Ritual of waving lit lamps (Aarti) – a spiritual perspective

1. Introduction

In the Era of Strife (Kaliyuga), man doubts the very existence of God. In such a spiritual climate, Hindu Dharma has provided the easy means of offering an Āratī, for man to be able to experience God. Offering an Āratī means calling out to God with intense yearning. On the Path of Ritualistic Worship (Karmakānd) given by The Hindu Dharma, Āratī forms an important aspect. It involves worship of the Divine by waving a lit lamp in front of a Deity accompanied by the singing of devotional hymns. If a human being calls out to a Deity through the medium of Āratī, he is granted a vision of God in the form of light or the Deity itself.

2. The Deity is invoked and pleased by the Āratī

The hymns in an Āratī, which are in praise of the Deities, involve an earnest prayer made unto God to win His grace. The Deities and God, who bestow grace, are pleased by the praises and worship of the one who offers an Āratī.

3. The composers of the Āratīs

Most of the Āratīs have been composed by Saints and spiritually evolved devotees. An Āratī contains both the resolve (sankalpa) and blessings of the spiritually evolved. Thus, Their 'Energy of Resolve' (sankalpa-shakti) benefits the devotee both at material and spiritual level.

4. Activation of spiritual emotion (bhāv)

According to the Path of Devotion (Bhaktiyoga), it is essential that the follower develops spiritual emotion and devotion unto God, as soon as possible. In the primary stage it is difficult to develop spiritual emotion unto the formless, that is, the unmanifest principle (Nirguṇ tattva) of God. Whereas a devotee can easily feel close to God with a form, that has attributes and a humanly appearance. A devotee is able to develop spiritual emotion faster unto God with a form or the manifest (saguṇ) form of God.
Āratī is an easy medium of worship unto the manifest form of God. During Āratī, the subtle form of the words being sung softly touches the Deity’s idol or image unto which the Āratī platter is being waved. The subtle form of those words/devotional hymns then returns to those listening to or singing the Āratī.This benefits the worshippers’ subtle bodies (sukshma dēha). The words in the devotional hymns of the Āratī also transmit their spiritual purity (Sattva) component to the subtle bodies of the worshippers. Hence, those who sing the Āratī feel light. Further, the words in the Āratī activate the central channel (Sushumnānāḍī) of the spiritual energy system (Kunḍalinī). That in turn, awakens the spiritual emotion of the worshippers.

5. Strengthening of faith

Theoretical information or intellectual knowledge about Spirituality helps the devotee in developing some belief in Spirituality and the Divine. However, when he gets an actual spiritual experience, he develops faith in Spirituality. As seen earlier in this article, Āratī helps to awaken the devotee’s spiritual emotion, which is a spiritual experience. This helps to strengthen his faith in the Deity worshiped.

6. A Deity's principle is more active during Āratī

A Deity’s principle is more functional during Āratī.Thus, during Āratī, a devotee derives more benefit from the energy and Divine Consciousness (Chaitanya) of the Deity. That is why it is more important to visit a temple during the offering of Āratī than at any other time.

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