PERFORMING ARATI TO KRISHNA AT HOME – COMPLETE STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE
(As recommended by Srila Prabhupada, the founder acharya of ISKCON)
Actual Question:
Hare Krishna prabuji . I have a question but wish to remain anonymous . The beginners guide to Krishna consciousness explain how to perform Aarti at home . which is very nicely explained ,Must offer to your guru then his guru and so on then to Krishna then Radharani then lord Chaitanya then lord Nityananda then back to the guru’s At my alter I also have picture of lord Narishma Deva and lord Jagannatha Baledva and Subdra , also have a picture of lord Vishnu and mother Lumxi and I have a very small deity of lord Rama , Sita , Luxman and Hanuman .and I also have a very small deity of lord Krishna in his baby form and mother yoshoda with baby Krishna . my question is that if doing Aarti at home after offering to the guru then Krishna ,Radharani ,lord Chaitanya and lord Nityananda can I thereafter offer it to the other pictures and deity form of the lord or should I just offer to Guru then Krishna ,Radharani ,lord Chaitanya and lord Nityananda then back to the guru . please guide me to the correct process . the reason I have the lord in so many forms as most was gifted to me . Thank you Haribol .
REPLY:
Let us forst see the actual procedure of performing arati to the altar at home. If you have any deviationa, correct it.
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Usually, three aratis are performed every day – early morning, noon and evening. However, atleast one arati per day will be sufficient for students, business persons and employees.
It is good to perform arati along with the entire family members, if possible. If impossible, you can perform alone.
Procedure:
First offer obeisances to your guru (if you have) and Srila Prabhupada. Offer some flower petals at their feet and pray for permitting you to perform arati to the Lord.
Perform achaman (Purification with water in a cup and spoon), if you have taken Brahmana initiation (for women, not necessary). They may just touch the water with fingers and clean the palms.
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(1) Blow the conch shell first.
(2) Ring the bell.
(3) The arati should be offered one by one in the following sequence to every deity or picture:
Krishna
Radharani
Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu
Sri Nityanandha Prabhu
Your guru (if you have)
Srila Prabhupada
Lastly to the assembled devotees.
(4) THE ARTICLES TO BE OFFERED TO THE ABOVE DEITIES/ PICTURES:
(i) First SEVEN circles of the INCENSE to be shown around the WHOLE BODY of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
(ii) Secondly, FOUR circles of the GHEE LAMP to be shown around the FEET (Not the whole body) of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
(iii) Next, TWO circles of the same GHEE LAMP to be shown around the MIDDLE BODY of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
(iv) Next, THREE circles of the same GHEE LAMP to be shown around the HEAD of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
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(v) Next, SEVEN circles of the same GHEE LAMP to be shown around the WHOLE BODY of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
(vi) Next, THREE circles of the WATER to be shown around the HEAD of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
(vii) Next, SEVEN circles of the WATER to be shown around the WHOLE BODY of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
(viii) Next, SEVEN circles of the Cloth (exclusively used for Lord like a small towel) to be shown around the WHOLE BODY of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
(ix) Next, SEVEN circles of the FLOWER to be shown around the WHOLE BODY of each deity/ pic mentioned above in the same sequence given above;
(5) Then, Fan the whole body of each deity seven times using a whisk.
(6) Finally, Fan the whole body of each deity seven times using a peacock feather fan.
(7) Before changing every aarticle shown, clean your palms and the article using just three drops of water by spraying around the article.
(8) As a mark of the end of arati, blow the conch.
(9) IF YOU HAVE EXTRA PICTURES/ DEITIES:
The above mentioned deities or pictures are the primary deities/ pic.s. If you have any other extra deities or pic.s of Krishna, the above full arati is not required. Keep them separately in the shelf or altar as a separate set and show a formal DHUPA ARATI to them using THREE incence sticks and some flower petals. Finally, fan the extra deities/ pictures with whisk and peacock feather fan. It is enough. However, do not use the same materials to offer aratis to demigods.
(10) Finally, offer obeisances to Srila Prabhupada and your guru (if you have), and pray for forgiveness for any offences if you had caused in the arati ceremony.
(11) WHAT TO DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE ABOVE REQUIRED MATERIALS?
SRILA PRABHUPADA GIVES SOME RELAXATIONS:
He writes in a letter dated 18th November, 1968 :
“If you do not have the conch shell or fan available, the arati can consist of offering dhupa (incense), followed by the lamp and then a fragrant flower, accompanied by the chanting of Hare Krishna. In temples, the conch shell is also blown at the start of arati and the incense is offered before the lamp”.
Hope you are clear now.
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