Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
The best-known Shiva aarti, sung at the close of Shiva worship — a joyful song in which Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are revealed as one in the sacred sound Om.
Traditional aarti, signed by Swami Shivananda in the last verse
Listen
Om Jai Shiv Omkara
Son of Kali · Mahashivaratri Mantras
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा, स्वामी जय शिव ओंकारा ।
Om Jai Shiv Omkara, Swami Jai Shiv Omkara
oṃ jaya śiva oṃkārā svāmī jaya śiva oṃkārā
Om — victory to Shiva, who is Om! Lord, victory to Shiva, who is Om!
ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव, अर्द्धांगी धारा ॥
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, Ardhangi Dhara
brahmā viṣṇu sadāśiva arddhāṃgī dhārā
Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva — you who hold Parvati as half of your body.
एकानन चतुरानन पञ्चानन राजे ।
Ekanan Chaturanan Panchanan Raje
ekānana caturānana pañcānana rāje
One face, four faces and five faces shine —
हंसासन गरुड़ासन वृषवाहन साजे ॥
Hansasan Garudasan Vrishvahan Saje
haṃsāsana garuṛāsana vṛṣavāhana sāje
seated on the swan, on the eagle Garuda, and riding the bull.
दो भुज चार चतुर्भुज दसभुज अति सोहे ।
Do Bhuj Chaar Chaturbhuj Dasbhuj Ati Sohe
do bhuja cāra caturbhuja dasabhuja ati sohe
With two arms, four arms and ten arms, you are most beautiful;
त्रिगुण रूप निरखते त्रिभुवन जन मोहे ॥
Trigun Roop Nirakhate Tribhuvan Jan Mohe
triguṇa rūpa nirakhate tribhuvana jana mohe
seeing your threefold form, the people of the three worlds are enchanted.
अक्षमाला वनमाला मुण्डमाला धारी ।
Akshamala Vanamala Mundamala Dhari
akṣamālā vanamālā muṇḍamālā dhārī
Wearing a rosary, a garland of forest flowers and a garland of skulls;
चन्दन मृगमद सोहै भाले शशिधारी ॥
Chandan Mrigamad Sohai Bhale Shashidhari
candana mṛgamada sohai bhāle śaśidhārī
sandal paste and musk shine on your brow, O bearer of the moon.
श्वेताम्बर पीताम्बर बाघम्बर अंगे ।
Shvetambar Pitambar Baghambar Ange
śvetāmbara pītāmbara bāghambara aṃge
Robed in white, in yellow silk and in tiger skin,
सनकादिक गरुड़ादिक भूतादिक संगे ॥
Sanakadik Garudadik Bhutadik Sange
sanakādika garuṛādika bhūtādika saṃge
accompanied by the sage Sanaka and others, by Garuda and others, and by spirits and the rest.
कर के मध्य कमण्डलु चक्र त्रिशूलधारी ।
Kar Ke Madhya Kamandalu Chakra Trishuladhari
kara ke madhya kamaṇḍalu cakra triśūladhārī
In your hands you hold the water pot, the discus and the trident;
सुखकारी दुखहारी जगपालन कारी ॥
Sukhakari Dukhahari Jagpalan Kari
sukhakārī dukhahārī jagapālana kārī
you give happiness, take away sorrow and sustain the world.
ब्रह्मा विष्णु सदाशिव जानत अविवेका ।
Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv Jaanat Aviveka
brahmā viṣṇu sadāśiva jānata avivekā
The undiscerning think of Brahma, Vishnu and Sadashiva as separate,
प्रणवाक्षर में शोभित ये तीनों एका ॥
Pranavakshar Mein Shobhit Ye Teenon Eka
praṇavākṣara meṃ śobhita ye tīnoṃ ekā
but in the syllable Om, these three shine as one.
त्रिगुणस्वामी जी की आरती जो कोई नर गावे ।
Trigunaswami Ji Ki Aarti Jo Koi Nar Gave
triguṇasvāmī jī kī āratī jo koī nara gāve
Whoever sings this aarti of the Lord of the three qualities —
कहत शिवानन्द स्वामी, मनवाञ्छित फल पावे ॥
Kahat Shivanand Swami, Manvanchhit Phal Pave
kahata śivānanda svāmī manavāñchita phala pāve
says Swami Shivananda — receives the fruit of their heart’s desire.
“Om Jai Shiv Omkara” is the aarti sung in homes and temples at the end of Shiva puja, especially on Mondays, Pradosha and Maha Shivaratri.
Its central idea is beautiful and simple: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva — creator, sustainer and dissolver — are not three separate gods but three faces of one reality, all contained in the syllable Om. Verse by verse, the song compares their faces, vehicles, arms, garlands and garments, then reveals that “these three are one in the syllable of Om.”
Like Jai Ambe Gauri, it is signed by Swami Shivananda. Small variations in wording between families are normal.
One face and four faces and five faces: Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. A swan, an eagle and a bull: their vehicles. Two arms, four arms, ten arms. The aarti lists them side by side as if to say — look how different they seem.
Then it adds: “The ignorant think Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are separate; in Om all three shine as one.”
When to chant
How many times
Once, at the close of worship.
Light camphor or a ghee lamp on a plate.
Wave it in clockwise circles before the Shiva Linga while everyone sings.
Ring a bell or blow a conch if you have one.
Offer the flame to everyone present at the end.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
oṃkārā
om-kaa-raa.
ardhāṃgī
ardh-aan-gee — “half of the body” (Parvati).
praṇavākṣara
pra-na-vaak-sha-ra — “the syllable Om.”
The music
by Son of Kali
What is the meaning of Om Jai Shiv Omkara?
“Om — victory to Shiva, who is the sound Om itself.” The aarti praises Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as one reality in Om.
When is the Shiva aarti sung?
At the end of any Shiva worship — especially Monday evenings, Pradosha, Shravan and Maha Shivaratri.
Who wrote Om Jai Shiv Omkara?
The final verse names Swami Shivananda, the same name found in the Jai Ambe Gauri aarti.
Why does it mention Brahma and Vishnu?
The aarti teaches that the three gods of creation, preservation and dissolution are one Divine reality, so it praises all three together.