आरती संग्रह · Full sequence
The complete aarti sequence sung in Maharashtrian homes and mandals during Ganeshotsav – Ganpati, Shankar, Devi, Vitthal, Datta and Maruti, ending with Ghalin Lotangan and the mantrapushpanjali prayers. Read it straight through, one after another.
गणपती उत्सव संपूर्ण आरती संग्रह
प्रारंभी विनती करू गणपती विद्यादयासागरा ।
अज्ञानत्व हरोनी बुद्धि मति दे आराध्य मोरेश्वरा ।
चिंता-क्लेश-दरिद्र-दुःख अवघे देशांतरा पाठवी ।
हेरंबा गणनायका गजमुखा भक्तां बहू तोषवीं ॥
सुखकर्ता दुःखहर्ता वार्ता विघ्नाची ।
नुरवी पुरवी प्रेम कृपा जयाची ।
सर्वांगी सुंदर उटी शेंदूराची ।
कंठी झळके माळ मुक्ताफळाची ॥
जय देव जय देव जय मंगल मूर्ती ।
दर्शनमात्रे मन कामनापुर्ती ॥ जय देव ॥
रत्नखचित फरा तुज गौरीकुमरा ।
चंदनाची ऊटी कुंकुम केशरा ।
हीरे जडित मुकुट शोभतो बरा ।
रुणझुणती नूपुरे चरणी घागरिया ॥ जय देव ॥
लंबोदर पीतांबर फणिवरबंधना ।
सरळ सोंड वक्रतुण्ड त्रिनयना ।
दास रामाचा वाट पाहे सदना ।
संकटी पावावे निर्वाणी रक्षावे सुरवरवंदना ॥ जय देव ॥
शेंदुर लाल चढायो अच्छा गजमुखको ।
दोंदिल लाल बिराजे सुत गौरिहरको ।
हाथ लिये गुडलड्डु सांई सुरवरको ।
महिमा कहे न जाय लागत हूं पदको ॥ १ ॥
जय जय जी गणराज विद्या सुखदाता ।
धन्य तुम्हार दर्शन मेरा मन रमता ॥ धृ ॥
अष्टौ सिद्धी दासी संकटको बैरि ।
विघ्नविनाशन मंगल मूरत अधिकारी ।
कोटीसूरजप्रकाश ऐसी छबि तेरी ।
गंडस्थलमदमस्तक झूले शशिबिहारि ॥ २ ॥
भावभगतसे कोई शरणागत आवे ।
संतत संपत सबही भरपूर पावे ।
ऐसे तुम महाराज मोको अति भावे ।
गोसावीनंदन निशिदिन गुन गावे ॥ ३ ॥
नाना परिमळ दूर्वा शेंदुर शमिपत्रें ।
लाडू मोदक अन्ने परिपूरित पात्रें ।
ऐसें पूजन केल्या बीजाक्षर मंत्रें ।
अष्टहि सिद्धि नवनिधि देसी क्षणमात्रें ॥ १ ॥
जय देव जय देव जय मंगलमूर्ती ।
तुझे गुण वर्णाया मज कैंची स्फूर्ती ॥ धृ ॥
तुझें ध्यान निरंतर जे कोणी करिती ।
त्यांची सकलहि पापें विघ्नेंही हरति ।
वाजी वारण शिबिका सेवक सुत युवती ।
सर्वहि पावुनि अंतीं भवसागर तरती ॥ जय देव ॥ २ ॥
शरणागत सर्वस्वें भजती तव चरणीं ।
कीर्ति तयांची राहे जोंवरि शशि-तरणी ।
त्रैलोक्यीं ते विजयी अद्भुत हे करणी ।
गोसावीनंदन रत नामस्मरणीं ॥ जय देव ॥ ३ ॥
लवथवती विक्राळा ब्रह्मांडी माळा ।
विषे कंठ काळा त्रिनेत्री ज्वाळा ।
लावण्य सुन्दर मस्तकी वाळा ।
तेथुनिया जळ निर्मळ वाहे झुळझुळा ॥ जय देव ॥
जय देव जय देव जय श्री शंकरा ।
आरती ओवाळू तुज कर्पुरगौरा ॥ जय देव ॥
