thumb|Arti plate

Arti () or Aratrika () is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a puja, in which light from a flame (fuelled by camphor, ghee, or oil) is ritually waved to venerate deities. Arti also refers to the hymns sung in praise of the deity, when the light is being offered. Sikhs have Arti kirtan which involves only devotional singing; the Nihang order of Sikhs also use light for arti.

Etymology and origin

Aarti is thought to have descended from Vedic fire rituals or yajna. Aarati is derived from the Sanskrit word () which means something that removes , "darkness". A Marathi language reference says it is also known as (). According to Steven Rosen, arti means "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."thumb|Arti performed in [[Rishikesh]]

Practice

Aarti ranges from simple acts of worship to extravagant rituals, but almost always includes a jyoti (flame or light). It is performed up to eight times daily, depending on the specific Hindu tradition and temple.

The purpose of aarti is to wave light before the deity in a spirit of humility and gratitude, wherein the faithful become immersed in a God's divine form. All accoutrements used for aarti symbolize the five elements:

Apart from worldly activities, arti also represents one's self - thus, arti signifies 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 that arti serves 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.

Sikhism

In Sikhism, Gagan mai thaal is a type of arti recited by first guru, Guru Nanak in either 1506 or 1508 at Jagannath Temple, Puri, during his Udaasi (journey) to the east of the Indian subcontinent.