Om Jai Shiv Omkara Aarti — Lyrics with Meaning
'Om Jai Shiv Omkara' is the best-known aarti of Lord Shiv. It praises Shiv as the sacred Om, in whom Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv are one. The last verse names 'Shivanand Swami'. It is sung at the end of Shiv puja, especially on Mondays, in the month of Sawan and on Mahashivratri.
Om jai Shiv Omkara, Swami jai Shiv Omkara | Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, ardhangi dhara ||
Ekanan chaturanan panchanan raje | Hansasan Garudasan vrishvahan saje ||
Do bhuj chaar chaturbhuj dasbhuj ati sohe | Trigun roop nirakhte tribhuvan jan mohe ||
Akshamala vanamala mundamala dhari | Tripurari Kansari kar mala dhari ||
Shvetambar pitambar baghambar ange | Sanakadik Garudadik bhootadik sange ||
Kar ke madhya kamandalu chakra trishooldhari | Sukhkari dukhhari jagpalan kari ||
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv janat aviveka | Pranavakshar mein shobhit ye teenon eka ||
Lakshmi va Savitri Parvati sanga | Parvati ardhangi Shivlahari Ganga ||
Parvat sohain Parvati, Shankar Kailasa | Bhaang dhatur ka bhojan, bhasmi mein vasa ||
Jata mein Gang bahat hai, gal mundan mala | Shesh naag liptavat, odhat mrigchhala ||
Kashi mein viraje Vishwanath, Nandi brahmachari | Nit uth darshan pavat, mahima ati bhari ||
Trigunswami ji ki aarti jo koi nar gave | Kahat Shivanand Swami, sukh sampati pave ||
Om jai Shiv Omkara, Swami jai Shiv Omkara | Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, ardhangi dhara ||
Meaning
Verse 1
Om jai Shiv Omkara, Swami jai Shiv Omkara | Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, ardhangi dhara ||
Victory to Shiv, the form of Om. You are Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiv, and you hold Parvati as half of your own body.
Verse 2
Ekanan chaturanan panchanan raje | Hansasan Garudasan vrishvahan saje ||
You shine with one face (Vishnu), four faces (Brahma) and five faces (Shiv), riding the swan, Garuda and the bull.
Verse 3
Do bhuj chaar chaturbhuj dasbhuj ati sohe | Trigun roop nirakhte tribhuvan jan mohe ||
Your forms with two, four and ten arms look beautiful. Seeing your threefold form, people of all three worlds are charmed.
Verse 4
Akshamala vanamala mundamala dhari | Tripurari Kansari kar mala dhari ||
You wear a rosary of rudraksha, a garland of forest flowers and a garland of skulls. You are Shiv who destroyed Tripura and Krishna who defeated Kansa, holding a rosary in hand.
Verse 5
Shvetambar pitambar baghambar ange | Sanakadik Garudadik bhootadik sange ||
You are dressed in white cloth, yellow silk and tiger skin. Sages like Sanak, devotees like Garuda and Shiv's ghostly attendants stay with you.
Verse 6
Kar ke madhya kamandalu chakra trishooldhari | Sukhkari dukhhari jagpalan kari ||
In your hands are the water pot, the discus and the trident. You give joy, remove sorrow and look after the whole world.
Verse 7
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv janat aviveka | Pranavakshar mein shobhit ye teenon eka ||
Only the unwise think Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiv are separate; in the sacred syllable Om all three shine as one.
Verse 8
Lakshmi va Savitri Parvati sanga | Parvati ardhangi Shivlahari Ganga ||
Lakshmi, Savitri and Parvati are with the three gods. Parvati is half of Shiv's body, and the Ganga flows in waves from his hair.
Verse 9
Parvat sohain Parvati, Shankar Kailasa | Bhaang dhatur ka bhojan, bhasmi mein vasa ||
Parvati graces the mountain and Shankar lives on Kailash. Bhang and datura are his offerings, and he stays smeared in sacred ash.
Verse 10
Jata mein Gang bahat hai, gal mundan mala | Shesh naag liptavat, odhat mrigchhala ||
The Ganga flows in his matted hair and a garland of skulls hangs at his neck. A serpent coils around him and he wraps himself in deerskin.
Verse 11
Kashi mein viraje Vishwanath, Nandi brahmachari | Nit uth darshan pavat, mahima ati bhari ||
In Kashi, Shiv sits as Vishwanath with the celibate Nandi beside him. Devotees rise each day for his darshan; his glory is immense.
Verse 12
Trigunswami ji ki aarti jo koi nar gave | Kahat Shivanand Swami, sukh sampati pave ||
Shivanand Swami says: whoever sings this aarti of the Lord of the three qualities is blessed with happiness and prosperity.
Verse 13
Om jai Shiv Omkara, Swami jai Shiv Omkara | Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, ardhangi dhara ||
The refrain is sung once more at the end — victory to Shiv, the form of Om.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
When should the Shiv Aarti be sung?
At the end of morning or evening Shiv puja, after the abhishek or Shiv Chalisa. It is sung especially on Mondays, during Sawan and on Mahashivratri.
Who wrote 'Om Jai Shiv Omkara'?
The last verse says 'Kahat Shivanand Swami', so tradition credits it to Shivanand Swami. Little firm historical detail about him is known.
Why does this aarti mention Brahma and Vishnu?
The aarti teaches that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv are not separate but one in Om. So Shiv is praised as 'Omkara', the form that holds all three.