Brass Aarti Lamps for Deeparadhana: Choosing the Right Type for Your Ritual

Aarti items are the brass lamps used for deeparadhana, the circling of a lit flame before the deity as part of daily worship, and the type used depends on what the ritual calls for. A karpoora aarti burns camphor directly and is the most common choice for a quick, ash-free aarti. A kumba aarti is pot-shaped and typically paired with abhishekam-style or Devi-focused worship. A deepa aarti is the standard oil-wick lamp used in daily temple and home rituals. A natchathira aarti is star-shaped, used for more elaborate or festival-level deeparadhana. This collection covers all four, in 5 and 7 kilai designs, for temples, priests and home devotees setting up or restocking a full aarti set.

Aarti-Type Comparison Table

Guide: Choosing Aarti Items

• Start with the ritual, not the shape. Daily home or temple aarti usually calls for a karpoora aarti (for a quick camphor-only aarti) or a deepa aarti (oil-wick, for a fuller deeparadhana). Most sets include both rather than choosing one over the other.
• Kumba aarti is tied to abhishekam and Devi worship specifically. Its pot shape (kumbham) is traditionally used where the aarti follows an abhishekam or is part of Devi-focused ritual, rather than as a general everyday item.
• Natchathira aarti is for more elaborate, festival-level deeparadhana. Its star shape (natchathiram) with multiple wick points suits a fuller, more ceremonial aarti, used at festivals or larger temple functions rather than a quick daily one.
• Kilai refers to the number of wick branches, and more isn't automatically better. A 5-kilai aarti suits daily home or smaller temple use; a 7-kilai aarti is fuller and more commonly used at temples for festival or larger deeparadhana. Match the kilai count to how elaborate the ritual is meant to be, not just to size.
• A temple's daily deeparadhana set is usually a combination, not one item. Most temples stock a karpoora aarti and a deepa aarti for daily use, with kumba and natchathira aarti added for specific rituals or festival days.

For the rest of your daily worship setup, see Vilakku/Lamp for standing and altar lamps, Temple Bell for the entrance bell, and Puja Samagri for camphor, wicks and other daily ritual items.

FAQs 

1. What are the different types of aarti items?

The main types are karpoora aarti (camphor lamp), kumba aarti (pot-shaped, tied to abhishekam and Devi worship), deepa aarti (standard oil-wick lamp), and natchathira aarti (star-shaped, for festival-level deeparadhana).

2. What does kilai mean, and how many should an aarti have?

Kilai refers to the number of wick branches on the aarti lamp. A 5-kilai aarti suits daily home or smaller temple use, while a 7-kilai aarti is fuller and more commonly used for festival or larger deeparadhana. The right count depends on how elaborate the ritual is.

3. What is kumba aarti used for?

Kumba aarti is pot-shaped (kumbham) and traditionally used where the aarti follows an abhishekam or is part of Devi-focused worship, rather than as a general daily item.

4. What is natchathira aarti?

It's a star-shaped (natchathiram) aarti lamp with multiple wick points, used for more elaborate or festival-level deeparadhana rather than a quick daily aarti.

5. Which aarti items does a temple need for daily deeparadhana?

Most temples use a karpoora aarti and a deepa aarti for daily deeparadhana, and add a kumba or natchathira aarti for specific rituals, Devi worship, or festival days.

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