कर्पुरगौरा भोळा नयनी विशाळा ।
अर्धांगी पार्वती सुमनांच्या माळा ।
विभुतीचे उधळण शितकंठ नीळा ।
ऐसा शंकर शोभे उमावेल्हाळा ॥ जय देव ॥
देवी दैत्य सागर मंथन पै केले ।
त्यामाजी अवचीत हलहल जे उठले ।
ते त्वा असुरपणे प्राशन केले ।
नीळकंठ नाम प्रसिद्ध झाले ॥ जय देव ॥
व्याघ्रांबर फणिवरधर सुंदर मदनारी ।
पंचानन मनमोहन मुनिजन सुखकारी ।
शतकोटीचे बीज वाचे उच्चारी ।
रघुकुळटीळक रामदासा अंतरी ॥ जय देव ॥
दुर्गे दुर्घटभारी तुजवीण संसारी ।
अनाथ नाथे अम्बे करुणाविस्तारी ।
वारी वारी जन्म मरणांते वारी ।
हारी पडलो आता संकट नेवारी ॥ १ ॥
जय देवी जय देवी महिषासुरमथिनि ।
सुरवर ईश्वर वरदे तारकसंजीवनी ॥ धृ ॥
तुजवीण भुवनी पाहता तुज ऐसे नाही ।
चारी श्रमले परंतु न बोलवे काही ।
साही विवाद करिता पडले प्रवाही ।
ते तू भक्तालागी पावसि लवलाही ॥ २ ॥
प्रसन्न वदने प्रसन्न होसी निजदासा ।
क्लेशांपासुनी सोडवी तोडी भवपाशा ।
अम्बे तुजवाचून कोण पुरवील आशा ।
नरहरी तल्लीन झाला पदपंकजलेशा ॥ ३ ॥
युगे अठ्ठावीस विटेवरी ऊभा ।
वामांगी रखुमाई दिसे दिव्य शोभा ।
पुंडलिकाचे भेटी परब्रह्म आले गा ।
चरणी वाहे भीमा उद्धरी जगा ॥
जय देव जय देव जय पांडुरंगा ।
रखुमाई वल्लभा राईच्या वल्लभा ।
पावे जिवलगा ॥ जय देव ॥
तुळसी माळा गळा कर ठेवुनी कटी ।
कासे पितांबर कस्तुरी लल्लाटी ।
देव सुरवर नित्य येती भेटी ।
गरुड हनूमंत पुढे उभे राहती ॥ जय देव ॥
धन्य वेणुनाद अनुक्षेत्रपाळा ।
सुवर्णाची कमळे वनमाळा गळा ।
राई रखुमाबाइ राणीया सकळा ।
ओवाळू आरत्या विठोबा सावळा ॥ जय देव ॥
ओवाळू आरत्या कुरवंड्या येती ।
चंद्रभागेमध्ये सोडुनिया देती ।
दिंड्या पताका वैष्णव नाचती ।
पंढरीचा महिमा वर्णावा किती ॥ जय देव ॥
आषाढी कार्तिकी भक्तजन येती ।
चंद्रभागेमध्ये स्नान जे करती ।
दर्शन हेळामात्रे तया होय मुक्ती ।
केशवासी नामदेव भावे ओवाळिती ॥ जय देव ॥
येई हो विठ्ठले माझे माऊली ये ।
निढळावरी कर ठेवुनि वाट मी पाहे ॥ धृ ॥
आलिया गेलिया हाती धाडी निरोप ।
पंढरपूरी आहे माझा मायबाप ॥ १ ॥
पिवळा पीतांबर कैसा गगनी झळकला ।
गरुडांवरि बैसोनि माझा कैवारी आला ॥ २ ॥
विठोबाचे राज्य आम्हां नित्य दिपवाळी ।
विष्णुदास नामा जीवेभावे ओंवाळी ॥ ३ ॥
त्रिगुणात्मक त्रैमूर्ती दत्त हा जाणा ।
त्रिगुणी अवतार त्रैलोक्य राणा ।
नेती नेती शब्द न ये अनुमाना ।
सुरवर मुनिजन योगी समाधी न ये ध्याना ॥
जय देव जय देव जय श्री गुरुदत्ता ।
आरति ओवाळीता हरली भवचिन्ता ॥ जय देव ॥
सबाह्य अभ्यंतरी तू एक दत्त ।
अभाग्यासी कैसी नकळे ही मात ।
पराही परतली कैसा हा हेत ।
