Why are lamps made from wheat flour used for Yamadipadana?

1. Dhanatrayodashi

Importance of the day of Dhanatrayodashi: According to Shaka Samvat, Ashwin Krushna Trayodashi and according to Vikram Samvat, Kartik Krushna Trayodashi is the Dhanatrayodashi. Dhanatrayodashi is the day of Jayanti of Dhanvantari, Ayurvedic healer of the Deities. At the time of ocean churning, the Ayurvedic healer of Deities, Dhanvantari, appeared holding a pot of nectar (Amrut) in His hands on the day of Dhanatrayodashi. The scholars and healers of Ayurveda worship Dhanvantari on this day and wish for the longevity and health of the people. On the day of Dhanvantari Jayanti the Holy sacrament made from neem leaves is distributed.
Dhanatrayodashi is celebrated in the form of a vowed religious observance (vrat) also. Dhanatrayodashi is a vowed religious observance (vrat) associated with Deity Yamadeva. If it is not possible to perform this vrat, offering a lamp is surely done in the evening for Yamadeva.

2. Yamadipadana

In the Dipavali period, offering of a lamp (dipadana) is done on the three days of Dhanatrayodashi, Narakachaturdashi and Yamadwitiya.
कार्तिकस्‍यासिते पक्षे त्रयोदश्‍यां निशामुखे ।
यमदीपं बहिर्दद्यादपमृत्‍युर्विनिश्‍यति ।। - स्‍कंदपुराण
Meaning: By placing a lamp outside the house for Yamadeva in the evening of Trayodashi of the dark fortnight of Kartik, the untimely death is averted. Yamadev gave an assurance to his attendants that those who performed dipadana on Dhanatrayodashi will not suffer untimely death.

2.1 Spiritual importance of Yamadipadana on Dhanatrayodashi

2.2 Substances of worship required for Yamadipadana

In the ritual of Yamadipadana there should be sandalwood paste, flowers, turmeric, vermilion, consecrated rice, that is, unbroken rice etc. in the ritualistic platter. Similarly for the purpose of achaman a copper platter, tumbler (panchapatra), spoon (achamani) are also necessary. For the purpose of Yamadipadana special lamps made of kneaded wheat flour mixed with turmeric powder are used.
Importance of lamps made of wheat flour: On Dhanatrayodashi the tama-dominant Energy frequencies and tama-dominant frequencies of Water Principle are active in higher proportion. These frequencies are responsible for the untimely death of a person. The lamp made of wheat flour has the ability to pacify these frequencies. So for the purpose of Yamadipadana the lamps made of wheat flour are used.
Science underlying drawing a rangoli associated with the Krushna Principle for placing a lamp at the time of Yamadipadana: For installing the lamp for the purpose of Yamadipadana a rangoli of Srikrushna device (yantra) is drawn. There is a special importance of making a rangoli of Srikrushna yantra in this manner for the purpose of Yamadipadana. Before the ritual of worshipping a lamp, a resolve is made after invoking Sri Vishnu with His 24 Names. ‘Srikrushna’ is a complete incarnation of Sri Vishnu. Yamadeva also has Srikrushna Principle. For this reason the arrival of Yamadeva occurs in the form of Principle at the venue of the ritual in a short time. The distress caused to a person because of the inertia-indicating frequencies associated with death is reduced as a result of the worship of Srikrushna and Yamadeva. Shiva Principle is also present in Yamadeva. For this reason rangoli associated with Shiva Principle is also drawn.

2.3 Ritual of Yamadipadana

Subtle effect of ritualistic worship of the lamp:
Other rituals performed in the ritualistic worship are:

2.4 Effects of placing the worshipped lamp outside the house facing south

Frequencies of Yama are attracted and emitted in higher proportion from south. Subtle process taking place by installing the lamp to south is as follows:
Deity of the place (Sthandevata) and Deity of the premise (Vastudevata) arrive in Principle form to take darshan of Yamadeva. All members residing in the premise benefit by the arrival of these Deities. As the Yama frequencies come closer, by offering the worshipped lamp to Yamadeva, it is acquired by Him in a short time and easily. Hence, the person is protected from the frequencies that cause untimely death.
With reference to Yamadipadana, a Saint from Sanatan ashram, Panvel, H.H. Parasharam Pandey Maharaj states, "Yama is the Deity of death and Dharma. We should be constantly aware that death of every person is certain. Offering the lamp to Yamadev we should pray that ‘We are offering the lamp as a symbol of alertness and light, please accept it’."

3. Ritualistic worship of treasury by merchants

Commercial year is from one Divali to subsequent Divali. Account books of New Year are bought on this day. At some places merchants worship their treasury. Thus, from the spiritual practice of merchant (Vaishya) class, moving ahead on the path of Spirituality becomes possible for the traders. On the day of Dhanatrayodashi, new vessels of gold or silver or new clothes are purchased.
Science underlying the purchase of new vessels of gold or silver on Dhanatrayodashi: On this day, the wealth form of Sri Lakshmi is invoked through the action of purchasing new vessels of gold or silver and the active Lakshmi principle is given momentum. This helps in accumulation of wealth in the treasury safe.

