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Jai Ambe Gauri
The Durga aarti
Mahishasuramardini
The Mahalaya dawn chant
॥ॐ जय अम्बे गौरी॥
Om Jai Ambe Gauri
जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी। तुमको निशिदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी॥
Jai Ambe Gauri, Maiya Jai Shyama Gauri. Tumako nishidin dhyaavat, Hari Brahma Shivari.
मांग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को। उज्ज्वल से दोउ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको॥
Maang sindoor viraajat, teeko mrigmad ko. Ujjval se dou naina, chandravadan neeko.
कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजै। रक्तपुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजै॥
Kanak samaan kalevar, raktaambar raajai. Rakta-pushp gal maala, kanthan par saajai.
केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी। सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी॥
Kehari vaahan raajat, khadga khappar dhaari. Sur-nar-munijan sevat, tinke dukhahaari.
कानन कुण्डल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती। कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, सम राजत ज्योती॥
Kaanan kundal shobhit, naasaagre moti. Kotik chandra divaakar, sam raajat jyoti.
शुम्भ-निशुम्भ विदारे, महिषासुर घाती। धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशिदिन मदमाती॥
Shumbh-Nishumbh vidaare, Mahishaasur ghaati. Dhoomra vilochan naina, nishidin madamaati.
ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी, तुम कमला रानी। आगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी॥
Brahmaani Rudraani, tum Kamala Raani. Aagam nigam bakhaani, tum Shiv patraani.
तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता। भक्तन की दुख हरता, सुख सम्पति करता॥
Tum hi jag ki maata, tum hi ho bharta. Bhaktan ki dukh harta, sukh sampati karta.
श्री अम्बे जी की आरती, जो कोई नर गावे। कहत शिवानन्द स्वामी, सुख सम्पति पावे॥
Shri Ambe ji ki aarti, jo koi nar gaave. Kahat Shivaanand Swami, sukh sampati paave.
The aarti hails Durga as Ambe Gauri, the fair mother whom even Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva meditate upon day and night. It describes her radiant form: vermilion in her hair, a moon-like face, a golden body robed in red, seated upon her lion, bearing sword and skull-bowl. It praises her as the slayer of Shumbha and Nishumbha, of Mahishasura, of Chanda and Munda, and of Raktabija, the one who frees the gods from fear. She is Brahmani, Rudrani, and Kamala, the consort of Shiva, worshipped by sixty-four yoginis with Bhairava dancing and drums resounding. She is the mother of all creation, the remover of her devotees' sorrows and the giver of joy. Whoever sings this aarti with devotion, it promises, receives happiness and abundance.
Alongside the Hindi aarti, Bengal carries its own devotional soundscape: the Aagomoni songs of arrival, imagining the goddess as a beloved daughter journeying home, and above all the Mahishasuramardini chant, the pre-dawn Mahalaya broadcast that for Bengalis is the true sound that opens the festive season.
