Durga Aarti is an effort of praising and worshipping the revering goddess Durga with its entire religiosity. Goddess Durga is the symbol of Power or `Shakti` who fights against all the malign forces. Goddess Durga means `She who is difficult to reach`. She is also called by other names like "Parvati", "Ambika", "Santoshi Mata" or "Maa Durga". Goddess Durga is ten-handed goddess who is destroyer of demons. It is written in Marathi by Saint Narhardas.
Significance of Durga Aarti
The term "arti" refers to the prayer sung in honour of the Deity. Aarti is generally performed after the prayers. It is performed to please the Divine Lord. It involves waving the lighted wicks in front of the sacred image. By performing aarti, one can rectify any mistakes made during the process of puja. After the process, the lighted wicks are passed around to receive the blessings. Devotees take the light into them and thus feel refreshed, blessed and confined. As per the myths, if Durga Aarti is daily recited at the time of puja, then Goddess Durga provides the special blessings. It is also said that this aarti makes Goddess Durga happy and in return, she fills his or her life with happiness and affluence.
Legends of Goddess Durga
Goddess Durga is the mother of the universe. She is almighty of the world, reliever of her devotees` adversities and conferrer of their prosperity and happiness. The four arms of Goddess Durga have adorned her personality and the hand raised in blessing reveals her compassionate aspect. As per beliefs, the men and women who worship Goddess Durga, all their wishes are being fulfilled.
Goddess Durga is rich in grace and is the object of daily meditation by Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. There is mark of vermilion and musk on her forehead. She has beautiful eyes with a beautiful moon like face. Goddess Durga is dressed in red attire with a tinge of gold and a garland of red blossoms as a necklace. Her vehicle Lion is a graceful animal that is perfectly in accordance with her majestic posture. The Goddess holds a sword and a skull in her hands and she attends the Gods, hermits, men and other devotees to drive away their sorrows.
Goddess Durga is adorned with rings on ears and with pearls on the tip of the nose. She is the destroyer of demon "Mahishasura", and has torn apart the bodies of "Shumbha", "Nishumbha" and "Dhuumravilochana". From her eyes a frenzy of wrath is expressed every day and night. She is the beloved companion of Lord Brahma, Rudra and Lord Vishnu. The Vedas and shashtras describe Goddess Durga as the consort of Lord Siva.
Sixty-four "Yoginis" chorus her glory and glorifies her and Lord Shiva"s dance in a tune with the accompaniment of sound of tambourine and drum.
Hymn of Durga Aarti
The devotee through this hymn praises goddess Durga or Parvati. The Durga Aarti is as follows:
Jai Ambe Gauri maiya, jaa Shyama Gauri
Nishdin tumko dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivji,
Jai Ambe...
Mang sindur birajat, tiko mrigmadko,
ujjvalse dou naina, chandravadan niko,
Jai Ambe...
Kanak saman kalevar, raktambar raje,
Raktapushp galmala, kanthhar saje,
Jai Ambe...
Kehari vahan rajat, khadg khappar dhari
sur nar munijan sevat, tinke dukhahari,
Jai Ambe...
Kanan kundal shobhit, nasagre moti
Kotik chandra divakar, samrajat jyoti,
Jai Ambe...
Shumbh- nishumbh vidare, MahishaSur ghatia
Dhumra-vilochan naina, nishdin madmati
Jai Ambe....
Brahmani, Rudrani tum Kamala Rani,
Agam-nigam bakhani. turn Shiv patrani,
Jai Ambe...
Chaunsath yogini gavat, nritya karat Bhairon,
Bajat tab mridanga, aur bajat damru,
Jai Ambe...
Tum ho jag ki mata, tum hi ho bharta,
Bhaktan ki dukh harta, sukh sampati karta,
Jai Ambe...
Bhuja char ati shobhit, var mudra dhari,
Manvanchhit phal pavat, sevat nar nari,
Jai Ambe...
kanchan thal virajat, agaru kapur bati
Malketu men rajat, kotiratan jyoti,
Jai Ambe...
By performing the sacred Durga Aarti, with the offering of flowers, fruits, and foods, the devotee tries to create a bond with the divine Goddess through his or her emotions and senses.
