In Jain traditions, āratī (आरती / આરતી) refers to a devotional lamp-offering performed before images or representations of the Jinas, revered teachers, and occasionally before sacred texts or lineage-sthāpanā objects. While widely practiced among Śvetāmbara Mūrtipūjaka communities and present in some Digambara temple contexts, āratī is not mandated by early canonical texts. Instead, it emerges historically as a later ritual expression of reverence, gratitude, and celebration.
In Jain settings, āratī typically involves circling a flame—often a ghee lamp—before the Jina image while reciting hymns such as Arihant Chintāmaṇi, Arihant VandanaDraft overviewVandanaVandana, in Jain traditions, refers to the respectful salutation, reverence, and devotional bowing performed toward the Tirthankaras, enlightened beings, and living exemplars of the path such as sadhus and sadhvis. The t…, or regionally composed āratī verses. The gesture symbolizes illumination of inner knowledge, removal of ignorance, and recognitionDraft overviewRecognitionIn Jain philosophical vocabulary, “recognition” is most commonly discussed under the broader categories of *jñāna* (knowledge), *pratyakṣa* and *parokṣa* (direct and indirect cognition), and the epistemic processes by wh… of the Jina’s perfected qualities. Unlike in some Hindu traditions, Jain āratī is not directed toward a deity who grants boons; rather, it honors the Jina as an exemplar of liberation.
The ritual often occurs at the conclusion of daily temple worship (pujā), during festivals such as Paryuṣaṇa or Mahāvīra Jayantī, or at the completion of scriptural recitationDraft overviewRecitationIn Jain traditions, **recitation** (often expressed through terms such as *paṭhana*, *svādhyāya*, *japa*, and *stavan*) refers to the disciplined vocal or mental repetition of sacred texts, names, mantras, and doctrinal …. In many temples, āratī is followed by maṅgal dīvo (a smaller lamp-blessing) and śānti kalash rituals. Sthānakavāsī and Terāpanth traditions, which emphasize non-image worshipDraft overviewNon-image worshipNon-image worship (also called *nirākāra upāsanā* or *nirguṇa bhakti* in broader Indic discourse) refers to strands of Jain devotional practice that do not employ anthropomorphic or iconic representations of the Tirthank…, generally do not perform āratī, though they may use symbolic light-offeringsDraft overviewOfferingsIn Jain traditions, “offerings” (often expressed through terms such as *dravya-pūjā*, *āhāra*, *naivedya*, *puṣpa*, and *dīpa*) refer to symbolic acts performed by lay followers to express reverence, cultivate humility, … in non-idolatrous contexts such as honoring scriptures or teachers.
Because āratī is a later ritual development, its forms vary by region—GujaratiDraft overviewGujaratiGujarati refers to both an Indo-Aryan language and the broader cultural identity associated with the Gujarati-speaking people of western India, primarily from the state of Gujarat. As a language, Gujarati is part of the …, RajasthaniDraft overviewRajasthani“Rajasthani” is a broad cultural, linguistic, and historical term referring to the people, languages, and traditions associated with Rajasthan, a large region in northwestern India. The term can denote ethnicity, regiona…, and MarathiDraft overviewMarathiMarathi is an Indo‑Aryan language spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Maharashtra and parts of neighboring regions such as Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. With over 80 million speakers, it is one of … Jain communities maintain distinct melodies and verses. Modern scholarship notes that Jain āratī reflects both internal ritual evolution and selective adaptation from broader Indian devotional culture, while retaining a distinctly Jain theological orientation focused on the qualities of the Arihanta, Siddha, Ācārya, Upādhyāya, and Sādhu.