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Om Jai Yamuna Mata is the aarti of the sacred river Yamuna, worshipped in Braj as a mother goddess and the daughter of the Sun. It is sung each evening at the Yamuna aartis, above all at Kesi Ghat in Vrindavan and Vishram Ghat in Mathura. The full lyrics are given below in both Hindi (Devanagari) and English. To witness the Yamuna aarti at the ghats of Braj, call or WhatsApp +91 7302265809.
Om Jai Yamuna Mata is the beloved aarti of the sacred river Yamuna, the river of Krishna's land, worshipped in Braj as a mother goddess. It is sung each evening at the great Yamuna aartis, above all at Kesi Ghat in Vrindavan and Vishram Ghat in Mathura, as the lamps are raised over the flowing water. To sing it is to honour the river beside which Krishna played. Here, from one born in Braj, are the full lyrics of the Yamuna aarti in Hindi and English, with its meaning and where it is sung. Plan your visit with our Mathura Vrindavan tour packages.
Key takeaways
Om Jai Yamuna Mata is the beloved aarti of the sacred river Yamuna.
The Yamuna is worshipped in Braj as a mother goddess, the giver of joy and sorrow's relief.
It is sung at the evening Yamuna aartis at Kesi Ghat (Vrindavan) and Vishram Ghat (Mathura).
The aarti praises the river's purity, its power to free devotees, and its link to Krishna.
The full lyrics are given below in both Hindi and English.
It is a traditional devotional aarti, sung freely by all at the ghats.
I am Gurudutt, born in Gokul in the Mathura district, guiding pilgrims through Braj since 2018, more than 50,000 of them, and I have stood at the Yamuna aarti countless times. The Yamuna is the very lifeblood of Braj, the river of Krishna's leelas, and to sing her aarti at the ghats at dusk is one of the most moving things in all of Braj. Here are its full lyrics, in Hindi and English, with a little of its meaning and where to hear it sung.
About the aarti: the Yamuna, mother of Braj
The Yamuna is no ordinary river to the people of Braj. She is Yamuna Maiya, the Mother, the daughter of the Sun and sister of Yama, worshipped as a goddess, and it was on her banks that Krishna played all his childhood leelas. This aarti praises her sacred, ever-flowing waters, which free all who take her shelter; the merit of bathing in her at dawn; and her power to remove the fear of Yama and to cut the bonds of the world. It even recalls that the Lord took avatar in her land and, drinking her pure water, slew the tyrant Kansa. To sing Om Jai Yamuna Mata is to bow to the sacred river of Krishna herself.
Yamuna Aarti: Hindi Lyrics
The full lyrics of the Yamuna aarti in Hindi (Devanagari):
ॐ जय यमुना माता, हरि जय यमुना माता । जो नहावे फल पावे सुख दुःख की दाता ॥ ॐ जय यमुना माता ॥
पावन श्रीयमुना जल अगम बहै धारा, जो जन शरण में आया कर दिया निस्तारा । ॐ जय यमुना माता ॥
जो जन प्रातः ही उठकर नित्य स्नान करे, यम के त्रास न पावे जो नित्य ध्यान करे । ॐ जय यमुना माता ॥
कलिकाल में महिमा तुम्हारी अटल रही, तुम्हारा बड़ा महातम चारो वेद कही । ॐ जय यमुना माता ॥
आन तुम्हारे माता प्रभु अवतार लियो, नित्य निर्मल जल पीकर कंस को मार दियो । ॐ जय यमुना माता ॥
नमो मात भय हरणी शुभ मंगल करणी, मन बेचैन भया हैं तुम बिन वैतरणी । ॐ जय यमुना माता ॥ |
Yamuna Aarti: English Lyrics
The full lyrics of the Yamuna aarti in English transliteration:
Om Jai Yamuna Mata, Hari Jai Yamuna Mata । Jo Nahave Phal Paave Sukh Dukh Ki Daata ॥ Om Jai Yamuna Mata ॥
Paavan Shri Yamuna Jal Agam Bahe Dhaara, Jo Jan Sharan Me Aaye Kar Diya Nistara । Om Jai Yamuna Mata ॥
Jo Jan Pratah Hi Uthkar Nitya Snaan Kare, Yam Ke Traas Na Pave Jo Nitya Dhyan Kare । Om Jai Yamuna Mata ॥
Kalikaal Me Mahimaa Tumhaari Atal Rahi, Tumhara Bada Mahaatam Chaaro Ved Kahi । Om Jai Yamuna Mata ॥
Aan Tumhaare Maata Prabhu Avtaar Liyo, Nitya Nirmal Jal Peekar Kans Ko Maar Diyo । Om Jai Yamuna Mata ॥
