• Single tall brass lamp with a peacock finial on a white and red mat in front of a dark wood entry door
  • Tall brass lamp with a peacock finial and lit wicks, hand lighting it near a wood shelf of framed pictures
  • Pair of tall brass Mahabharat diyas with bird finials displayed on a red and white mat on grass
  • 36-inch tall brass lamp with a peacock finial standing on a gray boulder with mountains in the background
  • 32-inch brass lamp with a peacock finial resting on a dark wood table outdoors at sunset
  • 20-inch brass lamp with a dual-bird finial lit with flame, glowing candles and a gray sofa in the background
  • Close-up of the brass lamp's ornate bird finial and oil tray outdoors against a stone wall
  • Close-up top-down view of the brass lamp's engraved base and stem on a red and white pooja mat outdoors
  • Woman in a gold silk saree holding a lit diya beside the brass lamp near a carved wood temple with marigolds
  • Brass lamp with a peacock finial and lit, smoking wicks, hand lighting it near a marigold-decorated home temple
  • Pair of brass lamps with bird finials below wall-mounted carved elephant and bull head decor with red tassels
  • Pink, red, white, and yellow flower rangoli mat with a brass rooster oil lamp on a wood floor
  • Pair of brass lamps with bird finials on a red and white bajot table against a gray brick wall
  • Brass lamp with a rooster finial lit with flame, woman pouring oil from a small brass pot near a white sofa
  • Six brass lamps of varying sizes with bird finials displayed together on a wood floor near a Christmas tree
  • Urli Utsav Decor shipping graphic: free insured shipping across the USA and Canada, sent from San Ramon, California, with eco-friendly packaging and tracking included
  • video of Brass Mahabharat Kuthu Vilakku Diya Oil Lamp
1 17

Brass Kuthu Vilakku Nilavilakku - Tall Samai Oil Lamp, 4 Sizes

Brass Kuthu Vilakku Nilavilakku - Tall Samai Oil Lamp, 4 Sizes

$480.00
$480.00
🚚 FREE SHIPPING • No Minimum • Always
Length

A kuthu vilakku, also called a nilavilakku or samai, is the tall standing oil lamp that sits at the entrance of a South Indian home or temple and is lit at dusk. This one is solid brass, hand-engraved, and comes in four heights from a 20-inch table lamp up to a 42-inch floor lamp.

Why this one

  • Up to 9.8 kg of brass. The 42-inch weighs 9,800 g - roughly 21.6 lb. A lamp this tall has to be heavy at the base or it tips, and that is exactly where the metal has gone.
  • A real oil lamp, not a decorative one. The bowl is deep enough to hold sesame or coconut oil and a cotton wick through a full evening.
  • Hand-engraved along the stem and the tiers, done in India, so the silhouette carries detail at every level rather than only at the top.
  • Four heights from one listing, so a table lamp and a floor lamp can be matched as a set for either side of a doorway.

Which one do I need

All four are the same lamp scaled up. Height is the only real decision:

  • 20 inches, 2,170 g - a table or altar lamp. Sits on a mandir shelf or a console without dominating it.
  • 32 inches, 6,530 g - three times the weight of the 20-inch. Floor-standing beside a doorway or in a pooja room corner.
  • 36 inches, 7,910 g - the common temple height. Reads clearly from across a hall.
  • 42 inches, 9,800 g - the tallest we carry, at 21.6 lb. An entrance piece, usually bought as a pair.

Each size is priced and sold as a single lamp. For a matched pair either side of a door, add two of the same size to your cart.

Product details

  • Sizes: 20 in (2,170 g), 32 in (6,530 g), 36 in (7,910 g), 42 in (9,800 g)
  • Weight in pounds: 4.8 lb, 14.4 lb, 17.4 lb, 21.6 lb
  • Material: solid brass
  • Finish: gold tone with hand-engraved detailing
  • Sold as a single lamp, not a pair
  • Handcrafted in India

Where it works

Either side of a main door, in a pooja room or home mandir, at the foot of a staircase, or in a temple hall. The 20-inch also works on a dining table or a mandir shelf where a floor lamp would not fit.

Gifting

A griha pravesh and housewarming gift above all - the lamp is lit first when a new home is entered. Also given at weddings and at Karthigai Deepam.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get one lamp or a pair?
One. Each size is priced as a single lamp. If you want a matching pair either side of a doorway, choose your size and add two to the cart.

What oil and wick does it take?
Sesame or coconut oil with a cotton wick, which is the traditional combination. The bowl holds enough for an evening. Ghee works too.

Which height should I buy?
20 inches for a table or altar. 32 to 36 inches for a floor lamp beside a doorway - 36 is the common temple height. 42 inches is an entrance statement and weighs 21.6 lb.

Is it solid brass?
Yes. At 9,800 g on the 42-inch the weight confirms it - a plated or hollow piece of these dimensions would weigh a fraction as much.

How do I clean it?
Wipe out the cooled oil with a paper towel, then dust with a dry cloth. Pitambari powder, Brasso or lemon and salt all bring the shine back. Dry it thoroughly afterwards.

Will the finish change over time?
Brass darkens naturally. Polish it back with a standard brass cleaner if you prefer it bright, or leave it to deepen - both are normal and neither harms the piece.

Can it go outdoors?
It is made for indoor use. Brass weathers and spots outdoors, so keep it sheltered if you put it on a covered porch or patio.

What if it arrives damaged?
Shipping is insured. Photograph the damage, email contact@urliutsav.com, and we will replace it or make it right.

Can I return it?
Yes, within 30 days in original condition and packaging. Return shipping is arranged and paid by the customer, so please check the dimensions against your space first.

Shipping

Free insured shipping across the USA and Canada. Ships from San Ramon, California, usually within one business day. Brass is heavy and we pack it accordingly - if anything arrives damaged, send us a photo and we will resolve it.

See more brass decor and spiritual pieces in our Brass Love Collection.

View full details

Customers are saying