Om Jai Gange Mata Aarti — Lyrics with Meaning
'Om Jai Gange Mata' is the aarti of the holy river, Mother Ganga. It praises her pure waters, recalls how she freed the sons of King Sagar, and says she liberates all who take her shelter. It is sung on Ganga Dussehra, Kartik Purnima, after a holy dip and in home worship.
Om jai Gange Mata, Shri jai Gange Mata | Jo nar tumko dhyata, manvanchhit phal pata ||
Chandra si jyot tumhari, jal nirmal aata | Sharan pade jo teri, so nar tar jata ||
Putra Sagar ke taare, sab jag ko gyata | Kripa drishti tumhari, tribhuvan sukh data ||
Ek hi baar jo teri, sharanagati aata | Yam ki traas mitakar, paramgati pata ||
Aarti Maat tumhari, jo jan nitya gata | Daas vahi sahaj mein, mukti ko pata ||
Meaning
Verse 1
Om jai Gange Mata, Shri jai Gange Mata | Jo nar tumko dhyata, manvanchhit phal pata ||
Victory to Mother Ganga. Whoever meditates on you receives what the heart desires.
Verse 2
Chandra si jyot tumhari, jal nirmal aata | Sharan pade jo teri, so nar tar jata ||
Your glow is like the moon and your water flows pure. Whoever falls at your shelter is carried across the ocean of worldly life.
Verse 3
Putra Sagar ke taare, sab jag ko gyata | Kripa drishti tumhari, tribhuvan sukh data ||
The whole world knows you freed the sons of King Sagar. Your gracious gaze brings joy to all three worlds.
Verse 4
Ek hi baar jo teri, sharanagati aata | Yam ki traas mitakar, paramgati pata ||
Whoever comes to your shelter even once is freed from the fear of Yama and reaches the highest state.
Verse 5
Aarti Maat tumhari, jo jan nitya gata | Daas vahi sahaj mein, mukti ko pata ||
Mother, the devotee who sings your aarti every day easily attains liberation.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
Read next
Frequently asked questions
When is the Ganga Aarti sung?
Every evening at the ghats of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi, and at home on Ganga Dussehra, Kartik Purnima, Makar Sankranti or after a holy dip.
Why are King Sagar's sons mentioned?
The story says Sagar's sixty thousand sons were burnt to ashes by sage Kapil's curse. Through the penance of their descendant Bhagirath, the Ganga came to earth and her waters freed them.
Can the Ganga Aarti be done at home?
Yes. Lighting a lamp before a vessel of Ganga jal or a picture of Mother Ganga, devotees sing this aarti at home too.