Aarti · Saraswati
Jai Saraswati Mata: Saraswati aarti lyrics with meaning
The aarti of Saraswati, goddess of learning, music and speech, sung on Vasant Panchami and by students before study and exams. Seven short verses, in Hindi, in English letters and with a plain meaning.
Listen: Saraswati Aarti: Jai Saraswati Mata
A computer-voiced recitation over a soft aarti rhythm of claps, bell and manjira, checked line by line against the text. It is an aid to reading along, not a replacement for a priest or a family elder.
What this aarti is
Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, art and speech. She is shown in white, seated on a lotus, with a veena (a stringed instrument), a mala and a book, and a swan as her vehicle. “Jai Saraswati Mata” is her best-known Hindi aarti, sung to the same easy tune family as “Om Jai Jagdish Hare”.
Like most household aartis, it is a traditional folk composition and its author is not known. It describes the goddess, recalls a story from the Ramayana tradition, and asks for one thing: the light of knowledge in place of ignorance. Sung once through, it takes about four minutes.
When it is sung
- Vasant Panchami, Saraswati's festival at the start of spring, at home, in schools and colleges.
- Saraswati puja in Navratri (in many regions on the seventh to ninth days) and on Vijayadashami.
- Before study, music practice or an exam, and at the start of a child's learning (vidyarambh).
How to do the aarti, step by step
You need no priest. Aarti is the closing part of any puja, and it can also be done on its own, morning or evening, in about five minutes.
- Wash your hands and face and stand or sit before a picture or murti of Saraswati.
- Prepare a plate (thali) with a ghee diya or a piece of camphor, a little roli and rice, a flower and white flowers, a book or pen, and a sweet.
- Light the diya or camphor. Someone rings a small bell, or everyone claps along while singing.
- Sing the aarti below and slowly wave the plate clockwise before the deity. A common household way: four times at the feet, twice at the middle, once at the face, then seven times around the whole form.
- After the last verse, circle a little water around the plate and set it down.
- Everyone takes the aarti: hold both palms briefly over the flame and touch them to your eyes and head. Share the prasad.
Tunes and a few words differ from family to family. Sing it the way your home does; the feeling matters more than the exact wording.
Jai Saraswati Mata, with meaning
The first verse is the refrain: it is sung at the start and repeated after every verse, usually as “jai jai Saraswati Mata”.
Refrain
जय सरस्वती माता, मैया जय सरस्वती माता।
सदगुण वैभव शालिनी, त्रिभुवन विख्याता॥
Jai Saraswati Mata, maiya jai Saraswati Mata,
sadgun vaibhav shalini, tribhuvan vikhyata.
अर्थ: जय हो सरस्वती माता, जय हो माँ! आप अच्छे गुणों के वैभव से भरी हैं और तीनों लोकों में प्रसिद्ध हैं।
Meaning: Glory to you, Mother Saraswati! You are rich in every good quality, and famed throughout the three worlds.
Verse 1
चन्द्रवदनि पद्मासिनि, द्युति मंगलकारी।
सोहे शुभ हंस सवारी, अतुल तेजधारी॥
Chandravadani padmasini, dyuti mangalkari,
sohe shubh hans savari, atul tejdhari.
अर्थ: आपका मुख चंद्रमा जैसा है, आप कमल पर विराजती हैं, और आपकी आभा मंगल करने वाली है। शुभ हंस की सवारी आप पर सजती है; आपका तेज अतुलनीय है।
Meaning: Your face is like the moon, you sit on a lotus, and your radiance brings blessing. The graceful swan you ride suits you well; your brilliance has no equal.
Verse 2
बाएँ कर में वीणा, दाएँ कर माला।
शीश मुकुट मणि सोहे, गल मोतियन माला॥
Baayen kar mein veena, daayen kar mala,
sheesh mukut mani sohe, gal motiyan mala.
अर्थ: आपके बाएँ हाथ में वीणा और दाएँ हाथ में माला है। सिर पर रत्नों वाला मुकुट शोभा देता है और गले में मोतियों की माला है।
Meaning: A veena in your left hand, a mala in your right; a jewelled crown shines on your head, and a string of pearls at your throat.
