About Om Jai Ambe Gauri Aarti
If there’s one aarti you’ll hear in almost every Hindu home during Navratri, it’s this one. “Om Jai Ambe Gauri” is sung to Maa Durga in her gentle, motherly form as Ambe, or Gauri. In the same breath it remembers the fierce side of her that destroyed Mahishasur, Shumbh-Nishumbh and Chand-Mund.
The last verse names its author as Shivanand Swami. It was written generations ago, and it’s still sung every evening in temples and homes today. The tune is simple and the lines repeat, so even children pick it up after hearing it two or three times.
Below are the complete lyrics in easy English (Roman) script, so you can sing along even if you don’t read Hindi. After that you’ll find why the aarti matters and how to perform it at home.
Om Jai Ambe Gauri — Lyrics in English
Om Jai Ambe Gauri Aarti
Om Jai Ambe Gauri, Maiya Jai Shyama Gauri॥
Tumko Nishdin Dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Maang Sindoor Virajat, Tiko Mrigmad Ko॥
Ujjwal Se Dou Naina, Chandravadan Niko॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Kanak Saman Kalevar, Raktambar Raje॥
Raktpushp Gal Mala, Kanthan Par Saje॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Kehari Vahan Rajat, Khadag Khappar Dhari॥
Sur-Nar-Munijan Sevat, Tinke Dukhhari॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Kanan Kundal Shobhit, Nasagre Moti॥
Kotik Chandra Divakar, Sam Rajat Jyoti॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Shumbh-Nishumbh Bidare, Mahishasur Ghati॥
Dhumra Vilochan Naina, Nishdin Madmati॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Chand-Mund Sanhare, Shonit Beej Hare॥
Madhu-Kaitabh Dou Mare, Sur Bhayheen Kare॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Brahmani Rudrani, Tum Kamla Rani॥
Agam-Nigam Bakhani, Tum Shiv Patrani॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Chausath Yogini Mangal Gavat, Nritya Karat Bhairon॥
Baajat Taal Mridanga, Aru Baajat Damru॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Tum Hi Jag Ki Mata, Tum Hi Ho Bharta॥
Bhaktan Ki Dukh Harta, Sukh Sampati Karta॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Bhuja Char Ati Shobhit, Var Mudra Dhari॥
Manvanchhit Phal Pavat, Sevat Nar Nari॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Kanchan Thaal Virajat, Agar Kapur Baati॥
Shrimalketu Mein Rajat, Koti Ratan Jyoti॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Shri Ambeji Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Nar Gave॥
Kahat Shivanand Swami, Sukh-Sampatti Pave॥
॥ Om Jai Ambe Gauri ॥
Meaning of Om Jai Ambe Gauri
The aarti begins by hailing Maa Ambe as Gauri and Shyama, the Goddess whom even Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva meditate on day and night. It then describes her beauty: sindoor in her hair parting, a tilak of musk on her forehead, bright eyes and a face as lovely as the moon. Her body glows like gold, she wears red, and a garland of red flowers rests around her neck. She rides a lion, holding a sword and a skull-bowl, and gods, humans and sages all serve her because she takes away their suffering.
The middle verses recall her victories. She destroyed Shumbh-Nishumbh, Mahishasur, Dhumralochan, Chand-Mund and Raktabeej, and she freed the gods from fear. She is called Brahmani, Rudrani and Kamla, and she is Shiva’s beloved consort, praised in the Vedas and scriptures. The sixty-four Yoginis sing for her while Bhairav dances to the drum and damru. The aarti ends with the devotee calling her the Mother and protector of the whole world, the one who removes sorrow and grants happiness and wealth. Whoever sings it with love, says Shivanand Swami, is blessed with joy and prosperity.
Benefits of Om Jai Ambe Gauri
- Brings courage and inner strength, and helps remove fear and negativity from the mind.
- Especially auspicious during Navratri, Durga Ashtami, and on Fridays.
- Believed to protect the family from troubles and to bless the home with happiness and prosperity.
- Fills the house with a calm, devotional atmosphere when sung every evening with a lit diya.
- Helps the devotee feel close to Maa as a loving mother who listens and protects.
🪔 How to Perform the Aarti
- Have a bath, then sit in front of Maa Durga’s picture or idol with a calm mind.
- Light a ghee diya. Keep camphor, red flowers, kumkum and a little prasad ready, such as halwa, fruits or sweets.
- Offer the flowers and apply a tilak of kumkum to Maa.
- Ring the bell and start singing “Om Jai Ambe Gauri”, moving the aarti thali in slow clockwise circles in front of the Goddess.
- When the aarti is done, take the flame’s warmth over your eyes with both palms. Then pass the aarti to everyone present and share the prasad.
Read also: Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Aarti in English | Durga Chalisa in English
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Om Jai Ambe Gauri aarti sung?
It’s sung every day during the nine nights of Navratri, on Fridays, on Durga Ashtami, and at the end of any Durga or Devi puja. Many homes also sing it every evening at sandhya time.
Which goddess is this aarti dedicated to?
It’s dedicated to Maa Durga, called here Ambe, Gauri and Shyama. The aarti also praises her as Brahmani, Rudrani and Kamla, showing that every form of the Goddess is one Mother.
What is the difference between Om Jai Ambe Gauri and Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe?
Both are Durga aartis. Om Jai Ambe Gauri describes Maa’s beauty and her victories over demons. Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali is sung more as a child’s emotional prayer to the Mother. Many people sing both together.