AARTEE

God's Aartee is the Kirtan of His Praises,
which brings lasting Bliss (sggs 393).
<><><><>

In the Vedic Dharma, as a religious ritual, Aartee (also spelt Arati: waving of the lighted lamps at the end of worship) is performed in front of deities several times a day; specifically at the conclusion of a religious ceremony (conclusion of worship etc.). It is accompanied by the singing of a special compositions called "Aartee". Sometime Aartee is also performed in front of a so called holy man. Generally, the ingredients of the Aartee include lamps (Deepak or Devaas), wicks, bowl (Thaal or plate), incense, flowers, fan (Chavar), Ghee (clarified butter), camphor, jingle bells, sandalwood paste, saffron, and so on.

Sometime, Aartee of this sort being performed in front of the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) can also be witnessed at the conclusion of the so called "Akhand Paath" (uninterrupted page to page reading of the SGGS). Also, as indicated at the official web site of the Shiromani Gurdawaaraa Parbandhak Committee (s.g.p.c.), one of the the Shabad-Chowkies (music or Kirtan sessions) performed at the Harmandir Sahib is called Aaratee.

What was Baabaa Nanak's Aartee? He did not perform Aartee in front of any religious text, deity or human body. His Aartee is by the Infinite, of the Infinite and for the Infinite. The lamps of his Aartee are the Sun and the Moon, placed on the Thaal (bowl or plate) of the sky. The Stars in the constellations are the pearls placed on this Thaal. The fragrance of the sandalwood is the incense, the wind is the fan, and all the vegetation are flowers in offering. Transcendental vibratory sound current of the Shabad is the sounding of the bells. Then, Baabaa Nanak exclaims, "What a beautiful Aartee this is! O Destroyer of fear, this is Your Aartee, Your worship service."

Why Baabaa Nanak's Aartee was unique and different from the traditional Aartee? Understanding the meaning of the word "Aartee" and the symbolism of the paraphernalia used in the act, may help us understand this.

The Sanskrit word Aartee literally means "cessation" or "coming to an end". Thus, Aartee symbolizes surrender (Sharnaagati) — the final end of ego (Haume) or the the final relinquishment of ego to God within. Just as the camphor used in the ritual dissolves into nothingness without leaving any residue (camphor burns without leaving any residue), so too should the individual merge in the Divine Hukam (Will), so too should we make an offering of the only thing that is truly ours to give — the ego (Haume). Only when we give up our erroneous concepts of "I-ness" and "mine, mine" will our worship truly be complete and will we receive the ultimate Prasaad (Grace or Kirpaa) — the awakening of Divine Love in our heart and realization of the Absolute, Pure Consciousness that is everyone's True Nature ("Joti-Svaroopa"). Accordingly, The SGGS calls God's Name as His Aartee, which brings lasting Bliss (Anand).

Thus, the main purpose of the Aartee is self-purification. It reminds us of the greatness of the Lord. The flame of the lamp that people wave cylindrically is symbolic of the revolving of Sun, Moon, Stars, etc. The Sun and the Moon are likened to the lamp: the Sun as the lamp of Intuitive Knowledge, and the Moon as the lamp of Intuitive Peace. Their all-reaching light, free nature, and even-vision reminds us of the One Transcendental Reality dwelling in everyone and everyplace evenly and ceaselessly. The light of the flame represents the spiritual wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance, and steadfastness or one-pointedness of the mind — analogous to a flame that is steady or unwavering. It also reminds us that we should lit the oil lamps of selflessness and divine love in our hearts so that they can become the light of the world. Camphor represents our ego. Traditional Aartee contains five wicks on the lamp representing our five senses. In other words, along with our ego, the Aartee consists of offering of our five senses to God (their demands, desires, coverings or colors). It's praying to God that all our negativities and defilements get burnt out just as the camphor, which burns without leaving any trace like the bird that flies in the sky without leaving any trace or the fish that swims in the water without leaving any mark. During Aartee, people also close their eyes. This signifies looking within. As God is said to be within, He can only be realized within. The rising up of the Dhoop or incense stick signifies our loving devotion rising up towards God. The sound of the bells represents the wish that the Transcendental vibratory sound of the primordial Word may resonate within and invoke good tendencies, replacing all Bikaars (mind's negative propensities).

Now, just pause for a moment and think cool-headedly as to how useless it would be to keep performing or singing ritualistic Aartee if ultimately it does not lead one to self-purification through self-observation! If self-purification has taken place, then the Aartee becomes that of Baabaa Nanak, which transcends the ritualistic Aartee. The purpose of reading or hearing the Gurbani (SGGS) is to become Nanak-like (or Godlike). This is the state in which the "rare" Gurmukh (enlightened being) ever abides. Rest of us just keep groping in Maya (the principle of relativity and duality).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org


To read Gurbani verses in Gurmukhi, click here to download Gurmukhi font.

Updated on Saturday, August 2, 2008 0:08 AM (PST)

[Home] [Article Menu]