Who wrote the Jai Ambe Gauri aarti?

The last stanza says "Kahata Shivānanda Svāmī", so tradition credits the aarti to a devotee-poet named Shivanand Swami.

How many stanzas does the Jai Ambe Gauri aarti have?

The common text has thirteen stanzas, the first of which also serves as the refrain; different booklets show small differences in wording.

What does "Shyama Gauri" mean in the aarti?

"Gauri" means the fair-complexioned one, Parvati, and "Shyama" the dark one, Kali; naming both together expresses that the gentle and the fierce forms belong to one and the same Mother.

When should the Durga aarti be sung?

Traditionally at the end of worship or after reciting the chalisa, in the morning and evening; it holds special importance during Navratri, Mata ki Chowki, jagrans and on Fridays.

Can I perform the Durga aarti alone at home?

Yes. A single lamp and sincere devotion are traditionally considered enough, and singing it with the family is just as common.

Durga Aarti (Jai Ambe Gauri)

Aarti of Maa Ambe (with meaning)

"Jai Ambe Gauri" is the most widely sung aarti of Goddess Durga; its thirteen stanzas praise her form, her victories over demons and her grace towards devotees, and it is sung while waving the lamp at the close of worship, especially during Navratri.

Full Text

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जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी। तुमको निशदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Jai Ambe Gaurī, maiyā jai Shyāmā Gaurī | Tumako nishadina dhyāvata, Hari Brahmā Shivarī || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

Victory to you, Ambe Gauri; victory, O Mother, to dark-hued Shyama Gauri. Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva meditate on you day and night.
मांग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को। उज्ज्वल से दोउ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Māṅga sindūra virājata, ṭīko mṛgamada ko | Ujjvala se dou nainā, chandravadana nīko || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

Vermilion shines in the parting of your hair and a mark of musk graces your brow; your two eyes are bright and your moon-like face is beautiful.
कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजै। रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजै॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Kanaka samāna kalevara, raktāmbara rājai | Raktapuṣhpa gala mālā, kaṇṭhana para sājai || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

Your body gleams like gold and is clad in red garments; a garland of red flowers adorns your neck.
केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी। सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Kehari vāhana rājata, khaḍga khappara dhārī | Sura-nara-munijana sevata, tinake dukhahārī || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

You ride upon a lion, bearing a sword and a skull-bowl; gods, humans and sages serve you, and you take away their sorrows.
कानन कुण्डल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती। कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योती॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Kānana kuṇḍala shobhita, nāsāgre motī | Koṭika chandra divākara, sama rājata jyotī || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

Earrings grace your ears and a pearl adorns the tip of your nose; your radiance shines like millions of moons and suns.
शुंभ-निशुंभ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती। धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशदिन मदमाती॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Shumbha-Nishumbha bidāre, Mahiṣhāsura ghātī | Dhūmra vilochana nainā, nishadina madamātī || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

You tore apart Shumbha and Nishumbha and slew Mahishasura; your eyes, which ended the demon Dhumralochana, glow day and night with divine fervour.
चण्ड-मुण्ड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे। मधु-कैटभ दोउ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Chaṇḍa-Muṇḍa sanhāre, Shoṇita Bīja hare | Madhu-Kaiṭabha dou māre, sura bhayahīna kare || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

You destroyed Chanda and Munda and vanquished Raktabija; you slew both Madhu and Kaitabha and freed the gods from fear.
ब्रह्माणी, रुद्राणी, तुम कमला रानी। आगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Brahmāṇī, Rudrāṇī, tuma Kamalā rānī | Āgama nigama bakhānī, tuma Shiva paṭarānī || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

You are Brahmani, Rudrani and Queen Kamala (Lakshmi); the Agamas and the Vedas extol you, and you are Shiva's chief queen.
चौंसठ योगिनी मंगल गावत, नृत्य करत भैरों। बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Chauṁsaṭha yoginī mangala gāvata, nṛtya karata Bhairoṁ | Bājata tāla mṛdangā, aru bājata ḍamarū || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

