Gaura-Aarti (Kiba Jaya Jaya Goracander Aratiko Sobha) is the evening (sandhya) arati song to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. It describes the Lord's effulgent form on a jeweled throne in a grove on the banks of the Ganges, surrounded by Nityananda, Gadadhara, Advaita and Srivasa.

Who composed Gaura-Aarti?

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the great 19th-century Gaudiya Vaishnava acharya and father of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, composed Gaura-Aarti as part of his collection Gitavali.

When is Gaura-Aarti sung?

Gaura-Aarti is sung every evening during the sandhya (dusk) arati in every ISKCON temple worldwide, while devotees offer ghee lamps, incense and flowers to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Panca-tattva deities.

Why is Lord Chaitanya called Gauranga or Gaurahari?

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's bodily complexion was golden (gaura), so He is called Gauranga ('golden-limbed') and Gaurahari ('golden Hari'). He is the combined incarnation of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, who descended in Mayapur in 1486 to teach the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

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Englishहिन्दी తెలుగు മലയാളം ଓଡ଼ିଆ

Gaura-Aarti — Sri Gauranger Arotik Sobha

Gaura-Aarti, composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, is the beloved evening arati song offered to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It vividly describes the Lord's effulgent form on a jeweled throne in a grove on the banks of the Jahnavi (Ganges), surrounded by His eternal associates — Nityananda, Gadadhara, Advaita, and Srivasa — while demigods, sages, and devotees perform the arati with conchshells, bells, karatalas, and mridangas. It is sung daily in ISKCON temples worldwide during the sandhya (dusk) arati.

With humble gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, by whose causeless mercy this prayer reaches devotees in every corner of the world.

Verses (Transliteration)

Verse 1

(kiba) jaya jaya goracander aratiko sobha jahnavi-tata-vane jaga-mana-lobha jaga-jana-mana-lobha

First Refrain

gauranger arotik sobha jaga-jana-mana-lobha

Verse 2

dakhine nitaicand, bame gadadhara nikate adwaita, srinivasa chatra-dhara

Verse 3

bosiyache goracand ratna-simhasane arati koren brahma-adi deva-gane

Verse 4

narahari-adi kori' camara dhulaya sanjaya-mukunda-basu-ghosh-adi gaya

Verse 5

sankha baje ghanta baje baje karatala madhura mridanga baje parama rasala

Second Refrain

sankha baje ghanta baje madhur madhur madhur baje

Verse 6

bahu-koti candra jini' vadana ujjvala gala-dese bana-mala kore jhalamala

Verse 7

siva-suka-narada preme gada-gada bhakativinoda dekhe gorara sampada

English Translation

All glories, all glories to the beautiful arati ceremony of Lord Caitanya. This Gaura-arati is taking place in a grove on the banks of the Jahnavi [Ganges] and is attracting the minds of all living entities in the universe.
On Lord Caitanya's right side is Lord Nityananda, and on His left is Sri Gadadhara. Nearby stands Sri Advaita, and Srivasa Thakura is holding an umbrella over Lord Caitanya's head.
Lord Caitanya has sat down on a jeweled throne, and the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, perform the arati ceremony.
Narahari Sarakara and other associates of Lord Caitanya fan Him with camaras, and devotees headed by Sanjaya Pandita, Mukunda Datta, and Vasu Ghosha sing sweet kirtana.
Conchshells, bells, and karatalas resound, and the mridangas play very sweetly. This kirtana music is supremely sweet and relishable to hear.
The brilliance of Lord Caitanya's face conquers millions upon millions of moons, and the garland of forest flowers around His neck shines.
Lord Siva, Sukadeva Gosvami, and Narada Muni are all there, and their voices are choked with the ecstasy of transcendental love. Thus Thakura Bhaktivinoda envisions the glory of Lord Sri Caitanya.

Composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura — part of the traditional Vaishnava Aratis sung by devotees of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri Sri Radha-Krishna.

Spiritual Significance

Gaura Arati vividly describes the evening worship of Lord Chaitanya in Mayapur. It captures the ecstatic atmosphere of the Sankirtana movement, with all the associates of the Lord participating in joyful worship.

Scriptural Source & Tradition

Composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in 'Gitavali'. It is based on the descriptions of Lord Chaitanya's pastimes in Sridham Mayapur as found in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata.

Commentary from the Acharyas

Srila Prabhupada introduced this ceremony to bring the atmosphere of Mayapur to every center in the world. He said that by attending Gaura Arati, even a person with no knowledge of philosophy can be purified through the eyes and ears.

When to Sing / Chant

Every evening at sandhya (dusk) arati. It is the main prayer sung while offering lamps to the Panca-tattva deities in ISKCON temples.

Benefits for the Devotee

Awakens the soul's natural attraction to Lord Chaitanya, purifies the environment of the home or temple, and provides a beautiful, accessible way to conclude the day's activities in Krishna consciousness.

Gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

We offer our humble obeisances at the lotus feet of our founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, without whose causeless mercy the priceless prayers, bhajans and sacred literature of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition would have remained inaccessible to most of the world. By his herculean preaching efforts, his unparalleled translations and his founding of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the holy names, pastimes and instructions of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are today chanted in every town and village.

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashchatya-desha-tarine

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to the Vaishnava acharyas in the disciplic succession.