PERFORMING A SIMPLE AARATI TO SHRI BABAJI OR THE DIVINE MOTHER

Literally translated, "aarati" means "that which takes away pain." The aarati service is highlighted by the waving of lights to Shri Babaji or to the Mother. The flame symbolizes the removal of the darkness of ignorance by the purifying light of the aarati flame.

The aarati service is an ageless tradition of the Sanatan Dharma (eternal religion) as it exists in India. It is a welcoming service to the Divine Being which includes service to His/Her Person.

The aarati prayers appeal to Shri Babaji's or Divine Mother's Grace for fulfillment of all desires and to dispel the darkness of ignorance veiling the transcendent Self. Some of the aarati prayers are in Sanskrit, while others are in Hindi. Some of the prayers come from the Vedic tradition of worship, while others were cognized by Mahendra Baba, the great 20th-century saint and devotee of Shri Babaji, whose life-long penance and prayers are said to be the reason for Babaji's reappearance in human form in 1970.

Before beginning the process, one should be freshly bathed and preferably in fresh clothing. All materials used should be new or those that are specifically kept for worship purposes. Any materials purchased should be used for the aarati only.

1. Clean in front of the murti or pictures and dust them off.

2. Clean all utensils with water: bell, water vessel, aarati lamp.

3. Wash murti or pictures with wet cloth and then with a dry cloth.

4. Apply perfume (natural oils) to the feet of deity.

5. Apply chandan, kumkum, rice.

6. Decorate with flowers.

7. Light incense and wave three times to the deity/gurus form.

8. Offer prasad: (sweets, unsalted nuts, fruits)

9. Light Bhatis (ghee-soaked cotton wicks) in aarati lamp and sprinkle water three times around it to purify it for presentation to the image.

10. Ring bell in left hand, wave aarati lamp in a clockwise motion with right hand, starting at feet of the murti / Shri Had sikh td vihari"Karpur guazam...

11. At the end of the aarati, stop ringing the bell, place the aarati lamp down on some form of asan (seat); pick up the water vessel, wave three times to the image, pour a few drops on either side of the image, sprinkle some water around the flame and around the room.

12. Fan the flame lovingly with right hand toward the image and then take it yourself and offer it to anyone else present.

13. Distribute water and prasad.
    
    

    
    

    After the puja is completed, it is important to take time to meditate on the aspect of Shri Babaji that you have been honoring with the puja: the entire practice of puja leads up to this moment and it is therefore important that you plan your time so that you may partake of this quiet time. When you are finished, do pranam (bow) and then set the puja materials aside for cleaning. If time permits, the best thing is to wash the utensils immediately, and put them away clean, ready for the next puja. The best times for puja are in the early morning (around sunrise) and in the early evening (around sunset).

    NOTES: It is important to remember that none of the puja materials should be placed on the floor. There should always be an asan (seat) placed for them on the floor so they will remain clean. The seat may be a plate, a piece of cloth, a tray, etc...

    There are specific mantras for each step of the puja. It is best to learn these in person at an ashram or from some other knowledgeable source to avoid mispronounciation. In the meantime, make each offering in your heart and repeat Om Namah Shivaya.

    Aarati may also be done waving lit incense in lieu of aarati lamp.