Shiv Aarti (Om Jai Shiv Omkara)
Also written: Om Jai Shiv Omkara · Om Jai Shiva Omkara · Shiv Ji Ki Aarti · Shiva Aarti · Shankar Ji Ki Aarti · Jai Shiv Omkara
“Om Jai Shiv Omkara” is the best-known Hindi āratī of Śiva, sung in homes and temples across North India as the lamp is waved at the close of worship.
It is worth knowing what the hymn actually says. It does not praise Śiva alone: stanza after stanza it sets Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Sadāśiva side by side — the swan, Garuḍa and the bull; the rosary, the forest garland and the garland of skulls; white cloth, yellow silk and tiger skin — and then states its point plainly: only the undiscerning take them to be three; within the syllable Om they are one. It calls this single Lord “Triguṇasvāmī”, master of the three qualities.
The last stanza carries the signature “kahata Śivānanda Svāmī” (“so says Śivānanda Svāmī”), and tradition accordingly gives the author as Śivānanda Svāmī. Beyond that signature, we have not been able to confirm details of his life or date, so we do not state any here.
Printed versions differ. Short versions have eight stanzas; the fuller version given here adds four stanzas (those beginning “Lakṣmī va Sāvitrī”, “Parvata sohaiṁ”, “Jaṭā meṁ” and “Kāśī meṁ”) before the closing one. Small differences of wording between prayer books are common, and the refrain is sung after every stanza.
The full text
- 1ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
Victory to you, Śiva, who are the very syllable Om — victory to you, Lord. You are Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Sadāśiva, and you bear the Goddess as half of your own body.
- 2एकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे।हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
You shine with one face as Viṣṇu, with four as Brahmā, with five as Śiva. The swan, Garuḍa and the bull are your mounts.
- 3दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे।त्रिगुण रूप निरखते त्रिभुवन जन मोहे॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
With two arms, with four, with ten — each form is beautiful. Seeing these forms of the three qualities, the people of all three worlds are enchanted.
- 4अक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी।त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
You wear the rosary of beads, the garland of forest flowers and the garland of skulls. You are the foe of Tripura and the foe of Kaṃsa, holding a rosary in your hand.
- 5श्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर बाघम्बर अंगे।सनकादिक गरुणादिक भूतादिक संगे॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
White cloth, yellow silk and tiger skin clothe your body. Sanaka and the sages, Garuḍa and his kind, and the hosts of spirits keep you company.
- 6कर के मध्य कमण्डलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी।सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालन कारी॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
In your hands are the water pot, the discus and the trident. You give happiness, take away sorrow and look after the whole world.
- 7ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका।प्रणवाक्षर मध्ये ये तीनों एका॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
Only those without discernment think of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Sadāśiva as separate. Within the syllable Om, these three are one.
- 8लक्ष्मी व सावित्री पार्वती संगा।पार्वती अर्द्धांगी, शिवलहरी गंगा॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
Lakṣmī, Sāvitrī and Pārvatī are beside you. Pārvatī is half of your body, and Gaṅgā is the wave that flows from Śiva.
- 9पर्वत सोहैं पार्वती, शंकर कैलासा।भांग धतूर का भोजन, भस्मी में वासा॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
Pārvatī graces the mountain, and Śaṅkara dwells on Kailāsa. Bhāṅg and dhatūrā are his food, and he lives smeared in ash.
- 10जटा में गंग बहत है, गल मुण्डन माला।शेष नाग लिपटावत, ओढ़त मृगछाला॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
Gaṅgā flows through his matted hair and a garland of skulls hangs at his neck. The serpent coils around him, and a deerskin is his wrap.
- 11काशी में विराजे विश्वनाथ, नन्दी ब्रह्मचारी।नित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
In Kāśī he is enthroned as Viśvanātha, with the celibate Nandī in attendance. Devotees rise each day to see him; his glory is very great.
- 12त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरति जो कोइ नर गावे।कहत शिवानन्द स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे॥ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा॥
Whoever sings this āratī of the Lord of the three qualities, says Śivānanda Svāmī, receives what the heart longs for.
How and when it is recited
This is custom, not a rule of scripture.
- Traditionally sung standing, at the end of the pūjā, while a ghee lamp or camphor flame is waved before Śiva.
- The refrain “Om Jai Shiv Omkara” is repeated by everyone after each stanza, often with bell and clapping.
- Most often sung on Mondays, in the month of Śrāvaṇa, on Pradoṣa evenings and on Mahāśivarātri — and in many homes every morning and evening.
- Afterwards the flame is offered round, and each person passes their hands over it and touches them to the eyes and forehead.
Source
tradition
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