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What is a Kundulu?
Deepam, diya, deepak or a kundulu are the names given to a traditional oil lamp lighted for various pooja and auspicious purposes. There are multiple types of Kundulus used in India, but the ones used in South-India are very different. These are typically known as Kundulus in Tamil Nadu. You can find gold, brass or any other metal Kundulu quite commonly used in temples and homes here. The people in India consider the lighting of a lamp sacred before any pooja, or before an auspicious ceremony. These lamps are crafted in various designs. Some are simple like a regular holder for oil and a string of wick, whereas some have beautiful idols engraved on their stands or the top. Any typical Indian pooja is incomplete without the lighting of the lamp.
In rural places and during Diwali, Indians use Kundulus made from clay and pour in in either ghee or oil in the lamp container. A cotton wick is dipped inside the oil or ghee, which burns using the liquid as fuel. The typical South-Indian Kundulu is a must in most homes. Some even purchase them in pairs and place them at the entrance of their homes or offices.
In this article, we have listed some pretty silver Kundulus which are available online in India.
Significance of a Kundulu
There is a more profound significance of lighting the Kundulu. The oil poured symbolises the impurity and negativity in the human mind. These negative emotions can be hatred, jealousy, greed, anger, etc. The cotton wick in the Kundulu symbolizes the 'atma' or the soul of a human. So when you light a Kundulu, it represents the burning of such negative emotions.
There is also a deeper spiritual significance of lighting a diya. It also represents moving from darkness into the light. When you light a Kundulu, some magnetic changes take place in the nearby surroundings. There is an electromagnetic force generated that lingers on one’s skin for three to four hours and activates the blood cells.
Oil lamps are lit in every Hindu home in India before they commence their prayer. In many auspicious occasions, a ceremonious lamp is also lit before the ceremony begins. Hindus believe that by lighting the lamp, they are making the atmosphere pure, and God resides only in pure places. An oil lamp also dispels the darkness and ignorance and brings about the light of knowledge. A Kundulu shines itself and causes every object around it to shine because of its reflection.
According to Hindu religion, Goddess Rajarajeshwari resides inside a lamp. This deity represents the combined form of Goddess Durga, Saraswathi, and Lakshmi.
10 Beautiful Silver Kundulus Available Online
1. Pretty Peacock Silver Kundulu
Joyalukkas is a renowned brand in the world for silver and gold jewellery. From their astounding collection, we have selected this lovely peacock shaped silver Kundulu to grace your Pooja ceremonies. This pretty Kundulu will garner loads of accolades for your excellent choice in silverware. This 92.5 Sterling Silver Kundulu Stand is priced at Rs. 9,333 on tatacliq.com. This diya stand is from the Divino Silver collections by Joyalukkas, and the peacock carved above the lamp flaunts brilliant craftsmanship and also brings about a natural vibe into your home alcoves.
2. Alluring Trishul Silver Kundulu
This stunning pair of two Silver Kundulus can be purchased from Amazon for Rs. 5,799. Manufactured by the Annapurna Krishna Jewellers, each Kundulu weighs around 80 gms and is crafted from 92.5 Sterling Silver. Both the diyas come with a Trishul head. These can be used in homes as well as for gifting. Each deepam features dimensions of 12 x 5.5 cm. It is recommended to clean these Kundulus with a wet cloth; else they would lose their shine. You can place these at the entrance of your pooja rooms, and they are sure to lit up your holy place.
3. Stunning Elephant Silver Kundulu
This captivating Silver Kundulu can be purchased from lalithaajewellery.com. The beautiful deepam makes one wonder at the skilled Indian craftsmanship. It has a pretty carved elephant balancing on a stool to hold the Kundulu on its trunk. The Kundulu container additionally has a carved peacock perched on its top. This lovely piece is an asset forever and can be gifted to someone special for their auspicious ceremonies. To know the price of the product, you need to enquire through their website.
4. Beautiful Laxmi Silver Kundulu
Laxmi silver Kundulu is almost a patent in all Hindu homes as Goddess Lakshmi is believed to be a bestower of wealth and money. This pretty and classic Laxmi Kundulu is crafted from 80% pure silver. It has an image of the deity behind and it opens up wide in the front for the oil or ghee. It is priced at Rs. 2,763 and can be purchased from jpearls.com. You get a 100% refund on the item in case you are not satisfied. This 38-gram classic silver diya can be used for pooja offerings and during aartis.
5. Classic Large Silver Kundulu
A classic silver lamp is a must-have in every pooja ceremony. Small and solid, this one can be placed on the aarti thali too. It is priced at Rs. 3,953 on malabargoldanddiamonds.com, and features dimensions of 1.73 x 2.73 cm. It boasts of 850 silver purity and weight of 44 gm. This classic Kundulu has a tip on the front of its oil container, which enables you to place the cotton wick. It has a charming matte finish as well.
