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The waving of a light
in front of a vigraha (image) is an important part of many ceremonies that are
performed in the temple. This ritual of waving a light is called, “arati,
“aratika,” “dipa,” “niranjana,” or “harati.” In its simplest form, the lamp
that is used to provide the light may be an oil lamp with one wick or a small
piece of burning camphor (karpura). On special occasions, the lamp may be made
of many wicks soaked in ghee.
Why is this done?
Before looking at the
reasons for arati, we should remember that temple rituals have developed over
thousands of years. Many ritual activities are based on ways of doing things
that were practiced in earlier times. These practices may or may not be
followed in the present-day society, but still make up the traditional
practices found in temple rituals. In addition, temple rituals are often rich
in meaning. One ritual may have several explanations.
There are at least
three reasons why arati is done: (1) it is a part of a traditional protocol for
welcoming a royal quest; (2) it removes inauspiciousness from around the
vigraha; and (3) in the days before electrification of temples, it provided
additional light so that worshipers could have a better darsana of the deity.
1. The services that
are offered to the Lord are based on traditional protocols of respectful
etiquette that were followed in the past when receiving a royal guest. These
traditional offerings and services are called “upacharam,” and make up the
external worship of the vigraha in temples. The contents and sequence of the
upacharam offerings vary somewhat between the different Agamas (authoritative
texts for worship). For example, one sequence is: asana (seat), svagata
(greeting), padya (water for washing feet), arghya (gift), acamaniya (water for
washing mouth), madhuparka (light refreshment), punaracamaniya (water for
washing mouth again), snaniya (bath), vastra (clothes), uttariya (upper cloth),
yajnapavitra (sacred thread), alankara (jewelry), gandha (perfume), puspa
(flowers), tulasi (tulasi leaves), dhupa (incense), pradipa (light), and
naivedya (cooked food). Although there are variations between different texts,
all sources agree that the light should be offered after the vigraha has been
properly received, bathed, dressed, and decorated.
2. Traditionally, it
was thought that inauspicious forces or beings were attracted to pure,
beautiful, or holy things. These inauspicious forces would try to take the pure
object or try to disrupt the sacred ritual. It was thought that a lighted lamp
would dispel these dark forces, just as a light removes darkness. Therefore, a
light is waved around the vigraha so that a devotee can see the vigraha without
the interference of any inauspicious force or being.
3. There is a
practical reason why lamps are waved in front of a vigraha. In earlier times,
the sanctum where the vigraha resided was illuminated only by oil lamps. Even
today, many traditional temples use only oil lamps in the sanctum. This form of
lighting is very beautiful, but the sanctum is slightly dark. By waving a lamp
in front of the vigraha, the devotees are able to see better the beautiful form
of the Lord. Of course, now many temples have installed electric lights,
reducing the strictly practical need of waving a lamp in from of the vigraha.
However, the light from the arati lamp adds a beauty and charm to the darsana.
These are three
reasons why arati is performed before the vigraha. Since Hindu ritual is very
rich in meaning, there may be other explanations. Trying to understand the
meanings behind rituals is very much like a treasure hunt. Some effort may be
needed, but something valuable will always be found.
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