Why do we light diyas on Diwali?

The Deeper Meaning of the Clay Lamp\n\nMany of us grow up lighting clay lamps (diyas) during Diwali and other auspicious occasions, treating it as a beautiful tradition or simple decoration. But the ritual carries a profound psychological and spiritual science meant to remind you of your own inner potential.\n\n### The Metaphor of the Diya:\n1. **The Clay Pot (Mitti)**: Represents the physical body, made of earth and temporary.\n2. **The Oil or Ghee**: Represents our desires, passions, and mental attachments (Vasanas) that feed our daily actions.\n3. **The Cotton Wick**: Represents the ego (Ahamkara) which absorbs these desires.\n\nWhen we light the wick with the flame of spiritual knowledge (Jnana), the oil is consumed, and the wick burns away. This symbolizes the melting of ego and the exhaustion of self-centered desires, leading to the revelation of the steady, pure inner soul (Atman).\n\n### Moving Beyond Guilt\nIf you feel disconnected because you haven't lit a physical diya in years, remember that the true practice is internal. Every time you quiet your mind and check in with your soul, you are performing the real Murti Puja of lighting the inner lamp.