Hanuman Aarti
श्री हनुमान जी की आरती
Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Ki is a well-known aarti of Lord Hanuman, a traditional song in simple Hindi whose author is not recorded. Its refrain and six short verses recall the burning of Lanka, the Sanjivani herb and the rescue from Ahiravan. Families sing it while waving the lamp, usually right after the Hanuman Chalisa, and especially on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Hanuman Jayanti.
- 7 verses
- 4 min
- Traditional
- Best on Tuesday, Saturday
Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Kiआरती कीजै हनुमान लला की।
Dusht Dalan Raghunath Kala Kiदुष्टदलन रघुनाथ कला की॥
Let us offer the aarti to our beloved Hanuman, destroyer of the wicked and the very power of Shri Ram.
- Aartithe lamp-offering
- Kijailet us perform
- HanumanHanuman
- Lalabeloved child
- Kiof
- Dusht Dalandestroyer of the wicked
- RaghunathShri Ram, lord of the Raghus
- Kalapower, divine manifestation
'Lala' is an affectionate word for a beloved child: the aarti sings to Hanuman with a parent's tenderness. This refrain (tek) is repeated after each verse.
Jake Bal Se Girivar Kanpaiजाके बल से गिरिवर काँपै।
Rog Dosh Jake Nikat Na Jhanpaiरोग-दोष जाके निकट न झाँपै॥
Anjani Putra Maha Baldaiअंजनि पुत्र महा बलदाई।
Santan Ke Prabhu Sada Sahaiसंतन के प्रभु सदा सहाई॥
By his strength the greatest mountains tremble, and illness and misfortune dare not come near him. Anjana's son, giver of great strength, he is the Lord of the saintly and their constant helper.
Popular versions sing 'nikat na jhanke' ('dare not even peep near'); the Gita Press text reads 'jhanpai'.
Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Kiआरती कीजै हनुमान लला की।
Dusht Dalan Raghunath Kala Kiदुष्टदलन रघुनाथ कला की॥
De Beera Raghunath Pathayeदे बीरा रघुनाथ पठाये।
Lanka Jari Siya Sudhi Layeलंका जारि सीय सुधि लाये॥
Lanka So Kot Samudra Si Khaiलंका सो कोट समुद्र सी खाई।
Jat Pavansut Bar Na Laiजात पवनसुत बार न लाई॥
Shri Ram sent him forth with the betel leaf of honour; he burned Lanka and brought back news of Sita. Lanka was a mighty fortress with the ocean for its moat, yet the son of the Wind crossed it without a moment's delay.
'Beera' (bida) is the rolled betel leaf once given to a warrior who accepted a daring mission, as a mark of trust.
Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Kiआरती कीजै हनुमान लला की।
Dusht Dalan Raghunath Kala Kiदुष्टदलन रघुनाथ कला की॥
Lanka Jari Asur Sanhareलंका जारि असुर संहारे।
Siyaramji Ke Kaj Sanvareसियारामजी के काज सँवारे॥
Lakshman Murchhit Pade Sakareलक्ष्मण मूर्छित पड़े सकारे।
Aani Sajivan Pran Ubareआनि सजीवन प्रान उबारे॥
He burned Lanka, destroyed the demons and fulfilled the purpose of Sita and Ram. When Lakshman lay unconscious and dawn drew near, he brought the Sanjivani herb and saved his life.
Tradition says the herb had to arrive before sunrise for Lakshman to live. That is why the verse says 'sakare', at daybreak.
Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Kiआरती कीजै हनुमान लला की।
Dusht Dalan Raghunath Kala Kiदुष्टदलन रघुनाथ कला की॥
Paithi Patal Tori Jam Kareपैठि पताल तोरि जम-कारे।
Ahiravan Ki Bhuja Ukhareअहिरावन की भुजा उखारे॥
Bayen Bhuja Asur Dal Mareबायें भुजा असुर दल मारे।
Dahine Bhuja Santjan Tareदहिने भुजा संतजन तारे॥
Entering the netherworld, he broke through bonds as deadly as Yama's and tore off the arms of Ahiravan. With his left arm he struck down the demon hosts; with his right he carried the saintly to safety.
