Aarti Shri Ramchandra Ji Ki

Aarti Shri Ramchandra Ji Ki is the traditional aarti sung in praise of Bhagwan Shri Ram, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, ideal king (Maryada Purushottam) and hero of the Ramayana. It is sung every evening in Ram temples across North India, in Ramlila gatherings, and at the close of Ramcharitmanas paath and Sundarkand recitations.

आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की। सिया सहित सिंहासन सोहत, दशरथ के घर आनंद जी की। आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की।

रत्न जड़ित सिंहासन साजत, चंवर ढुरावत लक्ष्मण जी की। आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की।

धूप दीप फल भोग लगावत, जय-जयकार करत सब जन की। आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की।

निशिचर वंश विदारन कारण, दुष्ट दलन भव-भय हरने की। आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की।

सिया हरण पर सागर बांधे, लंका दहन कपीश दल की। आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की।

रावण मारि विभीषण राज्य दियो, जय जय कार भई त्रिभुवन की। आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की।

अवध पुरी में राज्य विराजत, हनुमत सेवा चरण कमल की। आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की।

जो यह आरती राम की गावे, सुख सम्पत्ति पावे भव भय हरने की। आरती कीजै श्री रामचन्द्र जी की।

The aarti begins with an invocation: "Let us perform the aarti of Shri Ramchandra Ji," seated with Sita on the throne, the joy of Dashrath's household. Lakshman ji stands beside Him, waving the chanwar (fan) over the jewel-studded throne, while incense, lamps and offerings of fruit are made amid the joyous cries of "Jai Jai" from all devotees.

The verses then recall Ram's great deeds — He who destroyed the demon (nishichar) clans, who removed the fear of the world by defeating evil. When Sita was abducted, He built a bridge across the ocean with His army of vanaras, burned Lanka, and after slaying Ravana, crowned Vibhishan as king of Lanka, bringing celebration to all three worlds. He then returned to reign in Ayodhya, served always at His lotus feet by Hanuman.

The final verse declares that whoever sings this aarti to Ram receives happiness, prosperity, and freedom from worldly fear.

This aarti is sung to honour Ram as Maryada Purushottam — the ideal man, ideal king, and protector of dharma. It recounts the essence of the Ramayana in a few devotional verses: Ram's birth, His marriage to Sita, the exile, the war with Ravana, and His righteous rule in Ayodhya. Singing it connects the devotee to the values of truth, duty, courage and devotion (as embodied by Hanuman) that the Ramayana teaches.

Light a ghee or oil diya before an image of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. Offer tulsi leaves, flowers, incense and naivedya (fruit or sweets). While gently circling the lit lamp before the deities, sing the aarti with folded hands, and conclude by touching the lamp's warmth to your eyes and forehead. This aarti is commonly sung every evening, at the end of a Ramcharitmanas or Sundarkand paath, on Ram Navami, Vijayadashami (Dussehra), and Diwali when Ram's return to Ayodhya is celebrated.

Regular recitation is believed to bring courage, mental steadiness, protection from obstacles, and blessings of dharma and prosperity into the home — the same qualities Ram Himself embodied throughout the Ramayana.