जन्म मरणाचा पुरलासे अंत ॥ जय देव ॥
दत्त येऊनीया उभा ठाकला ।
सद्भावे साष्टांगे प्रणिपात केला ।
प्रसन्न होउनीया आशीर्वाद दिधला ।
जन्मा मरणाचा फेरा वाचविला ॥ जय देव ॥
दत्त दत्त ऐसे लागले ध्यान ।
हरपले मन झाले उन्मन ।
मी तू पणाची झाली बोळवण ।
एका जनार्दनी श्री दत्त ध्यान ॥ जय देव ॥
सत्राणे उड्डाणे हुंकार वदनी ।
करि डळमळ भूमंडळ सिंधू जळ गगनी ।
कडाडिले ब्रह्मांड धाके त्रिभुवनी ।
सुरवर चर निशाचर त्या झाल्या पळनी ॥ १ ॥
जय देव जय देव जय श्री हनुमंता ।
तुमचेनी प्रसादे नाभे कृतांता ॥ जय देव ॥
दुमदुमली पाताळे उठिला प्रतिशब्द ।
थरथरला धरणीधर मानीला खेद ।
कडाडिले पर्वत उड्डुगण उच्छेद ।
रामी रामदासा शक्तिचा शोध ॥ २ ॥ जय देव ॥
घालीन लोटांगण वंदीन चरण ।
डोळ्यांनी पाहिन रूप तुझे ।
प्रेमें आलिंगीन आनंद पूजन ।
भावे ओवाळिन म्हणे नामा ॥
त्वमेव माता पिता त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव बन्धुः सखा त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव ।
त्वमेव सर्वं मम देवदेव ॥
कायेन वाचा मनसेंद्रियैर्वा ।
बुध्यात्मना वा प्रकृति स्वभावात् ।
करोमि यद्यत् सकलं परस्मै ।
नारायणायेति समर्पयामि ॥
अच्युतं केशवं राम नारायणम् ।
कृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं भजे ।
श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभम् ।
जानकीनायकं रामचंद्रं भजे ॥
हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ।
हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे ॥
॥ मंगलमुर्ती मोरया ॥
॥ गणपतिबाप्पा मोरया ॥
ॐ यज्ञेन यज्ञमयजन्त देवास्तानि धर्माणि प्रथमान्यासन् ।
ते ह नाकं महिमानः सचंत यत्र पूर्वे साध्याः संति देवाः ॥
ॐ राजाधिराजाय प्रसह्य साहिने ।
नमो वयं वैश्रवणाय कुर्महे ।
स मे कामान् काम कामाय मह्यं ।
कामेश्वरो वैश्रवणो ददातु कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय ।
महाराजाय नमः ।
ॐ स्वस्ति । साम्राज्यं भौज्यं स्वाराज्यं
वैराज्यं पारमेष्ठ्यं राज्यं महाराज्यमाधिपत्यमयं
समंतपर्यायीस्यात् सार्वभौमः सार्वायुष आं
तादापरार्धात् पृथिव्यै समुद्रपर्यंताया एकराळिति ।
तदप्येषः श्लोकोऽभिगीतो मरुतः परिवेष्टारो
मरुतस्यावसन् गृहे ।
आविक्षितस्य कामप्रेर्विश्वेदेवाः सभासद इति ॥
एकदंताय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि ।
तन्नोदंती प्रचोदयात् ।
॥ मंत्रपुष्पांजली समर्पयामि ॥
॥ गणपतिबाप्पा मोरया ॥
The whole sequence in Roman script, in the same order.
