Nei Vilakk

What is a Nei Vilakku? Nei Vilakku Nei is ghee. A vilakku is a traditional lamp. A Nei Vilakku is a ghee lamp that is lit and offered to the deity as a form of worship. What is the significance of lighting a Nei Vilakku? Different types of oils are used for lighting such lamps, wherein each one is believed to confer a distinct spiritual benefit on the devotees. Lighting a ghee lamp is considered special, as this has the capacity to attract all positive vibrations from the atmosphere. This Nei Vilakku worship is done for Lord Hanuman. How is the lighting of 11 nos. of Nei Vilakku and archana worship done and what are the benefits of doing it? Hanuman is a great devotee of Lord Rama and is himself worshipped as one of the important Gods of the Hindu pantheon. Regarded as an incarnation of Lord Shiva, Anjaneya or Hanuman is a unique God who combines in himself the rare qualities of tremendous strength, vast scholarship, sharp intelligence and a self-effacing humility. And this Lord remains the presiding deity of this worship. The worship involves the ceremonial lighting of 11 traditional sacred lamps using ghee as the fuel. This is followed by the performance of an archana, the Light and Sound Ceremony, in praise of the God, in the names of the devotees and their families. Lighting a Nei Vilakku, especially with cow’s ghee, can get the blessings of Hanuman in abundance. It can help to destroy poverty and bestow wealth, health and heavenly bliss. It can also spread an aura of radiance in the households.

ॐ शुभं करोति कल्याणं आरोग्यं धनसंपदः ।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिनमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Subham Karoti Kalyanam Arogyam Dhana Sampadah
Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya Deepa Jyoti Namostute

The accurate meaning of the mantra is: "I fold my hands before the light that brings prosperity, auspiciousness, good health, abundance of wealth and destruction of the enemy's intellect". Here, Darkness symbolizes enemy's intellect and with the arrival of light, darkness disappears. Likewise, light (God's Grace) destroys darkness (enemy's intellect)."

दीपज्योतिः परब्रह्म दीपज्योति जनार्दनः ।
दीपो हरतु मे पापं संध्यादीप नमोऽस्तुते ॥

Deepajyothi Parabrahma Deepajyothi Janardhana
Deepo Me Hara Tu Paapam Sandhya Deepa Namostute

Meaning: The literal meaning of the mantra is: "I fold my hands before the lord, the maintainer of this creation, in the form of this light. I adore this light, which destroys all the pains resulting from my omissions and commissions."