The sixty-four Yoginis sing auspicious songs and Bhairava dances; cymbals and the mridanga sound, and the damaru drum plays too.
तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता। भक्तन की दुख हरता, सुख संपति करता॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Tuma hī jaga kī mātā, tuma hī ho bharatā | Bhaktana kī dukha haratā, sukha sampati karatā || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

You alone are the mother of the world and you alone sustain it; you remove the sorrows of devotees and bring them happiness and prosperity.
भुजा चार अति शोभित, वर मुद्रा धारी। मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Bhujā chāra ati shobhita, vara mudrā dhārī | Manavāñchhita phala pāvata, sevata nara nārī || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

Your four arms are radiant and one is raised in the boon-granting gesture; the men and women who serve you receive the fruit their hearts desire.
कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती। श्रीमालकेतु में राजत, कोटि रतन ज्योती॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Kañchana thāla virājata, agara kapūra bātī | Shrīmālaketu meṁ rājata, koṭi ratana jyotī || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

A golden platter holds agarwood incense, camphor and the lamp wick; at Shri Malketu your light shines with the brilliance of millions of jewels.
श्री अंबेजी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावै। कहत शिवानंद स्वामी, सुख-संपति पावै॥ जय अम्बे गौरी॥

Shrī Ambejī kī āratī, jo koī nara gāvai | Kahata Shivānanda Svāmī, sukha-sampati pāvai || Jai Ambe Gaurī ||

Shivanand Swami says that whoever sings this aarti of Shri Ambe Ji gains happiness and prosperity.

Meaning & Significance

"Jai Ambe Gauri" is the principal aarti of Goddess Durga, sung in homes and Devi temples across North India. Its final stanza says "so says Shivanand Swami", and tradition therefore credits it to a poet-devotee of that name. The aarti first paints the goddess's adornment and radiant form, then recalls her destruction of Shumbha and Nishumbha, Mahishasura, Chanda and Munda, Raktabija, and Madhu and Kaitabha, episodes associated with the Devi Mahatmya. It then recognises her as Brahmani, Rudrani and Kamala, and as the mother and sustainer of the world. It is customarily sung during Navratri, at Mata ki Chowki and night-long jagrans, and in Friday worship, often right after the Durga Chalisa.

Benefits

Devotees believe that singing the aarti with faith completes the worship and draws the blessings of Maa Ambe.
Singing it at dawn and dusk during Navratri is traditionally considered especially auspicious.
Sung together, the aarti fills a home or temple with an atmosphere of devotion, togetherness and celebration.
The final stanza says that those who sing it gain happiness and prosperity, which devotees hold as a matter of faith.

How to Chant

At the end of worship, light a ghee lamp or camphor on a platter along with flowers, rice and the food offering. Ringing a bell, wave the platter clockwise before the goddess's image while everyone sings together. Afterwards, pass your palms over the flame and touch them to your eyes and forehead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote the Jai Ambe Gauri aarti?: The last stanza says "Kahata Shivānanda Svāmī", so tradition credits the aarti to a devotee-poet named Shivanand Swami.
How many stanzas does the Jai Ambe Gauri aarti have?: The common text has thirteen stanzas, the first of which also serves as the refrain; different booklets show small differences in wording.
What does "Shyama Gauri" mean in the aarti?: "Gauri" means the fair-complexioned one, Parvati, and "Shyama" the dark one, Kali; naming both together expresses that the gentle and the fierce forms belong to one and the same Mother.
When should the Durga aarti be sung?: Traditionally at the end of worship or after reciting the chalisa, in the morning and evening; it holds special importance during Navratri, Mata ki Chowki, jagrans and on Fridays.
Can I perform the Durga aarti alone at home?: Yes. A single lamp and sincere devotion are traditionally considered enough, and singing it with the family is just as common.