19th Century South Indian Brass Lamp India Kerala Temple Oil Heavy Metal Antique

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Description

A wonderful antique find from a temple in South India. estimated late 19th century.
Listed in as found condition
Approximately: … Read more A wonderful antique find from a temple in South India. estimated late 19th century.
Listed in as found condition
Approximately: 13.5 x 9 x 9 inch. Chain 13.5 inch. Weight 7lb

This brass oil lamp also known as 'Tooku Villaku', is from Kerala South India. It has seven nozzles for placing cotton wicks.
The lamp is made of 5 parts
1) The top finial in loop firm, a cast chain ending in a hook for suspending from a ceiling
2) The petal shaped bowl with seven nozzles. Oil is poured in this bowl and cotton wicks dipped in this oil and placed in the nozzle.
Each of the seven wicks represents a different part of human life: body, mind, intellect, ego, senses, emotions, and the soul. This lamp with a very elegant stem and sturdy base represents the illumination and harmony of oneself, with spiritual enlightenment, and the expression of divine attributes in one's life.
3) The stem of the lamp
4) Stem of the lamp
5) The wide and sturdy base bowl, that catches any dripping oil.

The light in the lamp symbolizes knowledge. It removes darkness, which symbolizes ignorance. The wick in the traditional oil lamp symbolizes ego and the oil used symbolizes our negative tendencies. When we are lit by self knowledge, the negative tendencies (oil) melt away and finally the ego (wick) perishes. When the ego perishes, we realize that we are all the Supreme Truth. See less