What is Aarti?/आरती क्या है?

What is Aarti?/आरती क्या है?: Aarti also spelled is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of Pooja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities.

Aarti(What is Aarti) can be simple to extravagant, but always involves flame or light. It is sometimes performed one to five times daily, and usually at the end of a Pooja (in southern India) or bhajan session (in northern India). It is performed during almost all Hindu ceremonies and occasions. It involves the circulating of an ‘Aarti plate’ or ‘Aarti lamp’ around a person or deity and is generally accompanied by the congregation singing songs in praise of that deva or person (many versions exist). In doing so, the plate or lamp is supposed to acquire the power of the deity.

The priest circulates the plate or lamp to all those present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to their forehead– the purificatory blessing, passed from the deva’s image to the flame, has now been passed to the devotee.

Procedure:

Aarti(What is Aarti) can be an expression of many things including love, benevolence, gratitude, prayers, or desires depending on the object it is done to/ for. For example, it can be a form of respect when performed to elders, prayers when performed to deities, or hope when performed for homes or vehicles. Emotions and prayers are often silent while doing Aarti, but this is determined by the person carrying out the ritual or the holiday involved. It’s also believed that goodwill and luck can be taken through symbolic hand movements over the flame.

When aarti is performed, the performer faces the deity of God (or divine element, e.g. Ganges river) and concentrates on the form of God by looking into the eyes of the deity (it is said that eyes are the windows to the soul) to get immersed. The flame of the aarti illuminates the various parts of the deity so that the performer and onlookers may better see and concentrate on the form. Aarti(What is Aarti) is waved in circular fashion, in clockwise manner around the deity.

After every circle (or second or third circle), when Aarti has reached the bottom (6–8 o’clock position), the performer waves it backwards while remaining in the bottom (4–6 o’clock position) and then continues waving it in clockwise fashion. The idea here is that aarti represents our daily activities, which revolves around God, a center of our life. Looking at God while performing aarti reminds the performer (and the attendees of the aarti) to keep God at the center of all activities and reinforces the understanding that routine worldly activities are secondary in importance. This understanding would give the believers strength to withstand the unexpected grief and keeps them humble and remindful of God during happy moments. Apart from worldly activities aarti also represents one’s self – thus, aarti signifies that one is peripheral to Godhead or divinity.

How to Perform Aarti:

The aarti plate is generally made of metal, usually silver, bronze or copper. On it must repose a lamp made of kneaded flour, mud or metal, filled with oil or ghee. One or more cotton wicks (always an odd number) are put into the oil and then lighted, or camphor is burnt instead. The plate may also contain flowers, incense and akshata (rice). In some temples, a plate is not used and the priest holds the ghee lamp in his hand when offering it to the Deities.

The purpose of performing aarti(What is Aarti) is the waving of lighted wicks before the deities in a spirit of humility and gratitude, wherein faithful followers become immersed in God’s divine form. It symbolizes the five elements:

1. Space (Aakash)
2. Wind (vayu)
3. Fire (Agni)
4. Water (jal)
5. Earth (prithvi)

(or in this sequence ‘Bh’umi (Earth),’Agni (Fire),’G’agan (Space),’Wa’yu (Wind),’N’eer (Water) (BHAGWAN)

Community Aarti is performed in the mandir; however, devotees also perform it in their homes.

The Plate of the Pooja:

The plate of the aarti must be made of metals like brass, copper, silver or  gold. an lamp made up of dough of flour, metal or earth i kept. It may be round, five faced, seven faced or more but of odd numbers. The wicks poured into the ghee or oil in the lamp are placed and burnt. Usually oil is used to burn the protection lamp and ghee in the general. Besides the lamp, flowers, camphor, incense sticks, benzyl are kept on the plate. In the case of river aarti(What is Aarti), only lamps are used with hundreds of wicks which is called sahasradeep. It is to be noted that the number of wicks must be in odd numbers.

Importance of Pooja Materials:

During the aarti different types of materials are used. The pitcher is not only used but some materials are put inside. These materials are based on religious and scientific reasons.

Pitcher:

This is made up of a particular shape. The inside of this is fully vacant. According to religious scriptures, Lord Shiva lives in this place. This shows that while performing Aarti(What is Aarti) the devotee is totally absorbed into the Lord Shiva. It is said that all the gods reside in this pitcher.

Water:

The pitcher full of water is said to be the seat of the deities. It is a pure element according to mythology, so the god of the water becomes happy by this act.

Coconut:

During the performing the aarti(What is Aarti), a coconut is placed on the neck of the pitcher. A store of energy is believed to be found on the apex of the coconut. When we recite aarti(What is Aarti), the energy on the top of the coconut reaches to the water by sound waves. The waves are too fine.

Gold:

In Hindu mythology it is said that gold spreads positive energy around it. So it is called pure. So gold is called to be the medium to connect with god.

Copper coin:

The copper has the ability to produce pious waves more than the other metals. The waves formed inside the pitcher enters in the ether of the atmosphere. Dropping coins into the pitcher is the symbol of sacrifice. Hence, if copper coins are dropped into the pitcher, it means that the devotee is absorbing in pious momentum.

Water of Seven Rivers:

The water from Ganges, Godavari, Yamuna, Sindhu, Saraswati, Cauvery and Narmada are poured into the pitcher. These mixed water have a capability of attracting positive energy and emitting to atmosphere. Most of the sagas meditated for the enlightment by seating on the bank of these rivers.

Betel and Nuts:

If we throw betel nuts into the water, the waves produced by it ends the lavishness and produce a quality of absorbing the godly things inside. The creepers of betel is also called Nagbel means snake creepers which is said to be the chain of meeting earth with heaven.

Basil:

In Hindu mythology and Ayurved, the usage of basil is observed since ancient time. In comparison to other vegetations, basil has the power to purify the atmosphere.