1. Prarambhi Vinati Karu Ganpati (Opening Prayer)
Prarambhi vinti karu ganpati vidyadayasagra |
Agyanatva haroni buddhi mati de aradhya moreshvara |
Chinta-klesh-daridra-duhkh avghe deshantra pathvi |
Heramba gananayka gajmukha bhaktan bahu toshvin ||
2. Sukhkarta Dukhharta (Marathi Ganpati Aarti)
Sukhakarta duhkhaharta varta vighnachi |
Nurvi purvi prem kripa jayachi |
Sarvangi sundar uti shendurachi |
Kanthi jhalke mal muktaphlachi ||
Jay dev jay dev jay mangal murti |
Darshanamatre man kamanapurti || jay dev ||
Ratnakhchit phara tuj gaurikumra |
Chandnachi uti kunkum keshra |
Hire jadit mukut shobhto bara |
Runajhunti nupure charni ghagriya || jay dev ||
Lambodar pitambar phanivarabandhna |
Saral sond vakratund trinyana |
Das ramacha vat pahe sadna |
Sankti pavave nirvani rakshave suravaravandna || jay dev ||
3. Shendur Lal Chadhayo (Ganpati Aarti)
Shendur lal chadhayo achchha gajamukhko |
Dondil lal biraje sut gaurihrako |
Hath liye gudaladdu sani suravrako |
Mahima kahe na jay lagat hun padko || 1 ||
Jay jay ji ganraj vidya sukhdata |
Dhanya tumhar darshan mera man ramta || dhri ||
Ashtau siddhi dasi sanktako bairi |
Vighnavinashan mangal murat adhikari |
Kotisurajaprakash aisi chhabi teri |
Gandasthalamadamastak jhule shashibihari || 2 ||
Bhavabhagtase koi sharanagat ave |
Santat sampat sabhi bharpur pave |
Aise tum maharaj moko ati bhave |
Gosavinandan nishidin gun gave || 3 ||
4. Nana Parimal Durva Shendur (Ganpati Aarti)
Nana parimal durva shendur shamipatren |
Ladu modak anne paripurit patren |
Aisen pujan kelya bijakshar mantren |
Ashtahi siddhi navnidhi desi kshanamatren || 1 ||
Jay dev jay dev jay mangalamurti |
Tujhe gun varnaya maj kainchi sphurti || dhri ||
Tujhen dhyan nirantar je koni kariti |
Tyanchi saklahi papen vighnenhi harti |
Vaji varan shibika sevak sut yuvti |
Sarvahi pavuni antin bhavasagar tarti || jay dev || 2 ||
Sharanagat sarvasven bhajti tav charnin |
Kirti tayanchi rahe jonvri shashi-tarni |
Trailokyin te vijyi adbhut he karni |
Gosavinandan rat namasmarnin || jay dev || 3 ||
5. Lavthavti Vikrala (Marathi Shiv Aarti)
Lavathvati vikrala brahmandi mala |
Vishe kanth kala trinetri jvala |
Lavanya sundar mastaki vala |
Tethuniya jal nirmal vahe jhuljhula || jay dev ||
Jay dev jay dev jay shri shankra |
Arti ovalu tuj karpurgaura || jay dev ||
Karpurgaura bhola nayni vishala |
Ardhangi parvati sumananchya mala |
Vibhutiche udhlan shitakanth nila |
Aisa shankar shobhe umavelhala || jay dev ||
Devi daitya sagar manthan pai kele |
Tyamaji avchit halhal je uthle |
Te tva asurpane prashan kele |
Nilakanth nam prasiddh jhale || jay dev ||
Vyaghrambar phanivardhar sundar madnari |
Panchanan manamohan munijan sukhkari |
Shatakotiche bij vache uchchari |
Raghukulatilak ramdasa antri || jay dev ||
6. Durge Durghat Bhari (Marathi Devi Aarti)
Durge durghatbhari tujvin sansari |
Anath nathe ambe karunavistari |
Vari vari janma marnante vari |
Hari padlo ata sankat nevari || 1 ||
Jay devi jay devi mahishasuramthini |
Survar ishvar varde tarakasanjivni || dhri ||
Tujvin bhuvni pahta tuj aise nahi |
Chari shramle parantu na bolve kahi |
Sahi vivad karita padle pravahi |
Te tu bhaktalagi pavsi lavlahi || 2 ||
Prasann vadne prasann hosi nijdasa |
Kleshampasuni sodvi todi bhavpasha |
Ambe tujavachun kon purvil asha |
Narhari tallin jhala padapankajlesha || 3 ||
7. Yuge Atthavis Vitevari Ubha (Vitthal Aarti)
Yuge aththavis vitevri ubha |
Vamangi rakhumai dise divya shobha |