Ananta Chaturdashi Vrat

1. Ananta Vrat

The implied meaning of Ananta is the Energy in the form of Chaitanya that has no end. The date as per the Hindu lunar calendar (tithi) of Sri Ganesh Chaturthi is Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi. During the period from this tithi to Ananta Chaturdashi, the energy is emitted in higher proportion from Sri Ganeshji. Similarly, on this day the Ganesh Principle is also emitted 10% more in the Universe.
The duration of Ananta vrat is fourteen years. Thereafter the vrat is concluded. This vrat is undertaken on the advice of someone or getting the thread of Ananta easily.

1.1 Objective of Ananta vrat

Ananta vrat is observed with the intention of fulfillment of worldly desires (‘kamya vrat’). This vrat is mainly observed for regaining lost prosperity. On the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, the frequencies of Sri Vishnu are active in the Universe. It is easy for average people to attract and absorb these frequencies on this day. Doing Anantapujan means absorbing the action-energy of Sri Vishnu.
The presiding Deity of Ananta vrat is Ananta, that is, Bhagawan Sri Vishnu. The Deities Yamuna and Shesha also accompany Sri Vishnuji.

1.2 Ananta vrat pujan

As far as possible, the ritualistic worship of Ananta should be performed by a couple. In exceptional cases, a man or a woman alone can perform the worship.
Subtle-process taking place on invoking Yamunaji in the kalasha filled with water during the ritualistic worship of Ananta vrat: By invoking Yamunaji, the frequencies of Srikrushna in the water are awakened. These frequencies are obtained by the worshipper and they destroy the black, round, spiral-shaped raja-tama-dominant frequencies in the worshipper’s body. With this, the body of the worshipper is purified. The ritualistic worship done with a pure body gives more benefit.

1.3 Ritualistic worship of Sheshanag

In this the cobra (nag) with seven hoods made of the sprouts of a type of grass called darbha is ritualistically worshipped as a symbol of Sheshanag.

1.4 Reason underlying the ritualistic worship of Sheshnag in Ananta vrat

On the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, action frequencies associated with Sri Vishnu principle are emitted in the Universe. Deity Sheshnag is an excellent carrier of these frequencies.
The task of Energy of Action (Kriyashakti) associated with human body:
The action energy present in human body maintains his gross body through the medium of the Absolute Earth Principle and the shape of the body through the medium of the Absolute Water Principle. Sheshadevata provides energy required for the various tasks of that part of the Divine Consciousness that governs the functioning of the mind and body (Chetanashakti).
The action frequencies in the form of the Absolute Fire Principle present in the darbha circulate in active form. Through the symbol of Sheshanag made of darbha, the round spiral action frequencies of Sri Vishnu present in the Universe are attracted. These frequencies spread at the place of ritualistic worship. They touch the worshipper and spread in his body.

1.5 Ritualistic worship of the thread symbolic of Ananta

After the ritualistic worship of Sheshanag, the worship of the thread, the symbol of Sri Vishnu, that is, Ananta is done. Before worshipping the thread is purified by reciting mantras. For the consecration of Ananta, Madanant Deity, that is, Bhagawan Sri Vishnuji is invoked. Among the two threads in the glass (fulpatra), the thread on the left of the worshiper is the male thread and thread to his right is the female thread.

1.6 The importance and science underlying the Ananta thread of 14 knots

There are 14 main knots (granthis) in human body. These knots are connected to each other through the flow of Chetanashakti. As a symbol of which, the thread with 14 knots is ritualistically worshipped with recitation of mantras.
The action frequencies of Sri Vishnu present in the Universe are attracted towards the Ananta threads, after its ritualistic worship and the thread is charged with these frequencies. By tying the thread on the arms, the entire body of the person is charged with these energy frequencies. Thus, the flow of Chetanashakti present in his body gains momentum.

1.7 Science underlying offering sweet puris made of pumpkin in Anantpujan

Naivedya of sweet puris made of pumpkin is offered in Anantpujan and the Deity of vrat is immersed. The vrat is concluded (udyapan) after 14 years.
Subtle air sheaths of pumpkin have the capacity of attracting and storing the action energy frequencies of the Universe. Hence, the active frequencies of Energy of Action are attracted in the puris made of pumpkin in a short time.
Sanatan Hindu Dharma includes observation of particular vrats on particular tithis, various actions associated with that vrat, observation of rituals and restrictions etc. In Hindu Dharma, rules are laid down in the Scriptures for enabling the humans to be strong, competent and to gain all necessary energies.

1.8 The teaching gained from Ananta Chaturdashi

During the period of 10 days, from Sri Ganesh Chaturthi to Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesh principle descends on Earth and spreads in so many homes and merges into infinity (Ananta) with immersion of the Ganesh idol. In short, Celebrating Ananta Chaturdashi means remembering the ultimate goal of God-realisation and reaching Vaikunth.