Jai Ambe Gauri Aarti — Lyrics with Meaning
'Jai Ambe Gauri' is the most famous aarti of Maa Durga. It describes her beauty, her lion and her victories over demons like Shumbh, Nishumbh and Mahishasur. The last verse names Shivanand Swami. During Navratri it is sung morning and evening in homes and pandals.
Jai Ambe Gauri, maiya jai Shyama Gauri | Tumko nishdin dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri ||
Maang sindoor virajat, tiko mrigmad ko | Ujjwal se dou naina, chandravadan neeko ||
Kanak saman kalevar, raktambar rajai | Raktpushp gal mala, kanthan par sajai ||
Kehari vahan rajat, khadag khappar dhari | Sur nar munijan sevat, tinke dukhhari ||
Kanan kundal shobhit, nasagre moti | Kotik chandra divakar, sam rajat jyoti ||
Shumbh Nishumbh bidare, Mahishasur ghati | Dhumra vilochan naina, nishdin madmati ||
Chand Mund sanhare, shonit beej hare | Madhu Kaitabh dou mare, sur bhayheen kare ||
Brahmani, Rudrani, tum Kamala rani | Agam nigam bakhani, tum Shiv patrani ||
Chaunsath yogini gavat, nritya karat Bhairon | Bajat taal mridanga, aru bajat damru ||
Tum hi jag ki mata, tum hi ho bharta | Bhaktan ki dukh harta, sukh sampati karta ||
Bhuja chaar ati shobhit, varmudra dhari | Manvanchhit phal pavat, sevat nar nari ||
Kanchan thaal virajat, agar kapoor baati | Shrimalketu mein rajat, koti ratan jyoti ||
Shri Ambeji ki aarti, jo koi nar gave | Kahat Shivanand Swami, sukh sampatti pave ||
Jai Ambe Gauri, maiya jai Shyama Gauri | Tumko nishdin dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri ||
Meaning
Verse 1
Jai Ambe Gauri, maiya jai Shyama Gauri | Tumko nishdin dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri ||
Victory to Mother Ambe, fair Gauri and dark Shyama. Even Vishnu, Brahma and Shiv meditate on you day and night.
Verse 2
Maang sindoor virajat, tiko mrigmad ko | Ujjwal se dou naina, chandravadan neeko ||
Sindoor shines in your hair parting and a musk tilak on your forehead. Your two eyes are bright and your face is lovely as the moon.
Verse 3
Kanak saman kalevar, raktambar rajai | Raktpushp gal mala, kanthan par sajai ||
Your body glows like gold and you are dressed in red. A garland of red flowers adorns your neck.
Verse 4
Kehari vahan rajat, khadag khappar dhari | Sur nar munijan sevat, tinke dukhhari ||
You ride a lion, holding a sword and a skull-bowl. Gods, humans and sages serve you, and you take away their sorrows.
Verse 5
Kanan kundal shobhit, nasagre moti | Kotik chandra divakar, sam rajat jyoti ||
Earrings grace your ears and a pearl your nose. Your radiance shines like millions of moons and suns.
Verse 6
Shumbh Nishumbh bidare, Mahishasur ghati | Dhumra vilochan naina, nishdin madmati ||
You tore apart Shumbh and Nishumbh and slew Mahishasur. You destroyed Dhumralochan and are ever lost in divine joy.
Verse 7
Chand Mund sanhare, shonit beej hare | Madhu Kaitabh dou mare, sur bhayheen kare ||
You destroyed Chand and Mund and finished Raktabeej. You slew both Madhu and Kaitabh and freed the gods from fear.
Verse 8
Brahmani, Rudrani, tum Kamala rani | Agam nigam bakhani, tum Shiv patrani ||
You are Brahmani, Rudrani and Queen Lakshmi. The scriptures and Vedas sing your praise; you are Shiv's chief queen.
Verse 9
Chaunsath yogini gavat, nritya karat Bhairon | Bajat taal mridanga, aru bajat damru ||
The sixty-four yoginis sing for you and Bhairav dances. Cymbals, drums and the damru play.
Verse 10
Tum hi jag ki mata, tum hi ho bharta | Bhaktan ki dukh harta, sukh sampati karta ||
You are the mother of the world and you sustain it. You remove the sorrows of devotees and give them happiness and plenty.
Verse 11
Bhuja chaar ati shobhit, varmudra dhari | Manvanchhit phal pavat, sevat nar nari ||
Your four arms are beautiful, one raised in the gesture of blessing. Men and women who serve you receive what their hearts desire.
Verse 12
Kanchan thaal virajat, agar kapoor baati | Shrimalketu mein rajat, koti ratan jyoti ||
In a golden plate are incense, camphor and wicks. In the Devi's abode of Shrimalketu the light glows like millions of jewels.
Verse 13
Shri Ambeji ki aarti, jo koi nar gave | Kahat Shivanand Swami, sukh sampatti pave ||
Shivanand Swami says: whoever sings this aarti of Mother Ambe is blessed with happiness and prosperity.
Verse 14
Jai Ambe Gauri, maiya jai Shyama Gauri | Tumko nishdin dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri ||
The refrain is sung again at the end — victory to Mother Ambe Gauri.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
When should the Durga Aarti be done?
At the end of morning and evening Devi puja, and especially on all nine days of Navratri. Many families also sing it on Fridays and Ashtami.
Who wrote 'Jai Ambe Gauri'?
The final verse says 'Kahat Shivanand Swami', so tradition credits it to Shivanand Swami.
How many times a day should the aarti be done in Navratri?
Traditionally twice — in the morning and in the evening. Homes that keep an akhand jyoti usually sing it at both times without fail.