use ghee to light a diya on Fridays. Make sure it is pure cow ghee.

Can we keep salt in pooja room?

Yes, keeping salt is considered beneficial.

Can I do diya during periods?

Resume lighting diya after periods.

Lighting a diya brings instant comfort and positive energy at home. May your home be filled with the effulgence of Divine Energy whenever you light a diya.

If you found this post useful, check out these posts too!

How Do You Light Deepam At Home?

Which Type of Diya is Good For Home?

Does Something Bad Happen if Diya Goes Off?

Best Time To Light Diya

What does Deepam represent?

Scientific Reason Behind Lighting Diyas

What is OM?

Offer Prayers to Lord Ganesha

Story of Lord Krishna and a Thief

Bhima's Devotion

Bhakti: Mirabai's Greatest Wealth

Attukal Pongala



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