Gagan Mai Thaal — Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Aarti: Gurbani Lyrics in English and Hindi, Meaning

Gagan Mai Thaal is Guru Nanak Dev ji’s shabad recorded in Shri Guru Granth Sahib — Raag Dhanasari, Mahalla 1, Ang 663. It is believed Guru ji uttered it at Jagannath Puri when he was asked to join the temple’s lamp aarti. He showed that the true aarti is being performed by all of nature every moment — the sky is the plate, the sun and moon are the lamps, the stars are the pearls. In Gurdwaras the shabad is sung as “Aarti” in kirtan, especially after Rehras and Sohila and on Gurpurab. Below is the full shabad in Devanagari and English, with the meaning of each line.

Gagan Mai Thaal lyrics in English

Dhanasari Mahalla 1 Aarti,
Ik Onkar Satgur Prasad.

Gagan Mai Thaal Rav Chand Deepak Bane Tarika Mandal Janak Moti,
Dhoop Malaanlo Pavan Chavro Kare Sagal Banrai Phoolant Joti. 1.

Kaisi Aarti Hoe, Bhav Khandna Teri Aarti,
Anhata Sabad Vajant Bheri. 1. Rahao.

Sahas Tav Nain Nan Nain Hahi Tohi Kau Sahas Murat Nana Ek Tohi,
Sahas Pad Bimal Nan Ek Pad Gandh Bin Sahas Tav Gandh Iv Chalat Mohi. 2.

Sabh Mah Jot Jot Hai Soe,
Tis Dai Chanan Sabh Mah Chanan Hoe,
Gur Sakhi Jot Pargat Hoe,
Jo Tis Bhave So Aarti Hoe. 3.

Har Charan Kaval Makrand Lobhit Mano Andino Mohi Aahi Piasa,
Kirpa Jal Dehi Nanak Saring Kau Hoe Ja Te Terai Nae Vasa. 4. 3.

Gagan Mai Thaal in Hindi

धनासरी महला १ आरती
ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि॥

गगन मै थालु रवि चंदु दीपक बने तारिका मंडल जनक मोती॥
धूपु मलआनलो पवणु चवरो करे सगल बनराइ फूलंत जोती॥१॥

कैसी आरती होइ॥ भव खंडना तेरी आरती॥
अनहता सबद वाजंत भेरी॥१॥ रहाउ॥

सहस तव नैन नन नैन हहि तोहि कउ सहस मूरति नना एक तोही॥
सहस पद बिमल नन एक पद गंध बिनु सहस तव गंध इव चलत मोही॥२॥

सभ महि जोति जोति है सोइ॥
तिस दै चानणि सभ महि चानणु होइ॥
गुर साखी जोति परगटु होइ॥
जो तिसु भावै सु आरती होइ॥३॥

हरि चरण कवल मकरंद लोभित मनो अनदिनो मोहि आही पिआसा॥
क्रिपा जलु देहि नानक सारिंग कउ होइ जा ते तेरै नाइ वासा॥४॥३॥

Meaning of Gagan Mai Thaal

1. Opening lines: the sky is the plate, the sun and moon are the lamps in it, the circles of stars are the pearls; the fragrance of the sandalwood of Malaya is the incense, the wind waves the chamar, and all the vegetation offers itself as flowers to you, O Light.
2. Rahao (central idea): what a wondrous aarti of yours is taking place, O destroyer of birth and death! The unstruck sound (the divine inner sound) resounds like a drum.
3. Formless Lord: you have thousands of eyes, yet you have no eye; thousands of forms, yet not one form. Thousands of pure feet, yet not one foot; no nose, yet thousands of nostrils — this play of yours enchants me.
4. One light: the one light is in all, and that light is the Lord. By its radiance all are radiant. Through the Guru’s teaching this light is revealed. Whatever pleases him is the true aarti.
5. Prayer: my mind longs for the nectar of the Lord’s lotus feet; day and night I thirst for it. O Lord, give the water of grace to Nanak, the thirsty songbird, so that he may dwell in your Name.

The meaning of aarti in the Gurdwara

The Sikh tradition has no lamp-waving aarti. In this shabad Guru Nanak Dev ji explained that the Lord is formless and all-pervading, so all of creation is performing his true aarti — and for a person the true aarti is the Lord’s Name and living in his will (raza). That is why in Gurdwaras “Aarti” is sung as kirtan of this shabad together with shabads of bhagats such as Ravidas, Kabir, Sain and Dhanna ji.

How to do the Gagan Mai Thaal

1. Sit with a calm mind, head covered and shoes removed — as in a Gurdwara.
2. Read the shabad slowly, understanding its meaning, or listen to it as kirtan.
3. It is recited on Gurpurab and after the evening Rehras Sahib or Sohila Sahib.
4. End with “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh”.

7 rules of Gagan Mai Thaal

• Read Gurbani with respect, with the head covered.
• Do not alter the words of the shabad — read Gurbani exactly as it is.
• Read with understanding, not by rote.
• In the Sikh tradition no lamp-waving is needed — the Name itself is the aarti.
• Sing together with everyone in kirtan.
• Do not get up or talk in the middle of the recitation.
• End with ardas or the Fateh.

Benefits of Gagan Mai Thaal

• Awakens the feeling that the Lord is everywhere and in every being.
• Increases love and respect for nature.
• Calms the mind and turns it to remembrance of the Name.
• Brings an understanding of true devotion beyond ritual.

Other aartis: Om Jai Jagdish Hare and Om Jai Gangadhar. Read more on Wikipedia.

Frequently asked questions