Aarti
जय अम्बे गौरी Jaya Ambe Gaurī
The Durga Aarti — beginning with 'Jaya Ambe Gaurī, Maiyā jaya Śyāmā Gaurī' — is the most beloved devotional aarti for Goddess Durga, the supreme feminine force of protection, courage, and
1
जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी।
तुमको निशिदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥
तुमको निशिदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥
Glory to you, Ambe Gauri (the bright and auspicious Mother)! Glory to you, O Mother Shyama Gauri (the dark yet radiant Goddess)! Vishnu (Hari), Brahma, and Shiva all meditate upon you day and night. The paradox of Gauri (fair) and Shyama (dark) in the same verse celebrates Durga as the goddess who transcends all opposites.
2
माँग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को।
उज्ज्वल से दो नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको॥
उज्ज्वल से दो नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको॥
Bright vermillion (sindoor) adorns her hair parting, and she wears a tilak of deer-musk on her forehead. Her two eyes are brilliantly radiant, and her face is as beautiful as the moon. This verse paints the traditional image of the goddess at worship — the sindoor in her parting marks her as a married cosmic mother, and the moon-like face represents the calming, nourishing side of her nature.
3
कनक समान कलेवर, रक्तांबर राजे।
रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजे॥
रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजे॥
Her body shines like gold, and she is adorned in crimson robes. A garland of red flowers (raktapushpa) graces her throat beautifully. The gold body represents divine radiance and purity; the red robes and red flower garland are traditional attributes of Durga, symbolising her fierce, protective energy and her role as destroyer of evil.
4
केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी।
सुर-नर-मुनि-जन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥
सुर-नर-मुनि-जन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥
She rides majestically upon a lion (keshari vahan) and bears a sword (khadga) and a skull-cup (khappar) in her hands. Gods, humans, and sages all worship her, and she removes the sorrows of all who do. The lion vehicle symbolises courage and royal authority; the sword destroys evil and falsehood; the skull-cup reminds devotees of death's inevitability and the goddess's power over mortality.
5
कानन कुंडल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती।
कोटिक चंद्र-दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योति॥
कोटिक चंद्र-दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योति॥
Her ears are adorned with beautiful ring-earrings (kundala), and a pearl shines at the tip of her nose. Her radiance equals that of tens of millions of suns and moons combined. This verse conveys the goddess's impossible, blinding beauty — a light so vast it is beyond mortal comprehension, yet she wears delicate jewellery that makes her approachable as a mother.
6
शुंभ-निशुंभ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती।
धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशिदिन मदमाती॥
धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशिदिन मदमाती॥
She split apart Shumbha and Nishumbha (two demon kings), and she slew the great buffalo-demon Mahishasura. Her eyes are smoke-hued like those of Dhoomravilochana, and day and night she blazes with ecstatic divine intoxication. These victories are drawn from the Devi Mahatmyam — the slaying of Mahishasura is the defining myth of Durga, giving her the name Mahishasuramardini, the Crusher of the Buffalo-Demon.
7
चंड-मुंड संहारे, शोणित-बीज हरे।
मधु-कैटभ दोउ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे॥
मधु-कैटभ दोउ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे॥
She annihilated Chanda and Munda (two demon generals), and she destroyed Raktabija (the demon who spawned a new demon from every drop of his blood). She slew both Madhu and Kaitabha (the primordial chaos-demons who threatened Brahma at the dawn of creation), making the gods fearless. Each demon represents a specific form of evil — Raktabija symbolises how sinful desires multiply when indulged — and Durga's slaying of each is the paradigm of the devotee's inner battle against vice.
8
ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी, तुम कमला रानी।
आगम-निगम-बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी॥
आगम-निगम-बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी॥
You are Brahmani (the creative energy of Brahma), Rudrani (the fierce energy of Rudra/Shiva), and Kamala Rani (Lakshmi, the queen of the lotus). You are celebrated in the Agamas (Tantric scriptures) and the Nigamas (Vedic scriptures), and you are the royal consort of Shiva. This verse synthesises the entirety of Hindu theology into one goddess — Durga encompasses the energies of all three primary male deities and is praised in both Vedic and Tantric traditions.
9
जो भज ध्यावे, फल पावे, दुख बिनसाता।
प्रेम भक्ति से कोई, नव दुर्गा पाता॥
प्रेम भक्ति से कोई, नव दुर्गा पाता॥
Whoever sings and meditates upon her attains the fruit of their prayers and all sorrows are destroyed. Through love and devotion one attains the Nine Durgas (Navadurga — the nine forms of the goddess worshipped across the nine nights of Navratri). This concluding verse promises that devoted worship of Durga in any form brings the complete blessing of all nine divine aspects — wisdom, strength, protection, fertility, victory, and liberation.