Light Up Your Home with An Exclusive Collection of Brass Diyas
The diya is a lamp made of earth that is mostly lighted on the festival of Diwali and others light it every other day. It is generally used in India where every nook and corner of the country lit these which they believed to be symbols that represent the celebration of life. They also believe that the light from the diyas brings joy and hope and they are also one of the items that can bring about the festive spirit among individuals. The diyas usually signify illumination of the universe and souls. Since ancient days, people have yearned for light and hence they believe that the lighting of the diya can satisfy the yearning and metaphorically represents that evil or darkness can be overcome by good or light. Diyas are made of various types of materials and it is believed that the lighting of each type of diya has a specific spiritual significance. The different types of commonly known diyas are silver diyas, iron diyas, earthen diyas, gold diyas, and brass diyas. Out of these, the two most common types of diyas that can be found in most households are the earthen diyas and the brass diyas. Apart from the five diyas mentioned, other types of diyas are also used such as diyas made of leaves, diyas, and made from vegetables. Earthen diyas are more affordable so they are arranged as a line up to span spaces like the sides of a pathway, sides of the entrance steps, along the window sills, beside the walls, etc. For more special spaces, however, more decorative diyas are used like brass diyas. These are most commonly found in households as gold, silver, or iron diyas may not be very affordable or easily available to everyone. This article will shed some light on brass diyas, their uses, benefits, and their different types.
Brass Diya
A brass diya is the most common type of diya used by the majority of households and for good reason. Firstly, brass is known to be scientifically beneficial to our health. Experts recommend storing drinking water in brass utensils as it can help boost our immunity and strength which is why many households would also use brass utensils like brass pots for cooking, brass glasses used for drinking water, etc. Secondly, brass is simply visually appealing with its unique color and shine which is why brass items are also incorporated as decorative items like flower vases, display items like statues and sculpted animals, bells, etc. Lighting brass diyas during the festival will draw people’s eyes because the burning light accentuates the beautiful brass material and the two complement each other to give a very satisfying decorative view. Also, brass diyas are long-lasting as they can be reused multiple times compared to other brass materials like earthen diyas or clay diyas that could easily break during accidental incidents. There is a plethora of brass diya collections with each type being lit based on a specific belief. Some of these are described in the following:
1. Athma diya
The lighting of this diya is believed to bring serenity and calmness to a person’s mentality as it provides positive and calm energy throughout its surroundings.
2. Kuberar diya
People who light this brass diya believe in the god of immense wealth and they do it believing they would receive great wealth and prosperity in the household and the workplace. Lighting this type of diya comes with a specific set of rules and that is to light it between 5 pm and 8 pm every week on Thursday and the diya is instructed to be facing either the east or the north direction.
3. Kathu diya
People practicing Hinduism use this type of diya in every devotional ritual. They believe that lighting this type of brass diya will bring light to the darkness in the hearts. This diya is sculpted with many gods. Women would usually light this diya as it is said that it will enhance the main characters identified with the diya and these are intelligence, patience, caution, kindness, and patience.
4. Paavai diya
This type of diya is mostly lit during the festive event of paavai nonbu. The paavai diya represents a female soul holding a lamp. It is said that these types of brass diyas have been used by the ancient Greeks as a way of providing an entrance and welcoming deities.
5. Akhand diya
These diyas were designed for the flame to burn throughout. People believe this to be the diya that provides grace which in turn makes the house of this diya user calm and peaceful. This is one of the safer diyas to burn at home as it is designed in a way that does not allow infants and children to touch and get burned.
6. Tortoise diya
Lighting this diya is believed to provide sustenance in the life of the user and his or her household. Couples who cannot bear a child also believe that lighting such diyas will be a blessing and increase the chances of conceiving.
7. Navagraha diya
This type of diya is formed to depict the planets in the solar system and hence, it has eight wicks symbolizing the eight planets and one in the center that symbolizes the position of the Sun. The wick that symbolizes Saturn is either made of iron or steel and the brass diya is recommended to be positioned in a way that the wick with the iron or steel face toward the position of Saturn in the sky which is along the western direction.
8. Ashtalakshmi diya
The sculpture of the Ashtalakshmi diya represents eight Lakshmis and is commonly lit during welcoming events. It is believed that lighting this diya will allow for the eight different kinds of blessings like wisdom, fortune, wealth, fertility, success, food supply, and courage.
9. Kamakshi diya
It is said that the essence of all gods and goddesses is present in this diya which is why every household would possess this type of diya and they believe it can be a gateway to all the blessings and benefits provided by all these gods and goddesses.
Conclusion
Diyas are commonly used in the household of a Hindu family. Brass diyas serves as the middle ground between inexpensive earthen diyas that are mostly functional but not aesthetic and the expensive and rare gold and silver diyas that may not be affordable for all and brass diyas also come with several scientific health benefits.
FAQs: Brass Diya
Q. How long should you burn diya?
Ans. As it is believed that the lighting of the diya symbolizes righteousness and purity, it has been recommended that diyas should not be intentionally put off but rather allow the diya to burn till it extinguishes. Some would even recommend to keep on pouring oil into the diya to always keep the fire burning. The lighting of diya only during prayer or a festive occasion is usually not recommended by many people who light diyas in their household.
Q. Is it safe to light a brass diya?
Ans. Lighting a diya is just like lighting a candle so, of course, it is safe to light diyas. The safety precaution of a diya is mostly the same as that of lighting candles. Keep a close on them when children are around, and be careful when wearing flaring clothes, especially sarees and kurtas, churidars, etc., as these types of clothing tend to flare out and are mostly worn during festive times when diyas are lit. Try to keep diyas out of children’s reach. Also, brass materials are known to dispense properties that are beneficial to a person’s health like strengthening one’s immunity.
Q. Where can I get a brass diya at a reasonable price?
Ans. The online market has been so well established in this era that almost anything can be purchased online and the same goes for diyas. Online shopping platforms like amazon and Flipkart are going to have diyas ready for shipping. Even though this is a great benefit and highly efficient, there are some cons to buying diyas online like uncertainty, delay, unable to verify their authenticity till the time of delivery, etc. One can also purchase diyas from the market. This is beneficial because local artisans can be supported and one can thoroughly check the diyas before deciding to purchase them. One can also have a diya custom-made.
Q. What happens if the brass diya is blown away by the wind?
Ans. People who light lamps as a ritualistic act suggest not to overthink this. These days, homes will have fans and during these fans sometimes need to be turned up to the highest speed, and windows and doors may also need to be opened and so, the fire on the diya would inevitably get blown out by the wind. They recommend simply lighting the diya again if the fire is blown out by the wind.