Om Jai Shiv Omkara
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा
Om Jai Shiv Omkara is one of the most widely sung Hindi aartis of Lord Shiva. Its refrain and eleven stanzas praise him as Om itself, in whom Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are one, and the closing stanza names Swami Shivanand as the poet. Families sing it with a lamp at the end of Shiva puja, especially on Mondays, in Shravan and on Maha Shivratri.
- 12 verses
- 6 min
- Swami Shivanand (named in the closing stanza, per tradition)
- Best on Monday
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Glory to Shiva, the Lord who is Om itself. Glory to you, O Master! You are Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva, and you hold your beloved as half of your own body.
Some prints begin "Jai Shiv Omkara, Prabhu Har Shiv Omkara" or "Har Har Mahadev"; the words above are the most widely sung.
Ekanan Chaturanan Panchanan Rajeएकानन चतुरानन पंचानन राजे।
Hansasan Garudasan Vrishvahan Sajeहंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे॥
You shine with one face, with four faces and with five; you are seated on the swan, on Garuda and on the bull.
The aarti sees the one Shiva in all three forms: Vishnu (one face, Garuda), Brahma (four faces, swan) and Shiva (five faces, the bull Nandi).
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Do Bhuj Char Chaturbhuj Dasbhuj Ati Soheदो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे।
Trigun Roop Nirakhte Tribhuvan Jan Moheत्रिगुण रूप निरखते त्रिभुवन जन मोहे॥
With two arms, with four arms and with ten arms you look most splendid; beholding your threefold form, the people of the three worlds are enchanted.
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Akshamala Vanamala Mundamala Dhariअक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी।
Chandan Mrigmad Sohai Bhale Shashidhariचंदन मृगमद सोहै भाले शशिधारी॥
You wear the rosary of rudraksha, the garland of forest flowers and the garland of skulls; sandalwood and musk adorn you, and the crescent moon rests on your brow.
Variant second line (drikpanchang and several recordings): "त्रिपुरारी कंसारी कर माला धारी" (Tripurari Kansari Kar Mala Dhari).
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Shvetambar Pitambar Baghambar Angeश्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर बाघम्बर अंगे।
Sanakadik Garunadik Bhootadik Sangeसनकादिक गरुणादिक भूतादिक संगे॥
White garments, yellow silk and the tiger skin adorn your body; the sages led by Sanaka, Garuda and his kin, and the bhutas are ever by your side.
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Kar Ke Madhya Kamandalu Chakra Trishuldhariकर के मध्य कमंडलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी।
Sukhkari Dukhhari Jagpalankariसुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालनकारी॥
In your hands you hold the water-pot, the discus and the trident; you give happiness, take away sorrow and sustain the world.
Older printed version (webdunia, shivchalisahindi): "चक्र त्रिशूल धर्ता। जगकर्ता जगभर्ता जगसंहारकर्ता॥" (creator, sustainer and dissolver of the world).
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv Janat Avivekaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका।
Pranavakshar Madhye Ye Teenon Ekaप्रणवाक्षर मध्ये ये तीनों एका॥
Only the unwise think of Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva as separate; within the sacred syllable Om, these three are one.
Some prints read "प्रणवाक्षर के मध्ये" (same meaning).
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Lakshmi Va Savitri Parvati Sangaलक्ष्मी व सावित्री पार्वती संगा।
Parvati Ardhangi, Shivalahari Gangaपार्वती अर्द्धांगी, शिवलहरी गंगा॥
Lakshmi, Savitri and Parvati are with you; Parvati is the half of your body, and the Ganga flows as Shiva's own wave.
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Parvat Sohain Parvati, Shankar Kailasaपर्वत सोहैं पार्वती, शंकर कैलासा।
Bhang Dhatur Ka Bhojan, Bhasmi Mein Vasaभांग धतूर का भोजन, भस्मी में वासा॥
Parvati graces the mountain, and Shankar dwells on Kailash; bhang and dhatura are his food, and he makes his home in sacred ash.
Variant second line (revivingcultures and some recordings): "भांग धतूरा भस्म चढ़ावत, भोजन फलनिवासा".
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Jata Mein Ganga Bahat Hai, Gal Mundan Malaजटा में गंगा बहत है, गल मुण्डन माला।
Shesh Naag Liptavat, Odhat Mrigchhalaशेष नाग लिपटावत, ओढ़त मृगछाला॥
The Ganga flows through your matted locks and a garland of skulls hangs at your throat; the great serpent coils around you, and you wrap yourself in deerskin.
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Kashi Mein Viraje Vishwanath, Nandi Brahmachariकाशी में विराजे विश्वनाथ, नंदी ब्रह्मचारी।
Nit Uth Darshan Pavat, Mahima Ati Bhariनित उठ दर्शन पावत, महिमा अति भारी॥
In Kashi you reign as Vishwanath, with Nandi the celibate devotee before you; those who rise each day for your darshan find your glory beyond measure.
Older printed version: "काशी में विश्वनाथ विराजत नन्दी ब्रह्मचारी। नित उठि भोग लगावत महिमा अति भारी॥"
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Trigunswami Ji Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Nar Gaveत्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावे।
Kahat Shivanand Swami, Manvanchhit Phal Paveकहत शिवानंद स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे॥
Whoever sings this aarti of the Lord of the three gunas, says Swami Shivanand, receives the fruit the heart longs for.
This closing stanza carries the poet's signature (chhap): Swami Shivanand.
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkaraॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dharaब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा॥
Complete
You have reached the end of Om Jai Shiv Omkara.
Make it a weekly practice
Adds a weekly event to your phone’s calendar. No sign-up, nothing leaves your device.
Questions
When is Om Jai Shiv Omkara sung?
At the end of Shiva puja, while waving a ghee lamp or camphor before the Shiva Linga or image. Most homes sing it at the morning and evening puja. Mondays, Pradosh, Shravan and Maha Shivratri are the main occasions, and many temples sing it after abhishekam.
Who wrote the aarti Om Jai Shiv Omkara?
Tradition says Swami Shivanand. The last stanza says "kahat Shivanand Swami" ("so says Swami Shivanand"). Nothing else about him is reliably known.
Why does a Shiva aarti mention Brahma and Vishnu?
Because the aarti sees the three as one. It shows Shiva holding the emblems of Brahma, Vishnu and himself, and then says that in the syllable Om these three are one: Brahma who creates, Vishnu who sustains and Shiva who dissolves.
Why do different books have different lines?
Aartis were passed on by ear and in small pamphlets, so regional versions grew. Older prints give about nine stanzas. The fuller version, with stanzas on Parvati, Kailash and Kashi Vishwanath, is the one most recordings use today. We give that form and list the main alternative lines in the note under each stanza.
Source and review
Source: Traditional Hindi aarti; full sung form as given by drikpanchang.com "Shri Shiv Ji Ki Aarti", cross-checked with revivingcultures.com, hindi.webdunia.com and shivchalisahindi.com
Two versions circulate. Older prints (webdunia, shivchalisahindi) give 9 stanzas with some different lines; the fuller 11-stanza form (drikpanchang, revivingcultures) is what most families and recordings sing today, so we follow it. Where the two full-form sources differ we chose the reading attested by the most sources and recorded the alternative in each stanza's note (stanzas 3, 5, 6, 8, 10).
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.