Pundalikache bheti parabrahma ale ga |
Charni vahe bhima uddhri jaga ||
Jay dev jay dev jay panduranga |
Rakhumai vallabha raichya vallabha |
Pave jivlaga || jay dev ||
Tulsi mala gala kar thevuni kati |
Kase pitambar kasturi lallati |
Dev survar nitya yeti bheti |
Garud hanumant pudhe ubhe rahti || jay dev ||
Dhanya venunad anukshetrapala |
Suvarnachi kamle vanmala gala |
Rai rakhumabai raniya sakla |
Ovalu aratya vithoba savla || jay dev ||
Ovalu aratya kuravandya yeti |
Chandrabhagemadhye soduniya deti |
Dindya pataka vaishnav nachti |
Pandhricha mahima varnava kiti || jay dev ||
Ashadhi kartiki bhaktajan yeti |
Chandrabhagemadhye snan je karti |
Darshan helamatre taya hoy mukti |
Keshvasi namdev bhave ovaliti || jay dev ||
8. Yei Ho Vitthale Maze Mauli Ye
Yie ho viththale majhe mauli ye |
Nidhalavri kar thevuni vat mi pahe || dhri ||
Aliya geliya hati dhadi nirop |
Pandharpuri ahe majha maybap || 1 ||
Pivla pitambar kaisa gagni jhalkala |
Garudanvri baisoni majha kaivari ala || 2 ||
Vithobache rajya amhan nitya dipvali |
Vishnudas nama jivebhave onvali || 3 ||
9. Trigunatmak Traimurti Datta Ha Jana
Trigunatmak traimurti datt ha jana |
Triguni avtar trailokya rana |
Neti neti shabd na ye anumana |
Survar munijan yogi samadhi na ye dhyana ||
Jay dev jay dev jay shri gurudatta |
Arti ovalita harli bhavachinta || jay dev ||
Sabahya abhyantri tu ek datt |
Abhagyasi kaisi nakle hi mat |
Parahi partali kaisa ha het |
Janma marnacha purlase ant || jay dev ||
Datt yeuniya ubha thakla |
Sadbhave sashtange pranipat kela |
Prasann houniya ashirvad didhla |
Janma marnacha phera vachvila || jay dev ||
Datt datt aise lagle dhyan |
Harpale man jhale unman |
Mi tu panachi jhali bolvan |
Eka janardani shri datt dhyan || jay dev ||
10. Satrane Uddane (Marathi Maruti Aarti)
Satrane uddane hunkar vadni |
Kari dalmal bhumandal sindhu jal gagni |
Kadadile brahmand dhake tribhuvni |
Survar char nishachar tya jhalya palni || 1 ||
Jay dev jay dev jay shri hanumanta |
Tumcheni prasade nabhe kritanta || jay dev ||
Dumadumli patale uthila pratishabd |
Tharathrala dharanidhar manila khed |
Kadadile parvat uddugan uchchhed |
Rami ramdasa shakticha shodh || 2 || jay dev ||
11. Ghalin Lotangan (Closing Prayer after Aarti)
Ghalin lotangan vandin charan |
Dolyanni pahin rup tujhe |
Premen alingin anand pujan |
Bhave ovalin mhane nama ||
Tvamev mata pita tvamev |
Tvamev bandhuh sakha tvamev |
Tvamev vidya dravinan tvamev |
Tvamev sarvan mam devdev ||
Kayen vacha manasendriyairva |
Budhyatmana va prakriti svabhavat |
Karomi yadyat sakalan parasmai |
Narayanayeti samarpayami ||
Achyutan keshavan ram narayanam |
Krishnadamodaran vasudevan bhaje |
Shridharan madhavan gopikavallabham |
Janakinayakan ramachandran bhaje ||
Hare ram hare ram ram ram hare hare |
Hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare ||
|| mangalamurti morya ||
|| ganapatibappa morya ||
12. Mantra Pushpanjali (After Aarti)
Oṃ yajñena yajñamayajanta devāstāni dharmāṇi prathamānyāsan |
Te ha nākaṃ mahimānaḥ sacaṃta yatra pūrve sādhyāḥ saṃti devāḥ ||
Oṃ rājādhirājāya prasahya sāhine |
Namo vayaṃ vaiśravaṇāya kurmahe |
Sa me kāmān kāma kāmāya mahyaṃ |
Kāmeśvaro vaiśravaṇo dadātu kuberāya vaiśravaṇāya |
Mahārājāya namaḥ |
Oṃ svasti | sāmrājyaṃ bhaujyaṃ svārājyaṃ
Vairājyaṃ pārameṣṭhyaṃ rājyaṃ mahārājyamādhipatyamayaṃ
Samaṃtaparyāyīsyāt sārvabhaumaḥ sārvāyuṣa āṃ
Tādāparārdhāt pṛthivyai samudraparyaṃtāyā ekarāl̤iti |
