Shri Mahavir Bhagwan Aarti – Om Jai Mahavir Prabhu Lyrics, Meaning & Significance
Shri Mahavir Bhagwan Aarti Lyrics (हिंदी में)
ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु, स्वामी जय महावीर प्रभो ।
जगनायक सुखदायक, अति गम्भीर प्रभो ॥
॥ ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु… ॥
कुण्डलपुर में जन्में, त्रिशला के जाये ।
पिता सिद्धार्थ राजा, सुर नर हर्षाए ॥
॥ ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु… ॥
दीनानाथ दयानिधि, हैं मंगलकारी ।
जगहित संयम धारा, प्रभु परउपकारी ॥
॥ ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु… ॥
पापाचार मिटाया, सत्पथ दिखलाया ।
दयाधर्म का झण्डा, जग में लहराया ॥
॥ ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु… ॥
अर्जुनमाली गौतम, श्री चन्दनबाला ।
पार जगत से बेड़ा, इनका कर डाला ॥
॥ ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु… ॥
पावन नाम तुम्हारा, जगतारणहारा ।
निसिदिन जो नर ध्यावे, कष्ट मिटे सारा ॥
॥ ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु… ॥
करुणासागर! तेरी, महिमा है न्यारी ।
ज्ञानमुनि गुण गावे, चरणन बलिहारी ॥
॥ ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु… ॥
ॐ जय महावीर प्रभु, स्वामी जय महावीर प्रभो ।
जगनायक सुखदायक, अति गम्भीर प्रभो ॥
Shri Mahavir Bhagwan Aarti – Transliteration (English)
Om Jai Mahaveer Prabhu, Swami Jai Mahaveer Prabho.
Jagnayak Sukhdayak, Ati Gambheer Prabho.
|| Om Jai Mahaveer Prabhu… ||
Kundalpur mein janme, Trishala ke jaaye.
Pita Siddharth Raja, Sur Nar Harshaaye.
|| Om Jai Mahaveer Prabhu… ||
Deenaanath Dayaanidhi, hain Mangalkari.
Jaghit Sanyam Dhara, Prabhu Parupkaari.
|| Om Jai Mahaveer Prabhu… ||
Paapachar mitaaya, satpath dikhlaaya.
Dayadharm ka jhanda, jag mein lahraaya.
|| Om Jai Mahaveer Prabhu… ||
Arjunmaali Gautam, Shri Chandanbala.
Paar jagat se beda, inka kar daala.
|| Om Jai Mahaveer Prabhu… ||
Paavan naam tumhara, jagtaranhaara.
Nisidin jo nar dhaave, kasht mite saara.
|| Om Jai Mahaveer Prabhu… ||
Karunasagar! Teri, mahima hai nyaari.
Gyanmuni gun gaave, charnan balihaari.
|| Om Jai Mahaveer Prabhu… ||
Meaning & Significance
The aarti "Om Jai Mahavir Prabhu" is among the most widely sung devotional hymns in the Jain tradition. The opening verse hails Bhagwan Mahavir as the leader of the world (Jagnayak), the giver of happiness (Sukhdayak), and one of profound, unfathomable depth (Gambheer). The second verse marks his royal birth in Kundalpur to Queen Trishala and King Siddhartha - an event that brought celestial joy to gods and humans alike. Subsequent verses exalt his compassion (Dayaanidhi), his life of supreme self-restraint (Sanyam), and his mission to wipe out sinful conduct while hoisting the flag of non-violence (Ahimsa) and compassion across the world. The fifth verse honours three of his most celebrated disciples - the reformed dacoit Arjunamali, the great sage Gautam Swami, and the noble Chandanbala - who were all liberated through his grace. The closing verse, attributed to Gyanaмуни, is a surrender at the Tirthankar's feet, declaring his ocean of compassion to be incomparable.
