Sukhkarta Dukhaharta Ganesh Aarti — Complete Word by Word Meaning
The most beloved Ganesh aarti — Sukhkartā Duḥkhahartā — was composed by Sant Samarth Ramdas (1608–1681 CE), the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Written in Marathi with Sanskrit foundations, it is sung at every Ganesh puja across Maharashtra and beyond. Here is every verse decoded.
Composed by Sant Samarth Ramdas · 17th century CE
Sung at every Ganesh Chaturthi puja, morning and evening
सुखकर्ता दुःखहर्ता वार्ता विघ्नाची।
Sukhakartā duḥkhahartā vārtā vighnāchī
Creator of happiness, destroyer of sorrow, remover of all obstacles.
नुरवी पुरवी प्रेम कृपा जयाची।
Nuravī puravī prema kṛpā jayāchī
He fills us with love; his grace satisfies completely.
सर्वांगी सुंदर उटी शेंदुराची।
Sarvāṅgī sundara uṭī śendurāchī
Beautiful in all limbs, anointed with vermillion (sindoor).
कंठी झळके माळ मुक्ताफळांची।
Kaṇṭhī jhaḷake māḷa muktāphaḷāṃchī
On his neck shines a garland of pearls.
रक्तवर्ण तनु थोर दीप्त लोचना।
Raktavarṇa tanu thor dīpta locanā
Red-hued body, great and luminous-eyed.
जय देव जय देव जय मंगलमूर्ती।
Jaya deva jaya deva jaya maṅgalamūrti
Victory to the Lord, victory to the Lord, victory to the auspicious form!
What Is an Aarti?
Ārtī (आरती) comes from the Sanskrit āratrika — the waving of a lamp before a deity. The root is ā-√ṛ (to reach, to go toward). An aarti is the act of bringing light to the divine and receiving the divine light back — a mutual offering. Singing the aarti while a flame is waved is one of the most intimate acts in Hindu worship.
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