Design: It is a traditional single-wick oil lamp, consisting of a base, a reservoir (oil bowl), and a decorative backplate.

Finish: One of the images shows a darker, textured antique finish that adds a sense of reverence and age, while another shows a polished, lustrous golden sheen.

Sacred Emblems (The Backplate)

The vertical backplate features intricate engravings of three key symbols associated with Lord Murugan:

• Om (Tamil Script): The central, ornate design is a stylized representation of the sacred syllable Om or Aum in the Tamil script.
  • Significance: Om is the primordial sound of the universe, representing universal consciousness and ultimate reality.
• Vel (Spear): A straight, slender staff or Vel (Lord Murugan’s divine spear) runs vertically through the Om symbol, extending to a stylized flame-like point at the top.
  • Significance: The Vel symbolizes divine knowledge (Gnana Vel), spiritual power, protection, and the triumph over ignorance and illusion. The light of the Diya symbolically emanates from this weapon of wisdom.
• Muruga Inscription: In one of the images, the name “முருகா” (Muruga) is clearly inscribed in Tamil script below the Om-Vel motif, explicitly invoking the deity.
• Peacock: The sides of the central motif are flanked by the head and stylized tail feathers of the Peacock (Mayil), which is Lord Murugan’s celestial vehicle (vahana).

Spiritual Significance and Usage

The Om Vel Muruga Diya is an essential item for Hindu devotional practices, festivals, and home altars:

• Purpose: It is used for lighting a flame (deepam) with oil or ghee during daily puja rituals and festivals like Skanda Shashti or Thaipusam.
• Blessings: The act of lighting this specific lamp is believed to dispel negativity, invite positive vibrations and spiritual growth, and invoke the blessings of divine energy, protection, and courage from Lord Murugan.
• Symbolism of the Flame: The light of the Diya symbolizes the victory of knowledge over ignorance and the dispelling of darkness.