Durga Aarti — Jai Ambe Gauri — Word-by-Word Meaning

Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! Beloved Mother, glory to Shyama Gauri! Hari, Brahma, and Shiva meditate upon you night and day. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! Vermillion adorns the parting of your hair, and a musk tilak graces your forehead. Your two eyes shine brilliantly, and your moon-like face is beautiful. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! Your body is golden like pure gold, and you are draped in red garments. A garland of red flowers adorns your neck beautifully. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! You ride majestically upon a lion, holding a sword and a skull-cup. Gods, humans, and sages serve you — you are the remover of their sorrows. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! Earrings adorn your ears beautifully, and a pearl decorates the tip of your nose. Your radiance shines like millions of moons and suns combined. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! You tore apart the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha and slew the buffalo demon Mahishasura. With your smoke-eyed gaze, you are perpetually intoxicated with divine power. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! You destroyed Chanda and Munda, and annihilated the blood-seed demon Raktabija. You slew both Madhu and Kaitabha, making the gods free from fear. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! You are Brahmani, Rudrani, and Kamala (Lakshmi), O Queen! The Agamas and Vedas sing your praise — you are Shiva's supreme consort. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! The sixty-four Yoginis sing your glory, and Bhairava dances in ecstasy. The mridanga drum plays the rhythm, and Shiva's damru beats. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! You alone are the Mother of the world, you alone are its Sustainer. You remove the sorrows of your devotees and bestow happiness and prosperity. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! Your four arms shine with great splendor, holding the gesture of granting boons. Men and women who serve you attain the fulfillment of all their desires. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! On a golden plate shine wicks of agar and camphor. In the great flame shines the radiance of millions of jewels. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri! Whoever sings this aarti of Shri Ambe — says Swami Shivananda — shall attain happiness and prosperity. Glory to Mother Ambe Gauri!