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Aarti Shiva

Om Jai Shiv Omkara

ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा

Om Jai Shiv Omkara is the most widely sung aarti of Shiva, offered every evening, on Mondays, in Shravana and on Maha Shivaratri. Signed by Shivanand Swami, it hails Shiva as Om, the sacred syllable in which Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are one, and describes his forms, ornaments and home in Kashi.

Lyrics with meaning

1

ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Om jai Shiv Omkara, Swami jai Shiv Omkara
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, ardhangi dhara
Om jai Shiv Omkara

Glory to Shiva, who is Omkara, the sacred syllable Om; glory to you, my Master. Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva are held within you, and your consort forms half of your body.

2

एकानन चतुरानन पञ्चानन राजे।
हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Ekanan chaturanan panchanan raje
Hansasan Garudasan vrishvahan saje
Om jai Shiv Omkara

You shine with one face, with four faces and with five faces. You are seated on the swan, on Garuda and on the bull, the mounts of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

3

दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे।
त्रिगुण रूप निरखते, त्रिभुवन जन मोहे॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Do bhuj char chaturbhuj dasbhuj ati sohe
Trigun roop nirakhte, tribhuvan jan mohe
Om jai Shiv Omkara

With two arms, with four arms and with ten arms you are radiant. Seeing your form of the three qualities, the people of the three worlds are enchanted.

4

अक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी।
चन्दन मृगमद सोहै, भाले शशिधारी॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Akshamala vanmala mundmala dhari
Chandan mrigmad sohai, bhale shashidhari
Om jai Shiv Omkara

You wear a rosary of rudraksha, a garland of forest flowers and a garland of skulls. Sandalwood and musk adorn you, and the crescent moon shines on your brow.

5

श्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर बाघम्बर अंगे।
सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक भूतादिक संगे॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Shvetambar pitambar baghambar ange
Sanakadik Garudadik bhootadik sange
Om jai Shiv Omkara

Your body is clothed in white, in yellow silk and in tiger skin. With you are the sages like Sanaka, beings like Garuda, and the hosts of spirits.

6

कर के मध्य कमण्डलु, चक्र त्रिशूलधारी।
सुखकारी दुखहारी, जगपालन कारी॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Kar ke madhya kamandalu, chakra trishooldhari
Sukhkari dukhhari, jagpalan kari
Om jai Shiv Omkara

In your hands you hold the water pot, the discus and the trident. You give happiness, take away sorrow and sustain the world.

7

ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, जानत अविवेका।
प्रणवाक्षर में शोभित, ये तीनों एका॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, janat aviveka
Pranavakshar mein shobhit, ye teenon eka
Om jai Shiv Omkara

Only the unwise think of Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva as separate. In the sacred syllable Om, these three shine as one.

8

काशी में विश्वनाथ विराजत, नन्दी ब्रह्मचारी।
नित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Kashi mein Vishwanath virajat, Nandi brahmachari
Nit uth darshan pavat, mahima ati bhari
Om jai Shiv Omkara

In Kashi you reign as Vishwanath, lord of the universe, with Nandi the celibate at your door. Those who rise each day to see you receive your blessing; your glory is very great.

9

त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावे।
कहत शिवानन्द स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे॥
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

Trigunswami ji ki aarti, jo koi nar gave
Kahat Shivanand Swami, manvanchhit phal pave
Om jai Shiv Omkara

Whoever sings this aarti of the Lord of the three qualities, says Shivanand Swami, receives the fruit his heart desires.

When is it sung, and why?

The aarti is sung daily in Shiva temples and homes, especially on Mondays (Somvar), through the holy month of Shravana, on Pradosh and on Maha Shivaratri. Its teaching that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are one in Om makes it loved across traditions.

About this aarti

Om Jai Shiv Omkara is the most popular aarti of Shiva in North India, sung in homes and Shiva temples every evening, every Monday, through the month of Shravana and above all on Maha Shivaratri. Its closing verse carries the signature of Shivanand Swami, a poet about whom little is known, and it is traditionally dated to the 19th century or earlier.

The aarti is a hymn of Shiva as the whole of God. It opens by hailing him as Omkara, the sacred syllable Om itself, in whom Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva are joined, and it describes him with one face, four faces and five faces, riding the swan, Garuda and the bull: the vehicles of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The point is made explicitly in a later verse: the ignorant think of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as separate, but in the syllable Om the three are one. This makes it a favourite of Smarta and non-sectarian worshippers.

Other verses picture Shiva’s forms and ornaments: garlands of rudraksha, forest flowers and skulls, the crescent moon, white, yellow and tiger-skin garments, the water pot, discus and trident, and his home in Kashi, guarded by Nandi.

How to perform the aarti

  1. Bathe the lingam with water or milk and offer bilva leaves, white flowers and vibhuti.
  2. Light a ghee lamp or camphor and ring the bell, or blow the conch and play the damaru.
  3. Wave the lamp clockwise while singing, returning to “Om Jai Shiv Omkara” after each verse.
  4. Close with “Har Har Mahadev” and offer the flame to everyone present.

Variants

This aarti is sung with many variant and additional verses, for example about Shiva’s matted hair and the Ganga, his food of bhang and dhatura, or Parvati at his side. The text here gives the most widely sung form.

More for Shiva

All aartis

Sources

  1. Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Aarti Sangrah
  2. Shiva Purana

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