Description:

              In the southern part of India, especially in Kerala is where ‘Nilavilakku’ are commonly found allmost in all kerala households. A door frames in Malayalam is  called  a Nila (നില) and in Tamil Nilai (நிலை). Since these lamps are traditionally meant to keep  at the main entrance of the door  which are technically near the Nila (door frame) this lamps get it name  Nilavilakku ( Malayalam: നിലവിളക്ക് ; Tamil: நிலைவிளக்கு).

             Lighting the Nilavilakku on any occasion is believed to be auspicious. This traditional lamp of Kerala ('nilavilakku') are lit everyday. Even though they have 5 wicks only 2 would be lighted on a daily basis and all the other five wicks are lighted on the special functions and on auspicious occasions like 'Pournami' (full moon day) and other special days. A lamp with five wicks is called 'Bhadradeepam'.

The basics to be followed to light a Nilavilakku;

• Nilavilakku cannot be placed directly on the ground. It could be placed  on a plate or flowers or leaves to avoid direct contact with earth.
• Nilavilakku lamps are generally lit both in the mornings and in the evenings. To be  precisely before the sunrise and before sun set.
• The ideal way to light a ‘Nilavilakku’ is by joining 2 wicks together. Joining two wick ends together makes a single wick of a Nilavilakku.
• The idea way of lighting a Nilavilakku is during the dawn  one wick could be lit facing to the East and in the dawn i.e. before the sunset, lighting 2 wicks- one to the East and other one to the west is tradition. And on the auspicious day 5 wicks are lit each wick facing all four directions (East, West, North South) and the fifth wick facing North-east direction which is  called ‘esaanimoola’.
• We can light 1 or 2 or 3 or 5 wicks ('Bhadradeepam') or even 7 wicks at a time in a ‘nilavilakku’ depending on the occasion.
• Once lit, the light could last for “two Nazhiga” i.e. 48 minutes or atleast minimum for ‘one Nazhiga” which is 24 minutes.
• The light could be put down using flowers or by dipping the wick back in to the oil well but not blowing directly.
• In kerala three kinds of oils are used to light any traditional lamps. Ghee, sesame seed oil and Coconut oil. Using Ghee is considered as uttamam.
• The wick and oil from the previous day has to be replaced with fresh wick and oil.

Product Description:

      This  Nilavilakku has beautiful ribbed design pattern. It is about 100 + years old from Kerala, southern part of India. This lamp could be dismantled in to 3 parts . The base plate (‘Keezhbhagam’) , Pivotal pillar ( ‘Kandam’ ) and "Thattu" (a coil well which is be pretty heavy attached to the crown. Also there is a mention of it’s owner name as ‘P. R. Rama Chandran’.

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Product Details:

SKU ID: PVBL005

Product Name: Nilavilakku- Brass

Made of : Brass

Dimensions : 21.5” H x 7“ (Oil well/ Thattu) ; 7” (Base)  

Weight : 4.5 kgs

Age : 80+ years

Provenance : Kerala

P. S. The products we sell are vintage and antiques and hence may have visible scratches and chip offs. We cherish them as they are reminders of the story they have been part of and hence we display them in the product pictures too.

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Shipping:

We ship all over India.

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Return Policy:

No returns or Exchanges
Please do check the dimensions before you buy.