Om Jai Saraswati Mata

This aarti is a brief but complete summary of Goddess Saraswati’s form, qualities, and grace. Its structure is simple — six stanzas, each followed by the refrain “Om Jai Saraswati Mata.”

The refrain establishes her as universally celebrated: adorned with every virtue, famed across the three worlds.

Stanza 1 describes her presence: moon-faced, seated on the lotus, radiance auspicious, mounted on the swan, bearing incomparable splendour.

Stanza 2 lists her four-handed iconography: veena (instrument of music) in the left hand, mala (rosary, instrument of japa) in the right; jewelled crown on her head, pearl necklace at her throat. Music and meditation, beauty and wealth — held in balance.

Stanza 3 invokes the famous Ramayana reference: it was Saraswati herself, the goddess of intellect, who entered the mind of Manthara (Kaikeyi’s maidservant) and triggered the chain of events that led to Rama’s exile, and ultimately to Ravana’s destruction. The aarti reads the entire Ramayana as the goddess’s hidden plan.

Stanza 4 is the central petition: “O bestower of vidya and jnana, fill us with the light of knowledge. Take away the darkness of delusion and ignorance.”

Stanza 5 is the offering verse: incense, lamp, fruit, dry fruit. The petition: grant the eye of knowledge (jnana-chakshu) and deliver the world.

Stanza 6 is the phalashruti — whoever sings this aarti receives welfare, joy, knowledge, and devotion.

This aarti is sung to Pandit Shraddharam Phillauri’s famous tune for “Om Jai Jagdish Hare.” This melody became the standard aarti tune of North India, and aartis for many deities — Lakshmi, Durga, Ganesha, Hanuman, Saraswati — were composed on it.

The aarti is a fixed part of:

• Vasant Panchami Saraswati puja in homes and temples
• Vidyarambha samskara — the closing of the child’s first letter-writing ceremony
• Annual Saraswati pujas in schools, colleges, and universities
• Pre-exam puja in students’ homes
• Vijayadashami (Dasara) Vidya-puja — when books and tools are worshipped

In Bengal, where Saraswati Puja is celebrated on Vasant Panchami with grand pandals and immersions, this aarti is sung by thousands of voices simultaneously — a moving spectacle of devotion to learning.

When

• Vasant Panchami — at the conclusion of the main puja
• Vidyarambha samskara — after the letter-writing
• Vijayadashami (Dasara) — alongside ayudha-puja and vidya-puja
• Daily evening arati at home
• Before exams as a special puja

Steps

1. Aarti is sung at the conclusion of the puja — after the chalisa or Vidyarambha rite.
2. Prepare the thali with a 5-wick ghee lamp, incense, flowers, sandalwood, and camphor.
3. Light the lamp and begin.
4. Rotate the lamp clockwise before the murti or image — five to seven full circles.
5. Keep tala with bell, claps, or conch.
6. Encourage children especially to sing the refrain “Om Jai Saraswati Mata.”
7. After the aarti, offer flowers (pushpanjali) and circumambulate three times.
8. Distribute prasad to all.

School / institution group singing

In schools during Saraswati puja, all students sing the aarti in unison. The teacher or priest holds the lamp; students keep tala with claps. This collective singing is one of the most beautiful sights of Indian academic culture.

• The most-sung Saraswati aarti — integral to Vasant Panchami.
• Set to the popular “Jagdish Hare” tune — already known to most singers.
• Closing rite of the Vidyarambha samskara — the very moment a child begins their education.
• Special pre-exam practice for students — calms the mind and invokes grace.
• Simple language and structure — accessible to every age.

Is this aarti’s tune the same as Lakshmi and Durga aartis?

Yes. Pandit Shraddharam Phillauri’s “Om Jai Jagdish Hare” tune has become the standard aarti melody of North India. Once you know that tune, you can sing this one and many others without re-learning.

Why the reference to Manthara?

Stanza 3 invokes a Ramayana reference. Manthara was Kaikeyi’s maidservant, whose distorted mind led to Rama’s exile — and that exile was the karmic chain that brought about Ravana’s destruction. The aarti suggests that Saraswati (the deity of intellect) was the hidden hand that orchestrated this whole sequence — even working through “wrong” mind-states to fulfil cosmic purpose.

How to teach this aarti to children?

Start with just the refrain — “Om Jai Saraswati Mata, Maiya Jai Saraswati Mata” — repeated again and again. This single line carries the aarti. Add stanzas one at a time over weeks.

Is this aarti only for Vasant Panchami?

No. Vasant Panchami is its prime occasion, but it is sung at Vidyarambha samskara, Dasara, school annual pujas, pre-exam pujas, and daily evening arati in households that maintain Saraswati worship.

Does it have a traditional musical setting?

The standard tune is “Jagdish Hare.” Some southern traditions sing it in raga Shuddha Sarang or raga Vasant. In Bengal, contemporary musical settings are also popular during pandal pujas.

What is suitable as prasad?

Sattvic offerings only: saffron kheer, boondi, sweet rice, dry fruits, fresh fruits, almonds, cashews. Yellow sweets — besan ladoos, boondi ladoos — are particularly favoured. Meat, alcohol, eggs, garlic-onion are strictly prohibited in any Saraswati puja.

Can the aarti be sung without all the puja preliminaries?

Yes — in households with limited time, just lighting a lamp before the goddess and singing the aarti is itself a complete devotional act. The full puja (chalisa, mantra japa, bhog) deepens the practice but is not strictly required for the aarti to “work.”