Tadapyeṣaḥ śloko'bhigīto marutaḥ pariveṣṭāro
Marutasyāvasan gṛhe |
Āvikṣitasya kāmaprerviśvedevāḥ sabhāsada iti ||
Ekadaṃtāya vidmahe vakratuṇḍāya dhīmahi |
Tannodaṃtī pracodayāt |
|| maṃtrapuṣpāṃjalī samarpayāmi ||
|| gaṇapatibāppā morayā ||
Each aarti explained in simple English.
At the very beginning we pray to Ganpati, ocean of learning and compassion. O Moreshwar, the one we worship, take away our ignorance and give us understanding and a clear mind. Send all worry, trouble, poverty and sorrow far away to another land. O Heramba, leader of the ganas, elephant-faced one – please your devotees in every way.
Ganesh brings joy, removes sorrow and leaves no trace of obstacles; his grace overflows with love. His whole body glows with a coating of sindoor and a necklace of pearls shines at his throat. Victory to the auspicious one – a mere glimpse of him fulfils the heart's desires. O son of Gauri, you wear a jewel-studded ornament, a paste of sandal, kumkum and saffron, a diamond crown, and anklets that jingle on your feet. Big-bellied, clad in yellow, girdled with a serpent, with straight and curved trunk and three eyes – Ramdas, the servant of Rama, waits for you at home: come in times of crisis and protect us at the end, O one worshipped by the gods.
Red sindoor is lovingly applied to the elephant-faced Lord; the round-bellied son of Gauri and Shiva shines in red, holding jaggery laddoos – lord of the gods – whose glory cannot be described; I fall at his feet. Victory to Ganaraj, giver of learning and joy – blessed is your darshan, in which my mind delights. The eight siddhis are your servants, you are the enemy of troubles, destroyer of obstacles, the auspicious rightful Lord; your image shines like millions of suns, and the moon sways on your majestic brow. Whoever comes to your refuge with loving devotion receives children and wealth in abundance. Such a king are you, dearest to me – Gosavinandan sings your virtues day and night.
When you are worshipped with fragrances, durva grass, sindoor and shami leaves, with plates full of laddoos, modaks and food, and with seed-syllable mantras, you grant the eight siddhis and nine treasures in a moment. Refrain: Victory to the auspicious Lord – where would I find the inspiration to describe your virtues? Those who meditate on you constantly have all their sins and obstacles removed; they gain horses, elephants, palanquins, servants, children and family, and at the end cross the ocean of worldly life. Those who take refuge and worship your feet with all they have keep their fame for as long as the sun and moon shine, and are victorious in the three worlds – such is your wonder. Gosavinandan is absorbed in remembering your name.
Awesome and vast, Shiva wears the universe as a garland; his throat is dark with poison and fire burns in his third eye. The beautiful Ganga sits on his head and pure water flows from there in a gentle stream. Victory to Shankar – we wave the aarti before you, O one white as camphor. Innocent and wide-eyed, with Parvati as his half, garlanded with flowers, smeared with ash and blue-throated – so shines the beloved of Uma. When gods and demons churned the ocean, the deadly halahal poison arose and you drank it, becoming famous as Neelkanth. Wearing tiger skin and serpents, enemy of Kama, five-faced and captivating, giver of joy to sages – Ramdas holds the seed-mantra of Rama within his heart.
