Arati is a form of ritual worship that has been performed in temples and shrines throughout India for thousands of years. A flame, symbolic of the individual soul, is waved before the form of a holy being, deity, or image that embodies the divine light of Consciousness. This ritual reminds us that the light of our soul is eternally one with the light of God. Traditionally, arati is accompanied by the singing of a prayer and preceded by the sound of bells, conches, and drums. These ancient instruments replicate inner sounds, called nada, that are heard in meditation. Their vibrations have a powerful and purifying effect on the mind and body.
In Siddha Yoga ashrams, arati is performed three times a day to the statue of Bhagawan Nityananda, Swami Muktananda's Guru. Baba Muktananda him-self created the beautiful prayer that we sing before sunrise and sunset in the Temple. He selected Sanskrit verses from the scriptures and added several of his own in the Marathi language. The result is a magnificent hymn of praise to the grace-bestowing power of God, which has its origin in Lord Shiva, the primordial Guru, and is embodied in all the Gurus of the Siddha Yoga lineage.
Baba Muktananda once said, "To perform arati to the Guru is to perform the noblest sacrifice, the highest worship, and the deepest meditation, provided that one understands its true meaning. To perform arati to the Guru, to worship him, to honor him, is, in fact, to perform arati to one's own Self, to worship and honor one's own Self. Therefore, perform the arati with reverence and devotion.
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