Sunday, May 09, 2010

towards right or virtue...


towards right or virtue..., originally uploaded by LiGhtSynC.

"Aa" means "towards or to", and "rati" means "right or virtue" in Sanskrit.

aarthi is a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to one or more deities.

It involves the circulating of an 'Aarti plate' or 'Aarti lamp' around a person or deity and is generally accompanied by the singing of songs in praise of that deva or person. In doing so, the plate or lamp is supposed to acquire the power of the deity. The priest circulates the plate or lamp to all those present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to their forehead - the purificatory blessing, passed from the deva's image to the flame, has now been passed to the devotee.

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