Original text
ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे। भक्त जनों के संकट, दास जनों के संकट, क्षण में दूर करे॥ ॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥ जो ध्यावे फल पावे, दुःख बिनसे मन का, स्वामी दुःख बिनसे मन का। सुख सम्पति घर आवे, सुख सम्पति घर आवे, कष्ट मिटे तन का॥ ॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥ मात पिता तुम मेरे, शरण गहूं मैं किसकी, स्वामी शरण गहूं मैं किसकी। तुम बिन और न दूजा, तुम बिन और न दूजा, आस करूं मैं जिसकी॥ ॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥ तुम पूरण परमात्मा, तुम अन्तर्यामी, स्वामी तुम अन्तर्यामी। पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, पारब्रह्म परमेश्वर, तुम सबके स्वामी॥ ॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥ तुम करुणा के सागर, तुम पालनकर्ता, स्वामी तुम पालनकर्ता। मैं मूरख फलकामी, मैं सेवक तुम स्वामी, कृपा करो भर्ता॥ ॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥ तुम हो एक अगोचर, सबके प्राणपति, स्वामी सबके प्राणपति। किस विधि मिलूं दयामय, किस विधि मिलूं दयामय, तुमको मैं कुमति॥ ॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥ दीन-बन्धु दुःख-हर्ता, ठाकुर तुम मेरे, स्वामी रक्षक तुम मेरे। अपने हाथ उठाओ, अपने शरण लगाओ, द्वार पड़ा तेरे॥ ॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे॥ विषय-विकार मिटाओ, पाप हरो देवा, स्वामी कष्ट हरो देवा। श्रद्धा भक्ति बढ़ाओ, श्रद्धा भक्ति बढ़ाओ, सन्तन की सेवा॥ ॐ जय जगदीश हरे, स्वामी जय जगदीश हरे। भक्त जनों के संकट, दास जनों के संकट, क्षण में दूर करे॥
Transliteration
Om Jai Jagdish Hare, Swami Jai Jagdish Hare. Bhakt Janon Ke Sankat, Das Janon Ke Sankat, Kshan Mein Door Kare. (Refrain: Om Jai Jagdish Hare) Jo Dhyave Phal Pave, Dukh Binase Man Ka, Swami Dukh Binase Man Ka. Sukh Sampati Ghar Aave, Sukh Sampati Ghar Aave, Kasht Mite Tan Ka. (Refrain) Maat Pita Tum Mere, Sharan Gahun Main Kiski, Swami Sharan Gahun Main Kiski. Tum Bin Aur Na Dooja, Tum Bin Aur Na Dooja, Aas Karun Main Jiski. (Refrain) Tum Pooran Parmatma, Tum Antaryami, Swami Tum Antaryami. Parabrahma Parameshwar, Parabrahma Parameshwar, Tum Sabke Swami. (Refrain) Tum Karuna Ke Sagar, Tum Palankarta, Swami Tum Palankarta. Main Moorakh Phalkami, Main Sevak Tum Swami, Kripa Karo Bharta. (Refrain) Tum Ho Ek Agochar, Sabke Pranpati, Swami Sabke Pranpati. Kis Vidhi Milun Dayamay, Kis Vidhi Milun Dayamay, Tumko Main Kumati. (Refrain) Deen-Bandhu Dukh-Harta, Thakur Tum Mere, Swami Rakshak Tum Mere. Apne Haath Uthao, Apne Sharan Lagao, Dwar Pada Tere. (Refrain) Vishay-Vikar Mitao, Paap Haro Deva, Swami Kasht Haro Deva. Shraddha Bhakti Badhao, Shraddha Bhakti Badhao, Santan Ki Seva. Om Jai Jagdish Hare, Swami Jai Jagdish Hare. Bhakt Janon Ke Sankat, Das Janon Ke Sankat, Kshan Mein Door Kare.
A relatively young aarti with universal reach
Unlike much of the material on this site, "Om Jai Jagdish Hare" isn't ancient — it was composed in 1870 by Pandit Shraddha Ram Phillauri, a Sanatan Dharma preacher, musician and one of the earliest novelists in Hindi literature. Despite being comparatively modern, it has become arguably the most universally sung aarti in Hindu homes, recited at the close of pujas regardless of which deity the day's worship was centred on — some devotees hold that singing it earns the merit of having performed aarti to every deity at once.
What each verse asks for
The eight verses move through a clear progression: the opening refrain asks Vishnu, as Jagdish (lord of the universe), to remove devotees' troubles in an instant; the following verses call him mother and father, the one true refuge, the indwelling witness (antaryami) and supreme being (parabrahma parameshwar), an ocean of compassion and sustainer (palankarta), the friend of the helpless (deen-bandhu), and finally ask him to remove vice and increase devotion. It closes by repeating the opening refrain, framing the whole aarti as a single, complete circle of praise and appeal.
Its place in the puja
It's typically the closing aarti of a worship session — after specific deity aartis have been sung, this one is often added as a general act of devotion before the diya is passed around and prasad is distributed. Many families sing it every evening as their household's regular closing prayer, independent of any specific festival.
Why it's easy to learn
The tune is simple, repetitive and forgiving of imperfect Sanskrit-Hindi pronunciation, which is part of why it spread so quickly after it was written and remains one of the first aartis taught to children today.