Towards the end of every ritualistic worship (pooja or bhajan) of the Lord or to welcome an honored guest or saint, we perform the aarati. This is always
accompanied by the ringing of the bell and sometimes by singing, playing of musical instruments and clapping.

It is one of the sixteen steps (shodasha upachaara) of the pooja ritual. It is referred to as the lighted lamp in the right hand, which we wave in a clockwise circling movement to light the entire form of the Lord.

Each part is revealed individually and also the entire form of the Lord. As the light is waved we either do mental or loud chanting of prayers or simply behold the beautiful form of the Lord, illumined by the lamp. At the end of the aarati we place our hands over the flame and then gently touch our eyes and the top of the head.

We have seen and participated in this ritual from our childhood. Let us find out why we do the aarati?

Having worshipped the Lord of love - performing abhisheka, decorating the image and offering fruits and delicacies, we see the beauty of the Lord in all His glory. Our minds are focused on each limb of the Lord as the lamp lights it up. It is akin to silent open-eyed meditation on His beauty. The singing, clapping, ringing of the bell etc. denote the joy and auspiciousness, which accompanies the vision of the Lord.

Aarati is often performed with camphor. This holds a telling spiritual significance. Camphor when lit, burns itself out completely without leaving a trace of it. It represents our inherent tendencies (vaasanas). When lit by the fire of knowledge which illumines the Lord (Truth), our vaasanas thereafter burn themselves out completely, not leaving a trace of ego which creates in us a sense of individuality that keeps us separate from the Lord.

Also while camphor burns to reveal the glory of Lord, it emits a pleasant perfume even while it sacrifices itself. In our spiritual progress, even as we serve the guru and society, we should willingly sacrifice ourselves and all we have, to spread the "perfume" of love to all. We often wait a long while to see the illumined Lord but when the aarati is actually performed, our eyes close automatically as if to look within. This is to signify that each of us is a temple of the Lord.

Just as the priest reveals the form of the Lord clearly with the aarati flame, so too the guru reveals to us the divinity within each of us with the help of the "flame" of knowledge (or the light of spiritual knowledge). At the end of the aarati, we place our hands over the flame and then touch our eyes and the top of the head. It means - may the light that illuminated the Lord light up my vision; may my vision be divine and my thoughts noble and beautiful.

The philosophical meaning of aarati extends further. The sun, moon, stars, lightning and fire are the natural sources of light. The Lord is the source of this wonderous phenomenon of the universe. It is due to Him alone that all else exist and shine. As we light up the Lord with the flame of the aarati, we turn our attention to the very source of all light, which symbolizes knowledge and life.

Also the sun is the presiding deity of the intellect, the moon, that of the mind, and fire, that of speech. The Lord is the supreme consciousness that illuminates all of them. Without Him, the intellect cannot think, nor can the mind feel nor the tongue speaks. The Lord is beyond the mind, intellect and speech. How can this finite equipment illuminate the Lord? Therefore, as we perform the aarati we chant;

Na tatra suryo bhaati na chandra taarakam
Nemaa vidyuto bhaanti kutoyamagnib
Tameva bhaantam anubhaati sarvam
Tasya bhasa sarvam idam vibhaati

He is there where the sun does not shine, Nor the moon, stars and lightning.
then what to talk of this small flame (in my hand), Everything (in the universe) shines only after the Lord, A

Answered by Ashish Yadav , an ibibo Wizard, at 11:22 AM on September 09, 2008

Before electrical lighting was introduced, an aarti would be waved in front of a Murti so every part of the Lord murti could be seen.

The aarti is done by in a circular motion moving it in the clockwise direction, highlighting the five kamars (lotus flowers) of the Lord’s Murti;

Mukh kamar – face
Hrday kamar – heart
Hasta kamar – hands
Naabhi kamar – naval
Chaaran kamar – feet
Aarti is performed both at homes and in mandirs. It enables the devotee to focus his/her mind on the Lord.

The vaat (sticks burned during aarti) are dowsed in ghee (purified butter) because milk derivatives are considered pavitra (spiritually pure and purifying). (Amongst all mammals, the cow is considered to be pavitra and sacred.)