6. Opulent Ganesh Silver Kundulu
This Ganesh Silver Kundulu is a sweet and small diya with a Ganesh image on one side. It has a classic twisted handle which makes it easier to hold it during aartis. Priced at Rs. 2,090, it can be bought from svtmjewels.com. The item has a gross weight of 40.95 gms and has BIS Hallmark certificate assuring you of its quality and purity. It is made of 92.5% white silver, and with perfect carving and an alluring finish, this one is a superb add-on for your Pooja rooms or even for gifting someone.
7. Antique Balaji Silver Lamp
This Designer Golden silver Diya is priced at Rs. 1,154 on jpearls.com and is sure to bring auspicious vibes and religious sentiments to your home's atmosphere. It is also a very beautiful and thoughtful gift for near and dear ones. It weighs approx. 17 grams and comes with dimensions 4.5 cm x 3.9 cm.
8. Pooja Silver Kundulu
This 6 containers diya stand is commonly found in temples and places where aarti is performed on a routine basis. It has 5 mini oil containers on the front attached to a central bigger container, all held together by a handle. Paliwal Jewelers brings you this Kundulu Stand for Rs. 12,780. It weighs 136.46 gms, and is crafted from 70% pure silver and features dimensions of 2.5 x 6 cm. Gift this lovely silver Kundulu to someone who is inaugurating a new house or bring it home for your daily pooja ceremonies; it's sure to make your place holier.
9. Silver-Plated Kundulu
If you are looking for a not-too-costly silver Kundulu, then you can consider this silver-plated diya. Manufactured by Navbharat, this silver-plated Kundulu is priced at Rs. 250 only on Amazon. The Kundulu weighing at 13.6 gms is a beautifully designed diya with pretty carvings. It is ideal for return gifts for pooja ceremonies when you want to gift every guest some worthy favor.
10. Silver Kundulu Pair
An ideal example of stunning craftsmanship, this pair of silver Kundulus will make a mark on your pooja ceremonies. They are priced at Rs. 20,033 for a set of two, and can be purchased from Amazon. The package weighs 357.5 gm and features dimensions of 9.5 x 34 cm each. These are crafted from pure silver and will elevate the aesthetic appeal of your homes and pooja rooms.
Tips on Preserving the Sheen of Your Silver Kundulu
Like any silver metal gets oxidised, your silver Kundulu will also get oxidised when exposed to air. You cannot prevent this process until you wrap your Kundulu in a transparent plastic wrap, but this is impossible as you need to use it for lighting frequently. You can alternatively, clean your silver Kundulu regularly with certain ingredients readily available at home, to remove the blackish deposits resulting due to oxidisation.
- Tamarind: The citrus fruit is very helpful in removing the dark residue from your silver Kundulu. Just take a piece of tamarind and soak it in water for a few minutes. Next, rub it on the kundulu to reveal a sparkling surface behind.
- Lemon: Lemon rind is equally impactful in removing the blackish residue off from your silver deepam. Just rub the rind on the surface directly.
- Baking Soda: You can also scrub your Kundulu with baking soda to remove the tarnish deposits and have a sparkling silver kundulu.
- Colgate: You must have seen in many DIY videos on how to make your silver shine using Colgate that produces amazing results. It is abrasive in nature and contains microbeads of a few chemicals, which work great in removing the surface oxide film.
- Pitambari: You can alternatively, buy this amazing dry powder available in Indian stores for cleaning of silver vessels and items. This powder is effective on copper, brass, silver, aluminum, and steel. It also contains a water repelling agent, which makes the water sheet off the surface and hence remaining glossy and shiny for long. You just have to rub the powder on the Kundulu to reveal a sparkling surface behind.
If you want a professional gleam and sheen on your silver Kundulu, you can also give it to the professional silver polisher who can restore the shine using some approved chemicals.
Keeping These in Mind Before Buying Silver Online
A Silver Kundulu is, in any sense, is a silverware and hence very costly. If you are buying a pure silver Kundulu, you need to be careful about its quality and purity content. It is also recommended to buy it from trusted showrooms or trustworthy online websites to avoid any kind of forgery. Before purchasing a costly silver Kundulu, check the current price of silver per gram and then make your calculations to ascertain how much making charge has been added. Also, find out whether you get a money back guarantee or exchange offer. A purity certificate from the dealer or a receipt is of utmost importance to put the proof of purity on paper.
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A Kundulu Makes an Excellent as well as a Classy Gifting Item as well
You can bring in some positivity and spirituality in your loved ones' lives as well by gifting these silver Kudulus. These would make excellent gifting options for 'griha pravesh' ceremony (moving into the new home) or the inauguration of a new office and such occasions. And as silver is a worthy as well as an auspicious metal whose value only appreciates over time, it would be much appreciated by the receiver.