Nilavilakku

Etymology

Nilam in the Malayalam/Tamil 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, Jainism and Buddhism; 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, artha, kama and moksha.

Vilakku lamps are used for various ceremonies, at home shrines, temples, weddings, and other festive occasions. A pair of lamps are typically placed at home shrines next to the deity for daily rituals. In Kerala, nilavilakku is integral to several rituals and ceremonies in Hindu families. As the sun sets, young girls of the family bring the lighted lamps to the verandah of the house, continue 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 is used in Temples of South India, especially in Kerala.

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 also keep Nilavilakku in their churches and homes. It is always found inside churches of the Orthodox denomination, such as the Jacobite Syrian Church, but is now also installed in Catholic places of worship. The ancient tradition was to place suspended oil lamps, or thookuvilakku, at the center of the naves. In churches, vilakkus are customarily filled with coconut oil. In a domestic context, the nilavilakku is conventionally lit and kept at the main front entrance of the home. Syrian Christian art forms like Margamkali and Parichamuttukali 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|Kuthuvillaku, 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|Thookkuvilakku hanging lamp File:Hanging Lamps 1.JPG|Thookkuvilakku hanging lamps File:Nilavilak, നിലവിളക്ക്.JPG|Nilavilakku in Church with Christian cross

References

https://www.kalkipuri.com/lamps/

References

1. RRV. "South Indian Traditional Nilavilakku 12 Inch tall".
2. Sociology of Religion in India (2001) - Page 287, M. G. Nayar
3. (2017-06-21). "Nilavilakku - The Kerala's Traditional Oil Lamp - Neokerala". Neokerala.
4. [http://www.jaya-he.com/aal-vilakku] {{Webarchive. link. (21 December 2016). www.jaya-he.com/aal-vilakku
5. Menon, A. Sreedhara. (1979). "Social and Cultural History of Kerala". [[Sterling Publishing]].
6. Collins, Paul M.. (2007). "Christian inculturation in India". [[Ashgate Publishing.