 |
Arti Of Goddess Durga.
Album: Arti Mangal
Artists: Bipin Sathiya & Chorus
What is an Arti?
Arti is a Hindu ritual, in which light from
wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or
camphor is offered to one or more deities. It
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 is generally performed twice or three
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 'Arati plate'
around a person or idol and is generally
accompanied by the singing of songs in praise
of that deity 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 deity's image to the flame,
has now been passed to the devotee.
The arati plate is generally made of metal,
usually silver, bronze or copper. On it must
repose a lamp made of kneaded flour, mud or
metal, filled with oil or ghee. A cotton wick
is put into the oil and then lighted, or
camphor is burnt instead. The plate also
contains flowers, incense and akshata.
The purpose of performing arati is to ward
off evil effects and the malefic influence of
the 'evil eye'. Arati 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 deity 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 deities 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 deity. The most
commonly sung arati is that to Vishnu. 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.
Tags : Maa Amba Arti Arthi Arathi aarti Jai Adhyashakti arasur chamunda garba chotila devotional chandi bhajan shakti |
