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Aarti as in Shri Guru Granth Sahib

Prelude to launching of a new Video on Guru Nanak's Aarti by Shivpreet Singh:

Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore,  have written the national anthems for India, Bangladesh and a part for Sri Lanka. While referring to Sikh Aarti, Gurdev Tagore felt that it should be considered not only international but for the entire Universe. He was so enamored of this Aarti that he personally translated it into Bengali.

Every evening in all Gurudwaras, after the recitation of Rehraas Sahib, we can hear a melodious rendition of the arti sung by the Raagis in Raga Dhanashri. This is a tremendously soothing experience, capable of taking us directly into the spiritual realms of devotion through music.

As legend has it, in 1508 CE Guru Nanak Dev visited the famous temple of Jagannath at Puri in Orrisa, which was very well known for its arti for Lord Krishna. In the evening, priests brought a platter full of many lighted lamps, flowers, incense and pearls and began the arti. Guru Nanak Sahib meanwhile spontaneously gave words to the wonderful arti which was being hummed by Nature before the invisible altar of God, the creator of this universe:

'Gagan mai thal rav cẖanḏ dipak bane tarika mandal janak moti.'

Meaning: Upon that cosmic plate of the sky, the sun and the moon are the lamps. The stars and their orbs are the studded pearls.

The Aarti that is sung daily in the Gurudwaras is, however, only partly composed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. 

The second stanza, from 'Naam tero Aarti majan muraare Hark e Naam bin jhoothey sagal pasaarey' - (SGGSJ page 695)  onward has been composed by Bhagat Ravi Das, who, incidentally, was a cobbler.

Meaning: O Lord!  Thy name to me is the Aarti and holy ablutions. Everything else is false, 

The third stanza, from 'Dhoop deep ghrit saaji Aarti vaarne jaau kamalapati' 

Meaning: May I be a sacrifice unto the Lord: that for me is the Aarti performed with lamps, ghee and incense (SGGSJ: 695) onwards, was composed by Sant Sain, a barber in the court of Raja Ram, King of Rewa.

The fourth stanza, from 'Sun sandhya teri dev devaakar adhpat aad samaayi,' (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: page 1350) onwards, was composed in the same vein by Sant Kabir, the Muslim Julaha (The Weaver). 

Meaning: Brothers! That is how the Immaculate Lords Aarti is made: Let Divine essence be the oil, the Lords Name the wick and the enlightened self, the lamp. By lighting this lamp we invoke uh .gthe Lord 

Thereafter, from 'Gopal tera Aarta jo jan tumhri bhagat karante tin ke kaaj sanvaarta', (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: page 695) onwards, was composed by Bhagat Dhanna, a simple Jat farmer from Rajasthan.

 Meaning:O Gopala, accept your Aarti! You grant the wishes of those who 

 worship you! 

The final part was composed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, right from 'Ya te; maha mun devar ke tap mein sukh pave jag kare ik ved rarey.' 

Meaning: The Lord is pleased by penance, prayers, rituals, recitation of scriptures, 

meditation music and dance of celestial beings and the melody of the Aarti. The cosmic worlds rejoice and chant the Divine Name onwards

That the arti which we sing daily has been composed by two Gurus, a cobbler, a barber, a weaver and a farmer is yet more proof that Sikhism believes in the equality of all human being:

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