जय रघुनंदन आरती
Lord Rama — the seventh avatar of Vishnu, the ideal king (Maryada Purushottama), and the hero of the Ramayana — is worshipped across India. This aarti celebrates Rama in his divine form alongside Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman. The Rama temple tradition holds that Rama's aarti should be accompanied by the singing of the Hanuman Chalisa.
जय रघुनंदन जय जय रघुनंदन ।
सीता राम चरण रज वंदन ॥
जय रघुनंदन ॥
कनक भवन के वासी, रघुपति राज दुलारे ।
श्री रामचन्द्र जी सुखकारी, भव बाधा हारे ॥
जय रघुनंदन ॥
जनक सुता जग जानकी, अतिशय प्रिय करुणामई ।
कोमल हृदय उदार मति, माँगत भक्ति सहाई ॥
जय रघुनंदन ॥
दशरथ के वरद कुमारी, कौशल्या के लाला ।
सुग्रीव मित्र सुजान ह्वै, विभीषण उर उजाला ॥
जय रघुनंदन ॥
जानकी रमण भव भंजन, रामचन्द्र सुखकारी ।
रघुपति राघव राजा राम, पतित पावन सारी ॥
जय रघुनंदन ॥
हे राम! हे राम! हे सीताराम!
जय सियाराम, जय जय सियाराम ।
जय रघुनंदन जय जय रघुनंदन ॥
Jai Raghunandan Jai Jai Raghunandan,
Sita Ram Charan Raj Vandan.
Jai Raghunandan.
Kanak Bhavan ke vaasi, Raghupati Raj dulaare,
Shri Ramachandra ji sukhkaari, bhav baadha haare.
Jai Raghunandan.
Janak suta jag Jaanaki, atishay priya karunamayi,
Komal hriday udaar mati, maangat bhakti sahaai.
Jai Raghunandan.
Dashrath ke varad kumaari, Kaushalya ke lala,
Sugreev mitra sujaan hve, Vibheeshan ur ujaala.
Jai Raghunandan.
Jaanaki raman bhav bhanjan, Ramachandra sukhkaari,
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, patit paavan saari.
Jai Raghunandan.
He Ram! He Ram! He Seetaaram!
Jai Siyaaram, Jai Jai Siyaaram.
Jai Raghunandan Jai Jai Raghunandan.
Victory to Raghunandan (son of the Raghu dynasty)! Victory, Victory to Raghunandan!
I bow to the dust of the feet of Sita and Rama.
Dweller of Kanak Bhavan (golden palace), beloved prince of Raghu's lineage,
Shri Ramachandra, the giver of happiness, he who destroys the obstacles of worldly existence.
Janaka's daughter, Janaki (Sita), revered by the whole world, full of compassion,
With tender heart and generous mind, she comes to the aid of those who seek devotion.
Cherished son of Dasharatha, the darling of Kaushalya,
Who befriended the wise Sugriva and became the light of Vibhishana's heart.
Rama, the consort of Janaki, the destroyer of worldly bondage, the giver of joy,
Raghupati Raghav — Raja Ram — the purifier of the fallen.
O Rama! O Rama! O Sitaram!
Victory to Siyaram! Victory, Victory to Siyaram!
The most universally sung mantra in Rama devotion:
रघुपति राघव राजा राम, पतित पावन सीताराम ।
सीताराम सीताराम, भज प्यारे तू सीताराम ॥
ईश्वर अल्लाह तेरो नाम, सब को सन्मति दे भगवान ॥
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sitaram,
Sitaram Sitaram, bhaj pyaare tu Sitaram,
Ishwar Allah tero naam, sab ko sanmati de Bhagwan.
Meaning: "Raghupati Raghav, King Rama, Sitaram who purifies the fallen — Ishwar and Allah are your names; O God, grant good sense to all."
(This bhajan was made famous by Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity.)
Rama's story (Ramayana) is the oldest and most widely told epic in Asia, with versions in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and throughout Southeast Asia. The ideal of Ram Rajya (Rama's kingdom) — a just, prosperous, and harmonious society — remains the highest political and social ideal in Indian civilization.
Best time: Rama Navami (Chaitra Shukla Navami — the birth of Rama), Saturdays, and during the recitation of Ramayana or Sundara Kanda.
Offerings: Tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, banana, sweets — and especially the recitation of "Ram Ram" or "Jai Siyaram."