Aarti

Vedanta Letters
by Sanjiv R. Malkan, Ph.D.
Aarti
åArtaI
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What is åArtaI ¿
A arti (åArtaI) is perhaps the most attended ritual in
Hindu temples yet it is least understood. ‘Aarti’
Darshan is considered to be one of the most auspicious
flame, which burns on a wick, placed on a plate, which
is rotated round the Deity. Aarti is a form of
congregational worship, in which the devotees stand
Darshans in Pushti Margiya and Maryada Purushottam facing the image of a deity or a defied saint or, the
temples. Aarti is one of the 16 offerings of the Pooja personage (‘living idol’) of an exalted saint singing
ritual. Aarti is also considered to be a stand-alone ritual devotional songs in unison. Normally, musical
in Hinduism. It was the masters of the school of Bhakti instruments such as bells, gongs and cymbals
(devotion) who transformed the simple-fire ritual into accompany the singing. The object of worship is
an exalted spiritual method referred as ‘aarti’. devoutly decorated with posy garlands and, aromatic
incense and musk are kept smoldering (this is commonly
In Maryada Purushottam temples, Aarti of God/Goddess referred as Shringar). While the devotees sing psalms,
is performed twice a day, in the morning at the sun rise either an official or a devotee revolves clockwise,
and again in the evening at the sunset. While in Pushti (usually) a fivefold oil lamp – consisting of five oil –
Margiya temples, Aarti is traylets - round the object of
performed during each Darshans, adoration. By waving the lights
typically 6 to 8 times a day. If in circular motion, we, in fact,
you want to experience the true symbolically perform
mahima of Aarti darshan, then ‘Pradakshina’ around our Deity.
you must visit Nathdwara temple
in Rajasthan, India. A lamp with wicks burning
clarified butter (ghee) is most
Nowadays Aarti has become preferred. After the devotional
traditional Indian form of singing, the flame of the aarti-
greeting, which has no more lamp is offered to the devotees,
religious significance than a who pass their hands by turns
handshake in western culture or over the sacred flame and
giving someone a wreath of quickly draw them to their faces
flowers as a welcome in Hawaii. As an example, ‘Aarti’ and heads as a gesture of drawing onto themselves the
is often performed to greet the principal celebrant in auspicious energy emanating from ‘the receptacle grace’
India such as Pope, a movie star or political leaders. i.e. the flame.
I have come across many explanations on Aarti but none A hymn is an expression of ardent devotion which in
of them conveyed a true meaning of aarti. Recently I turn is capable of evoking emotions in the hearts of those
found an explanation, which really makes sense and who recite it. The most common hymn (ironically this
truly says what aarti is all about, which I want to share is also called ‘aarti’) is ‘Om Jaya Jagdish Hare’.
with you.
What we should know about the Aarti
What we know about the Aarti
The Word. First let us understand the word. The word
The ritual of aarti is a kind of simple fire ritual. That is ‘aarti’ is an adjective form of the word ‘aart’ (åARta) which
why is frequently translated as a ritual as of ‘waving in Sanskrit/Gujarati means tiredness or Vedna.
lamps’. In simplest term the Aarti consists of a small
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The Meaning. When we think of Aarti, we immediately instead we must say hum aarti utarne ja rahe he (hma
have an image of ourselves waving a flamed lamp in åArtaI ütaArnae jaA rhe hœ). In other words hame dukh
front of an idol. This action really does not go well utana hai, dukh karna nahi. Similarly we say ‘aarti le
with the meaning of the word ‘aarti’ which we just learnt. lo’ instead we must say ‘aarti bat lo’. In other words
You may think what tiredness or vedna got to do with dukh lena nahi, dukh ko bat lo.
waving a flamed lamp in front of an idol. Now let us
understand this concept. This is little hard to understand The Philosophy behind ‘Aarti’
moreover, it is hard to explain in English language
because the lack of proper words to explain the meaning! The Ritual of the Aarti makes the light of the flame
However, I will try! dispel darkness, the incense that is burnt gives out
fragrance, a bell is rung, hands are clapped while one
The vedic philosophy believes that Lord does everything sings the Aarti. If you ask a Feng-Shui expert, he will
for us. In fact the very existence of us is due to Lord’s confirm that all the above is very good to ward of an
Kriya. This constant kriya makes Lord tired and evil eye!
experiences vedna. In order to alleviate him/her from
this vedna or tiredness, we the devotees essentially tell When the five-wick lamp is lit, the devotee waves it
Lord that give us your vedna and we will perform your symbolically, offering his five pranas (The entire being
work. of five pranas, which are praan, apaan, samaan, udaan
and vyan. Praan has it’s seat in the lungs and is breath,
In aarti, the jyot or deep means aatma. Usually there Apaan goes downwards and out at the anus. Samaan
are five jyots representing five pranas. The thali or a has its seat in the cavity of the navel and is essential to
lamp holder represents the body. So basically when we digestion. Udaan rises up in the throat and enters the
wave a lighted lamp in front of an idol we are saying to head. Vyan is diffused through the whole body), to the
the Lord that give us your vedna and I will do all the Lord, totally surrendering himself and gaining, seeking
work. Based on this thought, we have ‘dev podhi the union of the devotee’s soul with the Supreme Self.
ekadashi’ and ‘dev uthi ekadashi’. The period between
these two ekadashis’s is a resting period for Lord. Benefits of Aarti
The circular waving motion of the lamp represents the • Worship in a congregational setting is helpful
circle of life or Kriya chakra. In other words we are in more than one way.
saying that we will keep this kriya chakra moving • In a communal prayer devotees can pray in a
forward. Remember, without Kriya there is no progress! space charged with the homogeneous devotional
fervors of a group can cut across the insulation
The waving motion differs from sect to sect and region of the ego and merge easily into a group rhythm.
to region. This has to do with local customs, schools of • It induces a sense of expanded consciousness
thoughts and priest preferences. This is also a deep in which one tends to lose the individual ‘voice’
subject matter. We will discuss it later. subtly, an awareness of being a part of a ‘Whole’
sense of separate identity melts into the
After aarti ritual we usually pass the lamp (aarti) to mainstream of collective consciousness.
others. The philosophy behind this is that we essentially
all have to distribute vedna and participate in Lord’s Worthy to note
kriya.
In Vishno Devi temple, the holy cave is closed for
The correct phrase pilgrims during the period the Aarti is being performed.
It usually takes around two hours for the Aarti to be
We often say that ham aarti karne ja rahe he (hma åArtaI completed. Only the Pujaris, Sahayaks and an officer
kaãrnae jaA rhe hœ). This phrase is philosophically incorrect,

