yamunaaartiriver-goddessdevi

Yamuna Aarti

Yamuna Aarti in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 At dawn or dusk aarti time, especially on Yamuna Jayanti (Yamuna Chhath) and during Yamuna Snan·📜 Traditional Braj devotional aarti (Aarti Sangrah); the deity Yamuna is glorified in the Puranas and in Vallabhacharya's Yamunashtakam

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Yamuna Aarti is a devotional hymn to the sacred river goddess Yamuna, daughter of the Sun God and beloved of Lord Krishna. Sung daily on the ghats of Mathura, Vrindavan and other Braj towns, it praises her dark, gentle waters that wash away sins and grant freedom from the fear of death. Worshippers believe that loving recitation of this aarti brings purity, peace and the fulfilment of heartfelt desires.

Origin & Story

Traditional Braj devotional aarti (Aarti Sangrah); the deity Yamuna is glorified in the Puranas and in Vallabhacharya's Yamunashtakam · Traditional / Anonymous · Medieval to modern (sung in the Pushtimarg and broader Vaishnava tradition)

Yamuna, the daughter of Surya and sister of Yama, descended to earth as a holy river and became intimately linked with the life of Lord Krishna in Braj. Within the Pushtimarg tradition of Vallabhacharya, Yamuna (Shri Yamunaji) is revered as a divine goddess and the bestower of Krishna-bhakti. This aarti is sung at her ghats in Mathura and Vrindavan to honour her as the purifier of sins and the loving mother of Braj.

✦ As told in scripture

It is traditionally held that because Yamuna is the sister of Yama, the lord of death, those who bathe in her waters and sing her praises with devotion are released from the fear of death and the punishments of Yamaloka; her dark waters are said to dissolve the sins of countless lifetimes.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Om Jai Yamuna Mata, Maiya Jai Yamuna Mata Sura-nara-munijana sevata, teenon loka vikhyaata Om Jai Yamuna Mata

Meaning:Victory to you, O Mother Yamuna! Gods, humans and sages serve you, and you are renowned across the three worlds.

Verse 2

Pita aapke sooraj, chhaaya mahataari Yama-Yamuna sahodara, Krishnapriya pyaari Om Jai Yamuna Mata

Meaning:Your father is the Sun God Surya and your mother is Chhaya; Yama, the lord of death, is your own brother, and you are the beloved of Lord Krishna.

Verse 3

Shyama-varana jala shobhita, manda-manda bahati Kala-kala dhvani karati hui, bhaktana sukha deti Om Jai Yamuna Mata

Meaning:Your dark, gentle waters flow softly, murmuring sweetly and bringing joy to your devotees.

Verse 4

Kalindi kali-naashini, kashta nivaarani Paapa-taapa saba harati, bhava-bandhana haarini Om Jai Yamuna Mata

Meaning:O Kalindi, destroyer of the evils of the Kali age and remover of suffering, you wash away all sins and afflictions and free us from the bondage of birth and death.

Verse 5

Teeratha-raaja Prayaage, Ganga-sanga milati Triveni sangama banakara, sabako taarati Om Jai Yamuna Mata

Meaning:At the king of holy places, Prayag, you meet Mother Ganga, and as the Triveni confluence you ferry all souls across the ocean of existence.

Verse 6

Vrindavana ki shobha, braja-raja se nyaari Krishna-Kanhaiya khele, tere tata pyaari Om Jai Yamuna Mata

Meaning:You are the glory of Vrindavan, more precious than the very dust of Braj, for Krishna-Kanhaiya played upon your banks, O beloved Mother.

Verse 7

Jo jana Yamuna-aarti, prema-sahita gaave Yama ka traasa na hove, manavaanchhita paave Om Jai Yamuna Mata, Maiya Jai Yamuna Mata

Meaning:Whoever sings this aarti of Yamuna with love is freed from the fear of death and attains the cherished wishes of the heart.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Om Jai Yamuna Mata🔊O Mother Yamuna, victory and glory to you

sura-nara-munijana🔊Gods, humans and sages

sevata🔊Serve and worship (you)

teenon loka vikhyaata🔊Famous throughout the three worlds

pita aapke sooraj🔊Your father is Surya, the Sun God

chhaaya mahataari🔊Chhaya (Sanjna) is your mother

Yama-Yamuna sahodara🔊Yama (lord of death) is your own brother

Krishnapriya pyaari🔊Beloved and dear to Lord Krishna

shyama-varana jala🔊Your waters are dark-hued (like Krishna)

Kalindi🔊Kalindi — another name of the Yamuna (daughter of Mount Kalinda)

kashta nivaarani🔊Remover of troubles and hardships

paapa-taapa saba harati🔊Who washes away all sins and afflictions

bhava-bandhana haarini🔊Liberator from the bondage of worldly existence

Triveni sangama🔊The sacred confluence of three rivers at Prayag

Vrindavana ki shobha🔊The beauty and glory of Vrindavan

Yama ka traasa na hove🔊No fear of Yama (death) shall remain

manavaanchhita paave🔊Obtains the cherished desires of the heart

Benefits of Chanting Yamuna Aarti

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Invokes the grace of Yamuna Maiya, who washes away sins and purifies the soul

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Traditionally believed to free the devotee from the fear and torment of Yama (death)

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Brings peace of mind and devotion (bhakti) towards Lord Krishna

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Considered especially powerful when sung on the banks of the Yamuna or during Yamuna Snan

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Cleanses negativity and afflictions (paap-taap) of body and mind

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Deepens connection with Braj, Vrindavan and Krishna-leela

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Sung during Yamuna Jayanti and Yamuna Chhath to receive the river goddess's blessings

How to Chant Yamuna Aarti

Repetitions1times

Best TimeAt dawn or dusk aarti time, especially on Yamuna Jayanti (Yamuna Chhath) and during Yamuna Snan

Light a ghee or camphor lamp and offer the aarti while facing the river or an image of Yamuna Maiya. Sing the hymn with devotion, circling the lamp clockwise, ideally accompanied by a bell. On the banks of the Yamuna, devotees offer the lamp to the flowing water (deepdaan). Conclude by taking the aarti flame's blessing and praying for purity and freedom from sin.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Yamuna Aarti written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Yamuna is the sacred river worshipped as a goddess, the daughter of the Sun God Surya and sister of Yama, the lord of death. She is especially revered in the Braj region as the beloved of Lord Krishna, who played along her banks in Vrindavan.

Because Yamuna is the sister of Yama, it is traditionally believed that one who bathes in her waters with devotion is freed from the fear of death and the punishments of Yamaloka. Her dark, holy waters are said to wash away sins and afflictions.

It is sung daily at the ghats of Mathura and Vrindavan, and with special grandeur on Yamuna Jayanti (Yamuna Chhath), which falls on the Shukla Shashthi of Chaitra month, marking the day Yamuna descended to earth.

Krishna spent his childhood on the banks of the Yamuna in Gokul and Vrindavan. He subdued the serpent Kaliya in her waters and performed the Raas-leela nearby, so Yamuna is cherished as Krishna-priya, the beloved of Krishna.