Verse 3
देवी शरण जो आए, उनका उद्धार किया।
पैठी मंथरा दासी, रावण संहार किया॥
Devi sharan jo aaye, unka uddhar kiya,
paithi Manthara dasi, Ravan sanhar kiya.
अर्थ: हे देवी, जो आपकी शरण में आए, उनका आपने उद्धार किया। आप दासी मंथरा के मन में जा बैठीं, और (इसी से हुई घटनाओं से) रावण का अंत हुआ।
Meaning: Goddess, you lifted up all who came to you for shelter. You entered the mind of the maid Manthara, and that set in motion the events that ended Ravana.
Verse 4
विद्या ज्ञान प्रदायिनि, ज्ञान प्रकाश भरो।
मोह अज्ञान और तिमिर का, जग से नाश करो॥
Vidya gyan pradayini, gyan prakash bharo,
moh agyan aur timir ka, jag se naash karo.
अर्थ: हे विद्या और ज्ञान देने वाली, (हमारे भीतर) ज्ञान का प्रकाश भर दो। मोह, अज्ञान और अंधकार को संसार से मिटा दो।
Meaning: Giver of learning and knowledge, fill us with the light of understanding. Clear delusion, ignorance and darkness from the world.
Verse 5
धूप दीप फल मेवा, माँ स्वीकार करो।
ज्ञानचक्षु दे माता, जग निस्तार करो॥
Dhoop deep phal meva, maa sweekar karo,
gyanchakshu de mata, jag nistar karo.
अर्थ: हे माँ, धूप, दीप, फल और मेवे की यह भेंट स्वीकार करो। ज्ञान की आँख देकर संसार को पार लगाओ।
Meaning: Mother, accept this incense, lamp, fruit and dry fruit. Give us the eye of wisdom and carry the world across.
Verse 6
माँ सरस्वती की आरती, जो कोई जन गावे।
हितकारी सुखकारी, ज्ञान भक्ति पावे॥
Maa Saraswati ki aarti, jo koi jan gaave,
hitkari sukhkari, gyan bhakti paave.
अर्थ: जो कोई माँ सरस्वती की यह आरती गाता है, उसे भलाई और सुख देने वाला ज्ञान और भक्ति मिलती है, ऐसा माना जाता है।
Meaning: Whoever sings this aarti of Mother Saraswati is said to gain knowledge and devotion, which bring good and happiness.
Questions
Who wrote the Saraswati aarti?
No one knows. Like most Hindi household aartis it is a traditional folk composition, passed on by singing and in printed aarti books, and free for everyone.
What is the Manthara line about?
A story told in the Ramcharitmanas: the gods asked Saraswati to turn the mind of Manthara, Queen Kaikeyi's maid. Manthara then persuaded Kaikeyi to send Ram to the forest, which in time led to the end of Ravana. Gita Press prints this line as “asur-sanhar kiya” (ended the demons).
When is the best day to sing it?
Vasant Panchami is Saraswati's own festival. Beyond that, any day before study, music or creative work; many families sing it on Thursdays or simply whenever a child sits down to learn.
Text and sources
The text is a traditional aarti of unknown authorship, in the public domain. Every line was checked against Drik Panchang, Bhakti Bharat and the Gita Press “Shri Aarti Sangrah”. We follow the reading Drik Panchang and Bhakti Bharat share, which is how it is most often sung. Gita Press differs in several lines: “sohe hans-savari” (without “shubh”), “dooje kar mala”, “dev sharan mein aaye… asur-sanhar kiya” in verse 3, “ved-gyan-pradayini, buddhi-prakash karo… satvar naash karo” in verse 4, and “puja sweekar karo… sab gun-gyan bharo” in verse 5. The transliteration and meanings are our own.
More in the library
Gayatri Mantra
The Sanskrit text, the meaning of every word, and how to chant it at sunrise.
Ganesh Aarti: Jai Ganesh Deva
Jai Ganesh Deva, verse by verse with meaning, and how to do the aarti at home.
Lakshmi Aarti: Om Jai Lakshmi Mata
Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, verse by verse with meaning, and how to do the aarti at home.
Durga Aarti: Jai Ambe Gauri
Jai Ambe Gauri, verse by verse with meaning, for Navratri and Fridays.