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AartiTulsi

Tulsi Aarti: Jai Jai Tulsi Mata

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At dusk a woman in a green saree lights a lamp at the tulsi chaura in the courtyard
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  1. Verse 1

    जय जय तुलसी माता, मैया जय तुलसी माता। सब जग की सुख दाता, सबकी वर माता॥

    Jay jay tulsi mata, maiya jay tulsi mata. Sab jag ki sukh data, sabki var mata ||

    Victory, victory to you, Mother Tulsi. You give joy to the whole world, and you are the mother who grants boons to all.

  2. Verse 2

    सब योगों के ऊपर, सब रोगों के ऊपर, रुज से रक्षा करके भव त्राता॥

    Sab yogon ke oopar, sab rogon ke oopar, Ruj se raksha karke bhav trata ||

    You stand above every yoga and above every illness. Protecting from disease (ruj), you carry beings across worldly existence (bhava).

  3. Verse 3

    बटु पुत्री है श्यामा, सुर बल्ली है ग्राम्या, विष्णु प्रिये जो तुमको सेवे, सो नर तर जाता॥

    Batu putri hai shyama, sur balli hai gramya, Vishnu priye jo tumko seve, so nar tar jaata ||

    You are called Shyama (the dark tulsi), Sur-balli (creeper of the gods) and Gramya (she who grows by village homes); the words ‘batu putri’ vary between versions and their sense is unclear. O beloved of Vishnu, whoever serves you crosses over (the ocean of worldly life).

  4. Verse 4

    हरि के शीश विराजत, त्रिभुवन से हो वंदित, पतित जनों की तारिणी, तुम हो विख्याता॥

    Hari ke shish virajat, tribhuvan se ho vandit, Patit janon ki tarini, tum ho vikhyata ||

    You rest on Hari’s head (tulsi leaves are offered to the Lord in worship), and the three worlds bow to you. You are renowned as the saviour of the fallen.

  5. Verse 5

    लेकर जन्म विजन में, आई दिव्य भवन में, मानव लोक तुम्हीं से, सुख-संपति पाता॥

    Lekar janma vijan mein, aaee divya bhavan mein, Manav lok tumhin se, sukh-sampati pata ||

    Born in a lonely wilderness (vijan), you came to the divine abode. The world of humans receives joy and prosperity from you alone.

  6. Verse 6

    हरि को तुम अति प्यारी, श्याम वर्ण सुकुमारी, प्रेम अजब है उनका, तुमसे कैसा नाता॥

    Hari ko tum ati pyari, shyam varna sukumari, Prem ajab hai unka, tumse kaisa nata ||

    O tender (sukumari) goddess of dark hue, you are most dear to Hari. Wondrous is his love; how deep is his bond with you!

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

In short

“Jai Jai Tulsi Mata” is a widely sung aarti of the goddess Tulsi. It remembers her as the one who gives joy and boons to all, who rests on Hari’s head, and who is most dear to Vishnu. It is sung through the month of Kartik, on Dev Uthani Ekadashi and at Tulsi Vivah, and in the daily worship of tulsi at home. Its author is not known.

The wording of this aarti varies considerably between sources; the text given here is the one found in most of them. Some examples of the differences: a shorter refrain, ‘Jai jai Tulsi Mata, sabki sukhdata var mata’; in verse 2, ‘sab yogon se upar’, ‘sab bhogon ke upar’ and ‘raj se raksh karke, sabki bhav trata’; in verse 3, ‘bahu putri’, ‘soor balli/valli’ and ‘Vishnupriya jo nar tumko seve’; in verse 6, ‘prem ajab hai Shri Hari ka tum se nata’. Some versions add the line ‘hamari vipad haro tum, kripa karo mata’ at the end. When sung, the first lines (the refrain) are repeated after every verse.

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

Frequently asked questions

When is the Tulsi aarti sung?

Every evening through the month of Kartik, with a lamp lit beside the tulsi plant; on Dev Uthani Ekadashi and at Tulsi Vivah; and in the daily worship of tulsi at home.

Why does the aarti say Tulsi rests on Hari’s head?

Offering tulsi leaves is considered essential in the worship of Vishnu and Krishna, and a tulsi leaf is placed on food offered to them too. That is why the aarti says Tulsi rests on Hari’s head.

What is Tulsi Vivah?

Between Kartik Shukla Ekadashi and Purnima, most often on Dev Uthani Ekadashi or Dwadashi, Tulsi is ceremonially married to Vishnu in his Shaligram form. In the story in the Brahmavaivarta Purana (Prakriti Khanda), Tulsi is the beloved of Vishnu as Shaligram.

Are the words of this aarti the same everywhere?

No. Several lines differ between sources, especially in the third verse. The main differences are listed in the note above.

Sources

  1. Traditional aarti text
  2. Story of Tulsi and Shaligram: Brahmavaivarta Purana, Prakriti Khanda

Something wrong? Report a mistake

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