are permitted in the cave when the Aaarti is being wife. This tradition has been observed since Rama’s
performed. wedding to Sitaji in Tretra Yuga.
Indian Catholics perform ‘Aarti’ when a child returns In Badrinath temple, usually ‘aarti’ is performed with
home after receiving First Holy Communion, and when Chandan dhoop. Chandan dhoop gives coolness
newly married couples are received by their respective (sheetalta). Now Badrinath is a very cold place, then
families. Hindus do the same at the marriage ceremony. why Chandan dhoop aarti which will make the
Bride’s Mother perform ‘aarti’ of her would be son-in- environment even colder. The bhav behind this is that
law when she welcomes him at the Lagna Mandap. The Lord Badrinath is doing tap underneath a tree, and due
bhav behind this aarti is that the Bride’s Mother to this ardent tap, Lord Bdirñtah experiences tapoagni.
essentially conveys to the son-in-law that give me all Therefore, in order to alleviate Lord from this tapogani,
your worries and take good care of my daughter as your we the devotees offer Chandan dhoop aarti.
ø
Hymn of Creation from the Rigveda "Whatever you may fail to guard,
Mandala 10, Sutra 129, Sloka 7
guard well your tongue; for flawed
îyaÂ ivasa&ix¢ya´ta åabaBaUva yaid vaa dDae yaid vaa na . speech unfailingly invokes
yao åSyaaDyaªa… parmae vyaomanaÅ †sao åƒÄ¯ vaed yaid vaa na vaed .. anguish and afflication."
That from which this creation came into being,
whether It had held it together or It had not, Tirukural Verse 127
He who surveys it in the highest region,
He truly, knows it, or maybe He does not know!

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Aarti

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Vedanta Letters

by Sanjiv R. Malkan, Ph.D.

MultiMedia Communications, Inc.

Vedanta Letters -- Contact at [email protected] Page 2

Vedanta Letters -- Contact at [email protected] Page 3

Vedanta Letters -- Contact at [email protected] Page 4

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