Answered by Vipan Thapar , an ibibo Master, at 6:24 PM on August 27, 2008

An aarti is performed and sung to obtain the divine love of God. Put simply, it involves a devotee standing/sitting in front of an idol, moving a tray with a lamp upon it in vertical circles in front of the idol. In doing so the tray is presumed to acquire the power of the deity which is then transferred to the devotee while they cup their hands over the flame and then raise them to their foreheads. This action is accompanied by the ringing of a bell, and the chanting of bhajans.
A metal tray decorated with a lit diya (lamp) and some orange/yellow flowers, with some rice, water, incense, offerings of food, a small bell and a red powder, commonly known as kumkum, clasped in the hands of Hindu devotees when they visit the temple constitute the main props of an aarti.
visit www.window2india.co

Answered by Jyothi , an ibibo Master, at 12:29 PM on August 27, 2008

well, Before electrical lighting was introduced, an aarti would be waved in front of a Murti so every part of the Lord murti could be seen.

The aarti is done by in a circular motion moving it in the clockwise direction, highlighting the five kamars (lotus flowers) of the Lord’s Murti;

* Mukh kamar – face
* Hrday kamar – heart
* Hasta kamar – hands
* Naabhi kamar – naval
* Chaaran kamar – feet

Aarti is performed both at homes and in mandirs. It enables the devotee to focus his/her mind on the Lord.

The vaat (sticks burned during aarti) are dowsed in ghee (purified butter) because milk derivatives are considered pavitra (spiritually pure and purifying). (Amongst all mammals, the cow is considered to be pavitra and sacred.)
source:www.swaminara yangadi.com/help/faq/temple-aa rti.php

Answered by Debashis , an ibibo Master, at 11:05 PM on August 26, 2008

It is one of the sixteen steps (shodasha upachaara) of the pooja ritual. It is referred to as the lighted lamp in the right hand, which we wave in a clockwise circling movement to light the entire form of the Lord. At the end of the aarati we place our hands over the flame and then gently touch our eyes and the top of the head.

Aarati is often performed with camphor. This holds a telling spiritual significance. Camphor when lit, burns itself out completely without leaving a trace of it. It represents our inherent tendencies (vaasanas). When lit by the fire of knowledge which illumines the Lord (Truth), our vaasanas thereafter burn themselves out completely, not leaving a trace of ego which creates in us a sense of individuality that keeps us separate from the Lord. Also while camphor burns to reveal the glory of Lord, it emits a pleasant perfume even while it sacrifices itself.

Answered by Shishir , an ibibo Master, at 10:50 PM on August 26, 2008

Dear kutti !

AARATI : " Arati ka arth hai Devata ko aart-bhava se , antahkarana se pukarana "

However let me reproduce the importance of aarati from "Aarati kaise karen " [ Page 9 ] by Sanatan Sanstha :

" Aarati ke samay Aarati ke shabdon se Sukshma-rupa Devata ki Murti
ya Pratima ko halke se sparsha karata hai aur fir Aarti ganewale va sunane wale ki taraf jata hai. jeeva ki "SUKSHMA-SHARIR" [AURA] per usaka
parinam hota hai. "

" Arati ke pratyeka shabda me vidyaman satvikata jiva ke sukshma-deha ki taraf prakshepit hopti hai, esliye aarati ke uparant halkapan lagata hai."

"Aarati ke shabdon se jiva ki SUSHUMNA NADI jagrit hoti hai , esiliye uname BHAVA-JAGRIT hota hai."

For other citations and esoteric answer one may go with my ibibo answer file.

Thanks, with divine love and blessings..................... .......................shiva.

Answered by SHIVA SHANKE , an ibibo Master, at 8:45 PM on August 26, 2008

AArti is a way to appreciate the Lord.You take all the curse that may be cast upon Him.It is known that the Deity is beyond all such curses,but nonetheless the devotee thinks that there might have been some unclean hands or eyes that may have dirtied the Lord.By way of Aarti the curse is waived away or shared.
You have seen mothers doing such deeds for their offsprings.They take Balayein of the child and accept all the evil off him.

