In the Universe there are 5 main elements - Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Space. And out of these five, fire is considered to be one of the most important one. It symbolises life, it guides people away from darkness, it helps them overcome their fears, and much more. And even in ancient thoughts and beliefs, fire, or light, was what indicated life. Be it the photosynthesis of plants that only happens in the Sun, to the circadian rhythms of human beings that work according to day and night, light and fire basically have all the essence of being alive.
What did Sadhguru say?
In a video doing rounds on the Internet, is urging people to light and keep a lamp near to their bed, at a safe distance, before going to sleep. He explains to people that it will benefit them immensely, just like fire rituals and fire cleansings do. Sadhguru goes on to explain that in ancient times every home used to have a consecrated space where a lamp or a
diya used to burn all the while, but it is not the same anymore as people have equated burning the lamp to a certain religion.
But why should this be done? According to some videos by Sadhguru, fire is a primal force of life—a direct manifestation of energy, and by placing a small flame near you while you rest it is like keeping an active source of life close to you. Fire represents life, it symbolises love and warmth, and above all, it gives you the path to enlightenment.
Why keep a burning lamp?
Well for starters, fire is considered to be alive. It can breathe, grow, extinguish, sustain itself, and do much more. And be it for the good or bad, fire also holds the power to change and transform whatever it touches. When a fire is set on the stove 5 people of the family are fed, but when the same fire touches a cloth, something burns down to the ground. It is this power of the fire element of nature that makes people fear it and also look up to it.
And so, having a flame near your bed while you sleep allows this energy to work in your space. The gentle flicker of light from the lamp is believed to maintain energy in the space, a positive one, that allows you to sleep well and wake up rested. The soft lights gives you an assurance of safety, and the warmth of fire fills people with comfort.
A peaceful energy around you
Lighting a lamp before bed can also help people have a more positive, calm, and rested mental state. The warmth of the light, the subtle glow, the feeling of hope and protection, it all helps towards having more positive thoughts when you go to sleep, and when waking up. Unlike the harsh, direct lights of bulbs, tube lights, or lamps, the flicker of oil lamps is much more calming and peaceful.
Helps keep negative energies away
While some people do not believe in ghosts, spirits, negative energies, and the likes, others do, and they believe that having a small flicker of lights helps keep these negativities away. It is believed that evil spirits and energies are generally only found in places where there is stagnancy, hatred, sadness, and conflicts. And so, when fire is present somewhere in the form of life, these negative energies steer clear of that space.
Better sleep quality
Although it is important for the body to produce melatonin to be able to sleep, and melatonin is produced in the dark, for some people, pitch darkness is not the best space to sleep and rest. And for them, the practice of lighting a lamp gives a warm, natural glow of a flame that just soothes their mind and body, allowing them to relax.
Plus, as the oil lamp has no blue light, like the screens do, the flicker of fire helps in better sleep.
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