dīpajyotiḥ parabrahma dīpajyotirjanārdanaḥ

DĪPAJYOTIḤ PARABRAHMA DĪPAJYOTIRJANĀRDANAḤ

dīpajyotiḥ parabrahma dīpajyotirjanārdanaḥ |

dīpo haratu me pāpaṃ dīpajyoti-namo’stute ||

Salutations to the light of the lamp: the supreme Brahman, Janardhana,

Let the light of the lamp remove my sins; salutations to the light of the lamp.

 

1. Historical Background

• This mantra is a devotional invocation to the divine light (Dīpajyoti), equating the light of a lamp with the Supreme Reality (Parabrahma) and Lord Janārdana (Vishnu).

• It is traditionally used in Hindu rituals, particularly during festivals like Diwali, as well as in temple worship and domestic pujas, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

 

2. Origin

• Scriptural Roots:

  • The mantra is rooted in the Deepa Stotra (Hymns of the Lamp), which praise the sacred lamp as a symbol of divine illumination.

  • Although not part of the earliest Vedic corpus, it reflects classical devotional and Puranic traditions emphasizing light as a representation of the Supreme Being.

• Historical Context:

  • Lighting lamps and reciting mantras like this has been a longstanding practice in Hindu culture, dating back many centuries, as a way to invoke auspiciousness, dispel negativity, and honor the divine.

  • Its recitation is associated with festivals, auspicious beginnings, and meditation practices.

• Cultural Significance:

  • The mantra symbolizes spiritual illumination, where the physical light of a lamp represents the inner light of wisdom and consciousness.

  • By equating the lamp’s light with Parabrahma and Janārdana, devotees are reminded that divine presence pervades all existence.

 

Summary:
The mantra “Dīpajyotiḥ Parabrahma Dīpajyotirjanārdanaḥ” originates from Deepa Stotra traditions within Hindu devotional literature. Its history is tied to the ritualistic and spiritual use of lamps as symbols of divine illumination and auspiciousness, particularly in festivals like Diwali. Reciting this mantra invokes the Supreme Light, representing both the absolute reality and Lord Janārdana, promoting spiritual awareness, knowledge, and the dispelling of ignorance.