Glimpse of Arati
Arati is an offering of lit camphor that burns itself completely out offering itself to the divine energy or Existence represented by a deity, the Guru, or a holy mountain like Arunachala. It symbolically means that if we take refuge at the feet of the Lord and surrender our ego, our unmanifested desires will get burnt out. The burning camphor emits a nice perfume. When we take up serving society, we burn our desires and spread the perfume of love and happiness to all.
Arati Celebration
Arati is routinely performed at temples in the evening or anytime during special celebrations. It is done with a camphor burner that can come in various shapes and sizes. The camphor burner is held in one hand while the other hand holds a bell that is continuously rung throughout the ritual. This is accompanied by music and ardent devotees singing along and clapping their hands. It is a high energy atmosphere of celebration.
Arati, Senses and Meditation
Arati engages all our senses like sound (sound of the bell and music), smell (burning of incense), seeing (seeing the arati being performed), touch (devotees clapping their hands and the pujacharya (priest) holding the bell and arati burner), and taste (prasadam/blessed food distributed at end of arati ritual). At the culmination of arati the bell and music suddenly stop. This brings a moment of silence and can transport a meditator to that place of stillness within.
Arati can be a meditation technique in itself bringing one to the present moment and kindling devotion to the divine energy and the Guru. When the performing pujacharya (priest/ess) experiences this ritual as meditation Bliss happens.
