Popular verse for Aarati to Gods.

Acharya Sudhakar V.Rao MD.

Recently a few great devotees wanted me to give the word to word meaning of this
popular verse in sanskrit uttered at the end of Pooja, particularly in the evenings while
offering aarati to God. I thought our group of devotees in the temple spiritual group
might be interested. Hence this posting.
Acharya Sudhakar V.Rao, MD.

कदळी गर्भ संर्ूतं कर्रूभ ं च प्रदीपर्तं

आर्तभक्यं अहं कुरुवे र्श्य मे वरदोर्व.
कर्ूरभ र्तक्यं समर्भयामम.
kadaligarbhasambhutam karpuram cha pradipitam.

aaraatikyamaham kurve pashya me vardo bhava.

karpuratikyam samarpayami.

kadali=banana plant; garbha=from the belly of (from insides of the stalk;

sambhootam=arising from (made from); karpooram=camphor;
cha=along with (combined with); pradipitam= light resulting in flame;
aaraatikam=act of waving (in front of); aham= me; kuruve=being done;
pashya = please behold (see); me (to me); varado bhava=grant boons;
karpoora=of camphor; atikyam=act of waving (the flame);
samarpayaami=i offer.
I realize, the word to word meaning although literally accurate, feels a little unpalatable
and loses some of its glamorous effect in translation. It is difficult to capture the real
beauty of Sanskrit verse in English.

It can be summarised as follows:

"the flame resulting from lighting of the wick made from the stalk of banana plants,
combined with camphor is being waved by me in Your presence (as mark of devotion)
. May You please behold and grant me boons. i offer the act of waving the (sacred)
flame."

araatika is a procedure of waving a flame of camphor either side to side or in a rotaruy

motion from left to right in circles. This is mostly done during evening pooja after sunset
(a little after dusk).
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