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Ganga Aarti: Om Jai Gange Mata

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Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh ghat in Kashi: priests raise large lamps before crowds on the steps and boats on the river
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  1. Verse 1

    ॐ जय गंगे माता, मैया जय गंगे माता। जो नर तुमको ध्याता, मनवांछित फल पाता॥

    Om jay gange mata, maiya jay gange mata. Jo nar tumko dhyata, manvanchhit phal pata ||

    Victory to you, Mother Ganga. Whoever meditates on you receives the fruit their heart desires.

  2. Verse 2

    चन्द्र-सी ज्योति तुम्हारी, जल निर्मल आता। शरण पड़े जो तेरी, सो नर तर जाता॥

    Chandra-si jyoti tumhari, jal nirmal aata. Sharan pade jo teri, so nar tar jaata ||

    Your radiance is like the moon’s, and your waters flow pure. Whoever falls at your shelter crosses over (the ocean of worldly life).

  3. Verse 3

    पुत्र सगर के तारे, सब जग को ज्ञाता। कृपा दृष्टि हो तुम्हारी, त्रिभुवन सुख दाता॥

    Putra sagar ke tare, sab jag ko gyata. Kripa drishti ho tumhari, tribhuvan sukh data ||

    You delivered the sons of King Sagara, as the whole world knows. Your gracious glance brings happiness to the three worlds.

  4. Verse 4

    एक बार जो प्राणी, शरण तेरी आता। यम की त्रास मिटाकर, परमगति पाता॥

    Ek bar jo prani, sharan teri aata. Yam ki tras mitakar, parmagti pata ||

    The aarti says that any being who comes to your shelter even once is freed from the dread of Yama (death) and attains the highest state (moksha).

  5. Verse 5

    आरती मातु तुम्हारी, जो नर नित गाता। सेवक वही सहज में, मुक्ति को पाता॥

    Aarti matu tumhari, jo nar nit gata. Sevak vahi sahaj mein, mukti ko pata ||

    O Mother, the aarti says that whoever sings your aarti every day is a true servant and easily attains liberation.

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Meaning, sources and more prayers: sanatanbodh.in/en/prayers/ganga-aarti/

In short

“Om Jai Gange Mata” is the most widely sung Hindi aarti of the goddess Ganga. It praises her pure waters, her deliverance of the sons of King Sagara, and her power to free those who seek her shelter from the fear of Yama. It is sung on Kartik Purnima, Ganga Dussehra and Ganga Saptami, after bathing in the Ganga, and at aartis on her banks. Its author is not known.

Some versions differ slightly, for example ‘Shri jai Gange Mata’ in the refrain, ‘chandra si jot tumhari’ in verse 2, ‘kripa drishti tumhari’ in verse 3, ‘ek hi baar jo teri, sharanagati aata’ in verse 4, and ‘aarti maat tumhari, jo jan nitya gata; daas vahi sahaj mein, mukti ko pata’ in verse 5. In some places the aarti begins with the call ‘Har Har Gange, Jai Maa Gange’. When sung, the first line (the refrain) is repeated after every verse.

After the aarti, most homes recite: कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम्।

Frequently asked questions

When is the Ganga aarti sung?

On Kartik Purnima during the holy bath and the offering of lamps, on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami (Ganga Dussehra) and Vaishakh Shukla Saptami (Ganga Saptami), and at the evening aartis on the Ganga’s banks.

What is the story behind “putra Sagar ke tare”?

According to the Valmiki Ramayana (Bala Kanda), the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara were burnt to ashes by the wrath of the sage Kapila. Through the austerities of their descendant Bhagiratha, the Ganga came down to earth, and her waters delivered them.

Is ‘Jai Jai Bhagirathnandini’ also a Ganga aarti?

‘Jai Jai Bhagirathnandini’ is a hymn to the Ganga from Goswami Tulsidas’s Vinay Patrika, which is sung as an aarti in many places. ‘Om Jai Gange Mata’ is a separate, simpler Hindi aarti.

Who wrote this aarti?

The author is not known. No verse carries any poet’s name.

Sources

  1. Traditional aarti text
  2. The sons of Sagara and the descent of the Ganga: Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda

Something wrong? Report a mistake

Text checked against: drikpanchang.com, hindi.webdunia.com, bhaktibharat.com