Q174. Why do Arti (ceremony of light)?

The ceremony of light (Arti) involves the following before the deity of God: a. Waving lighted wicks which are soaked in ghee (purified butter). This signifies light (the truth). The waving is clockwise, just like the clocks. This indicates progression or advancement of spiritual consciousness. Never anti-clockwise, which indicates regression or degradation b. Offering water c. Offering flowers and incense d. Waving a charmer (wisp) or white cloth e. The Arti is started and ended with the blowing of a conch-shell “The mind, intellect, ego, ether, air, fire, water, and earth are the eightfold division of My material energies. “ (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 7.4) By performing the Arti, we are offering the five gross material elements of creation to God, to thank and remember Him for everything He has given and done for us. Fire (light), water, earth (flowers), air and space (wiping), are the five gross material elements of creation. The mind, intellect, and ego are the three subtle elements. The blowing of the conch signifies scarring away bad qualities, awakening the good qualities, and other reasons.