Answered by Vijay Kayal , an ibibo Master, at 6:30 PM on August 26, 2008

An aarti is performed and sung to obtain the divine love of God. Put simply, it involves a devotee standing/sitting in front of an idol, moving a tray with a lamp upon it in vertical circles in front of the idol. In doing so the tray is presumed to acquire the power of the deity which is then transferred to the devotee while they cup their hands over the flame and then raise them to their foreheads. This action is accompanied by the ringing of a bell, and the chanting of bhajans.

Answered by SESHAN , an ibibo Master, at 4:09 PM on August 26, 2008

Towards the end of every ritualistic worship (pooja or bhajan) of the Lord or to welcome an
honored guest or saint, we perform the aarati. This is always accompanied by the ringing of
the bell and sometimes by singing, playing of musical instruments and clapping.
It is one of the sixteen steps (shodasha upachaara) of the pooja ritual. It is referred to as the
lighted lamp in the right hand, which we wave in a clockwise circling movement to light the
entire form of the Lord.
Each part is revealed individually and also the entire form of the Lord. As the light is waved
we either do mental or loud chanting of prayers or simply behold the beautiful form of the
Lord, illumined by the lamp. At the end of the aarati we place our hands over the
flame and then gently touch our eyes and the top of the head.
We have seen and participated in this ritual from our childhood. Let us find out why we do
the aarati?
Having worshipped the Lord of love - performing abhisheka, decorating the image and
offering fruits and delicacies, we see the beauty of the Lord in all His glory. Our minds are
focused on each limb of the Lord as the lamp lights it up. It is akin to silent open-eyed
meditation on His beauty. The singing, clapping, ringing of the bell etc. denote the joy and
auspiciousness, which accompanies the vision of the Lord.
Aarati is often performed with camphor. This holds a telling spiritual significance. Camphor
when lit, burns itself out completely without leaving a trace of it. It represents our inherent
tendencies (vaasanas). When lit by the fire of knowledge which illumines the Lord (Truth),
our vaasanas thereafter burn themselves out completely, not leaving a trace of ego which
creates in us a sense of individuality that keeps us separate from the Lord.
Also while camphor burns to reveal the glory of Lord, it emits a pleasant perfume even while
it sacrifices itself. In our spiritual progress, even as we serve the guru and society, we should
willingly sacrifice ourselves and all we have, to spread the "perfume" of love to all. We often
wait a long while to see the illumined Lord but when the aarati is actually performed, our
eyes close automatically as if to look within. This is to signify that each of us is a temple of
the Lord.
Just as the priest reveals the form of the Lord clearly with the aarati flame, so too the guru
reveals to us the divinity within each of us with the help of the "flame" of knowledge (or the
light of spiritual knowledge). At the end of the aarati, we place our hands over the flame and
then touch our eyes and the top of the head. It means - may the light that illuminated the
Lord light up my vision; may my vision be divine and my thoughts noble and beautiful.
The philosophical meaning of aarati extends further. The sun, moon, stars, lightning and fire
are the natural sources of light. The Lord is the source of this wonderous phenomenon of the
universe. It is due to Him alone that all else exist and shine. As we light up the Lord with the
flame of the aarati, we turn our attention to the very source of all light, which symbolizes
knowledge and life.
Also the sun is the presiding deity of the intellect, the moon, that of the mind, and fire, that
of speech. The Lord is the supreme consciousness that illuminates all of them. Without Him,
the intellect cannot think, nor can the mind feel nor the tongue speaks. The Lord is beyond
the mind, intellect and speech. How can this finite equipment illuminate the Lord?
Therefore, as we perform the aarati we chant;

Na tatra suryo bhaati na chandra taarakam
Nemaa vidyuto bhaanti kutoyamagnib
Tameva bhaantam anubhaati sarvam
Tasya bhasa sarvam idam vibhaati

He is there where the sun does not shine,
Nor the moon, stars and lightning.
then what to talk of th

Answered by Tingtong , an ibibo Master, at 3:55 PM on August 26, 2008