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,
And by His light alone are we all illumined.
