Why do we aarti?

[Guest guest]

Towards the end of every ritualistic worship (pooja or bhajan) of the Lord or to

welcome an honoured guest or saint, we perform the aarti. 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 auspicious light (mangala niraajanam). Holding the lighted

lamp in the right hand, we wave the flame in clockwise direction 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 moved we either do mental or loud chanting of

prayers or simply behold the beautiful form of the Lord, illuminated by the

lamp. We experience an added intensity in our prayers and the Lord's image seems

to manifest a special beauty at that time. At the end of the aarti 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 Why

we do the aarti?

 

Having worshiped the Lord with love - performing abhishekh, 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 limn of the Lord as it is lit up by the

lamp. It is akinto silent open-eyed meditation on His beauty. The singing,

clapping ringing of the bell etc. denotes the joy and auspiciousness, which

accompanies the vision of the Lord.

 

Aarti is often performed with camphor. This holds a telling spiritual

significance. Camphor when lit burns itself out completely without leaving a

trace of it. Camphor represents our inherent tendencies (vaasanas).when lit by

the fire of knowledge which illuminates the Lord (truth), our vaasanas

thereafter burn themselves out completely, not leaving a trace of the 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 the Lord it emits a pleasant

smell 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 aarti is

actually performed, our eyes close automatically as if to look within. This is

to signify that each of us is the temple of the Lord - we hold the divinity

within. Just as the priest reveals the form of the Lord clearly with the aarti

flame, so too the guru clearly reveals to us the divinity within each of us with

help of the 'flame' of knowledge. At the end of the aarti, we place our hands

over the flame and then touch our eyes and 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 aarti extends further. The sun, moon, stars,

lighting and fire are the natural sources of light. The Lord is the source of

all these wondrous phenomena of the universe. It is due to Him alone that else

exist and shine. As 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 illumines

all of them. Without Him the intellect cannot think, nor can the mind feel nor

the tongue speak. The Lord is beyond the mind, intellect and speech.