What the lamp in aarti means

Aarti is full of small actions, and each carries a meaning in tradition. The meanings are explanations offered by teachers, and not rules.

• The flame is light that removes darkness, and so knowledge and awareness. The same idea gives Diwali its name, the row of lamps.
• The circle, always clockwise, is the way a devotee honours a sacred thing; the same direction is used for walking round a temple (pradakshina).
• The camphor burns completely and leaves nothing; this is the image of letting go of the self.
• The bell is the first sound of the temple. It is said to call the deity and to clear the mind of other thoughts.
• Touching the flame and then the eyes is receiving the light of the deity, and a sign of respect.

Nobody needs to know these to do an aarti well, and different traditions explain them differently. For many people, the simple pleasure of singing together at the end of the day is the point. See how to do aarti.

This page describes common practice in plain words. Families and temples differ, and your own tradition comes first. We do not print the words of the aartis and chalisas here; use a printed book from your family or temple for the exact text.