What Is Aarti?

Aarti is a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more devas/devis.

Aarti 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 refers to the whole puja ritual, of which offering the lamp is only one part. A conch is blown to start the aarti, and then an odd number of incense sticks are offered to the deity. The lamp is offered next, and then circulated among the devotees. A conch is then filled with water, and offered; the water is then poured into a sprinkler and sprinkled over the devotees. A cloth and flowers are then offered, and the flowers are circulated to the devotees, who sniff them. The deity is then fanned with a camara whisk, and a peacock fan.

Aarti is generally performed two to five times daily, and usually at the end of a puja or bhajan session. It is performed during almost all Hindu ceremonies and occasions. It involves the circulating of an 'Aarti plate' around a person or idol and is generally accompanied by the singing of songs in praise of that deva or person (many versions exist). In doing so, the plate itself is supposed to acquire the power of the deity. The priest circulates the plate 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.

The purpose of performing arati is to ward off evil effects and the malefic influence of the 'evil eye'. Aarti is hence performed on people of high social or economic status; small children during various ceremonies; on people who are going on or are coming back from a long journey; on a bride and bridegroom when they enter their house for the first time; at harvest; on anything else of importance. It is also performed on newly acquired property, or before an important task.

It is believed that the idol of a deva too is susceptible to the evil eye, and needs regular arati, with the singing of special arati songs. These songs laud the glory of the deva and describe the benefits that one might gain by praying to them.
Sometimes they also contain snippets of information on the life of the gods. Arati songs are particular to each deva. The most commonly sung arati is that to Vishnu. The song Om Jai Jagdish Hare is known as "The Universal Aarti" and is another common aarti song. In most temples in India, arati is performed at least twice a day, after the ceremonial puja, which is the time when the largest number of devotees congregates.

This form of prayer is of great importance to Hindus; but to a practising Sikh it is just a mere ritual. However at Sri Hazoor Sahib after Rehras Sahib; some misguided Singhs perform Aarti infront of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. A Singh comes out with a taali and gives it to this Singh who does seva for Guru Gobind Singh's shastar...This Singh then waves the flame around the shastar and a picture of Guru Gobind Singh five times. The taali is also waved around Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 5 times. Threw out the whole process bells are rung; this is total disrespect and holds no place within Sikhi. Performing Aarti ceremony is anti Gurmat.

Gurmat view:

His Aartee, his lamp-lit worship service, is the Kirtan of His Praises, which brings lasting bliss.-ANG 393 - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Your Name, Lord, is my adoration and cleansing bath Without the Name of the Lord, all ostentatious displays are useless.

Your Name is my prayer mat, and Your Name is the stone to grind the sandalwood.

Your Name is the saffron which I take and sprinkle in offering to You.

Your Name is the water, and Your Name is the sandalwood. The chanting of Your Name is the grinding of the sandalwood. I take it and offer all this to You.

Your Name is the lamp, and Your Name is the wick. Your Name is the oil I pour into it.

Your Name is the light applied to this lamp, which enlightens and illuminates the entire world.

Your Name is the thread, and Your Name is the garland of flowers. The eighteen loads of vegetation are all too impure to offer to You.

Why should I offer to You, that which You Yourself created? Your Name is the fan, which I wave over You.

The whole world is engrossed in the eighteen Puraanas, the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, and the four sources of creation.

Says Ravi Daas, Your Name is my Aartee, my lamp-lit worship-service. The True Name, Sat Naam, is the food which I offer to You. -Ang 694- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Prabhaatee:
Hear my prayer, Lord; You are the Divine Light of the Divine, the Primal, All-pervading Master.The Siddhas in Samaadhi have not found Your limits. They hold tight to the Protection of Your Sanctuary.

Worship and adoration of the Pure, Primal Lord comes by worshipping the True Guru, O Siblings of Destiny.Standing at His Door, Brahma studies the Vedas, but he cannot see the Unseen Lord.

With the oil of knowledge about the essence of reality, and the wick of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, this lamp illluminates my body.I have applied the Light of the Lord of the Universe, and lit this lamp. God the Knower knows.

The Unstruck Melody of the Panch Shabad, the Five Primal Sounds, vibrates and resounds. I dwell with the Lord of the World. Kabeer, Your slave, performs this Aartee, this lamp-lit worship service for You, O Formless Lord of Nirvaanaa. -Ang 1350- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Dhanaasaree, First Mehla, Aartee:

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

In the bowl of the sky, the sun and moon are the lamps; the stars in the constellations are the pearls.

The fragrance of sandalwood is the incense, the wind is the fan, and all the vegetation are flowers in offering to You, O Luminous Lord.

What a beautiful lamp-lit worship service this is! O Destroyer of fear, this is Your Aartee, Your worship service. The sound current of the Shabad is the sounding of the temple drums. - Ang 663- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji