Aarti

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Aarti performed at Hazur Sahib

In Sikh Religion, Aarti (also spelled arti, arati, arathi, aarthi) is spiritual term which means "To Unite with". Aa means To come and Rati means To Unite. In Gurmat, Soul is genderless. The hymns are composed Soul being feminine as well as Masculine where Aarti as well as Aarta terms are used respectively. Another belief derive meaning from Sanskrit term Aratrik which means removal of Darkness.

In Hinduism, It is a religious ritual of worship in which light from wicks soaked in Ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. The songs sung in praise of the deity, when lamps are being offered.

Aarti, as performed traditionally, is generally not encouraged in Sikh Religon but it is performed in Hazur Sahib, Patna Sahib and by Nihang Sikhs. According to them, difference in their Aarti is that Sikhs do Aarti of divine wisdom, which is in form of Guru Granth Sahib. The concept is similar to bowing before Guru Granth Sahib on knees, the practice which is common in Hindus while bowing before Idols.

History

As per Sikh Chronicles, Guru Nanak visited Jagannath Puri during his east travels, which is a famous pilgrimage center of Hindus. Nanak noticed that the priests were more interested in the rituals and elaborate arrangements rather than in their love for God. So he stepped outside the temple and composed almighty of Nirankar.

The Aarti

Gagan mah thaal, Rav-chand Deepak baney, Taarka mandal Janak Moti
Dhoop maliaanlo Pavan chavaro karey, Sagal Banrai phoolant jyoti
The Sky is Your platter, The sun and moon are the 'Deepaks' the lamps (lights), The Stars in the sky are the pearls,
The 'Dhoop' (Incense) is the fragrance, That the wind propels, The whole forest is Your flowers.
Kaisee Aarti hoi Bhaykandana Teree Aarti
Anhata Shabad Vajanta bheree
O! What a wonderful Aarti, this is!
You, are a destroyer of Fear,
The sound of Your Name, which is so subtle, that It goes unheard,
Resounds endlessly.
Sahas Tav Nain na na
Nain hai Tohey kau
Sahas moorat Nana Ik Tohee
Sahas Pad Bimal Na na
Ik Pad Gandh bin
Sahas Tav Gandh Iv
Chalat Mohee
Sabh Mah Jot Jot Hai Sohee
Tis Dat Chaanan Sabh Mah Chaanan Hoi
Gur Sakhi Jot Pragat Hoi
Jo Tis Bhaavey So Aarti Hoi
You have a thousand eyes, forms, feet, noses…And you have none…
I am charmed!
Your Light enlightens all!
It is by the Grace of the Guru that the real Light (Knowledge) Manifests.
What pleases the Almighty is this Aarti (Creation)
Har Charan Kamal Makrand Lobhit Mano
Ana Din Mohey Aayey Pyaasa
Kirpaa Jal Dey Nanak Sarang Kau
Hoi Jaatey Terey nai Vaasa

Which means:

I yearn for Your Lotus feet,
Night and day,
Nanak is like the thirsty bird that asks,
For a drop of water,
From You O Lord!
That drop (Grace) will make Nanak find comfort,
In the uttering of Your Name.
(The next part of the Aarti is a composition by Sri Ravidasji)
Naam Tero Aarti Majan Muraarey
Har Kay Naam Bina Joothey Sagal Pasaarey
Naam Tero Aasno Naam Tero Ursaa
Naam Tero Kesro Lay Chhitkaarey
Naam Tera Ambhula Naam Tero Chandno
Ghas Japey Naam Lay Tujahee Kau Chaarey
Naam Tera Deeva Naam Tera Baatee
Naam Tero Tel Lai , Maahee Pasaarey
Naam Terey Kee Jyot Lagaayee
Bhaiyaa Ujiyaaro Bhavan Saglaarey
Naam Teraa Taagaa Naam Phul Maalaa
Bhaar Athaarah Sagala Joothaarey
Tero Keeyaa Tujhahee kyaa arpau
Naam Tera Tuhee Chavar Dhulaarey
Das Atha Atha Sathey Chaarey Khaanee
Ehay Vartan Hai Sagal Sansaare
Kahay Ravdaas Naam Tero Aartee
Sat Naam Har Bhog Tuhaarey
Sant Ravidasji says that:

O Lord, Your name is the Aarti, Your name is the Flower, the saffron, and the sandalwood That is offered to You. Your Name is the (Deeya) The Lamp, the oil and the cotton That is lighted in it. With the Light that Your Name gives out, The whole world is brightened. Your Name is the Thread and Your Name is also The Flowers that are strung into that thread. All that I offer to You is Yours. Your Name is the flywhisk, that you use, The (Chant of Your) True Name, We offer to You, All is false except Your Name!

(The following part of the aarti is composed by Sant Sainji)

Dhoop Deep Dhrit Saaj Aartee Vaarney Jaau Kamlapati

Mangalaa Har Mangalaa Nit Mangal Raaja Raam Raaiko

Uttam Deeyaraa Nirmal Baatee Toohee Niranjana Kamlaapati

Raam Bhagat Raamaananda Jaaney Pooran Paramaananda Bakhaaney

Madana Moorata Bhay Taarey Govindey Sain Bhanay Bhaj Paramaananda

The Aarti is adorned by the lighted lamp And the fragrance of the incense. All is Auspicious. Thou art the Supreme and Pure Light. Thou art the Lord of the Goddess of Wealth. My obeisance to Thee. And to the Lord Rama, Beautiful Govinda, Who is described as Replete Pure Bliss! Sain prays to Thee, Who obliterates all Fear.

(The following part is composed by Sant Kabeer)

Sun Sandhyaa Teree Dev Devaakar AdhPati Aadee Samaayee Sidh Samaadhee Anta Naheen Paayaa Laagee Rahey Sarnaayee

Leho Aartee Ho Purakh Niranjan Satguru Poojo Bhaai

Thaada Brahmaa Nigam Bichaarey Alakh Na Lakhiyaa Jaayee

Tat Tel Naam Keeyaa Baatee Deepak Deh Ujiyaaraa

Jyot Laayee Jagadeesha Jagaaiyaa Boojhey Boojhana Haaraa

Panchey Sabada Anaahada Baajey Sangey Saaringa Paanee

Kabeer Daas Teree Aartee Keenee Nirankaar Nirbaanee

Which means:

Dear Lord! The Greatest of Yogis have not been able to comprehend You, Those who worship the Unmanifest, Fail to realize You. Even though they have persevered in their quest. Your Name resounds unheard (By the worldly) And only He can hear (On who Your Grace descends) Pray to Your satguru! Almighty Lord! Accept the Aarti, with the oil, Lit with the Chant of Your Name, By You, the Lord of the Universe! Kabirdas performs the Aarti of the 'Beyond Description' and the 'Without Form'

(The following part is composed by Sri Dhanaji)

Gopaal Teraa Aartaa Jo Jan Teree Bhagat Karantey Tin Key Kaaj Sanvaartaa

Dal Seedhaa Maangau Ghee Hamraa Khusee Karey Nit Jee

Pania Chaadan Neekaa Anaaj Maangau

Gau Bhais Maangau Laaveree Ik Taajana Turee Changeree

Ghar Kee Geehanee Changee Jan Dhanaa Levey Mangee

Gopaal Tera Aartaa Hey Dayaal Teraa Aartaa

Which means:

O Gopaala, (Accept) your Aarti! You grant the wishes of those who worship You! I ask for my basic sustenance (food, oil, lentils, good quality grains) Which makes me feel fulfilled. I also pray for a good wife, good clothes, good grain, a horse, a cow…

The following has been composed by 'Daswin Patshaahi, The 10th Guru: Gobind Singh Maharaj.

I believe that in the following words, the same feeling is conveyed as Guru Nanak's:

That the Cosmos is an Aarti, constantly in motion, paying obeisance to the Almighty.

