Ganga Maiya Ki Aarti — Om Jai Gange Mata: Lyrics in English and Hindi, Meaning and Ganga Puja Vidhi

Ganga Aarti — “Om Jai Gange Mata, Shri Jai Gange Mata” — praises Mother Ganga and is sung every evening with lamps on the ghats of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi. It is believed that through King Bhagirath’s penance Ganga descended from heaven to earth and her water liberated the sons of King Sagar. On Ganga Dussehra, Kartik Purnima and every Ganga snan this aarti brings special merit. Below are the full lyrics in English and Hindi, the meaning and the puja method.

Ganga Aarti lyrics in English

Namami Gange! Tava Paad Pankajam, Surasuraih Vandit Divya Roopam,
Bhaktim Muktim Cha Dadasi Nityam, Bhavanusarena Sada Naranam.
Har Har Gange, Jai Maa Gange, Har Har Gange, Jai Maa Gange.

Om Jai Gange Mata, Shri Jai Gange Mata,
Jo Nar Tumko Dhyata, Manvanchhit Phal Pata.

Chandra Si Jot Tumhari, Jal Nirmal Aata,
Sharan Padein Jo Teri, So Nar Tar Jata.
॥ Om Jai Gange Mata… ॥

Putra Sagar Ke Taare, Sab Jag Ko Gyata,
Kripa Drishti Tumhari, Tribhuvan Sukh Data.
॥ Om Jai Gange Mata… ॥

Ek Hi Baar Jo Teri, Sharanagati Aata,
Yam Ki Traas Mita Kar, Paramgati Pata.
॥ Om Jai Gange Mata… ॥

Aarti Maat Tumhari, Jo Jan Nitya Gata,
Daas Wahi Sahaj Mein, Mukti Ko Pata.
॥ Om Jai Gange Mata… ॥

Om Jai Gange Mata, Shri Jai Gange Mata,
Jo Nar Tumko Dhyata, Manvanchhit Phal Pata.

Ganga Aarti in Hindi

नमामि गंगे! तव पाद पंकजम्, सुरासुरैः वंदित दिव्य रूपम्।
भक्तिम् मुक्तिं च ददासि नित्यं, भावानुसारेण सदा नराणाम्॥
हर हर गंगे, जय माँ गंगे, हर हर गंगे, जय माँ गंगे॥

ॐ जय गंगे माता, श्री जय गंगे माता।
जो नर तुमको ध्याता, मनवांछित फल पाता॥

चंद्र सी जोत तुम्हारी, जल निर्मल आता।
शरण पड़ें जो तेरी, सो नर तर जाता॥
॥ ॐ जय गंगे माता…॥

पुत्र सगर के तारे, सब जग को ज्ञाता।
कृपा दृष्टि तुम्हारी, त्रिभुवन सुख दाता॥
॥ ॐ जय गंगे माता…॥

एक ही बार जो तेरी, शरणागति आता।
यम की त्रास मिटा कर, परमगति पाता॥
॥ ॐ जय गंगे माता…॥

आरती मात तुम्हारी, जो जन नित्य गाता।
दास वही सहज में, मुक्ति को पाता॥
॥ ॐ जय गंगे माता…॥

ॐ जय गंगे माता, श्री जय गंगे माता।
जो नर तुमको ध्याता, मनवांछित फल पाता॥

Meaning of Ganga Aarti

1. Shloka: O Ganga, I bow to your divine lotus feet, worshipped by gods and demons. You always grant devotion and liberation to people according to their feeling.
2. Refrain: Glory to you, Mother Ganga. Whoever meditates on you gets the desired fruit.
3. Pure water: your light is like the moon and your water is pure; whoever takes your refuge crosses the ocean of the world.
4. Sagar’s sons: you liberated the sons of King Sagar — the whole world knows it. Your gracious glance gives happiness to the three worlds.
5. Surrender: whoever comes to your refuge even once loses the fear of Yama and attains the highest state.
6. Phalashruti: O Mother, whoever sings your aarti daily easily attains liberation.

How to do the Ganga puja and aarti

1. On a Ganga snan day, bathe in the morning; if you cannot go to the ghat, add a little Gangajal to your bath water.
2. On the bank or before a vessel of Gangajal at home, offer roli, sandalwood, flowers and akshat.
3. Chant “Om Namo Gangayai Vishwarupinyai Narayanyai Namo Namah” 108 times.
4. In the evening light a ghee lamp or a plate of lamps, recite the “Namami Gange” shloka and sing Om Jai Gange Mata.
5. On the ghat, float a lamp and flowers in a leaf bowl on the river (deepdaan).

7 rules of Ganga Aarti

• Do not put soap, shampoo or waste in the Ganga — keeping her clean is the greatest worship.
• Do not leave plastic bowls or bags in the river; use leaf bowls only.
• Keep Gangajal in a clean vessel at the puja place.
• Bow to Mother Ganga before bathing.
• Avoid lies, anger and gossip on the riverbank.
• Stand and move the lamp clockwise during the aarti.
• After the aarti, sip a little Gangajal and sprinkle it in the home.

Benefits of Ganga Aarti

• Believed to destroy sins and purify the mind.
• Brings peace and positivity to the home.
• Believed to bring peace to ancestors and fulfil the wish for moksha.
• Deepens respect for nature and rivers.

For Ganga snan and deepdaan on Kartik Purnima, read the Kartik Purnima Puja Vidhi. For every Purnima date, see When is Purnima. Read more on Wikipedia.

Frequently asked questions