Nilavilakku
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Nilaviḷakku is a traditional lamp used commonly in
Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
as well as in
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...
, called ''Kuthuviḷakku'' in Tamil (குத்துவிளக்கு) . It is called ''Kundulu'' in
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...
and
Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...
. It is called ''Deepada Kamba'' (ದೀಪದ ಕಂಬ) in
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
and Samai (समई) in
Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
. In
Odisha Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...
, its called ''Pilisajā/Pilibeṛhi'' (ପିଲିସଜା /ପିଲିବେଢ଼ି) in Odia. The traditional lamps which is lit during every auspicious occasions; in temples before the worship starts; at the official and unofficial functions.


Etymology

''Nilam'' in the
Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
/
Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
language means ''floor or the ground'' and ''vilakku'' means lamp.


Usage


History

''Vilakku/dīpam'' (lamp) is one of five accessories of religious worship in
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
,
Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...
and
Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
; others being ''puṣpa'' (flowers), ''dhūpa'' (incense), ''gandhā'' (sandalwood paste) and ''nivedya'' (food). Worshipping deities with these five accessories is generally considered as a way for achieving the four ends of human life; ''
dharma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
'', ''
artha ''Artha'' (; ; Pali: Attha, Tamil: பொருள், poruḷ) is one of the four goals or objectives of human life in Hindu traditions.James Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Rosen Publishing, New York, , pp 55–56 ...
'', ''
kama ''Kama'' (Sanskrit: काम, ) is the concept of pleasure, enjoyment and desire in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It can also refer to "desire, wish, longing" in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh literature.Monier Williamsका ...
'' and ''
moksha ''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, '' nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatologic ...
''. The Nilavilakku is integral to several rituals and ceremonies in Hindu families in Kerala. As the sun sets, young girls of the family bring the lighted lamps to the verandah of the house, continued with evening prayers. In the evening the ritual is repeated alongside evening prayers. In Hindu temples, various types of Nilavilakku like 'Kutthuvilakku', 'Thookkuvilakku' etc. are used and are very much related to the traditional beliefs and activities in Kerala. Lighting the Nilavilakku on any occasion is believed to be auspicious. Nilavilakku plays an important role in the presentation of various art forms. The art forms are performed after lighting the lamp. In Kerala, many functions are inaugurated by lighting Nilavilakku. A special type of Nilavilakku, called
Aal Vilakku AAL or Aal may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Aal'' (film), a 2014 Tamil thriller * Against All Logic, pseudonym of musician Nicolas Jaar (born 1990) * Animals as Leaders, a progressive metal band (formed 2007) * Arjen Anthony Lucassen ( ...
is used in
Temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...
s of
South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...
, especially in
Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
.
www.jaya-he.com/aal-vilakku Nilavilakku is usually made of bronze or brass. Usually cotton wicks doused in oil or ghee are used for lighting the lamp. There are three ways of lighting the lamp. In one, only one wick is lit and is directed towards the deity or sacred space and in another there are two lit wicks in two directions. The third alternative is with five wicks in five directions. In Kerala,
Saint Thomas Christians The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an Ethnoreligious group, ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Ker ...
also started keeping Nilavilakku in their churches and homes. Traditionally, the nilavilakku is lighted and kept at the main front entrance of a home. Syrian Christian art forms like
Margamkali Margamkali is an ancient Indian round dance of the St. Thomas Christians community- based in Kerala state, mainly practiced by the endogamous sub-sect known as the Knanaya or Southist Christians. The dance retells the life and missionary work ...
and
Parichamuttukali Parichamuttu Kali ( alayalam പരിചമുട്ട്‌കളി ) is an Indian martial-arts dance form of Kerala practiced by the Saint Thomas Syrian Christians who trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostl ...
are performed around nilavilakku.


Gallery

File:WLA haa Kerala Tiered Lamp.jpg, 13th century lamp, Kerala File:Nilavilak,a tradition lamp.jpg, a lighted up nilavilakku File:Brass Kuthuvillakku-1-tirunelveli-India.jpg, Kuthuvillaku, Tamil Nadu File:Nilavilakku.JPG, Nilavilakku, Tamil Nadu File:WLA haa Kerala Bronze Lamp.jpg, Bronze lamp in 13th century, Kerala File:വിളക്കുകൾ.jpg, Nilavilakku lamps in typical Kerala style File:Nilavilakku.jpg, Nilavilakku lamps, Kerala File:Nirapara and Nilavilakku.jpg, Nirapara and Nilavilakku File:Aal vilakku.jpg, Bronze lamp used in Temples. File:Government college kasaragod 02.jpg, Hanging lamp File:Hanging Lamps 1.JPG, Hanging lamps File:Nilavilak, നിലവിളക്ക്.JPG, Nilavilakku in Church with Christian cross


See also

* Other lamps **
Butter lamp Butter lamps or butterlamps (; ) are a common feature of Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries throughout the Himalayas. The lamps traditionally burn clarified butter, clarified yak butter, but now often use vegetable oil or Vanaspati#Hyd ...
** Diya lamp **
Nachiarkoil lamp The Nachiarkoil lamp, also called Annam lamp or Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku, is an ornamental brass lamp made of series of diyas, a handicraft product which is exclusively made by Kammalar community in Natchiarkoil town in Tamil Nadu, India.
**
Sky lantern A sky lantern (), also known as Kǒngmíng lantern (), or Chinese lantern, is a small balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended. Sky lanterns have been made for centuries in cultures around the worl ...
**
Paper lantern A paper lantern is a lantern made of thin, brightly colored paper. Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, alt ...
** Types of Indian oil lamps * Related topics **
Aarti ''Arti'' () or ''Aarati'' () is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a ''Puja (Hinduism), puja'', in which light from a flame (fuelled by camphor, ghee, or oil) is ritually waved to venerate Hindu deities, deities. ''Arti'' also refers t ...
**
Diwali Diwali (), also called Deepavali (IAST: ''Dīpāvalī'') or Deepawali (IAST: ''Dīpāwalī''), is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual v ...
**
Rangoli Rangoli is an art form that originates from the Indian subcontinent, in which patterns are created on the floor or a tabletop using materials such as powdered limestone, red ochre, dry rice flour, coloured sand, quartz powder, Petal, flower ...
**
List of light sources This is a list of sources of light, the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Light sources produce photons from another energy source, such as heat, chemical reactions, or conversion of mass or a different frequency of electromagnetic ener ...


References

{{commons category, Nilavilakku https://www.kalkipuri.com/lamps/ Culture of Kerala Types of lamp Indian furniture