Aarti · Durga
Jai Ambe Gauri: Durga aarti lyrics with meaning
The aarti of the Mother sung every evening of Navratri: her beauty, her lion, her victories over the demons, and her care for those who come to her. Here it is in Hindi, in English letters and with a plain meaning for every verse.
Listen: Durga Aarti: Jai Ambe Gauri
A computer-voiced recitation over a soft aarti rhythm of claps, bell and manjira, checked line by line against the text. It is an aid to reading along, not a replacement for a priest or a family elder.
What this aarti is
“Jai Ambe Gauri” is sung to Amba, the Mother, as both the fair Gauri and the dark Shyama. Its verses describe her as in the Durga Saptashati: radiant as countless suns and moons, riding a lion, slaying Shumbha and Nishumbha, Mahishasura, Chanda and Munda, Raktabija, Madhu and Kaitabha; and at the same time Brahmani, Rudrani and Kamala, the mother who sustains the world.
The last verse names Shivanand Swami, who is traditionally credited with it, as with “Om Jai Shiv Omkara”. It is an old devotional text, free for everyone.
When it is sung
- Navratri: every morning and evening of both Navratris, and at kanya pujan.
- Fridays and Ashtami, after the Durga Chalisa.
- Jagrata and Durga Puja gatherings.
How to do the aarti, step by step
You need no priest. Aarti is the closing part of any puja, and it can also be done on its own, morning or evening, in about six minutes.
- Wash your hands and face and stand or sit before a picture or murti of Durga.
- Prepare a plate (thali) with a ghee diya or a piece of camphor, a little roli and rice, a flower and a red flower and a sweet.
- Light the diya or camphor. Someone rings a small bell, or everyone claps along while singing.
- Sing the aarti below and slowly wave the plate clockwise before the deity: four times at the feet, twice at the middle, once at the face, then seven times around the whole form.
- After the last verse, circle a little water around the plate and set it down.
- Everyone takes the aarti: hold both palms briefly over the flame and touch them to your eyes and head. Share the prasad.
Tunes and a few words differ from family to family. Sing it the way your home does; the feeling matters more than the exact wording.
Jai Ambe Gauri, with meaning
The first verse is the refrain: it is sung at the start and repeated after every verse.
Refrain
जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी।
तुमको निशिदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥
Jai ambe gauri, maiya jai shyama gauri,
tumko nishidin dhyavat, hari brahma shivri.
अर्थ: जय हो माँ अम्बे गौरी, जय हो श्यामा गौरी! विष्णु, ब्रह्मा और शिव दिन-रात आपका ध्यान करते हैं।
Meaning: Glory to Mother Amba, the fair one, glory to the dark one! Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva meditate on you day and night.
Verse 1
माँग सिन्दूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को।
उज्ज्वल से दोउ नैना, चन्द्रवदन नीको॥
Maang sindoor virajat, teeko mrigmad ko,
ujjwal se dou naina, chandravadan neeko.
अर्थ: माँग में सिंदूर शोभा पाता है और माथे पर कस्तूरी का टीका है; दोनों आँखें उजली हैं, और चंद्रमा जैसा मुख सुंदर है।
Meaning: Sindoor shines in the parting of your hair, a mark of musk on your brow; both eyes are bright, and your moonlike face is lovely.
Verse 2
कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजै।
रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कण्ठन पर साजै॥
Kanak samaan kalevar, raktambar raajai,
raktapushp gal mala, kanthan par saajai.
अर्थ: आपका शरीर सोने जैसा है और लाल वस्त्र शोभा देते हैं; गले में लाल फूलों की माला सजी है।
Meaning: Your form is like gold and red garments adorn you; a garland of red flowers graces your neck.
Verse 3
केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्परधारी।
सुर-नर-मुनि-जन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥
Kehari vahan raajat, khadag khappardhari,
sur-nar-muni-jan sevat, tinke dukhhari.
अर्थ: आप सिंह पर विराजती हैं, हाथ में खड्ग और खप्पर है; देवता, मनुष्य और मुनि आपकी सेवा करते हैं, और आप उनके दुख हरती हैं।
Meaning: You ride a lion, holding a sword and a skull-bowl; gods, people and sages serve you, and you take away their sorrows.
Verse 4
कानन कुण्डल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती।
कोटिक चन्द्र दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योति॥
Kaanan kundal shobhit, nasagre moti,
kotik chandra divakar, sam raajat jyoti.
अर्थ: कानों में कुंडल और नाक में मोती शोभा देते हैं; आपकी ज्योति करोड़ों चंद्रमाओं और सूर्यों जैसी चमकती है।
Meaning: Earrings adorn your ears and a pearl your nose; your light shines like countless moons and suns.
Verse 5
शुम्भ-निशुम्भ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती।
धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशिदिन मदमाती॥
Shumbh-nishumbh bidaare, mahishasur ghaati,
dhoomra vilochan naina, nishidin madmaati.