In the Ahiravan episode the demon carries Ram and Lakshman off to the netherworld and Hanuman rescues them. The story is not in Valmiki's Ramayana; it comes from later Ramayana traditions. 'Jam-kare' is read either as Yama-like bonds or as guards.
Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Kiआरती कीजै हनुमान लला की।
Dusht Dalan Raghunath Kala Kiदुष्टदलन रघुनाथ कला की॥
Sur Nar Muni Aarti Utareसुर नर मुनि आरती उतारे।
Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Uchareजै जै जै हनुमान उचारे॥
Kanchan Thar Kapur Lau Chhaiकंचन थार कपूर लौ छाई।
Aarti Karat Anjana Maiआरति करत अंजना माई॥
Gods, humans and sages wave the aarti before him, crying 'Victory, victory, victory to Hanuman!' On a golden plate the camphor flame spreads its glow, as Mother Anjana herself performs his aarti.
Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Kiआरती कीजै हनुमान लला की।
Dusht Dalan Raghunath Kala Kiदुष्टदलन रघुनाथ कला की॥
Jo Hanumanji Ki Aarti Gavaiजो हनुमानजी की आरति गावै।
Basi Baikunth Param Pad Pavaiबसि बैकुंठ परमपद पावै॥
Whoever sings this aarti of Hanuman dwells in Vaikuntha and attains the highest state.
Gita Press prints 'Hanuman (ji)', the 'ji' being optional. Many popular recordings add a couplet here that is not in the Gita Press text: 'लंक विध्वंस किये रघुराई। तुलसीदास स्वामी कीरति गाई॥' (Lank vidhvans kiye Raghurai, Tulsidas swami kirati gai: 'Shri Ram destroyed Lanka; Tulsidas sings the glory of his Lord').
Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Kiआरती कीजै हनुमान लला की।
Dusht Dalan Raghunath Kala Kiदुष्टदलन रघुनाथ कला की॥
Complete
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Questions
When should the Hanuman Aarti be sung?
At the end of worship, usually right after the Hanuman Chalisa. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the traditional days, and on Hanuman Jayanti it is sung with extra joy. Many families sing it every morning or evening at the home mandir.
Who wrote 'Aarti Kijai Hanuman Lala Ki'?
Nobody knows. It is a traditional aarti, passed down by singing in temples and homes. Some popular versions end with a line naming Tulsidas, so people sometimes link it to him. That line is not in the Gita Press text, and there is no firm evidence that he wrote the aarti.
What does 'Dusht dalan Raghunath kala ki' mean?
It calls Hanuman the one who crushes the wicked (dusht dalan) and the 'kala' of Raghunath, meaning Shri Ram's own power at work. Devotees see Hanuman's strength as Ram's strength, working through his devoted servant.
How do I do the Hanuman Aarti at home?
Light a ghee diya or camphor on a plate. Ring a small bell if you have one, and wave the lamp clockwise in front of Hanuman's picture or murti while you sing, repeating the refrain after each verse. When you finish, everyone passes their palms over the flame and touches their eyes.
Do I have to recite the Chalisa before the aarti?
No. Many families recite the Chalisa first and then do the aarti, because the aarti closes the puja. You can also sing the aarti on its own.
Why does the aarti call Hanuman 'Lala'?
'Lala' is a loving word for a small child. The aarti sings to Hanuman the way a mother would.
Source and review
Source: Shri Hanumanji ki Aarti, Gita Press Gorakhpur reading (appendix to Gita Press's Shri Ramcharitmanas; scanned copy on archive.org), cross-checked with bhaktibharat.com and hindi.webdunia.com
We group the couplets after the refrain in pairs, as the aarti is commonly sung, with the refrain repeated after each; the last verse is a single couplet. Gita Press readings kept: 'jhanpai' (popular 'jhanke'), 'Siya' as सीय, 'Sajivan'. Word spacing is normalised (e.g. सियारामजी के). The popular closing couplet 'लंक विध्वंस किये रघुराई…' is not in the Gita Press text and is given in a note.
We checked the text line by line against the sources named here. The meanings are an AI-assisted draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.