An aarti is the waving of a lamp before a deity while a song of praise is sung. This page gives a Shiva aarti that opens with the words Om jai Gangadhar Har, calling Shiva the bearer of the Ganga (Gangadhar), the one who takes away (Har), the lord of Girija and the lord of Gauri. The source gives no author, so none is named here.
Many readers search for the better known Hindi aarti Om Jai Shiv Omkara. This is not that song. It is a Sanskrit-based text with its own tune and words, though the refrain Om Har Har Har Mahadev will be familiar to anyone who has attended a Shiva temple.
The text opens with a refrain paragraph, then eight stanzas, then the refrain once more. Each stanza describes a scene on Mount Kailasa, the dancing and music of the court, the form of Shiva himself, and in the last stanza the benefit of singing. Below, every stanza has a meaning drawn from the Sanskrit. If you plan to sing it on the festival night, the Maha Shivaratri page keeps the dates.
The text, transliteration and meaning
The first block is the opening refrain. Stanza lines are shown together as one block, with the repeating refrain at the end of each.
Opening refrain
ओम जय गंगाधर हर। शिव जय गिरिजाधीश, शिव जय गौरीनाथ।
त्वं मां पालय नित्यं, त्वं मां पालय शंभो, कृपया जगदीश। ओम हर हर हर महादेव ॥ धृ ॥
Oma jaya gangadhara hara, shiva jaya girijadhisha, shiva jaya gaurinatha
Tvam mam palaya nityam, tvam mam palaya shambho, kripaya jagadisha, oma hara hara hara mahadeva dhri
MeaningOm, victory to Gangadhar Har, lord of Girija and lord of Gauri. You protect me always, Shambhu, lord of the world, with your kindness. Om Har Har Har Mahadev is the refrain.
Stanza 1
कैलासे गिरिशिखरे कल्पद्रुमविपिने, शिव कल्पद्रुमविपिने, गुंजति मधुकर पुंजे (२),कुंजवने गहने।
कोकिल कूजति खेलति हंसावलिललिता, शिव हंसा वलिललिता। रचयति कलाकलापं (२), नृत्यति मुदसहिता, ओम हर हर हर महादेव ॥ १॥
Kailase girishikhare kalpadrumavipine, shiva kalpadrumavipine, gunjati madhukara punje (2), kunjavane gahane
Kokila kujati khelati hamsavalilalita, shiva hamsa valilalita, rachayati kalakalapam (2), nrityati mudasahita, oma hara hara hara mahadeva 1
MeaningOn the peak of Mount Kailasa, in a grove of wish-fulfilling trees, bees hum in swarms through the dense bowers. The cuckoo calls, lines of swans play gracefully, and one displays the arts and dances in delight.
Stanza 2
तस्मिंल्ललितसुदेशे शालामणिरचिता, शिव शालामणिरचिता। तन्मध्ये हरनिकटे (२), गौरीमुदसहिता।
क्रीडां रचयति भूषां रंजितनिजमीशं, शिव रंजितनिजमीशं। इन्द्रादिक सुरसेवित, ब्रम्हादिक सुरसेवित (२) प्रणमति ते शीर्षम, ओम हर हर हर महादेव॥ २॥
Tasmimllalitasudeshe shalamanirachita, shiva shalamanirachita, tanmadhye haranikate (2), gaurimudasahita
Kridam rachayati bhusham ranjitanijamisham, shiva ranjitanijamisham, indradika surasevita, bramhadika surasevita (2) pranamati te shirshama, oma hara hara hara mahadeva 2
MeaningIn that lovely place stands a hall built of jewels, and in it, near Hara, is Gauri, full of joy. She plays and adorns her lord, and Indra and the gods, Brahma and the gods, serve him and bow their heads to him.
Stanza 3
विबुधवधूर्बहु नृत्यति हृदये मुदसहिता, शिव हृदये मुदसहिता। किन्नरगानं कुरुते (२), सप्तस्वरसहिता।
धिनकत थै थै धिनकत मृदंग वादयते, शिव मृदंग वादयते। क्वण क्वण ललिता वेणु (२), र्मधुरं नादयते, ओम हर हर हर महादेव॥ ३॥
Vibudhavadhurbahu nrityati hridaye mudasahita, shiva hridaye mudasahita, kinnaraganam kurute (2), saptasvarasahita
Dhinakata thai thai dhinakata mridanga vadayate, shiva mridanga vadayate, kvana kvana lalita venu (2), rmadhuram nadayate, oma hara hara hara mahadeva 3
MeaningCelestial women dance with gladness in their hearts, and the Kinnaras sing in the seven notes. The drum sounds dhinakat thai thai, and the sweet flute sounds clearly.
Stanza 4
रुणु रुणु चरणे रचयति नूपुरमुज्वलितं, शिव नूपुरमुज्वलितं। चक्रावर्ते भ्रमयति (२), कुरुते तां धिक ताम।
तां तां लुपचुप तालं नादयते, शिव तालं नादयते। अंगुष्ठांगुलिनादं (२), लास्यकतां कुरुते, ओम हर हर हर महादेव॥ ४॥
Runu runu charane rachayati nupuramujvalitam, shiva nupuramujvalitam, chakravarte bhramayati (2), kurute tam dhika tama
Tam tam lupachupa talam nadayate, shiva talam nadayate, angushthangulinadam (2), lasyakatam kurute, oma hara hara hara mahadeva 4
MeaningGleaming anklets ring on the feet as the dancer whirls in circles and marks the beat with rhythm syllables. The thumb and fingers keep time, and the dance is performed with grace.
Stanza 5
कर्पुरद्युतिगौरं पंचाननसहितं, शिव पंचाननसहितं। त्रिनयनशशिधरमौलि: (२),विषधरंकण्ठयुतम।
सुन्दरजटाकलापं पावकयुतभालं शिव पावकयुतभालं। डमरुत्रिशुलपिनाकं (२), करधृतनृकपालं, ओम हर हर हर महादेव ॥ ५॥
Karpuradyutigauram panchananasahitam, shiva panchananasahitam, trinayanashashidharamauli: (2), vishadharankanthayutama
Sundarajatakalapam pavakayutabhalam shiva pavakayutabhalam, damarutrishulapinakam (2), karadhritanrikapalam, oma hara hara hara mahadeva 5
MeaningShiva is fair as camphor and has five faces, three eyes and the moon in his crown. A serpent encircles his neck, his hair falls in lovely matted locks, and fire shines on his brow. He holds the damaru drum, trident and Pinaka bow, and carries a skull in his hand.
Stanza 6
शंखनिनादं कृत्वा झल्लरि नादयते, शिव झल्लरि नादयते। नीराजयते ब्रम्हा, नीराजयते विष्णुर्वेदऋचां पठते।
इति मृदुचरणसरोजं हृत्कमले धृत्वा, शिव हृत्कमले धृत्वा। अवलोकयति महेशं, अवलोकयति सुरेशं, ईशम अभिनत्वा। ओम हर हर हर महादेव॥ ६॥
Shankhaninadam kritva jhallari nadayate, shiva jhallari nadayate, nirajayate bramha, nirajayate vishnurvedaricham pathate
Iti mriducharanasarojam hritkamale dhritva, shiva hritkamale dhritva, avalokayati mahesham, avalokayati suresham, ishama abhinatva, oma hara hara hara mahadeva 6
MeaningThe conch is blown and cymbals are sounded, and Brahma and Vishnu wave lamps while reciting Vedic verses. Holding his soft lotus feet in the lotus of the heart, they gaze on Mahesha, the lord of the gods, and bow to him.
Stanza 7
रुण्डै: रचयति मालां पन्नगमुपवीतं, शिव पन्नगमुपवीतं। वामविभागे गिरिजा, वामविभागे गौरी रुपमतिललितम।
सुन्दरसकलशरीरे कृतभस्माभरणं, शिवकृतभस्माभरणं। इति वृषभध्वजरुपं, हरशिवशंकररुपं, तापत्रयहरणं, ओम हर हर हर महादेव ॥ ७॥
Rundai: rachayati malam pannagamupavitam, shiva pannagamupavitam, vamavibhage girija, vamavibhage gauri rupamatilalitama
Sundarasakalasharire kritabhasmabharanam, shivakritabhasmabharanam, iti vrishabhadhvajarupam, harashivashankararupam, tapatrayaharanam, oma hara hara hara mahadeva 7
MeaningHe makes a garland of skulls and wears a serpent as his sacred thread, and on his left sits Girija, Gauri, in a very lovely form. His fine body is adorned with ash, and this bull-bannered form of Hara, Shiva, Shankara removes the three kinds of affliction.
Stanza 8
ध्यानं आरति समये हृदये इति कृत्वा, शिव हृदये इति कृत्वा। रामं त्रिजटानाथं (२), ईशम अभिनत्वा।
संगीतमेवं प्रतिदिनपठनं यः कुरुते, शिव पठनं यः कुरुते। शिवसायुज्यं गच्छति (२), भक्त्या यः श्रुणुते। ओम हर हर हर महादेव ॥ ८॥
Dhyanam arati samaye hridaye iti kritva, shiva hridaye iti kritva, ramam trijatanatham (2), ishama abhinatva
Sangitamevam pratidinapathanam yah kurute, shiva pathanam yah kurute, shivasayujyam gachchhati (2), bhaktya yah shrunute, oma hara hara hara mahadeva 8
MeaningPlacing meditation in the heart at the time of aarti and bowing to the lord of the matted locks, whom the text addresses as Rama, the singer attains union with Shiva. The text says this is the result for anyone who sings this song every day, or listens to it with devotion.
Closing refrain
ओम जय गंगाधर हर, शिव जय गिरिजाधीश, शिव जय गौरीनाथ।
त्वं मां पालय नित्यं, त्वं मां पालय शम्भो, कृपया जगदीश। ओम हर हर हर महादेव ॥
Oma jaya gangadhara hara, shiva jaya girijadhisha, shiva jaya gaurinatha
Tvam mam palaya nityam, tvam mam palaya shambho, kripaya jagadisha, oma hara hara hara mahadeva
MeaningThe refrain returns: Om, victory to Gangadhar Har, lord of Girija and lord of Gauri. Protect me always, Shambhu, lord of the world, with your kindness. Om Har Har Har Mahadev.
Text: Sanskrit Wikisource, page “शिव आरती”. Transliteration is simplified; meanings are our own. Verse numbers appear as labels above each verse. The source marks repeats with (2) and uses plain vertical bars where Devanagari normally uses dandas; the page shows each line exactly as the source has it.
When and how it is traditionally recited
Aarti is sung at the end of a puja, with a lit lamp, often of camphor or ghee, waved in a clockwise circle before the image. In temples it is sung at fixed times of the day, and at home many families sing it in the evening. Mondays are favoured by many Shiva devotees, and Pradosh evenings and Maha Shivaratri are also chosen, though each household has its own pattern.
The refrain makes this aarti easy to join. One person sings the stanza and everyone answers with Om Har Har Har Mahadev, often with bells, a conch and a small drum. The (2) marks in the text mean the phrase is sung twice. Customs differ by region and family, so follow the tune and pace your temple or household uses.
If you want to sing it at home, light the lamp, sing the opening refrain, one stanza at a time, and finish with the refrain again. You can find dates for Pradosh on the Pradosh Vrat page.
What the tradition says it is for
Tradition holds that aarti is a way of offering light to the deity and receiving a share of the blessing, which is why people pass their hands over the flame and touch them to their eyes. For Shiva worship the aarti marks the close of puja, a moment of praise after the offerings are done.
This aarti itself states a benefit in stanza 8: that devotion in singing or listening leads to union with Shiva. That is the text’s own claim of faith. Most people sing it simply as an act of devotion, and this page does not present it as a guarantee of anything.
The stanzas also read as a picture of the world of Shiva and Gauri, the music, dance and the whole court around them, so singers often find it a gentle way to turn the mind to prayer. Related Shiva texts on this site include the Om Namah Shivaya mantra and the Rudrashtakam.
Pronunciation notes
Sanskrit words are said with each syllable clear. Gangadhar is “gan-ga-dhar” with a breathy dh, Shambhu is “sham-bhu” with a breathy bh, and Mahadev is “ma-ha-dayv”. Girija is “gi-ri-ja” with short vowels, and Kailasa is “kai-laa-sa”, with the first syllable rhyming with high.
Some lines are rhythm syllables for the drum and dance, like dhinakat thai thai and tam tam lupachup tal. Read them quickly and evenly, as music, and do not worry about meaning. Where the source prints a colon-like mark after a word, as in mauli, it stands for a visarga, a light h that echoes the vowel before it.
Related mantras and pages
- Om Namah Shivaya: the five-syllable Shiva mantra
- Rudrashtakam: eight stanzas in praise of Shiva
- Lingashtakam: another song sung at Shiva temples
- Maha Shivaratri: the great night of Shiva worship
- Pradosh Vrat: the twilight observance many devotees keep
- All mantras, stotras, chalisas and aartis
Frequently asked questions
↳ Is this the same as Om Jai Shiv Omkara?
No. Om Jai Shiv Omkara is a Hindi aarti with different words and tune. This page gives the Sanskrit-based aarti that begins Om jai Gangadhar Har, sung with the refrain Om Har Har Har Mahadev.
↳ What does Gangadhar mean?
It means the bearer of the Ganga. Tradition describes the river as held in the matted hair of Shiva. Har, the next word, means the one who takes away.
↳ Who wrote this Shiv Aarti?
The source does not name an author, so none can be given with confidence. It is simply known as a traditional aarti to Shiva.
↳ When is the Shiv Aarti sung?
It is sung at the end of puja, in many places in the evening. Many devotees choose Mondays, Pradosh evenings and Maha Shivaratri, though customs differ by region and family.
↳ What does the number (2) mean in the text?
It marks a phrase that is sung twice. The source uses it in many lines of the stanzas, and it is shown here as written.
↳ What does the aarti say about its own benefit?
Stanza 8 says that a person who sings it daily or listens with devotion reaches union with Shiva. This is the text's own statement of faith, and many people sing it simply as an act of devotion.