By Swami Harshananda
Nīrājana literally means ‘waving of water or light’.
Ritualistic worship of God in and through an icon either at home or in a temple is a common feature in the religion. The various upacāras[1] are a part of this. They remind one of the way one has to receive an important guest visiting one’s house. Such upacāras may be five,[2] ten[3] or sixteen.[4] In all these, waving of a lighted lamp called ‘nīrājana,’ is a must. It may be of burning karpura[5] or cotton wicks dipped in ghee or oil, their number being 3 or 5 or 7. Some āgamas declare that by such waving of light, one’s life and happiness increase and all evil beings are driven out. Sometimes colored water kept in a shallow plate is waved before sick person to ward off the evil forces that might have caused the disease. This is also called ‘nīrājana’.[6]
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore