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Shiv Aarti: Om Jai Shiv Omkara

By custom sung on: Monday

Edited by the SanatanBodh editorial teamLast updated: 1 sourceDrafted with AI, checked against sourcesReport a mistake
Aarti of a Shivling decked with bel leaves and dhatura in a stone temple, with Nandi facing it
Image: made with AI
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  1. Verse 1

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

    Om jay Shiv onkara, svami jay Shiv onkara. Brahma, Vishnu, sadashiv, arddhangi dhara ||

    Victory to Shiva, the embodiment of Om. You are Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva, and you hold Parvati as half of your own being.

  2. Verse 2

    एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे। हंसासन गरूड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे॥

    Ekanan chaturanan panchanan raje. Hansasan garoodasan vrishvahan saje ||

    You shine in forms with one face (Vishnu), four faces (Brahma) and five faces (Shiva), seated on the swan, on Garuda and on the bull (Nandi).

  3. Verse 3

    दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे। त्रिगुण रूप निरखते त्रिभुवन जन मोहे॥

    Do bhuj chaar chaturbhuj dasbhuj ati sohe. Trigun roop nirakhte tribhuvan jan mohe ||

    You are splendid in forms with two arms, four arms and ten arms. Seeing your forms of the three gunas, the people of the three worlds are enchanted.

  4. Verse 4

    अक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी। चंदन मृगमद सोहै, भाले शशिधारी॥

    Akshamala vanmala mundamala dhari. Chandan mrigmad sohai, bhale shashidhari ||

    You wear the rosary of beads, the garland of forest flowers and the garland of skulls. Sandal paste and musk adorn you, and the moon rests on your forehead.

  5. Verse 5

    श्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर बाघम्बर अंगे। सनकादिक गरुणादिक भूतादिक संगे॥

    Shvetambar pitambar baghambar ange. Sankadik garunadik bhootadik sange ||

    You wear white garments, yellow garments and a tiger skin. With you are Sanaka and the other sages, Garuda and his companions, and the bhutas (Shiva’s attendants).

  6. Verse 6

    कर के मध्य कमण्डलु, चक्र त्रिशूलधारी। सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालन कारी॥

    Kar ke madhya kamandalu, chakra trishooldhari. Sukhkari dukhhari jagpalan kari ||

    In your hands are the water pot (kamandalu), the discus and the trident. You give happiness, remove sorrow and sustain the world.

  7. Verse 7

    ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका। प्रणवाक्षर मध्ये ये तीनों एका॥

    Brahma Vishnu sadashiv janat aviveka. Pranvakshar madhye ye tinon eka ||

    Those without discernment think of Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva as separate, but in the sacred syllable Om the three are one.

  8. Verse 8

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

    Trigunasvami ji ki aarti, jo koee nar gave. Kahat shivananda svami, manvanchhit phal pave ||

    Shivanand Swami says: whoever sings this aarti of the Lord of the three gunas receives the fruit their heart desires.

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

In short

“Om Jai Shiv Omkara” is the most widely sung aarti of Lord Shiva. By describing the faces, mounts, garments and ornaments of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva side by side, it teaches that the three are one in Omkara (the Pranava). It is sung on Mondays, in the month of Sawan, on Pradosh, on Mahashivratri and in daily worship of Shiva.

The eight core verses of the aarti are given here. Many popular versions add four more verses, beginning with these lines: ‘Lakshmi va Savitri Parvati sanga’, ‘Parvat sohain Parvati’, ‘Jata mein Ganga bahat hai’ and ‘Kashi mein viraje Vishwanath’. Some versions read the second line of verse 4 as ‘Tripurari Kansari kar mala dhari’, the second line of verse 6 as ‘Jagkarta jagbharta jagsanharkarta’, and the last line as ‘sukh sampati pave’. 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

Who wrote the aarti “Om Jai Shiv Omkara”?

The last verse says ‘kahat Shivanand Swami’. No further reliable information about the author is available.

Why does this aarti describe Brahma and Vishnu?

Its central idea is that Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva are one in Omkara, and only those without discernment see them as separate. That is why the verses list the faces, mounts, garments and weapons of all three side by side.

When is this aarti sung?

On Mondays, in the month of Sawan, on Pradosh vrat, on Mahashivratri, and at the end of daily worship of Shiva.

How many verses does this aarti have?

The core text has eight verses. Many versions add four more, which are listed in the note above.

Sources

  1. Traditional aarti text

Something wrong? Report a mistake

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