In Hindu worship, the ritualistic veneration of deities through icons, whether at home or in a temple, is a deeply ingrained practice. This form of worship involves various rituals known as upacharas, which are akin to honoring an esteemed guest visiting one's home. Niranjana is an important ritual in a Hindu worship.
These upacharas can be performed in sets of five
(panchopachara), ten (dasopacharas), or sixteen (shodashopachara). Among
these rituals, the waving of a lighted lamp, called 'niranjana,' holds
significant importance. The niranjana can consist of burning camphor (karpura)
or cotton wicks dipped in ghee or oil, typically in sets of three, five, or
seven.
According to certain agamas (religious texts), the act of
waving the light during worship is believed to bring about an increase in one's
life span and happiness, while simultaneously driving away malevolent forces.
In addition to the traditional use of a lighted lamp, the
term 'niranjana' also refers to a practice where colored water, often kept in a
shallow plate, is waved before a sick person. This ritual aims to ward off any
malevolent influences that might have caused the illness. The term 'niranjana'
in this context derives from the Sanskrit word 'nira,' meaning water.
Overall, the act of performing niranjana, whether through
waving a lighted lamp or colored water, holds deep spiritual significance in
Hindu worship, symbolizing the invocation of divine blessings and the
dispelling of negative energies.