❓ Prashnottari

According to the scriptures, there are five limbs (parts) of Aarti. Through these five parts, reverence and devotion are offered to God in different ways.

The five limbs of Aarti are as follows:

1. Aarti with a Lamp Array (Deepamala): First, Aarti is offered using a lamp or a series of lamps.
2. Aarti with a Water-filled Conch (Sodakabja): Second, Aarti is performed with a conch shell filled with holy water.
3. Aarti with a Clean Cloth (Dhauta Vasas): Third, Aarti is offered using a washed and clean cloth.
4. Aarti with Leaves (Patra): Fourth, scriptures mention offering Aarti using leaves of auspicious trees like Mango or Sacred Fig (Peepal).
5. Aarti through Prostration (Sashtanga Pranama): Fifth, complete devotion and surrender are expressed by performing Sashtanga Pranama as per prescribed rites.

Regarding this, the scripture states:

Pancha Neeraajanam Kuryaat Prathamam Deepamaalayaa।
Dwitiyam Sodakaabjena Tritiyam Dhautavaasasaa॥

Chootaaswatthaadipatraischa Chaturtham Parikeertitam।
Panchamam Pranipaatena Saashtaangena Yathaavidhi॥

Meaning: Neerajana (Aarti) should be performed in five parts. First with a series of lamps, second with a water-filled conch, third with a clean cloth, fourth with leaves of Mango and Sacred Fig, and fifth through full prostration (Sashtanga Pranama) as per prescribed rituals.

Thus, Aarti is not limited to merely rotating a lamp, but scriptures describe lamps, conch, cloth, leaves, and full prostration as the five distinct limbs of Aarti.