Lavthavti Vikrala is the most famous Marathi aarti of Lord Shankar, known in Maharashtra as the “Shankarachi Aarti”. Its composer is Samarth Ramdas — the last line “Raghukul Tilak Ramdasa Antari” carries his signature, the same saint who wrote Sukhkarta Dukhharta. During Ganeshotsav, after Ganapati’s aarti, “Durge Durghat Bhari” and then this Shankar aarti are sung. Its refrain is “Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Shankara, Aarti Ovalu Tuj Karpurgaura”. Below are the full aarti, English transliteration and meaning.
Lavthavti Vikrala lyrics in English
Lavthavti Vikrala Brahmandi Mala,
Vishe Kanth Kala Trinetri Jvala,
Lavanyasundar Mastaki Bala,
Tethuniya Jal Nirmal Vahe Jhuljhula.
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Shankara,
Aarti Ovalu Tuj Karpurgaura. Jai Dev Jai Dev.
Karpurgaura Bhola Nayani Vishala,
Ardhangi Parvati Sumananchya Mala,
Vibhutiche Udhalan Shitikanth Neela,
Aisa Shankar Shobhe Umavelhala.
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Shankara,
Aarti Ovalu Tuj Karpurgaura. Jai Dev Jai Dev.
Devi Daityi Sagarmanthan Pai Kele,
Tyamaaji Avachit Halahal Je Uthile,
Te Tva Asurpane Prashan Kele,
Neelkanth Naam Prasiddha Jhale.
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Shankara,
Aarti Ovalu Tuj Karpurgaura. Jai Dev Jai Dev.
Vyaghrambar Phanivardhar Sundar Madanari,
Panchanan Manmohan Munijan Sukhkari,
Shatkotiche Beej Vache Uchchari,
Raghukul Tilak Ramdasa Antari.
Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Shankara,
Aarti Ovalu Tuj Karpurgaura. Jai Dev Jai Dev.
Lavthavti Vikrala in Hindi
लवथवती विक्राळा ब्रह्मांडी माळा।
वीषें कंठ काळा त्रिनेत्रीं ज्वाळा।
लावण्यसुंदर मस्तकीं बाळा।
तेथुनियां जळ निर्मळ वाहे झुळझुळां॥
जय देव जय देव जय श्रीशंकरा।
आरती ओवाळूं तुज कर्पूरगौरा॥ जय देव जय देव॥
कर्पूरगौरा भोळा नयनीं विशाळा।
अर्धांगी पार्वती सुमनांच्या माळा।
विभुतीचें उधळण शितिकंठ नीळा।
ऐसा शंकर शोभे उमावेल्हाळा॥
जय देव जय देव जय श्रीशंकरा।
आरती ओवाळूं तुज कर्पूरगौरा॥ जय देव जय देव॥
देवीं दैत्यीं सागरमंथन पैं केलें।
त्यामाजीं अवचित हळाहळ जें उठिलें।
तें त्वां असुरपणें प्राशन केलें।
नीलकंठ नाम प्रसिद्ध झालें॥
जय देव जय देव जय श्रीशंकरा।
आरती ओवाळूं तुज कर्पूरगौरा॥ जय देव जय देव॥
व्याघ्रांबर फणिवरधर सुंदर मदनारी।
पंचानन मनमोहन मुनिजनसुखकारी।
शतकोटीचें बीज वाचे उच्चारी।
रघुकुळटिळक रामदासा अंतरीं॥
जय देव जय देव जय श्रीशंकरा।
आरती ओवाळूं तुज कर्पूरगौरा॥ जय देव जय देव॥
Meaning of Lavthavti Vikrala
- Verse 1: he whose fierce form quivers (in the tandava), who wears a garland of universes; whose throat is dark with poison and whose third eye blazes; on whose head is the lovely maiden (Ganga), from where pure water flows murmuring.
- Refrain: Glory to you, Shri Shankar — O you who are fair as camphor, I wave your aarti.
- Verse 2: fair as camphor, innocent, with large eyes; Parvati as half his body, garlands of flowers; smeared with ash, blue-throated — so shines Shankar, beloved of Uma.
- Verse 3: the gods and demons churned the ocean; the halahal poison that suddenly rose from it, you drank with your might — and so your name “Neelkanth” became famous.
- Verse 4: wearing a tiger skin, bearing the king of serpents, beautiful, enemy of Kama; five-faced, enchanting, giver of joy to sages — who chants with his tongue “Ram”, the seed of the hundred-crore Ramayana; Ram, jewel of the Raghu clan, dwells in Ramdas’s heart.
The order of aartis in Ganeshotsav
In Maharashtra, in Ganeshotsav and daily worship, the aartis are sung in a set order: first Sukhkarta Dukhharta (Ganapati), then “Durge Durghat Bhari” (the Goddess), then “Lavthavti Vikrala” (Shankar) — all three composed by Samarth Ramdas. After these come the Datta Aarti, Vitthal’s “Yuge Atthavis” and finally the “Ghalin Lotangan” prayer and Mantrapushpanjali.
How to do the Lavthavti Vikrala
- Offer water, milk, bel leaves and bhasma on the Shivling.
- Chant “Om Namah Shivaya” 108 times.
- Light a ghee or camphor lamp and sing this aarti; in Ganeshotsav after Sukhkarta Dukhharta and Durge Durghat Bhari.
- On Mondays, in Shravan and on Mahashivratri it is also sung with Jai Jai Tryambakaraj.
7 rules of Lavthavti Vikrala
- Stand and do the aarti with a ghee or camphor lamp, moving it clockwise.
- Wave the lamp 4 times at the feet, 2 at the navel, 1 at the face and 7 times over the whole form.
- Offer bhog first, then do the aarti.
- Blow the conch, ring the bell or clap during the aarti — it keeps the mind focused.
- Do not get up or talk in the middle of the aarti.
- Afterwards take the aarti with both hands and share the prasad.
- Keep pronunciation clear; do not rush — sing with feeling.
Benefits of Lavthavti Vikrala
- Believed to remove fear and “poison” (suffering) by Shiva’s grace — as Neelkanth drank the poison.
- Awakens both Ram-naam and devotion to Shiva in the mind.
- Keeps happiness and peace in the family.
- Completes the Ganeshotsav worship.
Also read Sukhkarta Dukhharta, Jai Jai Tryambakaraj and Om Jai Gangadhar. Read more on Wikipedia.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Lavthavti Vikrala?
Samarth Ramdas. The last line “Raghukul Tilak Ramdasa Antari” carries his signature.
What does “Lavthavti” mean?
In Marathi “lavthavane” means to quiver or sway — it describes Shiva’s fierce form quivering in the tandava.
What does “Karpurgaura” mean?
Fair as camphor — a name of Shiva. The mantra “Karpuragauram Karunavataram” uses the same epithet.
Which are the Shankarachi aartis?
Two are famous in Maharashtra — “Lavthavti Vikrala” (Samarth Ramdas) and “Jai Jai Tryambakaraj” (Gosavinandan).