About Shri Mahavir Bhagwan
Bhagwan Mahavir (599–527 BCE) was the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankar of the present cosmic cycle in Jainism. Born as Vardhamana in Kundalpur (Vaishali, Bihar) to a Kshatriya family, he renounced royal life at the age of thirty to pursue the path of ultimate liberation (moksha). After twelve and a half years of severe ascetic practice, he attained Kevala Jnana - omniscience - under a Sal tree on the banks of the Rijuvalika river. He then spent thirty years teaching the path of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy), and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) - the five great vows (Pancha Mahavrata). At the age of seventy-two, he attained Moksha (final liberation) at Pavapuri. His Jayanti is celebrated with great devotion across Jain communities worldwide.
Benefits of Reciting the Shri Mahavir Bhagwan Aarti
- Regular recitation deepens the understanding of Ahimsa and inspires a more compassionate way of living.
- Singing the aarti with sincerity is believed to purify the karma accumulated over many lifetimes.
- It fosters inner stillness and helps the devotee align with Mahavir's teachings of self-restraint and truth.
- The aarti is especially meritorious when recited on Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushana, and Das Lakshan Parva.
- Offering the aarti at the beginning of any auspicious work is said to remove obstacles and invite divine blessings.
How to Perform the Aarti (Pooja Vidhi)
- Begin by bathing and wearing clean, preferably white, clothes as a mark of purity.
- Set up the puja space with a Mahavir idol or image, fresh flowers, incense, and a ghee lamp.
- Perform the Jain Abhishek (ritual bathing of the idol with water, milk, and sandalwood paste) if possible.
- Offer eight types of substances (Ashtadravya) - water, sandalwood paste, flower, incense, lamp, rice, fruit, and sweets - as part of the puja.
- Light the diya and sing the aarti while gently waving it in clockwise circles before the deity.
- Conclude with the Navkar Mantra (Namokar Mantra) recitation and a moment of silent meditation.
Best Day & Time to Recite
The Shri Mahavir Aarti is recited daily in Jain derasars (temples) during morning and evening prayers. Among all days, Mahavir Jayanti (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi) holds the highest significance. Paryushana Parva - the eight-day festival of Jain devotion - and Das Lakshan Parva are also particularly sacred occasions for this aarti. Mornings at dawn, after the pratikraman (daily reflection) ritual, are the most spiritually powerful time for its recitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this aarti part of standard Jain puja?
Yes, "Om Jai Mahavir Prabhu" is one of the most commonly sung aartis in Jain temples and homes during evening aarti. It is performed as part of Shringaar Puja (decorative worship) and serves as a devotional culmination of the daily puja ritual.
Who are Arjunmaali and Chandanbala mentioned in the aarti?
Arjunmaali was a notorious bandit whom Bhagwan Mahavir transformed through spiritual awakening, who later became a great monk. Chandanbala was the first female ascetic (sadhvi) of Mahavir's order, known for her steadfast devotion and the miracles surrounding her life. Their stories illustrate the transformative power of Mahavir's compassion.
Can this aarti be recited by non-Jains?
The teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir - non-violence, truth, and non-possessiveness - are universal and transcend community boundaries. Non-Jains may sing this aarti in a spirit of genuine reverence and learning. Many devotees of various backgrounds find resonance in Mahavir's message of inner liberation.
Singing the inner radiance of the tirthankara who conquered the self
The Shri Mahavir Bhagwan Aarti holds a distinctive character within the Jain devotional tradition, because Jain theology presents a profound tension at the heart of its worship: Mahavir Swami, the twenty-fourth Tirthankar, is understood to be an arihanta - a liberated being who has transcended all karmic bondage. The aarti is therefore not a petition but an act of stuti - pure praise and contemplation - directed at the ideal of perfection Mahavir embodies. Devotees understand singing his qualities not as a request for divine intervention but as a means of aligning their own consciousness with what they admire: equanimity, non-violence, absolute truthfulness, and freedom from desire.
This aarti is central to Paryushana Parva, the most sacred period in the Jain calendar, and is also sung at daily puja in Jain temples, where the atmosphere of the derasar invites the shanta rasa that Mahavir's example inspires. The aarti's references to his inner victories - the conquering of anger, pride, deception, and greed - serve as a devotional checklist, inviting the singer to reflect on their own inner state while honouring the one who achieved complete liberation. Devotees believe that sincere recitation of the tirthankara's names purifies the speaker's intentions and keeps the ideals of ahimsa and liberation alive in daily consciousness.