Yaa Tey Prasann Bhayey Hain Mahaa Muni

Devan Key Tap Mein Sukh Paavey Jag Karey Ik Ved Rarey

Bhav Taap Harey Mili Dhyaan Hi Laavey

Jhaalar Taal Mrudanga Upanga Rabaab Leeyey Sur Saaj milaavey Kinnar Gandharva Gaana Karey Gani Jachha Upachhara Nirata Dikhaavey

Sankhana kee Dhunee Ghantan kee Kari Phoolan Kee Barkhaa Barsaavey

Aartee Kot Karey Sur Sunder Pekh Purandar Key Bali Jaavey

Daanatee Dachhan Dey Key Pradachhan Bhaal Mein Kum Kum Achhan Laavey

Hot Kulaahal DevPuree mil Devan KeyKuli Mangal Gaavey

Aisey Chand Partaap Tey Devan Badhyo Prataap Teen Lok Jai Jai Karey Rarei Naam Sat Jaap

It means:

The Lord is pleased by the penance, prayers, rituals recitation of the Scriptures, Meditation, music, dance of the Celestial Beings, adorned with vermilion, various musical instruments, Ringing of bells and the showering of flowers, and the tune of the Aarti . The cosmic worlds rejoice and chant the Divine Name.

Sagal Dwaar Ko Chaad Key Gahyo Tumhaaro Dwaar Baanh Gahey Kee Laaj Rakh Govind Daas Tuhaar

Aagya Bhayee Akaal Kee Tabhee Chalaayo Panth Sabh Sikhan Ko Hukum Hai Guru Maaniyo Granth

Guru Granth Jee Maaniyo Pragat Guraa Kee Deh Jaa Kaa Hirdaa Shudh hai Khoj Shabad Mei Leih

Vaanee Guru Guru Hai Baanee Vich Baanee Amrit saarey

Gurbaanee Kahey Sevak Jan Maaney Partakh Guru Nistaarey

It means:

I have come to Your door-step O Lord, having left the world behind, Protect me, I am in Your service. Because of the Lord's command, this order (Sikhism) Came into being. The Sikhs are urged to believe that the Granth is the Guru manifest, Whoever is pure in heart, will find the answers within the words of the Guru Granth Sahib. Its words are the Guru, and the Guru is in the Guru Granth's Utterings, And within the words is the nectar (Of knowledge) And the words urge disciples to believe in the Guru!

Bhagat Dhanna

Bhagat Dhanna also written Aarti. It is called Aarta. It is sang along with above composition in Gurdwaras.

Aarti at Hazur Sahib and Patna Sahib

Amritsari Sikhs resist performing Aarti as Hindus perform, instead singing 'Aarti Kirtan', which are a few shabads from Guru Nanak, Ravidas and other Bhagats/Gurus. However, a few Sikh Gurdwaras perform Aarti in similar manner as the Hindus, with a platter, or 'Thali', while singing the above Aarti Kirtan, including two of the Panj Takhts: Thakat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib Abchal Nagar and Thakat Sachkhand Sri Patna Sahib Harimandir Sahib.

Few Nihangs also carry out Aarti in same manner, though with more shabads from the Dasam Granth and Sarabloh Granth. According to them, difference in their Aarti is that Sikhs do Aarti of divine wisdom, which is in form of Guru Granth Sahib. The concept is similar to bowing before Guru Granth Sahib on knees, the practice which is common in Hindus while bowing before Idols.However, this being said; when bowing before the Guru Granth Sahib, (In Sikh Philosophy) You bow before the divine knowledge of the gurus, and not for its physical form, which is how the Sikh and Hindu philosophies differ. Aarti is done with a thali in Ravidassia Bhavans/Gurdwaras that still house the Guru Granth Sahib.


These are the Popular Banis of Sikhism

Mool Mantar | Japji | Jaap | Anand | Rehras | Benti Chaupai | Tav-Prasad Savaiye | Kirtan Sohila | Shabad Hazaray | Sukhmani | Salok Mahala 9 | Asa di Var | Ardas


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