Om Jai Shri Ram Aarti
ॐ जय श्री राम, प्रभु जय श्री राम
What is Om Jai Shri Ram?
Om Jai Shri Ram Aarti Om Jai Shri Ram is a devotional aarti addressed to Lord Rama, sung to the same tune as Om Jai Jagdish Hare, that praises him as the compassionate king of Ayodhya and prince of the Raghu line and is offered before his idol during evening worship, on Ram Navami, and on Dussehra.
Wave a lamp before an image of Rama and this is one of the songs that fills the pause between the flame and the folded hands. Om Jai Shri Ram borrows the familiar cadence of Om Jai Jagdish Hare, so most families already carry its rhythm in their bodies before they learn its words. Each antara moves through a moment of the Ramayana the household already knows by heart, and the refrain keeps returning the singer to the same steady address: jai Shri Ram, victory to Rama. It is short enough to finish while a wick is still burning and warm enough that children pick it up by ear.
Om Jai Shri Ram Lyrics
Roman transliteration for easy chanting. Tap “Meaning” under any verse for the English translation.
Refrain
Om jai Shri Ram, prabhu jai Shri Ram
Bhaktan ke tum swami, antaryami Ram
Dashrath ke tum nandan, Kaushalya jaaye
Ayodhya mein avatare, jag ko harshaaye
Meaning
You are the delight of King Dasharatha, born to Queen Kaushalya. When you took birth in Ayodhya, the whole world felt its sorrow lighten and answered your arrival with joy.
Vishwamitra sang jaakar, yagya ki raksha ki
Tadaka Subahu maare, muni-man santoshi
Meaning
Still a boy, you went with the sage Vishwamitra and guarded his fire-sacrifice from harm. By striking down the demons Tadaka and Subahu you set the sages at ease and freed their rites from fear.
Sita se vivah kiya, Shiv-dhanush thora
Janakpur mein baaje, mangal ki bela
Meaning
You lifted and broke the mighty bow of Shiva and so won the hand of Sita. In Janakpur the wedding music rang out and the hour itself turned auspicious for the union.
Pita-vachan ko paalan, van ko sidhaare
Sita Lakshman sang mein, dukh sab bisaare
Meaning
To keep your father's given word you set out for fourteen years in the forest without complaint. With Sita and Lakshman beside you, you carried the hardship lightly and let no grief settle on your face.
Ravan Sita hare, chinta ati bhaari
Sugriv Hanuman miley, sena sajaayi saari
Meaning
When Ravana carried Sita away, a heavy anxiety fell on you. Then Sugriva and Hanuman came to your side, and with them you gathered and readied the whole army for her rescue.
Lanka par chadhaayi ki, Ravan ko maara
Sita ko chhudaaya, dharm dhwaj phaharaaya
Meaning
You marched on Lanka and brought down Ravana in battle. Setting Sita free, you raised the banner of righteousness so that justice, not force, was seen to prevail.
Jo koi aarti gaave, prem sahit dhyaave
Kahat sevak tumhaara, Ram-charan paave
Meaning
Whoever sings this aarti and holds you in mind with love, says this servant of yours, is drawn near to your feet. The plain reward asked for is not wealth but nearness to Rama himself.
Meaning & Significance
The aarti reads like the Ramayana told at lamp-speed. It does not stop to explain; it simply names the turning points a devotee already carries and trusts the melody to do the rest. That is why it works in a home shrine where there is no time for a full recitation.
The refrain does the theological work. Calling Rama antaryami, the one who dwells within, quietly shifts him from a hero in a distant epic to a presence inside the singer. So each antara that follows, from the birth in Ayodhya to the fall of Lanka, is not history being reported but a relationship being renewed. The forest exile is offered as an example of a promise kept at cost; the war is offered as righteousness winning without cruelty.
The last verse turns the song back on the one singing it. After six antaras of Rama’s deeds, the plea is modest: not victory or riches, only a place at his feet. That closing keeps the aarti humble and stops it from becoming a mere retelling.
How Do You Perform the Aarti?
- Light the lamp — Place a ghee or oil diya on the aarti thali before an image or idol of Rama, ideally with Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman beside him. Add a little incense if you keep it.
- Settle and invoke — Face the image, steady your breath, and begin with the refrain so the tune is set. If others are present, let them join the return line after each verse.
- Circle the flame — Move the lamp gently in a clockwise circle in front of the deity, keeping the rhythm of the song rather than rushing the wave.
- Sing through the antaras — Go through the numbered verses in order, coming back to Om jai Shri Ram after each one. Keep the volume easy so words stay clear.
- Close and share the light — End on the refrain, offer a short bow, then pass the lamp so each person can draw the warmth toward their eyes and forehead before you set it down.
What Are the Benefits of Singing This Aarti?
People keep this aarti in their evening routine for reasons that are as practical as they are devotional. A few of the most common:
- Easy to learn: Because it rides the Om Jai Jagdish Hare tune, most families can sing it correctly the first time, which makes it good for children and for guests.
- Fits a short worship: It finishes in a couple of minutes, so it suits a busy weekday evening when a longer path or chalisa is not possible.
- Keeps the story near: Each verse rehearses a scene from the Ramayana, quietly refreshing the epic in memory without needing the full text.
- Steadies the mind: The repeated refrain and slow lamp-circling give the singer a small, regular pause that many find calming at the close of the day.
- Central to Rama festivals: It is a natural fit for Ram Navami and Dussehra worship, letting a household mark the day even with a simple home shrine.
Who Wrote This Aarti?
No single poet is credited with Om Jai Shri Ram. It belongs to the large family of Om Jai Jagdish Hare-pattern aartis, devotional songs written to a shared, easily sung melody so that the same rhythm can carry praise of many different deities. Versions of this Rama aarti circulate through temple handouts, festival booklets, and oral teaching passed down at home, which is why small differences in wording appear from one region to another.
What stays constant is the structure the tradition fixed long ago: an opening address to Rama as the indweller of the heart, a run of antaras walking through his life, and a closing plea for nearness to his feet. We mark it as traditional and public-domain, and have kept the verse text close to the commonly recited form while writing the explanations here in our own words.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Om Jai Shri Ram?
Om Jai Shri Ram is a devotional aarti addressed to Lord Rama, sung to the same tune as Om Jai Jagdish Hare, that praises him as the compassionate king of Ayodhya and prince of the Raghu line and is offered before his idol during evening worship, on Ram Navami, and on Dussehra.
Is Om Jai Shri Ram sung to the same tune as Om Jai Jagdish Hare?
Yes. It uses the well-known Om Jai Jagdish Hare melody, which is why most people can sing it correctly on the first try. Only the words change; the rhythm and the returning refrain stay the same.
When is this aarti usually sung?
It is sung during daily evening aarti at home or in a Rama temple, and it takes a special place in worship on Ram Navami, which marks Rama's birth, and on Dussehra, which marks his victory over Ravana.
Who wrote Om Jai Shri Ram?
No individual author is recorded. It is a traditional composition in the shared Om Jai Jagdish Hare aarti pattern, passed down through temple booklets and household practice, so its wording varies slightly by region.
What does calling Rama antaryami mean?
Antaryami means the one who dwells within and knows the heart. Addressing Rama this way tells the singer that he is not only a figure in the Ramayana but a presence inside them, so the worship becomes personal rather than distant.
Do I need an idol to sing it?
No. An idol or picture helps you focus and circle the lamp, but the aarti can be sung from memory anywhere. What matters is attention and devotion, not the props.
॥ बोलो सियावर रामचन्द्र की जय ॥