अर्थ: आपने शुंभ-निशुंभ को चीर डाला और महिषासुर का वध किया; धूम्रलोचन का भी अंत किया, और आपकी आँखें दिन-रात दिव्य आनंद से भरी रहती हैं।
Meaning: You tore apart Shumbha and Nishumbha and slew Mahishasura; you ended Dhumralochana too, and your eyes are full of divine joy day and night.
Verse 6
चण्ड-मुण्ड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे।
मधु-कैटभ दोउ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे॥
Chand-mund sanhaare, shonit beej hare,
madhu-kaitabh dou maare, sur bhayheen kare.
अर्थ: आपने चंड-मुंड का संहार किया और रक्तबीज का अंत किया; मधु और कैटभ दोनों को मारकर देवताओं को निर्भय किया।
Meaning: You destroyed Chanda and Munda and ended Raktabija; you slew both Madhu and Kaitabha and freed the gods from fear.
Verse 7
ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी, तुम कमला रानी।
आगम-निगम-बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी॥
Brahmani rudrani, tum kamala rani,
aagam-nigam-bakhaani, tum shiv patrani.
अर्थ: आप ही ब्रह्माणी, रुद्राणी और कमला (लक्ष्मी) हैं; शास्त्र और वेद आपका वर्णन करते हैं, आप शिव की पटरानी हैं।
Meaning: You are Brahmani, Rudrani and Kamala (Lakshmi); the scriptures and the Vedas describe you, and you are the queen of Shiva.
Verse 8
चौंसठ योगिनी मंगल गावत, नृत्य करत भैरूँ।
बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू॥
Chaunsath yogini mangal gaavat, nritya karat bhairoon,
baajat taal mridanga, aru baajat damroo.
अर्थ: चौंसठ योगिनियाँ मंगल गीत गाती हैं और भैरव नाचते हैं; ताल, मृदंग और डमरू बजते हैं।
Meaning: The sixty-four yoginis sing songs of joy and Bhairava dances; cymbals, drums and the damaru sound.
Verse 9
तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता।
भक्तन की दुःख हरता, सुख सम्पत्ति करता॥
Tum hi jag ki mata, tum hi ho bharta,
bhaktan ki dukh harta, sukh sampatti karta.
अर्थ: आप ही जगत की माता हैं और आप ही उसका भरण-पोषण करती हैं; आप भक्तों के दुख हरती हैं और सुख-संपत्ति देती हैं।
Meaning: You are the mother of the world and you sustain it; you take away your devotees' sorrows and bring them happiness and plenty.
Verse 10
भुजा चार अति शोभित, वर-मुद्रा धारी।
मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर-नारी॥
Bhuja chaar ati shobhit, var-mudra dhari,
manvanchhit phal paavat, sevat nar-naari.
अर्थ: आपकी चार भुजाएँ अत्यंत सुंदर हैं, एक हाथ वरदान की मुद्रा में है; जो स्त्री-पुरुष आपकी सेवा करते हैं, उन्हें मनचाहा फल मिलता है।
Meaning: Your four arms are beautiful, one raised in blessing; the men and women who serve you receive what their hearts wish for.
Verse 11
कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती।
श्रीमालकेतु में राजत, कोटि रतन ज्योति॥
Kanchan thaal virajat, agar kapoor baati,
shri malketu mein raajat, koti ratan jyoti.
अर्थ: सोने की थाली में अगर, कपूर और बाती सजी है; आपके धाम में करोड़ों रत्नों जैसी ज्योति जगमगाती है।
Meaning: On a golden plate are incense, camphor and the lamp's wick; in your shrine a light like countless jewels glows.
Verse 12
श्री अम्बेजी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावै।
कहत शिवानन्द स्वामी, सुख सम्पत्ति पावै॥
Shri ambe ji ki aarti, jo koi nar gaavai,
kahat shivanand swami, sukh sampatti paavai.
अर्थ: शिवानंद स्वामी कहते हैं: जो भी माँ अम्बे की यह आरती गाता है, उसे सुख और संपत्ति मिलती है।
Meaning: Shivanand Swami says: whoever sings this aarti of Mother Amba receives happiness and plenty.
Questions
When is Jai Ambe Gauri sung?
Every morning and evening of Navratri, on Fridays and Ashtami, and at the end of a Durga Chalisa or Durga Saptashati path.
What does “Shri Malketu” mean in verse 11?
Readings differ: some take it as the name of the Goddess's shrine, some as her banner (ketu) hung with garlands. Either way the line pictures her temple glowing like countless jewels during the aarti.
Can I sing it at home without a priest?
Yes. A diya, a flower and a sincere heart are enough; the steps above are all you need.
Text and sources
The Hindi text is a traditional, public-domain aarti credited to Shivanand Swami. Every line was checked against Drik Panchang and the Sanskrit Documents “Arati Sangrah”, and we follow Drik where they differ. Variants you may meet: “hari brahma shivji” in the refrain, “khadag kripan dhari” in verse 3, “rakt pushp gale mala, kanth haar saaje” in verse 2, “sur bhay door kare” in verse 6 and “maal ketu mein” in verse 11. The transliteration and meanings are our own.
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