Shiv Aarti: Om Jai Shiv Omkara — Lyrics & Meaning

The Shiv Aarti (Om Jai Shiv Omkara) is the standard ceremonial closing prayer of Shiva Puja, sung while circling a flame before the Shiva Lingam or Shiva image. It celebrates Shiva's complete nature: Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh in one; the wearer of the crescent moon and the Ganga; the destroyer of the three cities and the granter of liberation. It is sung after the Shiv Chalisa, on every Monday (Somvar), on Pradosh Kaal (twice monthly), and throughout the month of Shravan. In Vedic astrology, it is part of the complete Saturn and Rahu remedy sequence. Use the birth chart calculator to see how this plays out in your personal Vedic chart.

Reviewed by Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, M.A. Sanskrit & Vedic Studies, Varanasi — as of May 2026.

Like all Aartis, the Shiv Aarti is the ceremonial seal that closes the Puja, transfers Shiva's tejas (divine light) to the practitioner through the lamp-circling ritual, and creates the energetic boundary between sacred practice time and ordinary daily activity. Check your Saturn and Rahu periods with the free Dasha Calculator to understand whether your current planetary period specifically benefits from Shiva Puja.

ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा। ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, सदाशिव, अर्धांगी धारा॥ ॐ जय शिव॰॰॰

एकानन चतुरानन, पञ्चानन राजे। हंसासन गरुड़ासन, वृषवाहन साजे॥ ॐ जय शिव॰॰॰

दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज, दशभुज अति सोहे। त्रिगुण रूप निरखतां त्रिभुवन जन मोहे॥ ॐ जय शिव॰॰॰

अक्षमाला वनमाला, मुण्डमाला धारी। चन्दन मृगमद सोहे, भाले शशिधारी॥ ॐ जय शिव॰॰॰

श्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर, बाघम्बर अंगे। सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक, भूतादिक संगे॥ ॐ जय शिव॰॰॰

कर मध्ये कमण्डलु, चक्र त्रिशूलधारी। सुखकर सब के प्रतिपालक, शोभित तीनों खारी॥ ॐ जय शिव॰॰॰

ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका। प्रणवाक्षर मध्ये ये तीनों एका॥ ॐ जय शिव॰॰॰

त्रिगुण स्वामी की आरती, जो कोई जन गावे। कहत शिवानन्द स्वामी, मनवांछित फल पावे॥ ॐ जय शिव॰॰॰

ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा।

Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkara.

Brahma, Vishnu, Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dhara.

Ekanan Chaturanan, Panchananan Raje.

Hamsasan Garudasan, Vrishvahan Saje.

Do Bhuj Char Chaturbhuj, Dashbhuj Ati Sohe.

Trigun Roop Nirkhataan Tribhuvan Jan Mohe.

Akshamala Vanamala, Mundamala Dhari.

Chandan Mrigamad Sohe, Bhale Shashidhari.

Shvetambar Pitambar, Baghambhar Ange.

Sankadik Garudadik, Bhutadik Sange.

Kar Madhye Kamandalu, Chakra Trishuldhari.

Sukhakar Sab Ke Pratipaalak, Shobhit Tino Khari.

Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv Janat Aviveka.

Pranvakshar Madhye Ye Tino Eka.

Trigun Swami Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Jan Gave.

Kahat Shivanand Swami, Manvanchhit Phal Pave.

Opening verse: Om Jai Shiv Omkara — "Victory to Shiva, the embodiment of Om." The opening establishes Shiva as Omkara — the first sound, the source of all vibration, the cosmic foundation. Ardhangi Dhara — "the bearer of the half-body" — refers to Ardhanarishvara, the half-man, half-woman form of Shiva and Shakti united. This single image encodes the non-dual nature of all reality: masculine and feminine are aspects of one whole.

Verse 2: Ekanan Chaturanan Panchananan — one-faced (Shiva in his basic human form), four-faced (the form associated with Brahma), and five-faced (Panchamukha Shiva — the five directions/elements). Each face governs a different dimension of existence: Sadyojata (west — earth, birth), Vamadeva (north — water, preservation), Aghora (south — fire, transformation), Tatpurusha (east — air, concealment), and Isana (upward — space, liberation).

Verse 3: Do Bhuj, Char Chaturbhuj, Dashbhuj — two-armed (simple devotion form), four-armed (full Puja form), ten-armed (the Virabhadra warrior form). The number of arms in divine iconography signals the scope of power being invoked: 2 arms = accessible, 4 arms = complete, 10 arms = cosmic warrior.

Verse 7: Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv Janat Aviveka, Pranvakshar Madhye Ye Tino Eka — "Those without wisdom see Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva as separate; within the sacred syllable Om, all three are one." This verse is the Aarti's theological core: the three deities represent creation, preservation, and dissolution — which are the three stages of the same cosmic breath. Pranvakshar (the syllable of life force) = Om.

Monday (Somvar — moon's day) is Shiva's primary weekly worship day for two reasons: Shiva wears the crescent moon (Chandrashekhara — moon-crowned) as his ornament, and in the Jyotish tradition, the Moon is Shiva's planetary body. Performing Shiv Aarti on Monday aligns the devotee's worship with the most receptive day for Shiva's lunar energy — which governs mind, intuition, and emotional balance.

For Saturn remedy (Sade Sati, Saturn Mahadasha), Monday Shiv Aarti is combined with Saturday abhishek (ritual bathing of Shiva Lingam). This dual-day practice addresses both the mind/emotion dimension (Monday-Moon) and the karma/restriction dimension (Saturday-Saturn) of Saturn afflictions.

The correct method for Shiv Aarti: light a 5-wick ghee lamp (panch-diya) or single sesame oil lamp, hold the plate (thali) with both hands at chest height, begin circling clockwise before the Shiva Lingam or image at a moderate pace, sing or recite each verse with full attention and emotion (bhava), complete three full circles per verse, ring the bell throughout, and at the end pass the flame close to your face and briefly touch the warmth to both eyes (to receive Shiva's light).

The Shiva Lingam abhishek (ritual washing) should precede the Aarti: pour water, then milk, then honey, then yogurt over the Lingam, then rinse with water, then offer bhasma (ash) or vibhuti. After the abhishek, offer bilva leaves (bel patra) — one of the most sacred offerings to Shiva. Then light the lamp and sing the Aarti.

The Shiv Chalisa is the main prayer (10–12 minutes, recited before Aarti). The Shiv Aarti is the closing ceremony (3–4 minutes, sung with lamp-circling). Together they form the complete Shiva Puja sequence. The Chalisa is contemplative — it builds the devotional relationship through story and praise. The Aarti is celebratory — it seals the Puja with music, fire, and the physical movement of the lamp.