Word Meaning
शमा
shama
hinoun
Meaning
A candle or lamp; symbol of radiant beauty or self-consuming love.
Detailed Meaning
In classical poetry, 'shama' refers to a candle or lamp, epitomizing the luminous beloved or the endurance of burning passion. In this couplet, it appears in the compound 'gul-e-shama' (the trimmed charred wick or glowing flower of the candle), comparing a severed head to the snuffing of a flame. It embodies radiant suffering, illumination, and quiet sacrifice.
Etymology
Arabic (شمع, sham'), meaning wax or candle.
Usage
Ubiquitous in Urdu ghazal, often counterposed with the 'parwana' (moth) to represent the beloved's alluring light and the lover's consuming demise.
Examples
shama har rang mein jalti hai sahar hone tak
bujh gayi taab-e-shama-e-mahfil
Synonyms
चिराग़मोमबत्तीदीपक
Related Words
परवानागुल-ए-शमासोज़महफ़िल