shivashankarmarathiaarti

Lavthavti Vikrala (Shankarachi Aarti)

लवथवती विक्राळा (शंकराची आरती) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Daily evening aarti; especially Mondays, Pradosh and Maha Shivaratri·📜 Marathi aarti tradition (composition of Sant Samarth Ramdas)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Lavthavti Vikrala is the most famous Marathi aarti to Lord Shiva (Shankar), composed by Sant Ramdas, sung with the refrain 'Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Shankara'. Its four verses paint Shiva in glory — the crescent moon and Ganga on His head, Parvati at His side, smeared with ash, and recall how He swallowed the Halahala poison to become Nilakantha. It is sung at the close of evening worship in Shiva temples and homes throughout Maharashtra.

Origin & Story

Marathi aarti tradition (composition of Sant Samarth Ramdas) · Sant Samarth Ramdas · 17th century CE

Sant Samarth Ramdas of Sajjangad, the spiritual guide of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and author of the Dasbodh and Manache Shlok, composed this aarti in praise of Lord Shiva. In four vivid verses it celebrates Shankara's cosmic form, His marriage to Uma (Parvati), and above all His act of swallowing the Halahala poison at the churning of the ocean — by which He became Nilakantha. The closing verse bears Ramdas's signature and turns the heart toward the constant remembrance of the Lord's name.

✦ As told in scripture

The aarti recalls Shiva's greatest act of compassion: at the churning of the cosmic ocean, when the Halahala poison threatened to destroy all creation, Shiva drank it down, holding it in His throat, which turned blue. Devotees hold that the Lord who once swallowed the poison of the worlds will likewise absorb the troubles of those who sing His praise with love.

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Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

Lavathavati Vikrala Brahmandi Mala | Vishe Kantha Kala Trinetri Jwala || Lavanya-Sundar Mastaki Bala | Tethuniya Jal Nirmal Vahe Zhulazhula || 1 ||

Meaning:Swaying and awe-inspiring, a garland of the cosmos upon Him; His throat dark with poison, a flame in His third eye; the lovely crescent moon upon His head, from which pure water (Ganga) flows down murmuring.

Verse 2

Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Shankara | Aarati Ovalu Tuj Karpura-Gaura || Dhru ||

Meaning:Victory to You, O Lord, victory, victory to Shri Shankara! I wave the lamp of aarti before You, O camphor-white one.

Verse 3

Karpura-Gaura Bhola Nayani Vishala | Ardhangi Parvati Sumananchya Mala || Vibhutiche Udhalana Shiti-Kantha Nila | Aisa Shankar Shobhe Uma-Velhala || 2 ||

Meaning:Fair as camphor, the innocent one with wide eyes, Parvati upon His half-body, garlands of flowers about Him; smeared with sacred ash, the blue-throated one — thus shines Shankara, the beloved of Uma.

Verse 4

Devi Daityi Sagara-Manthan Pai Kele | Tyamaji Avachit Halahala Uthile || Te Tva Asurapane Prashan Kele | Nilakantha Nam Prasiddha Zhale || 3 ||

Meaning:When the gods and demons churned the ocean, suddenly the deadly Halahala poison arose; You, taking on the demon's part, drank it down, and the name Nilakantha (blue-throated) became renowned.

Verse 5

Vyaghrambar Phanivara-Dhar Sundar Madanari | Panchanan Manamohan Munijana-Sukhakari || Shata-Kotiche Bija Vache Uchchari | Raghukula-Tilaka Ramadasa Antari || 4 ||

Meaning:Clad in tiger-skin, wearer of the serpent-king, beautiful enemy of Kama; five-faced, enchanter of hearts, giver of joy to the sages — utter the seed of a hundred crore (recitations of His name); Ramdas, ornament of the Raghu line, holds You in his heart.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

Lavathavati Vikrala🔊Swaying and awe-inspiring / fearsome (the cosmic dance and form of Shiva)

Brahmandi Mala🔊A garland (of skulls / of the universes) encompassing the cosmos

Vishe Kantha Kala🔊His throat is dark-blue from the poison (he drank)

Trinetri Jwala🔊A flame (blazes) in his third eye

Mastaki Bala🔊Upon his head the (crescent) child-moon

Jal Nirmal Vahe Zhulazhula🔊From there the pure water (Ganga) flows murmuring gently

Jai Dev Jai Dev🔊Victory to you, O Lord, victory to you

Aarati Ovalu🔊I wave the lamp of aarti (in worship)

Karpura-Gaura🔊O you who are white/fair as camphor

Bhola Nayani Vishala🔊The innocent (Bholanath) one, with large (wide) eyes

Ardhangi Parvati🔊Parvati on (his) half-body (Ardhanarishvara)

Vibhutiche Udhalana🔊Smeared / scattered with sacred ash (vibhuti)

Shiti-Kantha Nila🔊The blue-throated one (Nilakantha)

Sagara-Manthan🔊The churning of the ocean (by gods and demons)

Halahala🔊The deadly Halahala poison (that arose from the churning)

Prashan Kele🔊(You) drank it down

Nilakantha Nam🔊The name 'Nilakantha' (the blue-throated)

Vyaghrambar🔊Clad in a tiger-skin

Phanivara-Dhar🔊Wearer of the great serpent (king of snakes)

Madanari🔊The enemy of Madana (Kama, whom he burned)

Ramadasa Antari🔊In the heart of Ramdas (the poet's signature)

Benefits of Chanting लवथवती विक्राळा (शंकराची आरती)

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Invokes the grace and protection of Lord Shiva, the auspicious Shankara

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A complete devotional meditation on Shiva's form, deeds and names (Nilakantha, Madanari, Panchanan)

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Sung daily in Shiva temples and homes as the closing aarti of worship

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Recalls Shiva's supreme compassion in drinking the world-destroying poison to save creation

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Brings peace, courage and auspiciousness, especially when sung on Mondays and Maha Shivaratri

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Easy and uplifting to sing in family and temple congregations

How to Chant लवथवती विक्राळा (शंकराची आरती)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeDaily evening aarti; especially Mondays, Pradosh and Maha Shivaratri

Sing this aarti while waving the lamp before a Shiva Linga or image of Shankara, joining the refrain 'Jai Dev Jai Dev Jai Shri Shankara'. It is offered at the close of worship, particularly on Mondays, during Pradosh kaal and on Maha Shivaratri. Sing each verse contemplating the form of Shiva it describes, ending with the inner remembrance of the Lord's name as the poet Ramdas advises.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete लवथवती विक्राळा (शंकराची आरती) 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.

It is a Marathi aarti describing the glorious, awe-inspiring form of Lord Shiva (Shankara) — the crescent moon and the Ganga flowing from His head, His poison-darkened throat, the third eye, Parvati at His side, and His body smeared with sacred ash.

It was composed by Sant Samarth Ramdas (17th century), the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose poetic signature 'Ramdas' appears in the final verse alongside a reference to Lord Rama (Raghukula-tilaka).

The third verse recalls the churning of the ocean (samudra manthan): when the deadly Halahala poison arose, Shiva drank it to save the worlds, and it stained His throat blue — hence the renowned name Nilakantha, 'the blue-throated one'.

It is sung as the evening aarti in Shiva temples and homes, and with special devotion on Mondays, during Pradosh kaal, in the month of Shravan, and on Maha Shivaratri.