Om Jai Jagdish Hare

Aarti of Lord Jagdish (Vishnu) — full lyrics with meaning

"Om Jai Jagdish Hare" is a Hindi aarti to Lord Vishnu as Jagdish, "Lord of the Universe", written by Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri around 1870; it is today the most widely sung aarti, closing almost every Hindu puja.

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  1. ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे। भक्त जनों के संकट, दास जनों के संकट, क्षण में दूर करे॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥

    Om jai Jagadīsha hare, Svāmī jai Jagadīsha hare | Bhakta janoṃ ke saṅkaṭa, dāsa janoṃ ke saṅkaṭa, kṣhaṇa meṃ dūra kare || Om jai Jagadīsha hare ||

    Victory to you, Hari, Lord of the universe! O Master, in a single moment you remove the troubles of your devotees and servants.

  2. जो ध्यावे फल पावे, दुःख बिनसे मन का, स्वामी दुःख बिनसे मन का। सुख सम्पति घर आवे, सुख सम्पति घर आवे, कष्ट मिटे तन का॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥

    Jo dhyāve phala pāve, duḥkha binase mana kā, Svāmī duḥkha binase mana kā | Sukha sampati ghara āve, sukha sampati ghara āve, kaṣhṭa miṭe tana kā || Om jai Jagadīsha hare ||

    Whoever meditates on you receives the fruit of it, and the sorrow of the mind fades away. Happiness and prosperity come to that home, and the body's suffering ends.

  3. मात पिता तुम मेरे, शरण गहूँ मैं किसकी, स्वामी शरण गहूँ मैं किसकी। तुम बिन और न दूजा, तुम बिन और न दूजा, आस करूँ मैं जिसकी॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥

    Māta pitā tuma mere, sharaṇa gahūṃ maiṃ kisakī, Svāmī sharaṇa gahūṃ maiṃ kisakī | Tuma bina aura na dūjā, tuma bina aura na dūjā, āsa karūṃ maiṃ jisakī || Om jai Jagadīsha hare ||

    You are my mother and my father — whose refuge but yours should I seek? Apart from you there is no other in whom I can place my hope.

  4. तुम पूरण परमात्मा, तुम अन्तर्यामी, स्वामी तुम अन्तर्यामी। पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, तुम सब के स्वामी॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥

    Tuma pūraṇa paramātmā, tuma antaryāmī, Svāmī tuma antaryāmī | Pārabrahma parameshvara, pārabrahma parameshvara, tuma saba ke svāmī || Om jai Jagadīsha hare ||

    You are the complete Supreme Self, the inner witness who knows every heart. You are the transcendent Brahman, the Supreme Lord, the master of all.

  5. तुम करुणा के सागर, तुम पालनकर्ता, स्वामी तुम पालनकर्ता। मैं मूरख फलकामी, मैं सेवक तुम स्वामी, कृपा करो भर्ता॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥

    Tuma karuṇā ke sāgara, tuma pālanakartā, Svāmī tuma pālanakartā | Maiṃ mūrakha phalakāmī, maiṃ sevaka tuma svāmī, kṛpā karo bhartā || Om jai Jagadīsha hare ||

    You are the ocean of compassion, the sustainer of all. I am a foolish seeker of rewards; I am the servant and you the master — O Provider, have mercy on me.

  6. तुम हो एक अगोचर, सबके प्राणपति, स्वामी सबके प्राणपति। किस विधि मिलूँ दयामय, किस विधि मिलूँ दयामय, तुमको मैं कुमति॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥

    Tuma ho eka agochara, sabake prāṇapati, Svāmī sabake prāṇapati | Kisa vidhi milūṃ dayāmaya, kisa vidhi milūṃ dayāmaya, tumako maiṃ kumati || Om jai Jagadīsha hare ||

    You are the One, beyond the reach of the senses, yet the lord of every living breath. O Merciful One, by what means can someone as misguided as I reach you?

  7. दीनबन्धु दुःखहर्ता, ठाकुर तुम मेरे, स्वामी ठाकुर तुम मेरे। अपने हाथ उठाओ, अपने शरण लगाओ, द्वार पड़ा तेरे॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥

    Dīnabandhu duḥkhahartā, ṭhākura tuma mere, Svāmī ṭhākura tuma mere | Apane hātha uṭhāo, apane sharaṇa lagāo, dvāra paṛā tere || Om jai Jagadīsha hare ||

    Friend of the helpless, remover of sorrow, you are my Lord. Raise your hand and take me into your shelter — I lie waiting at your door.

  8. विषय-विकार मिटाओ, पाप हरो देवा, स्वामी पाप हरो देवा। श्रद्धा-भक्ति बढ़ाओ, श्रद्धा-भक्ति बढ़ाओ, सन्तन की सेवा॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥

    Viṣhaya-vikāra miṭāo, pāpa haro devā, Svāmī pāpa haro devā | Shraddhā-bhakti baṛhāo, shraddhā-bhakti baṛhāo, santana kī sevā || Om jai Jagadīsha hare ||

    O God, wipe away the distortions of worldly craving and take away my sins. Increase my faith and devotion, and my service of the saintly.

Meaning & Significance

This aarti was composed in the nineteenth century by Pandit Shardha Ram Sharma (Phillauri) of Phillaur in Punjab — a scholar, religious preacher and one of the earliest Hindi novelists. Written in simple Hindi, it addresses God as mother and father, as the indwelling Supreme Self, as the ocean of compassion and as the friend of the helpless, and voices the devotee's humble admission of being foolish and misguided, saved only by the Lord's grace. The final stanza prays for the removal of worldly cravings and sin and for growth in faith, devotion and service of the saintly. Though addressed to Vishnu, it has become so universal that it is sung while waving the lamp at the close of worship of almost any deity, after the Satyanarayana katha, and at festivals in homes and temples alike.

Benefits

  • Traditionally sung while waving the lamp at the close of puja, havan, katha or festival worship.
  • Devotees believe that singing it with faith eases sorrow and trouble — as the aarti itself says.
  • Its simple Hindi and familiar tune let families and children sing it together easily.
  • Considered especially auspicious on Thursdays, Ekadashi and at Satyanarayana puja.

How to Chant

At the end of puja, stand before the deity holding a plate with a ghee lamp or camphor flame. While singing, wave the lamp clockwise — traditionally four times before the feet, twice before the navel, once before the face, and then seven times around the whole image. A conch, bell or clapping may accompany the singing; at the end, pass your hands over the flame and touch them to your eyes and head.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote "Om Jai Jagdish Hare"?
It was written around 1870 by Pandit Shardha Ram Sharma Phillauri (1837–1881), a scholar and religious preacher from Phillaur in Punjab who was also one of the earliest Hindi novelists.
What does "Jagdish" mean?
"Jagdish" joins "jagat" (the world) and "isha" (lord), meaning "Lord of the Universe" — here a name of Vishnu, also called Hari.
How many stanzas does this aarti have?
It has eight stanzas — the opening "Om Jai Jagdish Hare" stanza followed by seven more, each closing with the refrain "Om Jai Jagdish Hare". Many people repeat the opening stanza at the end.
Is this aarti only for Lord Vishnu?
It is originally an aarti of Vishnu, but today it is sung at the end of worship of almost any deity, after the Satyanarayana katha and at festivals, so it is often called a "universal aarti".
Why do some lines differ between printed versions?
Popular usage has varied a few words — for example "main moorakh khal kaami" instead of "main moorakh phalakaami", or "rakshak tum mere" instead of "thakur tum mere". Many singers also add the lines "Tan man dhan sab kuchh hai tera" at the end, which are not found in all versions.