आरती · Shiva
Shiva Aarti
ॐ जय शिव ओंकारा
The Shiva Aarti, beginning with "Om Jai Shiv Omkara," is the preeminent Aarti song for Lord Shiva — the great destroyer and transformer of the Hindu Trinity. Composed traditionally by Swami Shivananda, this 12-stanza Aarti glorifies Shiva in his many forms — from the terrifying skull-garlanded Mahakala, to the blissful ash-smeared Mahadeva of Kailash who holds the Ganga in his locks, wears the crescent moon, and is half-merged with the Goddess as Ardhanarishvara. The Aarti is sung every Monday (Somvaar), throughout the sacred month of Shravan, on Pradosh days, and is the central devotional song of Maha Shivaratri celebrations across India.
Hindi · 12 stanzas
Deity Hub
शिवShiva
Worship on Mondays · Maha Shivaratri
Frequently Asked Questions about Shiva Aarti
When should the Shiva Aarti be performed on Monday and during Shravan?
On Mondays (Somvaar), devoted to Lord Shiva, the Aarti is ideally performed in the morning after bathing and again in the evening. During the sacred month of Shravan (July-August), daily Shiva Puja with Aarti becomes especially meritorious. On each Monday of Shravan, many devotees go to Shiva temples early in the morning, offer water (jalabhishek) on the Shiva Linga, and conclude with the Aarti. Maha Shivaratri, occurring once a year, is the grandest occasion for an all-night vigil with Aarti.
What is the significance of "Om Namah Shivaya"?
"Om Namah Shivaya" is the Panchakshara mantra — the five-syllable mantra of Shiva, "Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya." It is one of the most sacred mantras in Shaiva tradition and is believed to purify the mind, body, and soul. The five syllables correspond to the five elements of nature (earth, water, fire, air, space) and to Shiva's five divine actions (creation, preservation, dissolution, concealing grace, and revealing grace). Chanting it is central to all Shiva worship.
How does one perform Shiva Puja?
A traditional Shiva Puja involves: bathing in the morning and wearing clean clothes; cleaning the puja area and placing a Shiva Linga or image; offering Panchamrita (milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar) in Rudrabhishek; then bathing the Linga with water while chanting "Om Namah Shivaya"; offering bilva (bel) leaves — sacred to Shiva; offering white flowers, dhatura, and cannabis (in temple settings); applying sandalwood paste and ash (bhasma); lighting incense and a lamp; reciting the Shiva Chalisa or Panchakshara Stotra; and concluding with the Shiva Aarti.
What is the difference between Rudrabhishek and Aarti?
Rudrabhishek is a sacred ritual of bathing the Shiva Linga with various sacred substances (milk, honey, ghee, yogurt, coconut water, rose water, etc.) while chanting Vedic Rudra mantras. It is a more elaborate ritual that cleanses and consecrates the deity. Aarti, on the other hand, is the simpler but essential act of waving a lit lamp before the deity while singing devotional songs, typically performed at the end of any puja. Both are important, but Aarti is the more universal and accessible daily practice.
What is Lord Shiva's role in the Hindu Trinity?
Lord Shiva is the third member of the Hindu Trinity (Trimurti), alongside Brahma (the creator) and Vishnu (the preserver). Shiva's role is that of the destroyer and transformer — he dissolves the universe at the end of each cosmic cycle so that a new cycle of creation can begin. This destruction is not negative but rather a necessary part of the eternal cycle of existence. Shiva is also revered as Mahadeva (the great god), the supreme deity in Shaiva traditions, and is worshipped as the god of yoga, time, arts, and liberation.
Who composed the Shiva Aarti "Om Jai Shiv Omkara"?
The Shiva Aarti is traditionally attributed to Swami Shivananda, whose name appears in the final phalashruti verse ("Kahat Shivanand Swami, manvanchhit phal pave" — "Says Swami Shivananda, one attains all heart's desires"). The Aarti follows the same melody and structure as the equally famous "Om Jai Jagdish Hare" (Vishnu Aarti) by Pandit Shardha Ram Phillauri, making it part of the classical 19th-century devotional Aarti tradition of North India.