Following are excerpts from some scriptures (Puranas) describing the glories of lamp offering:
The sins accumulated in millions of kalpas vanish in an instant when a dipa is offered during Kartika. O great brahmana, listen to this dipa’s virtues, which are dear to Keshava. By offering a dipa in this month a person will not take birth on earth again.
This dipa-dana bestows all the benefits available at Kurukshetra during solar eclipses and at Narmada during lunar eclipses, multiplied by the millions. O great sage, what is the value of Ashvamedha sacrifices for someone who in this month lights ghee or sesame oil lamps? By this offering to the Lord, all prescribed activities, even if devoid of mantra, rituals and cleanliness are brought to perfection. Anyone who offers dipa to Keshava during Kartika is actually performing all sorts of ablutions and sacrificial ceremonies.
On the other hand, all the pious deeds of the three worlds are not effective if this Kartika dipa does not burn before Lord Keshava.
O brahmana, since time immemorial the ancestors are praying, ‘If a scion who can please Lord Keshava by this dipa-dana would appear in our lineage, we would certainly all become liberated by the mercy of the Lord, who has a cakra on His hand.’
Moreover, even if the volume of one’s sins equals Mount Meru, this dipa-dana can certainly incinerate them. Be it in a temple of Lord Vasudeva or in one’s private house, this offering yields amazing results. Indeed, the person who lights this dipa before Madhusudana is fortunate and glorious, because even hundreds of sacrifices and ablutions in holy places cannot match the results instantly acquired by this dipa-dana.
Even one who never performs religious rituals or even the worst sinner will surely be purified by this offering. O Narada, in the three worlds there is no sin that can stand before this Kartika dipa. In fact, by presenting this dipa before Lord Vasudeva, the eternal abode can be reached without obstruction.
Now I will tell you about the merits accruing to one who offers a dipa with camphor throughout Kartika, or particularly on the day of Dvadashi. O Narada, all the born or to-be-born members of one’s family line, including all the innumerable forefathers, will enjoy in heaven for a long time according to their wishes, and will attain liberation by the grace of Lord Hari, who has a cakra on His hand.
In this month, O great brahmana, a person who illuminates Lord Keshava’s temple even for the sake of gambling purifies his family up to seven generations. And those who kindle this Kartika dipa in a temple of Lord Vishnu will prosper with wealth, progeny, good reputation, and fame. Just as friction manifests the fire inherent in any wood, so this dipa-dana undoubtedly manifests dharma (present in any action).
O eminent brahmana, the destitute should also arrange for this offering throughout the month, until the full-moon day, even if it is necessary to sell his own person to do so.
The fool who does not offer this dipa in Lord Keshava’s temple during Kartika, O sage, should never be considered a Vaishnava.
(Skanda Purana, dialogue between Brahma and Narada)
Between the offering of all existing wealth and the offering of a dipa during Kartika there is no comparison – in fact, the latter is certainly more precious.
(Naradiya Purana, dialogue between Rukmangada and Mohini)
A person who kindles an akhanda-dipa before Lord Hari will leave for the Lord’s abode on a effulgent vehicle and live there in bliss.
(Padma Purana, dialogue between Shri Krishna and Satyabhama)
“Of all gifts, the gift of a lamp during the month of Kartik is the best. No gift is its equal.”
Source: http://www.iskconvrindavan.com/virtues-of-lamp-offering-during-month-of-kartika/
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