Bronze Lamps of Tamil Nadu

Its festival season in India, and Diwali/Deepavali, the 'festival of lights' is just around the corner. Families have stocked up new diyas for lighting up their houses on Diwali. It reminded of something I read about the bronze lamps/deepams of Tamilnadu.

Would you believe that one whole chapter in the ancient Shilpa Shaastras (canons of sculpture) describes the characteristics, classifications and production of lamps? Even more interesting is this - they dictate that the lamps should have pedestals, because "Mother Earth is accustomed to undergo all sorts of sufferings, but she will not put up with the heat of the lamps". Now that explains why the lamps of Tamilnadu are supported by pedestals, which in turn became a channel for the artist to vent his creativity.

Tamilnadu boasts of numerous kinds of lamps, varying in shape and use. The broad classification would be Standing lamps/'Kuthu-vilakku', Aarthi (votive) lamps, Deepa-lakshmi, Hand lamps and Chain lamps.
                 The Standing lamp/kuthu-vilakku typically has a five-wicked bowl over a slim pedestal supported by a heavy base. These are used for domestic and ceremonial occasions. Variations in this type can have different branches supporting up to 100 wicks. The top of the kuthu-vilakku will be decorated with religious symbols or figures, the most common being the hamsa (mythical swan).
                 Aarthi (votive) lamps are small lamps that are held in the hand by the priest or the devotee. The handle is usually carved in an interesting shape – cobra, fish, snake, monkey etc. They are used in temples or in the daily pooja at households.
                 Deepa-lakshmi lamps are only found in temples and are in the form of a female figure holding a shallow bowl containing the oil and the wick.
                 Hand lamps that adorn wall niches, do not have pedestals. They have a deep bowl with religious symbols forming the back. Hindu households mostly have Gajalakshmi forms while the modified versions in catholic and muslim families have the cross and crescent moon shapes.
                 Hanging lamps, as the name indicates, have the bowl carrying oil and wicks suspended by a decorated chain. The bowls would have religious figures and the chains are sometimes highly ornamental.

Irrespective of the shape and size, lamps have a special significance - not just in Tamilnadu, but in every Indian state. It represents Agni (God of Fire) and Surya (the Sun), and is a symbol of life, light and wisdom. Lamps are deemed auspicious, providing sanctity and solemnity during every occcasion in one's life.

Information source: Arts and Crafts of Tamilnadu, Nanditha Krishna