Gajanan Maharaj Aarti, Mantra & Their Meaning

The most widely sung aarti in the Gajanan Maharaj tradition is "Om Jai Gajanan Maharaj Ki," composed in the simple, repetitive style of devotional aarti songs. Paired with it is the short mantra "Om Gan Ganat Bote" that devotees chant as a brief remembrance of the Guru. This guide provides the lyrics in Devanagari, a transliteration that you can sing from, and an explanation of the meaning for each line.

The aarti: Om Jai Gajanan Maharaj Ki

The aarti is sung at the temple during morning and evening darshan, at the Anand Sagar complex, at household shrines, and during parayan. The tune is consistent across regions; the rhythm is straightforward and easy to follow for first-time participants.

Lyrics in Devanagari

ॐ जय गजानन महाराज की,
ॐ जय गजानन महाराज की।
गण गण गणत बोते,
धूमि धाम से आते,
भक्तों के संकट,
दूर कर जाते।
ॐ जय गजानन महाराज की।

चरण वंदन महाराज,
चरण वंदन महाराज।
सेवक भक्त विनती करें,
शरण में तेरी आयें,
कष्ट दूर कर दीन के,
हर लो भव से भय।
चरण वंदन महाराज।

आरती कीजे महाराज,
आरती कीजे महाराज।
दीपक ज्योति तुम्हारी,
अंधेरे हमारे मिटाओ,
जो भी आए शरण में,
सुख सम्पति दो भारी।
आरती कीजे महाराज।

प्रसाद चढ़ाएँ महाराज,
प्रसाद चढ़ाएँ महाराज।
लड्डू का भोग लगाएँ,
सेवक को भोग दिखाएँ,
प्रेम भाव से जो भी आए,
वो सुख पावें संसार।
प्रसाद चढ़ाएँ महाराज।

ॐ जय गजानन महाराज की,
ॐ जय गजानन महाराज की।

Transliteration

Om jai Gajanan Maharaj ki,
Om jai Gajanan Maharaj ki.
Gan gan ganat bote,
Dhumi dhaam se aate,
Bhakton ke sankat,
Door kar jaate.
Om jai Gajanan Maharaj ki.

Charan vandan Maharaj,
Charan vandan Maharaj.
Sevak bhakt viniti karein,
Sharan mein teri aayein,
Kasht door kar deen ke,
Har lo bhav se bhay.
Charan vandan Maharaj.

Aarti kije Maharaj,
Aarti kije Maharaj.
Deepak jyoti tumhari,
Andhere hamare mitao,
Jo bhi aaye sharan mein,
Sukh sampati do bhaari.
Aarti kije Maharaj.

Prasad chadhaayein Maharaj,
Prasad chadhaayein Maharaj.
Laddu ka bhog lagaayein,
Sevak ko bhog dikhaayein,
Prem bhaav se jo bhi aaye,
Wo sukh paayein sansaar.
Prasad chadhaayein Maharaj.

Om jai Gajanan Maharaj ki,
Om jai Gajanan Maharaj ki.

Meaning, section by section

The opening "Om Jai Gajanan Maharaj Ki" is a salutation that calls for victory — the victory of the consciousness the saint represents. "Gan Gan Ganat Bote" recalls the birth name given to the saint in some traditions and translates loosely as "the one whose very being resounds." "Dhoomi Dhaam se aate" suggests that the saint comes to his devotees with the fullness of divine presence.

"Charan Vandan Maharaj" is the verse of surrender at the lotus feet. Devotees (sevak bhakt) bow and ask for the saint's shelter. The line "har lo bhav se bhay" is a request to be freed from the fear of repeated worldly existence — a theme that runs through the saint's recorded teachings.

The "Aarti Kije Maharaj" verse turns to the ritual aarti itself, comparing the devotee's own darkness to the flame of the aarti. The prayer is that the saint's light will dispel that darkness. The line "jo bhi aaye sharan mein, sukh sampati do bhaari" asks for the welfare of all who take refuge, not just the devotee who is singing.

"Prasad Chadhayein Maharaj" refers to the laddu prasad that is the saint's signature offering — round, sweet, and distributed by the thousands each day. The verse asks the saint to accept the bhog and grant the devotee a vision of that offering as a form of grace.

The mantra: Gan Gan Ganat Bote

The short mantra "Om Gan Ganat Bote, Ganpati Bappay Namo Namah" or its abbreviated form "Gan Gan Ganat Bote" is recited by devotees as a quick remembrance. It is not the longer Gayatri-style mantra of classical tradition; it is a personal, accessible chant. Devotees often repeat it a fixed number of times (typically 108 or a multiple) during morning prayer or before starting an important task.

The meaning of "Gan Gan Ganat Bote" is twofold. On one level, it is a phonetic play on "gan" (which in Sanskrit can mean group, count, or the deity Ganesha). On another, it is a literal affirmation: "the one whose every breath, every step, is the sound of the divine." Devotees often describe the repetition as settling the mind into a quiet, attentive state.

When to sing the aarti

The aarti is sung during morning and evening darshan at the Samadhi Mandir. At home, it is commonly sung at sunrise and sunset, or before the household meal. During parayan, the aarti is sung at the beginning and end of the reading. During the Samadhi Utsav and Pragat Din observances, the aarti is sung throughout the day.

Devotees also sing a simpler aarti called "Manglacharan" — a short invocation in praise of the Guru — at the start of any devotional practice. The longer aarti above is the one most often taught to new visitors and is the version that has become the unofficial anthem of the Gajanan Maharaj tradition.

Laddu prasad

The laddu (also called "Gajak Laddu" in some regional references) is the signature offering of the temple. Distributed free to every visitor, the laddu is a small, round sweet made of gram flour, ghee, and sugar. The Sansthan produces thousands of laddus daily at the temple kitchen. Taking a laddu prasad after darshan is itself considered a small sacrament; many families keep the prasad in a clean container at home and consume a small piece before beginning any important task.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need to know the tune to sing the aarti? A: The tune is simple and most devotees learn it within a few visits. YouTube and audio CDs from the Sansthan office include the aarti sung at the temple. Listening along for one or two sessions is enough to pick it up.

Q: What is the difference between aarti and mantra? A: Aarti is the sung devotional practice performed with a flame, typically at fixed times. Mantra is the silent or spoken repetition of a sacred syllable or phrase, which can be practiced at any time without ritual. Both are used in the Gajanan tradition.

Q: Can I chant the mantra even if I have not been initiated? A: Yes. The mantra is freely available to all who feel drawn to it. There is no formal initiation in the Gajanan tradition.

Q: Why laddu? A: The laddu has been the saint's preferred offering since his lifetime. Devotees have reported that the saint himself accepted laddu prasad on specific occasions. The Sansthan's kitchen continues the practice today.

Q: Is there a particular posture for singing the aarti? A: At home, devotees typically stand or sit facing the photograph or paduka of the saint. At the temple, the aarti is sung standing in a circular pattern around the central paduka. The posture is less important than the inner attentiveness.