Palm oil usage for puja, is it good or bad?

Offering salutations to almighty is one of the daily rituals followed by infinite human beings in Hinduism. As we know various types of oils are used for lighting diya (lamps), palm oil is one among them.

As they say right oils always enrich your puja rituals and bring positivity into your home. Oils such as sesame, mustard, coconut, castor, rice bran and mahua oils and even ghee have their unique significance and divine aroma compared to palm oil.

Despite having few benefits on the spiritual front this oil has major negative effects on health and environment. Palm oil is majorly used in making cosmetics and traditional culinary, it is recognised for its unique texture, taste and affordability.

Spiritual benefits of palm oil:

• This oil used in lamps, clay diyas gives steady flame
• It is used for protection from negative energies
• Enhance focused meditation
• With mantras and divine surroundings, it adds more value to the spiritual rituals
• Used in preparing medicinal oils, ointments and other ayurvedic applications

Every positive comes with negative effect, usage of palm oil in lamps is considered unhealthy due to its excessive carbon emission. Most of the puja oils come with special mention of “palm oil free” on the bottle.

Having said that palm oils have major ill impact on nature and health.

• Due to its saturated fat content, it elevates risk of cardiovascular diseases
• It is considered one of the most risky and unhealthy for human consumption
• Usage of this oil leads to diseases related to liver, digestive system, heart and other chronic ailments
• Oils such as coconut, sesame, mustard etc are smoke free compared to palm oil
• Continuous Inhalation of this oil can lead to respiratory issues

Performing puja and other spiritual rites is to maintain purity and calmness. When puja oils harm the surrounding and nature instead of benefitting the aura around us, it is better to avoid such oils for lighting diyas for safety concerns. Due to affordability many people opt to use palm oil but considering its harmful effects it can be easily avoided.

Use puja oils that strengthen your meditative and mental wellbeing. Choose the right oil for spiritual progress.