Aarti & Stuti – salutation to the Lord!
Aarti is a Sanskrit word which means praise giving. Apt to its meaning, it is a sacred ceremony and a daily service in temples which is performed by waving lamps to the Idol and singing devotional songs. The devotional songs are sung with musical support of drums and other instruments and offerings like flowers, prasada, incense and more are kept.
The literal meaning of the word Stuti is poem. It is a poem written in praise of Lord to sing his virtues and grace. It consists of several paragraphs composed of shlokas meaning couplets in Sanskrit. Singing Stuti is a traditional culture of eastern countries specifically of India. Through it the devotee expresses his indebtedness towards the Lord.
In India, it is a daily ritual in temples to perform aarti and recite Stuti. In Hinduism, the flame is considered to represent the soul and thus, it is said that the purpose of aarti is offering our soul to the deity and salute the Lord for giving us a beautiful life. And singing Stuti is believed to take one deeper into the self. Thus, a beautiful blend of aarti and Stuti brings the soul in complete harmony with the self often termed as the ‘atman’ in Hindu religion.
Though it is mandatory to perform aarti and Stuti in temples during sunrise and sunset, devotees also perform it at home. The significance of performing both these is to bring the wandering soul into present moment so as to focus completely on the deity. The combination is like a salutation to the Lord for all his grace and blessings. Thus, with aarti and Stuti, the devotees give a tribute to the Almighty for all the favors done.