How to do Aarti

Aarti

As per Wikipedia, Aarti also spelled arati, arathi, aarthi (from the Sanskrit word aratrika with the same meaning) is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities.

Today we will see a very simple, powerful core breathing technique accompanied with Mantra for performing Aarti.

How to do Aarti ?

• Take a lighted camphor lamp or a lighted ghee lamp
• Stand in front of the deity / living person / photograph
• Close your eyes and feel the empty inner sky / space  
• Move the lamp from right side to left side (i.e. clockwise) completing a circle.
• It should cover the entire deity / living person / photograph
• Start from Bottom – Breathe In – Chant “Om” or “Aum” till you reach the top of head (Clockwise)
• Then from Top Head till Bottom – Breathe Out – Chant “Shivaya Namah” till you reach the bottom (Clockwise)

How many times

• Minimum 3 times (1 time means 1 breath in and 1 breath out)
• Maximum – till the time you see your clean aura with eyes closed

Whom can we do Aarti?

• Any deity whom you trust
• Any living person. They should be present before you
• Your own self

Key Points:

• Aarti is not necessary only for deities, it can be to anyone living or non-living
• Aarti should be performed from the right side to left side. If you are doing with your own hands to your own self, then it will be anti-clockwise
• Aarti cleans all the negative energies or blocks surrounded by us. Thereby it helps us to set our frequency with the deities which in turn helps us to connect with existence.

Wisdom Pointer:

Mantra Meaning:

• Om (Aum) – Existence
• Shivaya – The Auspicious one (Not a person or deity but essence)
• Namah – Surrender or Bow down