Shantinath Aarti
श्री शांतिनाथ स्वामी आरती
What is the Shantinath Aarti?
Shantinath Aarti The Shantinath Aarti is a Jain devotional hymn to Shantinath, the 16th Tirthankara and revered Lord of Peace, sung to the familiar Om Jai Jagdish Hare tune during temple reverence.
The Shantinath Aarti honours Bhagwan Shantinath, the sixteenth Tirthankara of the present Jain age, whose very name means peace. Its lines recall his birth in Hastinapur, his reign as the fifth Chakravartin, and his renunciation of all worldly power to become a liberated Jina. Jain devotees sing it in the same beloved metre as Om Jai Jagdish Hare, offering reverence rather than seeking favours, as the tradition understands a Tirthankara to be a perfected soul who shows the path, not a granter of boons.
Shantinath Aarti Lyrics (English)
Roman transliteration for easy chanting. Tap “Meaning” under any verse for the English translation.
Refrain
Jai Shantinath Swami, Prabhu Jai Shantinath Swami
Man Vach Tan Se, Tumko Vandu (x2)
Jai Antaryami, Prabhu Jai Antaryami
Meaning
With mind, speech and body the devotee bows to Shantinath, saluting him as the inner-knower who perceives the truth of every soul.
Garbh Janam Jab Hua Aapka (x2)
Teen Lok Harshe, Swami Teen Lok Harshe
Indra Kiyo Abhishek Shikhar Par (x2)
Shiv Mag Ke Swami, Bolo Shiv Mag Ke Swami
Meaning
At his conception and birth the three worlds rejoiced, and Indra performed the ceremonial anointing on the mountain peak; he is the one who reveals the road to liberation.
Pancham Chakri Bhaye Aap Hi (x2)
Shat Khand Ke Swami, Prabhu Shat Khand Ke Swami
Raj Vibhav Ke Bhoge Prabhu Ji (x2)
Kamdev Naami, Bolo Kamdev Naami
Meaning
He rose to be the fifth Chakravartin, sovereign over the six regions of the earth, enjoyed royal splendour, and was counted among the Kamadevas known for peerless grace.
Atul Vibhav Ko Trinavat Tyage (x2)
Huye Karma Nashi, Prabhu Ji Huye Karma Nashi
Bhaye Aap Tirthankar Prabhu Ji (x2)
Shiv Ramani Swami, Bolo Shiv Ramani Swami
Meaning
He cast off his measureless wealth as lightly as a blade of grass, destroyed his binding karmas, and became a Tirthankara joined to liberation itself.
Veer Sindhu Ko Namaskar Kar (x2)
Aarti Karu Thari, Prabhu Aarti Karu Thari
Suraj Shivpur Pavo Prabhu Ji (x2)
Maha Saukhya Dhari, Bolo Maha Saukhya Dhari
Meaning
Bowing to the ocean of valour, the singer offers this aarti and prays that, like the sun, the soul may reach the abode of liberation and hold supreme bliss.
Meaning & Significance
The aarti traces the whole arc of Shantinath’s life in a few short verses. It opens with a threefold salutation of mind, speech and body, then moves through his celebrated birth, his sovereignty as a Chakravartin, his voluntary renunciation, and finally his attainment of Tirthankara-hood. Each stanza ends by naming a quality of the Jina, so the singer is really reciting a compact biography of a soul that rose from an emperor to a liberated teacher.
In Jain understanding, Shantinath is remarkable for uniting three roles that rarely meet in one life: Tirthankara, Chakravartin, and Kamadeva. The aarti holds him up not as a deity who intervenes in worldly affairs but as a completed example, the Lord of Peace whose calm the devotee hopes to reflect. Singing it is an act of reverence and self-orientation toward that ideal of inner stillness.
How Do You Perform the Aarti?
- Prepare the lamp — light a ghee or camphor diya on a clean aarti thali before the image of Bhagwan Shantinath, ideally after darshan in the evening.
- Begin with reverence — fold your hands and settle the mind, letting go of hurry, since the aarti's theme is shanti, or peace.
- Sing to the tune — carry the verses in the familiar Om Jai Jagdish Hare metre, returning to the refrain after every stanza.
- Circle the lamp — move the diya gently in a clockwise motion before the Jina image as the verses are sung.
- Close in stillness — conclude with the final salutation, take a quiet moment of contemplation, and share the offering with those present.
What Are the Benefits of Singing This Aarti?
The aarti is valued less for material reward and more for the inner peace and focus it settles into the heart.
- Calms the mind: The recurring prayer for shanti helps the singer slow down and steady scattered thoughts.
- Keeps the ideal in view: Recalling Shantinath's renunciation reminds the devotee that possessions and status are impermanent.
- Strengthens devotion: Regular singing deepens bhakti and a felt connection with the Tirthankara's example.
- Supports non-attachment: The verse on casting off wealth like grass encourages a lighter hold on worldly things.
- Builds community: Sung together in the temple, the aarti draws families and sangha into a shared moment of reverence.
Who Wrote This Aarti?
Like most Jain aartis in daily use, this composition is traditional and its author is not recorded. It has been carried through community singing and temple practice, and it is set to the widely known Om Jai Jagdish Hare tune, which is why the metre feels instantly familiar. Different collections print small variations in wording, but the sequence of birth, Chakravartin reign, renunciation and liberation stays constant across versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shantinath Aarti?
It is a Jain devotional hymn to Shantinath, the 16th Tirthankara and Lord of Peace, sung to the familiar Om Jai Jagdish Hare tune as an offering of reverence during temple worship.
Who is Bhagwan Shantinath?
Shantinath is the sixteenth Tirthankara of the present Jain age, born in Hastinapur to King Vishvasena and Queen Achira. He uniquely combined the roles of Tirthankara, Chakravartin and Kamadeva.
When is the Shantinath Aarti sung?
It is most often sung during the evening aarti after darshan at a Jain temple, and especially on Shantinath Jayanti, the day marking his birth kalyanak.
What does the aarti mean?
The verses salute Shantinath, recall his birth and reign as a Chakravartin, his renunciation of immense wealth, and his rise to Tirthankara-hood, ending with a prayer to reach liberation.
What are the benefits of singing it?
In the Jain view the aarti is an act of reverence rather than a request for boons; devotees find that it calms the mind, deepens devotion, and keeps the ideal of peace and non-attachment in focus.
॥ जय शांतिनाथ स्वामी ॥