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Arti (Hindi:आरती,romanized: Āratī) orAarati (Sanskrit:आरात्रिक,romanized: Ārātrika)[1][2] is aHindu ritual employed in worship, part of apuja, in which light from a flame (fuelled bycamphor,ghee, or oil) is ritually waved to veneratedeities.[3][4][5]Arti also refers to the hymns sung in praise of the deity, when the light is being offered.Sikhs haveArtikirtan which involves only devotional singing; theNihang order of Sikhs also use light forarti.[6]
Aarti is thought to have descended fromVedic fire rituals oryajna.[7]Aarati is derived from theSanskrit wordआरात्रिक (ārātrika) which means something that removesrātrī, "darkness".[8][9] AMarathi language reference says it is also known asMahānīrāñjanā (Sanskrit:महानीराञ्जना).[10] According to Steven Rosen,arti means "before night" or symbolic end of the night to the worshipper's "material sojourn – he or she is now situated in the light of God's devotion."[11]
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Aarti ranges from simple acts of worship to extravagant rituals, but almost always includes ajyoti (flame or light). It is performed up to eight times daily, depending on the specific Hindu tradition and temple.[11] It is performed as part of most Hindu liturgies and occasions and typically involves circling adiya (lamp) clockwise before amurti oricon of a deity, accompanied by hymns.[12][8] After waving the lamp before the deity, it is brought to the devotee, who then briefly places both their palms above the sanctified flame to receive its warmth. The devotee then raises their hands insupination, bringing both palms toward to their forehead in a gesture of self-purification and connection with the Divine.[12]
Thediya (lamp) used foraarti is most often made of brass or other materials and holds a cotton wick soaked in camphor, ghee, or oil.[12][8] Theaarti plate may contain other offerings like flowers, incense, andakshata (rice).[13]
The purpose ofaarti is to wave light before the deity in a spirit of humility and gratitude, wherein the faithful become immersed in a God's divine form. All accoutrements used foraarti symbolize thefive elements:[11]
Aarti may also be performed at shrines within a business or home.[11]
Arti is an expression of many aspects including love, benevolence, gratitude, prayers, or desires depending on the object for which it is performed. For example, it can be a form of respect when performed for elders, prayers when performed to deities, or hope when performed for homes or vehicles. Emotions and prayers are often silent while doingarti, 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.[14]
Apart from worldly activities,arti also represents one's self - thus,arti signifies that one is peripheral to godhead or divinity. This would keep one's ego down and help one remain humble in spite of high social and economic rank. A third commonly held understanding of the ritual is thatarti serves as a reminder to stay vigilant so that the forces of material pleasures and desires cannot overcome the individual. Just as the lighted wick provides light and chases away darkness, the vigilance of an individual can keep away the influence of the material world.[11]
Hinduism has a long tradition of songs sung as an accompaniment to the ritual ofarti. It primarily extols the virtues of the deity that the ritual is being offered to, and several sects have their own versions of the commonarti songs that are often sung on chorus at various temples, during evening and morning artis. Sometimes they also contain snippets of information on the life of the deity.
The most commonly sungarti is that which is dedicated to all deities calledOm Jai Jagdish Hare, known as "the universalarti". Other arti's are used for other deities as well such as Om Jai Shiv omkara, Om Jai Lakshmi mata, Om Jai Ambe gauri, Om Jai Adya Shakti, Om Jai Saraswati Mata, Om Jai Gange Mata, Om Jai Tulsi Mata and Om Jai Surya Bhagvaan. InGanesha worship, thearti "Sukhakarta Dukhaharta" is popular in Maharashtra.
InSwaminarayan Mandirs,Jay Sadguru Swami is thearti that is sung. In most temples in India,arti is performed at least twice a day, after the ceremonialpuja, which is the time when the largest number of devotees congregates.
InPushtimarg Havelis,arti is performed by a solemukhiyaji (priest) while "Haveli Sangit" (kirtan) is being sung. Devotees only watch thearti being done and do not get to take a major part in it. During bhajan or utsavs (festivals) celebrated at home, "Jai Jai Shree Yamuna" is sung while devotees performarti. It is said that Sandhyaarti is done to see if LordShrinathji had gotten hurt while playing outside because it is performed after sundown.
During the Bengali festivalDurgapuja ritual drummers –dhakis, carrying large leather-strungdhak's, show off their skills during ritual dance worships calledarti orDhunuchi dance.[15]
InSikhism,Gagan mai thaal is a type ofarti recited byfirst guru,Guru Nanak[16] in either 1506[17] or 1508[18][19] atJagannath Temple, Puri, during hisUdaasi (journey) to the east of theIndian subcontinent.[17][18]Amritsar Sikhs singArti kirtan, which comprise a fewshabads fromGuru Nanak,Ravidas and otherBhagats and Gurus. According to them, it is thearti of divine wisdom in the form of theGuru Granth Sahib – Sikhism’s eternalGuru and chief scripture. It is considered the equivalent of bowing on one’s knees before theGuru Granth Sahib. Thisarti does not employ ritual items, but is instead sung after the daily recitation of theRehraas Sahib andArdās atHarmandir Sahib inAmritsar, and mostGurdwaras worldwide.
An exception is theNihang order, whose members first reciteAarta (prayers derived frombanis in theDasam Granth andSarbloh Granth – scriptures of secondary and tertiary importance in the faith), and as in Hindu practise, employdiya, flowers, conch shells, bells, incense during the ritual.[6] This form of Sikharti is also recited atPatna Sahib andHazur Sahib.
Media related toAarti at Wikimedia Commons
