Importance of performing Arati

ராதே கிருஷ்ணா 25-05-2014

How to offer Arati?

1. Importance of performing Arati

A. Arati is an easy medium for humans
in the Kaliyug (note) to know about the existence of God

         Arati is an easy medium designed for man in the Kaliyug (note) to realise God, as there is doubt about His very existence. Arati means calling out to God with intense yearning. If a human being calls out to a Deity through the Arati then the Deity grants him a vision in their own form or in the form of light.’ – Shri Ganapati (Through the medium of Mr. Bhushan Kulkarni, 31^st January 2004, 6.10 p.m.)

B. Aratis containing praise please Deities

         Aratis contain praise of the Deity and a prayer for their grace. As Deities are fond of praise and bestowers of grace, they are pleased with the one who perform such Aratis.

C. Composers of the Arati are spiritually evolved,
hence benefit is accrued through their power of sankalp (Resolve)

         Most of the Aratis have been composed by Saints and evolved devotees. As an Arati contains both the sankalp and blessings of the spiritually evolved, a seeker benefits at the materialistic as well as the spiritual level.

D. Activation of the Sushumnanadi (Central channel)
of the worshipper, thereby awakening his bhav (Spiritual emotion)

         According to the Bhaktimarg (Path of devotion), it is very essential that the follower develop bhakti (Devotion) and bhav towards God sooner. For the seeker in the primary stage, it is difficult to develop bhav unto the nirgun (Non-materialised) Principle of God. On the contrary, a seeker feels close to God in sagun (Materialised) or human appearance and is also able to develop bhav unto Him faster. Arati is an easy medium of worship of the sagun form of God. During the Arati the subtle form of the words in the Arati softly touch the idol or the picture of the Deity placed in front and returns to those listening to or singing the Arati and affect their subtle bodies. The words in the Arati carry the Sattva (note) component to the subtle bodies of the worshippers. Consequently a light feeling is experienced after performing the Arati. The bhav of the worshippers is awakened due to the activation of the Sushumnanadi by the words in the Arati. - Ishwar (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 16^th January 2005, 7.00 to 12.22 p.m.)

E. Spiritual experience helps in strengthening faith

         As the bhav of a seeker is awakened while singing the Arati of the Deity he worships, he gains a spiritual experience. This helps in strengthening his faith in the Deity of worship.

F. Activeness of the Deity Principle to a greater degree
during Arati provides benefit of Chaitanya (Divine consciousness)

         As the Principle of the Deity is functional to a greater degree during Arati, a seeker derives more benefit from the energy and the Chaitanya of the Deity. That is why our presence in the temple during the Arati is more beneficial than any other time.

G. Purification of surrounding

         The air around the individual becomes sattvik (note) by the sound waves generated during Arati. Thus Arati purifies surrounding. - A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 21^st April 2005, 9.02 p.m.)

2. When to perform Arati ?

A. Why should Arati be performed twice
a day, once in the morning and once in the evening?

         Arati is to be performed at the time of sunrise to welcome the tarak (Saviour) Chaitanya transmitted during the arrival of the waves of Deity at sunrise and to destroy the Raja- Tama (note) waves at sunset. At sunrise the Raja- Tama (note) predominant atmosphere present since the night is destroyed and the Tejtattva (Absolute Fire Principle) waves of Deities arrive in the atmosphere. Hence, Arati should be performed at sunrise to welcome them. The tarak Chaitanya transmitted during the arrival of the waves of Deities at sunrise should be welcomed by an individual through the medium of the Arati; whereas at sunset, again through the medium of Arati, the individual has to appeal to the marak (Destroyer) Chaitanya of Deities to destroy the Raja- Tama (note) waves. Hence, Arati should be performed twice a day, once at sunrise and once at sunset.

B. What is the science underlying the act of performing Arati at sunset?

         Arati is performed at sunset so that there is an influx of waves of Deities that combat the enhanced movement of negative energies at sunset. At sunset the proportion of the Tejtattva in the sun rays starts reducing. Consequently the predominance of the Raja- Tama (note) particles in the atmosphere increases. The generation of Raja- Tama (note) waves also increases. Taking advantage of this situation, the negative energies increase their movement in the environment. To prevent distress through such Raja- Tama (note) environment, it is essential to invoke the waves of Deities through the waves of sound emitted through the medium of the Arati and bring these waves in the orbit of the environment. As a result of performing the Arati, the environment becomes enriched with the waves of the Deities that reduces distressing vibrations/waves. This creates a protective armour around the body of individual. - A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 5^th June 2005, 6.33 p.m.)

Reference : Sanatan’s Booklet 'How to offer Arati ?'

- See more at: http://www.sanatan.org/en/a/59.html#sthash.XWbprkjs.dpuf