The Durga aarti sung through Navratri in millions of homes. Like the Shiv aarti, it borrows the Om Jai Jagdish melody — so if you have played that one, this is words-only work. Independently published notations for this aarti land on exactly that tune, which is about as good as melodic corroboration gets.
The sargam, line by line
Sa is on C. Capital letters are shuddha (natural) swaras, lowercase is komal (flat), and a dot under a letter — written here as Ṇ — means the octave below. Each ▶ plays just that line on the keyboard above; turn on 🐢 Slow while you learn.
S S | S S S Ṇ | S RJai Ambe GauriR G M | P P D P M | G M RMaiya jai Shyama GauriThe same notes as Western keys
| Line | Keys | Sargam |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C C · C C C B↓ · C D | S S · S S S Ṇ · S R |
| 2 | D E F · G G A G F · E F D | R G M · P P D P M · G M R |
हिंदी में — सरगम
| सा सा · सा सा सा ऩि · सा रे | जय अम्बे गौरी |
| रे ग म · प प ध प म · ग म रे | मैया जय श्यामा गौरी |
How to play it
- Navratri tempo is faster than it looks. Sung in a hall, this aarti moves. Learn it at the slow setting, then push the speed — the notes are easy, the pace is what catches people out.
- Drone on Sa, and stay there. Nine nights of aarti are sung over one fixed drone. Set it to your Sa and do not move it between verses.
- Play through the join. An aarti loops. Practise the return from line 2's final R back to line 1's S, not just the two lines separately.
Common questions
What are the harmonium notes for Jai Ambe Gauri?
With Sa on C: line 1 is S S · S S S Ṇ · S R, line 2 is R G M · P P D P M · G M R — all white keys.
Is Jai Ambe Gauri the same as Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe?
No. Both are Durga aartis sung during Navratri, but they are different compositions with different melodies. Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe opens on Re with a komal Ga and has its own tune.
Why do so many aartis share this melody?
Because it works for a room full of untrained singers: a narrow range, all white keys, and a phrase that returns to Sa constantly. Aarti texts get set to it the way hymn texts get set to a familiar hymn tune.
Where to go next
- Om Jai Jagdish Hare — harmonium notes with the same follow-along player.
- Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe — harmonium notes with the same follow-along player.
- Happy Birthday — harmonium notes with the same follow-along player.
- All song notes — every song we publish, each with a follow-along player.
- The harmonium notes chart — sargam, komal and tivra, and the 10-thaat system.