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Aarti, ãrti, arathi, or ãrati is a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. It is said to have descended from the Vedic concept of fire rituals, or homa. The word may also refer to the traditional Hindu devotional song that is sung during the ritual. Aarti is performed and sung to develop the highest love for God. "Aa" means "towards", and "rati" means "the highest love for God" in Sanskrit.
Aarti is generally performed twice or three times daily - usually, in the morning and in the evening, and at the end of a puja or bhajan session.
Aarti is also a common name for Hindu females.
The assembled devotees in the temple sing various types of kirtana and bhajans during the arati ceremony. Although exact rituals vary, aarti follows roughly the following steps. The pujari performing arati first purifies his hands with sacred water from the achamana cup. He then sprinkles three spoonfuls of water over a conch, and blows it three times. He then lights an odd number of incense sticks (usually three) from a ghee lamp standing beside the altar. While ringing a small bell, he waves it seven times around the deities, and then he waves it once to the assembled devotees.
The pujari next lights a five-wick ghee lamp from the large lamp and offers it; four circles to the deities' feet, two to their navel, three to their face, and then he waves it seven times around the deities' whole bodies. This allows the devotee to focus on all parts of the deity. He then gives it to another devotee, who presents the lamp to each devotee in the temple room. When offered the ghee lamp, devotees touch the flame with their hands, and then touch their hands to their foreheads in a gesture to embrace the warmth and devotion towards the God.
The pujari then takes a smaller conch and fills it with water. He offers it by waving it three times around the deities' heads and seven times around their bodies. He then pours the water into a shaker; which another devotee takes and walks around the temple room shaking it, ensuring that everyone has been touched by the water.
The next item offered is a cloth, offered seven times around the deities. After the cloth has been offered, the pujari takes a plate with flowers on it and offers it seven times around the deities' bodies. The plate is then taken by another devotee and offered to the rest of the devotees, who each sniff the flowers.
Pujari concluded the aarti by waving a chamara (yak-tail whisk) at the altar in a gesture of fanning the deities. In warm weather, he will also wave a peacock fan before the deities.
Aarti lyrics
While any devotional song or bhajan can be sung during aarti, the following song is very popular. If the aarti is specifically ascribed to a particular deity, then, of course, the corresponding special song of praise is offered.
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare
- Swami Jaya Jagadeesha hare
- Bhakta janon ke sankata
- Daas jano ke sankata
- Kshana mein door Kare
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare
- Jo Dhyaave Phala Paave
- Dukha Vinase Mana kaa
- Swami Dukha Vinase Mana kaa
- Sukha Sampati Ghara Aave
- Sukha Sampati Ghara Aave
- Kashta Mitey Tana kaa
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare...
- Maata Pitaa Tum Merey
- Sharana Gahoon main kiski
- Swami Sharana Gahoon main kiski
- Tum Bin Aur Na Doojaa
- Prabhu Bin Aur Na Doojaa
- Aash karoon main Jiski
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare...
- Tuma Purana Paramaatmaa
- Tuma Antaryaami
- Swami Tuma Antaryaami
- Par Brahma Parameshvara
- Par Brahma Parameshvara
- Tuma Sabake Swami
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare...
- Tuma Karunaa Ke Saagar
- Tuma Paalana Kartaa
- Swami Tuma Paalana Kartaa
- Main moorakh khal-kaami
- Main Sevaka Tum Swami
- Kripaa Karo Bharataa
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare...
- Tum Ho Ek Agochara
- Sabkey Praanapati
- Swami Sabkey Praanapati
- Kisa Vidhi Miloon Dayaamaya
- Kisa Vidhi Miloon Gosai
- Tuma ko main kumati
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare...
- Deena Bandhu Dukha Harataa
- Thaakur Tum merey
- Svaami Rakshaka tum Mere
- Apney haath uthaao
- Apney charan lagaao
- Dwaar para main terey
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare...
- Vishaya Vikaar Mitaao
- Paap Haro Devaa
- Swami Paap Haro Devaa
- Shraddhaa Bhakti Badhaao
- Shraddhaa Prem Badhaao
- Santan Ki Sevaa
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare...
- Tan Man Dhan Sab Hai Tera
- Swaami Sab Kuchh Hai Tera
- Tera Tujhko Arpan
- Tera Tujhko Arpan
- Kyaa Laagey Mera
- Om Jaya Jagadeesha hare...
Other Arti lyrics
There are other very popular arti lyrics, based on a shloka from the Vedas:
- Guru brahma
- Guru vishnu
- Guru devo maheshwarah
- Guru sakshat parabrahma
- Tas mai Shri Guru vai namaha.
Translation: ''Guru is Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Maheswara, Guru is nothing but the Supreme Brahman devoid of attributes. That is the reason why we bow to the Guru''
This version was sung by George Harrison on the song My Sweet Lord.
Aarti in South Indian temples
Aarti performed at South Indian Temples mostly follows the above mentioned rituals except that they are often more elaborate in the way they are performed. Aarti is also referred to as Deepa Aaradhanai in Tamil
The following Sanskrit Shlokha accompanies the ritual of Aarti:
- Rajadhi Rajaya Prasahya Saahine,
- Namo Vayamvai Shravanaya Kurmahe,
- Tumekam Kamakamaya Mahyam,
- Kamesharovai Shravano Thathathu,
- Kuberaya Vai Shravanaya,
- MahaRajaya Namaha
External links
- Ganga Arati Video Quicktime streaming video of worship of the Ganges in Hardwar
"Aarti"