Ravidassia Religion - Worship Service (Arti)

Worship Service (Arti)

Ravidassia Arti takes place daily in the bhawan at the closing of the day's formal services. This consists of the Arti written by Ravidass in which he tells God that only his name is sufficient. Whilst the Arti is sung, devotees wave trays with small flames made from Camphor in front of an image of Guru Ravidas. The Ravidassia Arti is included in the religious holy book Amritbani Guru Ravidass Ji. Arti is a ceremony of adoration which consists of waving round the head of an idol on a platter containing a conch-shell and rattle gong.

The Arti includes the declaration:

Your name is my arti and ablution, o Lord. Without God’s name all religious paraphernalia are false. Your name is my prayer-mat, your name my saffron-grater, and your name is the saffron, which i sprinkle on you. Your name is the water, your name the sandal-wood, and the repetition of the name is the rubbing thereof; this is the sandal paste, which i take to anoint you. Your name is the lamp, your name the wick, your name is the oil, which i pour therein. With your name i have kindled the light, with its illumination my entire home is bright. Your name is the string, your name the garland of flowers, defiled are all the eighteen loads of leaves, offerings of ours. Why should i offer thee what you yourself has created? Your name is the fly-whisk which i wave over you. The whole world is involved in the eighteen Puranas, and the sixty-eight places of pilgrimage, it rotates within the four forms of species. Your name is the arti, says Ravidass, and your true name itself is offered, o Lord, as the ceremonial food to you.