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Shiv Aarti

Om Jai Shiv Omkara — Aarti of Lord Shiva (with meaning)

"Om Jai Shiv Omkara" is the most popular aarti of Lord Shiva, hailing him as the sacred syllable Om and celebrating Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as one; its final stanza names Swami Shivanand as the poet.

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

    Om jaya Shiva Omkārā, Swāmī jaya Shiva Omkārā | Brahmā, Vishnu, Sadāshiva, arddhāngī dhārā ||

    Glory to Shiva, who is the sacred Om — glory to you, Lord! You are Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva, and you hold your consort as half of your own body.

  2. एकानन चतुरानन पञ्चानन राजे। हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Ekānana chaturānana panchānana rāje | Hansāsana garudāsana vrishavāhana sāje || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    You shine as the one-faced (Vishnu), the four-faced (Brahma) and the five-faced (Shiva); seated on the swan, on Garuda and on the bull, you are splendidly mounted.

  3. दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे। त्रिगुण रूप निरखते त्रिभुवन जन मोहे॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Do bhuja chāra chaturbhuja dasabhuja ati sohe | Triguna rūpa nirakhate tribhuvana jana mohe || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    With two arms, four arms and ten arms your forms are radiant; beholding your forms of the three gunas, the people of all three worlds are entranced.

  4. अक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी। त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Akshamālā vanamālā mundamālā dhārī | Tripurārī Kansārī kara mālā dhārī || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    You wear the rosary of beads, the garland of forest flowers and the garland of skulls; you are both the foe of Tripura (Shiva) and the foe of Kamsa (Krishna), holding a rosary in hand.

  5. श्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर बाघम्बर अंगे। सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक भूतादिक संगे॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Shvetāmbara pītāmbara bāghambara ange | Sanakādika garudādika bhūtādika sange || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    You are clad in white (as Brahma), in yellow silk (as Vishnu) and in tiger skin (as Shiva); with you are the sages led by Sanaka, attendants led by Garuda, and the hosts of spirits.

  6. कर के मध्य कमण्डलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी। सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालन कारी॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Kara ke madhya kamandalu chakra trishūladhārī | Sukhakārī dukhahārī jagapālana kārī || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    In your hands are the water-pot, the discus and the trident; you bring happiness, take away sorrow and sustain the world.

  7. ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका। प्रणवाक्षर मध्ये ये तीनों एका॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Brahmā Vishnu Sadāshiva jānata avivekā | Pranavākshara madhye ye tīno ekā || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    Only the undiscerning think of Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva as separate; within the sacred syllable Om, these three are one.

  8. लक्ष्मी व सावित्री पार्वती संगा। पार्वती अर्द्धांगी, शिवलहरी गंगा॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Lakshmī va Sāvitrī Pārvatī sangā | Pārvatī arddhāngī, Shivalaharī Gangā || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    Lakshmi, Savitri and Parvati are at your side; Parvati is the half of your body, and the Ganga is the wave that flows from Shiva.

  9. पर्वत सोहैं पार्वती, शंकर कैलासा। भांग धतूर का भोजन, भस्मी में वासा॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Parvata sohai Pārvatī, Shankara Kailāsā | Bhānga dhatūra kā bhojana, bhasmī me vāsā || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    Parvati graces the mountain and Shankara dwells on Kailasa; bhang and datura are his food, and he makes his home in sacred ash.

  10. जटा में गंग बहत है, गल मुण्डन माला। शेष नाग लिपटावत, ओढ़त मृगछाला॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Jatā me Ganga bahata hai, gala mundana mālā | Shesha nāga lipatāvata, odhata mrigachhālā || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    The Ganga flows through his matted hair and a garland of skulls hangs at his neck; the serpent Shesha coils around him, and he wraps himself in a deer skin.

  11. काशी में विराजे विश्वनाथ, नन्दी ब्रह्मचारी। नित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Kāshī me virāje Vishvanātha, Nandī brahmachārī | Nita utha darshana pāvata, mahimā ati bhārī || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    In Kashi you reign as Vishwanath, Lord of the Universe, with the celibate Nandi beside you; those who rise each day for your darshan know how vast your glory is.

  12. त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरती जो कोइ नर गावे। कहत शिवानन्द स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे॥ ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥

    Trigunaswāmī jī kī āratī jo koi nara gāve | Kahata Shivānanda Swāmī, manavānchhita phala pāve || Om jaya Shiva Omkārā ||

    Says Swami Shivanand — whoever sings this aarti of the Lord of the three gunas, devotees believe, receives the fruit their heart desires.

Meaning & Significance

This aarti is sung in almost every North Indian home and temple during Shiva worship, Monday fasts, the month of Shravan and Maha Shivaratri. Its last stanza contains the signature "kahata Shivānanda Swāmī", so tradition credits it to Swami Shivanand, about whom little else is reliably known. What sets it apart is that it praises Shiva not only as the destroyer but as the "lord of the three gunas" — the one-faced (Vishnu), four-faced (Brahma) and five-faced (Shiva) forms, with their mounts, ornaments and garments — and then declares that all three are one within the syllable Om, so that seeing them as separate is a failure of understanding. Later stanzas describe Shiva on Kailasa, ash-smeared, bearing the Ganga, and enthroned in Kashi as Vishwanath. It is sung together at the close of worship while a lamp is waved, often to the sound of conch and bells.

Benefits

  • Traditionally sung to close Shiva worship, a Rudrabhishek or a recitation of the Shiv Chalisa.
  • Devotees believe singing it with devotion brings peace and sanctity to the home.
  • Especially popular on Mondays, Pradosha, in the month of Shravan and on Maha Shivaratri.
  • Its simple tune and repeating refrain make it easy for the whole family to sing together.

How to Chant

At the close of worship, place a ghee or camphor lamp on a plate and wave it clockwise before the Shiva Linga or an image of Shiva while singing, often with conch and bells. Repeat the refrain "Om Jai Shiv Omkara" after each stanza. Afterwards, pass your hands over the flame, touch them to your eyes and head, and share the prasad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote the aarti "Om Jai Shiv Omkara"?
Its final stanza says "kahata Shivānanda Swāmī", so tradition credits it to Swami Shivanand. Very little reliable information about his life is available.
How many stanzas does the Shiv Aarti have?
The most widely sung version has twelve stanzas including the opening refrain "Om Jai Shiv Omkara", which is repeated after every stanza. Some printed versions omit the stanzas beginning "Lakshmi va Savitri", "Parvata sohai Parvati" and "Jata me Ganga".
What does "Omkara" mean?
"Omkara" is the sacred syllable Om. The aarti hails Shiva as Om itself and declares that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are one within that syllable.
When should the Shiv Aarti be sung?
It can be sung at the end of morning or evening worship every day. It is sung especially on Mondays, Pradosha, through the month of Shravan and on Maha Shivaratri.
Can anyone sing the Shiv Aarti?
Yes. Aarti is a simple form of devotion, and anyone — women, men or children — may sing it with faith.