Arti(Hinduism)

For other uses, seeArti.

Artiplate

Arti(Hindi:आरती,romanized:Ārtī) orArati(Sanskrit:आरात्रिक,romanized:Ārātrika)is aHinduritual employed in worship, part of apuja,in which light from a flame (fuelled bycamphor,ghee,or oil) is ritually waved to veneratedeities.Artialso refers to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when the light is being offered.SikhshaveArtikirtanwhich involves only devotional singing; theNihangorder of Sikhs also use light forarti.

Etymology and origin

Artiis derived from theSanskritwordआरात्रिक(ārātrika) which means something that removesrātrī,“darkness”.AMarathi languagereference says it is also known asMahānīrāñjanā(Sanskrit:महानीराञ्जना).According to Steven Rosen,artimeans "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."

Artiis also thought to have descended fromVedicfire rituals oryajna.

Arti performed inRishikesh

Practice

Artiranges 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 many Hindu traditions and temples.It is performed during most Hindu liturgies and occasions, and often involves circling adiya(lamp) clockwise before an image of a deity, accompanied by hymns.After waving the lamp before the deity, it is brought to the devotee, whose then cups their hands and turns these down quickly over the flame. The devotee then raises the palms to their forehead in self-purification and connection with the divine.

Thediya(lamp) used forartiis made of brass or other materials, with a cotton wick soaked in camphor, ghee, or oil.Theartiplate may contain other offerings like flowers, incense, andakshata(rice).Some temples do not use a plate, as the priest instead directly handles the lamp when performingarti.

The purpose ofartiis waving light in a spirit of humility and gratitude, wherein the faithful become immersed in a god's divine form. All paraphernalia used forartisymbolize thefive elements:

1. Space (akasha) -yak-tail fan
2. Wind (vayu) - peacock fan
3. Fire (agni) - lamp or candle
4. Water (jalam) - water and handkerchief
5. Earth (prithvi) - flowers

Artimay also be performed at shrines within a business or home.

Significance

Takingartiblessingduring aDurgapujacelebration.

Artiis a expression of many aspects including love, benevolence, gratitude, prayers, or desires depending on the object it is done for. For example, it can be a form of respect when performed to 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.

Whenartiis performed, the performer faces the deity of god (or divine element, e.g. Ganges river) and concentrates on the form of god by looking into the eyes of the deity to get immersed. The flame of theartiilluminates the various parts of the deity so that the performer and onlookers may better see and concentrate on the form.Artiis waved in circular fashion, in clockwise manner around the deity. After every circle (or second or third circle), whenartihas reached the bottom (6–8 o'clock position), the performer waves it backwards while remaining in the bottom (4–6 o'clock position) and then continues waving it in clockwise fashion. The idea here is thatartirepresents our daily activities, which revolves around god, a center of our life. Looking at god while performingartireminds the performer (and the attendees of thearti) to keep god at the center of all activities and reinforces the understanding that routine worldly activities are secondary in importance. This understanding gives the believers strength to withstand the unexpected grief and keeps them humble and remindful of god during happy moments.

Apart from worldly activitiesartialso represents one's self - thus,artisignifies 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 thatartiserves 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.

Artiis not only limited to god.Artican performed not only to all forms of life, but also inanimate objects which help in progress of the culture. This is exemplified by performer of theartiwavingartito all the devotees as thearticomes to the end – signifying that everyone has a part of god within that the performer respects and bows down to. It is also a common practice to performartito inanimate objects like vehicles, electronics etc. at least when a Hindu starts using it, just as a gesture of showing respect and praying that this object would help one excel in the work one would use it for. It is similar to the ritual of doing auspicious red mark(s) usingkanku(kumkum) and rice.

Songs

Artidance in Bangalore, 2009.

Hinduism has a long tradition ofartisongs, simply referred to asarti,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 commonartisongs 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 sungartiis 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. InGaneshaworship, thearti"Sukhakarta Dukhaharta"is popular in Maharashtra.

InSwaminarayanMandirs,Jay Sadguru Swamiis theartithat is sung. In most temples in India,artiis performed at least twice a day, after the ceremonialpuja,which is the time when the largest number of devotees congregates.

InPushtimargHavelis,artiis performed by a solemukhiyaji(priest) while "Haveli Sangit" (kirtan) is being sung. Devotees only watch theartibeing 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 Sandhyaartiis done to see if LordShrinathjihad gotten hurt while playing outside because it is performed after sundown.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Groupartiat theDashashwamedh Ghat

Lighted incense ceremony

Artisteps

InGaudiya Vaishnavism,artirefers to the wholepujaritual, of which offering the lamp is only one part. Ashankha(conch) is blown to start thearti,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. The deity is then fanned with a camara whisk, and a peacock fan in hot countries.

Durga Puja

See also:Natyashastra

During the Bengali festivalDurgapujaritual drummers –dhakis,carrying large leather-strungdhak's,show off their skills during ritual dance worships calledartiorDhunuchi dance.

Sikhism

InSikhism,Gagan mai thaalis a type ofartirecited byfirst guru,Guru Nanakin either 1506or 1508atJagannath Temple, Puri,during hisUdaasi(journey) to the east of theIndian subcontinent.AmritsarSikhs singArti kirtan,which comprise a fewshabadsfromGuru Nanak,Ravidasand otherBhagatsand Gurus. According to them, it is theartiof divine wisdom in the form of theGuru Granth Sahib– Sikhism’s eternalGuruand chief scripture. It is considered the equivalent of bowing on one’s knees before theGuru Granth Sahib.Thisartidoes not employ ritual items, but is instead sung after the daily recitation of theRehraas SahibandArdāsatHarmandir SahibinAmritsar,and mostGurdwarasworldwide.

An exception is theNihangorder, whose members first reciteAarta(prayers derived frombanisin theDasam GranthandSarbloh Granth– scriptures of secondary and tertiary importance in the faith), and as in Hindu practise, employdiya,flowers, conch shells, bells, incense during the ritual.This form of Sikhartiis also recited atPatna SahibandHazur Sahib.

See also

• Arti (given name)
• Blessing
• Jay Sadguru Swami
• Mantrapushpanjali
• Om Jai Jagdish Hare
• Shankha

External links

• Media related toAartiat Wikimedia Commons