Arati

Arati

आरती, āratī

An offering of a flame (burning camphor) to a deity. Usually it is performed at the end of puja or homa. Arati brings blessing after performing puja. Nathas perform it in the temples every morning and evening. It is considered that Arati and puja on mangala (Tuesday) and on ravivar (Sunday) bring good luck to everyone who took part in the ritual.

The Arati ritual performed at the end of homa or puja maintains consistency between sadhaka and the deity that protects him. In puja sadhaka gives an offering to a deity in the form of upachar. In Arati he creates conditions for the blessing from the deity.

Arati simbolizes spiritual energy of the sun at dawn and at sunset which is also connected with the practice of gayatri-mantra. Arati means sharanagati (total devotion to a deity) and the light of bhakti. It is a connection with a deity, Paramatma and spiritual light. During performing Arati the space around is filled with light and energy. Light is life force, Prana, Shakti that fills the space. Arati, basically, equals the meditation focusing on the light. That is why it is possible to perform such a meditation if it is not possible to perform arati-puja.