O Durga, without you worldly life is terribly hard. Mother of the orphaned, spread your compassion and end this cycle of birth and death – I have fallen defeated, remove my troubles. Victory to the Goddess who crushed Mahishasura, giver of boons to the gods, saviour and life-giver. Searching the three worlds, none is like you; the four Vedas grew tired and could not describe you, and the six schools of philosophy were swept away in debate – yet you rush to your devotee's side. With a smiling face you are pleased with your own servants; free them from suffering and cut the bonds of worldly life. O Amba, who but you can fulfil our hopes? Narhari is absorbed in the dust of your lotus feet.
For twenty-eight yugas he has stood on a brick, with Rukmini at his left in divine splendour. The Supreme Brahman came to meet his devotee Pundalik, and the Bhima river flows at his feet to uplift the world. Victory to Panduranga, beloved of Rukmini and Rai – come, dearest one. A tulsi garland at his neck, hands on his hips, yellow silk at his waist and musk on his brow; gods visit daily while Garuda and Hanuman stand before him. Blessed is the sound of his flute; golden lotuses and a forest garland adorn him, and Rai, Rukmabai and all the queens wave lamps before dark King Vithoba. Lamps float on the Chandrabhaga, dindis and flags dance – how much can Pandharpur's glory be described? On Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi devotees bathe in the Chandrabhaga and attain liberation at a single glimpse; Namdev lovingly waves the lamp before Keshava.
Come, O Vitthala, my mother, come – I wait for you with my hand shading my brow. I send messages with everyone who comes and goes: my mother and father live in Pandharpur. How your yellow silk shines in the sky! My protector has come riding on Garuda. In Vithoba's kingdom every day is Diwali for us – Vishnudas Nama waves the lamp before him with all his heart.
Know Datta as the three deities who embody the three gunas – the Lord of the three worlds. Even the Vedas, saying 'not this, not this', cannot grasp him; gods, sages and yogis cannot hold him in meditation. Victory to Shri Guru Datta – waving the aarti before him, all worldly worry vanishes. Within and without, you alone exist, O Datta – how can the unfortunate understand this? Where even speech turns back, what purpose remains? The cycle of birth and death is ended. Datta came and stood before me; I bowed fully with a pure heart, and pleased, he blessed me and freed me from the round of births. Meditating 'Datta, Datta', the mind dissolved into stillness, the sense of 'I and you' departed – so says Eka Janardani.
With a mighty leap and a roar from his mouth, Hanuman shakes the earth, the oceans and the sky; the universe cracks, the three worlds tremble, and gods, humans and demons all run in fear. Victory to Shri Hanuman – by your grace I do not fear even death. The netherworlds thunder and echo back, the serpent who holds up the earth trembles in distress, mountains crack and the stars scatter – in Rama, Ramdas has understood the true meaning of strength.
I will prostrate before you, bow at your feet, see your form with my own eyes, embrace you with love, worship you with joy and wave the lamp with devotion, says Namdev. You alone are my mother, father, relative and friend; you are my knowledge and my wealth – you are my everything, O God of gods. Whatever I do with body, speech, mind, senses, intellect or by my very nature, I offer it all to the Supreme, Narayan. I worship Achyuta, Keshava, Rama, Narayana, Krishna, Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Shridhara, Madhava, the beloved of the gopis and the lord of Janaki, Ramachandra. The closing Hare Rama Hare Krishna mahamantra glorifies the names of the Lord.
Summary – the Mantra Pushpanjali is the Vedic ‘flower-offering of mantras’ sung at the end of the aarti, with flowers held in folded hands. It opens with the Rigveda verse ‘Yajnena yajnam ayajanta devah’ – the gods worshipped through sacrifice, and those great ones reached heaven where the ancient Sadhyas dwell. It salutes Kubera Vaishravana, king of kings, asking him to fulfil our wishes; then prays for well-being and for sovereignty that reaches to the ends of the ocean-bound earth, recalling the ancient king Marutta whose sacrifice was attended by the Maruts and all the gods. It closes with the Ganesh Gayatri – ‘We know the one-tusked Lord and meditate on the curved-trunk one; may that tusked Lord inspire us’ – and the flowers are offered: ‘Mantrapushpanjali samarpayami’.
