Sukunda: Newa`s five elements

(Information by Dipak Shrestha)

Sukunda is a typical traditional Nepali oil lamp made of brass. The front part of this lamp shows a tiny icon of Ganesha, the god of luck and success. On its front is a small cup fixed in the shape of a Yoni used to put the wick. Fixed on the back of the lamp is a fascinating loop handle designed with a five-headed serpent (sometimes a mythical dragon or makara) raising its head in a very watchful attitude. 

A small spoon with a nagakanya on top generally replenishes the reservoir's oil. The artistic work on this unique oil lamp reflects the remote past of a very famous Buddhist legend. 

The Legend

A long time ago, Kathmandu Valley was a large lake inhabited by nagas(snakes). In the middle of the lake was a beautifully blooming thousand-petalled lotus flame. When Buddhisattwa Mahamanjushree heard about this, he rushed to the valley from China to pay homage to the flame. The entire valley rang up with the thundering strike of his magic sword on the southern hill of the lake, which drained the whole water from the lake, leaving the valley floor open to all.

Nepal's most famous Buddhist stupa, locally known as Swayambhubatha, is believed to have originated from the same legendary lotus flame. The cut where the water drained out is now known as Kwaina. (Kwaina Ganesh).

Interestingly, the word Sukunda means a beautiful lake in the Newari language. The Sukunda story sounds like an artistic fact in fiction. It is said that the oil reservoir of Sukunda represents the legendary lake, and its wide-open mouth represents the full-blown thousand-petalled lotus and the cup attached to it, which is where the lamp is lighted by the self-existent divine lotus flame. The snake hood over the Sukunda and the snake spoon half dipped in its oil reservoir symbolize the nagas (snakes), the original inhabitants of the legendary lake. The Yoni lamp cup symbolizes Swayambhu Jyotirlinga, the self-existent divine light. 

The lamp in this yoni-cup symbolizes the great union of Shiva(Swayambhu) and Shakti. Lord Ganesh, in front, represents the great guru who teaches one and all about the supreme acts of God and his changeless inner nature. This is one of the reasons why Lord Ganesha is entitled to receive the first worship by his devotees before they begin any ceremony. No socio-religious ceremony in Nepal, big or small, ever starts until Sukunda is lit and set up at the ceremonial spot.