Namo Maat Bhaye Harni Shubh Mangal Karni, Man Bechain Bhaya Hai Tum Bin Vaitarni । Om Jai Yamuna Mata ॥ |
The meaning of the aarti
The aarti bows to Yamuna Mata as the giver of every fruit to those who bathe in her, the mistress of joy and sorrow. It sings of her holy, unfathomable, ever-flowing waters that liberate all who seek her shelter; the blessing of the one who rises at dawn to bathe and meditate on her, freed from the fear of Yama; her glory unshaken even in this age of Kali, praised by all four Vedas; and how the Lord took avatar in her land and, drinking her pure water, slew Kansa. It ends by saluting her as the remover of fear and giver of every blessing, without whom the heart is restless as if crossing the dread Vaitarni. To sing it is to take the Mother river's blessing.
Where and when the aarti is sung
The Yamuna aarti is sung each evening at the ghats of Braj, most beautifully at Kesi Ghat in Vrindavan and at Vishram Ghat in Mathura, where priests raise great tiered lamps of fire over the river as bells ring and the gathered devotees sing. Little leaf-boats of flowers and flame are set adrift on the water, and the whole ghat glows. To sit on the old stone steps as the Yamuna aarti rises at dusk, singing these words to the Mother river, is one of the most moving experiences in all of Braj. We can arrange your pooja and seva at the ghats so you may take part.
Tips for singing and hearing the aarti
Learn the refrain first, 'Om Jai Yamuna Mata', which returns after each verse.
Come to the evening Yamuna aarti at Kesi Ghat or Vishram Ghat, the truest setting.
Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to find a place on the steps before the aarti begins.
Follow along in Hindi or English; both are given above.
Offer a little leaf-boat of flowers and a lamp to the river, as the devout do.
Sing with devotion rather than perfection; the feeling is what matters.
The honest bit
Honest words from one born in Braj. This is a traditional devotional aarti, sung freely by all at the ghats, and there are small variations in the words from place to place and singer to singer, so do not worry if a ghat's version differs a little from the text here; the devotion is the same. The lyrics above follow the widely-sung form. The aarti is meant to be sung before the river, with the lamps and the bells, not merely read, so if you can, come and sing it at the ghats of Braj at dusk. And while you honour her, remember the living Yamuna too, and do not add to her burden with plastic or waste; the truest devotion keeps the Mother river clean.
Why Experience My India is the right choice
I was born in Gokul in the Mathura district, and I take pilgrims to the Yamuna aartis of Braj every week. Guiding since 2018, more than 50,000 pilgrims, 4.5 stars on Google, WhatsApp first, 8 AM to 9 PM daily. We bring you to Kesi Ghat and Vishram Ghat at the right hour for the aarti, walk you in through the old lanes, arrange a boat and your seva, and tell you the meaning of the words and the story of the river before you, with no touts. One clear fare, and never a charge for free darshan.
Tip from Gurudutt: read the aarti once for its meaning, then let the book go and simply sing. Sit on the old steps at Kesi Ghat as the sun sets, join the crowd as the great lamps circle over the Yamuna and the whole ghat sings to the Mother river, and set your own little lamp adrift on the water. Sung that way, at the ghats at dusk, Om Jai Yamuna Mata is not a text on a page but a bow to the sacred river of Krishna herself.
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Gurudutt — Born & Raised in Braj Bhoomi
Guiding pilgrims through Mathura & Vrindavan since 2018 · 50,000+ pilgrims served
