🔹 Types of Lamps
There are mainly two types of lamps used in aarti:

• Long-wick lamps

• Cotton-wick (short wick) lamps

🔹 Importance of Oil
The purer and more sattvic (spiritually pure) the oil, the more auspicious it is considered.
Order of quality (increasing purity):
Groundnut oil → Safflower oil → Sunflower oil → Sesame oil

Sesame oil is considered the best because it is obtained through effort and labor, symbolizing devotion and dedication. It is especially recommended for use at home. Nowadays, so-called “puja oils” are often not pure (they may contain mixed oils like palm), so their quality should be checked carefully.

🔹 Importance of Wick and Ghee
The cotton wick (phool vati) should be thick and well-formed, not thin.
Using ghee or thick oil helps the flame remain steady and bright.
Among all, pure cow’s ghee is considered the most श्रेष्ठ (excellent).

🔹 The Five Elements in Aarti

• Lamp (Diya) — Earth element 🌍

• Wick — Air element 🌬️

• Oil/Ghee — Fire element 🔥

• The liquid aspect — Water element 💧

• The union of all these — Space (Ether) element 🌌

Thus, through the light of the lamp, God’s divine presence is believed to manifest.

✳️ Meaning and Method of Aukshan and Aarti

🔹 What is Aukshan?
Aukshan is not a daily ritual but a ceremonial act performed to honor someone.
It is done by rotating a lamp around a person or deity to remove negative energy.
It is commonly performed on birthdays, festivals, or special occasions.

🔹 Types and Importance of Aarti

• In many homes, aarti is performed daily, especially in the evening.

• Friday aarti is often dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi.

• Aarti of family deities (Kuldevata) is traditionally performed only at their temple, not at home.

• In temples, the timing and frequency of aarti depend on the temple’s traditions.

• Temples where aarti is performed more frequently are considered especially sacred (e.g., Shirdi Sai Baba, Tirupati, Swami Samarth, Dagdusheth).

🔹 Correct Way to Perform Aarti
Aarti should not be limited to one deity; it is ideal to include major deities together (Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Hanuman).
After aarti, rituals like self-surrender (aatmarpan), bowing (namaskar), and clapping are also important parts.
In large temples, mantrapushpanjali is offered after aarti.

🔹 When to Perform Aarti at Home

• Evening time (Deepak Aarti / Lakshmi Aarti)

• Special days: Ganesh Chaturthi, Ekadashi, Navratri, etc.

• In some traditions, Hanuman (Maruti) aarti is not performed daily at home

🔹 Various Types of Aarti
There are many traditional forms, such as:

• Oil lamp aarti (with cotton wick)

• Ghee lamp aarti (with flower wick)

• Camphor aarti

• Pancharti (five-wick lamp)

• Ekadash aarti (11 or more wicks)

• Sahasra aarti (100+ wicks, e.g., near holy rivers)

• Kakad aarti (early morning, with cloth wick)

• Mashaal (torch) aarti

• Deep-stambh (lamp pillar) aarti with multiple lamps

• Samai (traditional lamp with 1/5/7/9 wicks)

• Large lamp arrangements (21, 101, 1000 lamps, etc.)

These diverse forms show the richness and depth of devotional practices in worship.

☑️