Camphor

Why do we light camphor at the end of pooja.There are a lot many reasons it seema.
A few thoughts that I heard and come to mind which I wish to put down here.
Having worshipped the Lord with love, lit by the lamp we see the beauty of the Lord in all his glory.All the old temples (generally)the Lord is usually in the Garba graha which is dark and so we get a good glimpse of the Lord only when the priest shows the camphor around.
Another reason is that we light the camphor and pray to the Lord that Let me also be like the camphor and spread fragrance and light always.I offer all my desires and wishes at your feet along with the camphor so all that is left is the fragrance.All those who think of me and remember me should feel good about me like the fragrance of the camphor.
Read on for a very detailed significance of lighting camphor and doing Arati...

The performance of Arati has a very deep spiritual significance. The lamp's
light denotes the "Atman" (the self). The circumambulation of the lamp infront
of the deity signifies that we (Atma) are a part of ParamAtma (God )and we
should always contemplate (DhyAn) on him.
In the "MahA nArAyaNa upanishad", the "Atma" is said to be dwelling deep inside
the heart cavity - "hrdayAkAsha", in the form of a bright flame, just as big as
our thumb:
"anguShTa mAtrAm puruShOnguShTancha samAShrithah"
Hence the Arti or circumambulation signifies internal yOga in which the aspirant
has to "look" inwards, permeating through the different "kOShas" (sheaths)
starting from the "anna maya kOSha" (the gross body) till the "Ananda maya
kOSha" (the subtle body of bliss). This is very beautifully explained in the
"Taittareeya upaniShad", "MahA nArAyaNa upanishad", "LalithA sahasranAma" etc.
This seems exactly what MaharShi YAjnavalkya preached to his wife:
"AtmA vA ArE draShtavyah, ShrOtavyO, manThavyo, nidhidhyasitavyah"
(contemplate on the Atman, listen to the Atman, ponder on the Atman, and posses the Atman)
Having worshipped the Lord with love, lit by the lamp we see the beauty of the
Lord in all his glory. The singing, clapping is associated with the joy that
accompanies the vision of the Lord.
Aarti being performed with Camphor has a spiritual significance. Camphor burns
itself out completely without leaving a trace. Camphor represents our VAsanAs,
(unmanifest desires). So also if we were to take refuge in the Lord, obtain
knowledge, these desires will get burnt out. Al though the camphor burns itself
out, it emits a nice perfume. On a human plane it means that we should sacrifice
ourselves to serve society, in the process spread the perfume of love and
happiness to all.
We close our eyes while performing the Aarti as if to look within. The Self or
Atman is within us. . Self realization can be achieved by knowing thyself, with
the flame of knowledge. At the end of the aarti we place the hands over the
flame and touch our eyes and top of the head. It means that may the light that
illumined the Lord light up my vision, may my thoughts be pure and beautiful.
With the Aarti comes the flame which signifies light. There can be light in our
lives only if we have knowledge. In an era of darkness there would be
ignorance, we would be perpetually running to fulfill our vasanas resulting in
unhappiness and stress all around. The light of the camphor, as it dispels this darkness, signifies the overcoming of evil through virtue, fear through courage and ignorance through knowledge.
As the camphor burns itself out, so we pray that our own ego is burnt up likewise and that we should be redeemed from all our sins, problems, mental and physical stress and shall be left with everlasting peace, joy and bliss.
Found so many valuable reasons to light camphor.....
Jai Gurudev...