Why do we offer food to the Lord before eating it?

Just before the end of every ceremonial Pooja of god, we perform the aarati. This is also accompanied by the ringing of the bell.

Aarati is usually performed by holding the lighted lamp in the right hand, which is waved in a clockwise circling movement to light the entire form of god. As the light is waved we either do mental or loud chanting of prayers or simply observe the beautiful form of god, lit by the lamp.

At the end of the aarati we place our hands over the flame and then gently touch our eyes and the top of the head.

We have seen and participated in this ritual for many many years but why we do the aarati?

While performing pooja, by performing abhisheka, decorating him and offering fruits and delicacies, we see the beauty of god in all his glory. Our minds are focused on each limb of god as the lamp lights it up. It is similar to silent open-eyed meditation on his beauty. Ringing of the bell denote the joy and auspiciousness, which accompanies the vision of God.

Aarati is often performed with camphor (karpuram). This holds a telling spiritual significance. Camphor when lit, burns itself out completely without leaving a trace of it. It represents our inherent tendencies. When lit by the fire of knowledge which lights up god (Truth), our tendencies thereafter burn themselves out completely, not leaving a trace of ego which creates in us a sense of individuality that keeps us separate from god.

Also while camphor burns to reveal the glory of God, it emits a pleasant perfume even while it sacrifices itself. In our spiritual progress, even as we serve the society, we should willingly sacrifice ourselves and all we have, to spread the "perfume" of love to all.

We often wait for a long time to see the illumined God but when the aarati is actually performed, our eyes close automatically as if to look within. This is to signify that each of us is a temple of God.

Just as the priest reveals the form of God clearly with the aarati flame, a teacher reveals to us the divinity within each of us with the help of the "flame" of knowledge.

At the end of the aarati, we place our hands over the flame and then touch our eyes and the top of the head. It means - may the light that illuminated God light up my vision; may my vision be divine and my thoughts honorable and beautiful.

The philosophical meaning of aarati can also be extended further. The sun, moon, stars, lightning and fire are the natural sources of light. God is the source of this wonderful phenomenon of the universe. It is due to him alone that all else exist and shine. As we light up God with the flame of the aarati, we turn our attention to the very source of all light, which symbolizes knowledge and life.

Also the sun is the presiding deity of the intellect, the moon, that of the mind, and fire, that of speech. God is the supreme consciousness that illuminates all of them. Without him, the intellect cannot think, nor can the mind feel nor the tongue speaks. God is beyond the mind, intellect and speech.