Sheetla Mata Ki Aarti — Jai Sheetla Mata: Lyrics in English and Hindi, Meaning and Basoda Puja

Sheetla Mata Ki Aarti — “Jai Sheetla Mata, Maiya Jai Sheetla Mata” — is the aarti of Maa Sheetla, goddess of health and coolness. After Holi, on Chaitra Krishna Saptami or Ashtami, Sheetla Ashtami (Basoda) is observed, when cold (stale) food cooked the previous day is offered to the Mother and eaten. The Mother is believed to protect from smallpox, measles and heat-related illness. Below are the full lyrics in Hindi and English, the meaning of each verse and the puja method.

Sheetla Mata Ki Aarti lyrics in English

Jai Sheetla Mata, Maiya Jai Sheetla Mata,
Aadi Jyoti Maharani, Sab Phal Ki Data.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Ratan Singhasan Shobhit, Shvet Chhatra Bhata,
Riddhi-Siddhi Chanvar Dhulaven, Jagmag Chhavi Chhata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Vishnu Sevat Thadhe, Seven Shiv Dhata,
Ved Puran Varnat, Paar Nahin Pata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Indra Mridang Bajavat, Chandra Veena Hatha,
Suraj Taal Bajavai, Narad Muni Gata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Ghanta Shankh Shehnai, Bajai Man Bhata,
Karai Bhaktajan Aarti, Lakhi Lakhi Harshata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Brahm Roop Vardani, Tuhi Teen Kaal Gyata,
Bhaktan Ko Sukh Deti, Matu Pita Bhrata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Jo Jan Dhyan Lagave, Prem Shakti Pata,
Sakal Manorath Pave, Bhavnidhi Tar Jata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Rogon Se Jo Peedit Koi, Sharan Teri Aata,
Kodhi Pave Nirmal Kaya, Andh Netra Pata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Baanjh Putra Ko Pave, Daridra Kat Jata,
Tako Bhajai Jo Nahin, Sir Dhuni Pachhtata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Sheetal Karti Janani, Tu Hi Hai Jag Trata,
Utpatti Vyadhi Binashan, Tu Sab Ki Ghata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Das Vichitra Kar Jode, Sun Meri Mata,
Bhakti Aapni Deejai, Aur Na Kuchh Bhata.
॥ Om Jai Sheetla Mata… ॥

Sheetla Mata Ki Aarti in Hindi

जय शीतला माता, मैया जय शीतला माता।
आदि ज्योति महारानी, सब फल की दाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

रतन सिंहासन शोभित, श्वेत छत्र भाता।
ऋद्धि-सिद्धि चँवर ढुलावें, जगमग छवि छाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

विष्णु सेवत ठाढ़े, सेवें शिव धाता।
वेद पुराण वरणत, पार नहीं पाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

इन्द्र मृदङ्ग बजावत, चन्द्र वीणा हाथा।
सूरज ताल बजावै, नारद मुनि गाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

घण्टा शङ्ख शहनाई, बाजै मन भाता।
करै भक्तजन आरती, लखि लखि हर्षाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

ब्रह्म रूप वरदानी, तुही तीन काल ज्ञाता।
भक्तन को सुख देती, मातु पिता भ्राता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

जो जन ध्यान लगावे, प्रेम शक्ति पाता।
सकल मनोरथ पावे, भवनिधि तर जाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

रोगों से जो पीड़ित कोई, शरण तेरी आता।
कोढ़ी पावे निर्मल काया, अन्ध नेत्र पाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

बांझ पुत्र को पावे, दारिद्र कट जाता।
ताको भजै जो नाहीं, सिर धुनि पछताता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

शीतल करती जननी, तू ही है जग त्राता।
उत्पत्ति व्याधि बिनाशन, तू सब की घाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

दास विचित्र कर जोड़े, सुन मेरी माता।
भक्ति आपनी दीजै, और न कुछ भाता॥
॥ ॐ जय शीतला माता…॥

Meaning of Sheetla Mata Ki Aarti

1. Refrain: Glory to you, Mother Sheetla — the primal light, the great queen and giver of every fruit.
2. Court: seated on a jewelled throne, a white canopy above her; Riddhi and Siddhi wave the chamar and the Mother’s form shines.
3. Gods in service: Vishnu stands in service, Shiva and Brahma serve too; the Vedas and Puranas describe her but cannot find her limit.
4. Music: Indra plays the mridang, the Moon holds the veena, the Sun keeps time and sage Narad sings.
5. Aarti: bell, conch and shehnai delight the heart; devotees do the aarti and rejoice at the sight of the Mother.
6. Glory: you are Brahman in form, giver of boons and knower of past, present and future; for devotees you are mother, father and brother.
7. Fruit of meditation: whoever meditates on you gains love and strength, has every wish fulfilled and crosses the ocean of worldly life.
8. Health: whoever suffers from disease and comes to your refuge — the leper gains a clean body, the blind gain sight; the childless gain a child and poverty ends; whoever does not worship you beats his head in regret.
9. Phalashruti: O Mother who brings coolness, you alone protect the world and destroy disease. Your servant Vichitra pleads with folded hands — Mother, give me devotion to you; I want nothing else.

The Sheetla Ashtami (Basoda) tradition

On the evening of Sheetla Saptami sweet rice, puris, pue, curd, rabri and gulgule are cooked. The next morning — Sheetla Ashtami — this cold food is offered to the Mother and the whole family eats it; no stove is lit at home that day. The custom, at the change of season from winter to summer, speaks of cooling the body and of cleanliness. Maa Sheetla holds a broom, a kalash, a winnowing fan and neem leaves, and her vehicle is the donkey.

How to do the Sheetla Mata Ki Aarti

1. Cook the bhog food on Saptami evening; on Ashtami morning bathe and worship with cool water.
2. At a Sheetla temple or her picture at home offer water, roli, turmeric, akshat, neem leaves and the cold bhog.
3. Listen to the Sheetla Mata katha, then sing this aarti (in many homes no lamp is lit that day, so the aarti is sung without one).
4. Sprinkle the puja water in the corners of the house and eat the cold bhog with the family.

7 rules of Sheetla Mata Ki Aarti

• 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 Sheetla Mata Ki Aarti

• Believed to protect from smallpox, measles, skin and heat-related illness.
• Keeps children healthy — mothers keep this fast for their children.
• Creates an atmosphere of cleanliness and health at home.
• Believed to bring children and end poverty, as the aarti says.

Also see Jai Ambe Gauri, the Durga Chalisa and the Vrat Calendar. Read more on Wikipedia.

Frequently asked questions