Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (Aigiri Nandini)

ayi girinandini nanditamedini viśvavinodini nandinute
girivaravindhyaśirodhinivāsini viṣṇuvilāsini jiṣṇunute
bhagavati he śitikaṇṭhakuṭumbini bhūrikuṭumbini bhūrikṛte
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 1 ||

O daughter of the mountain, you gladden the earth and delight the whole universe; Nandi sings your praise. You dwell on the summit of the great Vindhya range, you shine with Vishnu's splendour, and Indra (Jishnu) praises you. O Goddess, wife of the blue-throated Shiva, the whole world is your family and your deeds are many and great. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

suravaravarṣiṇi durdharadharṣiṇi durmukhamarṣiṇi harṣarate
tribhuvanapoṣiṇi śaṅkaratoṣiṇi kalmaṣamoṣiṇi ghorarate
danujaniroṣiṇi ditisutaroṣiṇi durmadaśoṣiṇi sindhusute
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 2 ||

You shower boons on the gods, overpower the demons Durdhara and Durmukha, and rejoice in gladness. You nourish the three worlds, please Shankara, wash away sin, and revel in your fierce form. Your wrath falls on the sons of Danu and Diti; you wither the pride of the wicked; you are also the daughter of the ocean (Lakshmi). Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

ayi jagadamba madamba kadambavanapriyavāsini hāsarate
śikhariśiromaṇituṅgahimālayaśṛṅganijālayamadhyagate
madhumadhure madhukaiṭabhagañjini kaiṭabhabhañjini rāsarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 3 ||

O Mother of the universe, my own mother, you love to dwell in the Kadamba forest and delight in smiling. Your home lies on the lofty peak of the Himalaya, the crest-jewel of mountains. Sweet as honey, you humbled Madhu and Kaitabha, shattered Kaitabha, and delight in the joyous circle-dance (rasa). Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

ayi śatakhaṇḍa vikhaṇḍitaruṇḍa vituṇḍitaśuṇḍa gajādhipate
ripugajagaṇḍa vidāraṇacaṇḍa parākramaśuṇḍa mṛgādhipate
nijabhujadaṇḍa nipātitakhaṇḍavipātitamuṇḍabhaṭādhipate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 4 ||

You cut the headless trunks of fallen enemies into a hundred pieces and severed the trunks of their lordly war-elephants. Your lion, fierce in valour, rips open the temples of the enemy's elephants. With the might of your own arms you struck down the enemy's warrior-chiefs, hacking them to pieces and felling their heads. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

ayi raṇadurmada śatruvadhodita durdharanirjara śaktibhṛte
caturavicāradhurīṇa mahāśiva dūtakṛta pramathādhipate
duritadurīhadurāśayadurmatidānavadūtakṛtāntamate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 5 ||

You hold an irresistible, unfading power that arose to slay enemies drunk with battle-pride. You made the great Shiva, foremost in wise counsel and lord of the pramathas (his attendant hosts), your messenger. You resolved to bring an end to the sinful, ill-willed, evil-minded demons and their envoy. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

ayi śaraṇāgatavairivadhūvara vīravarābhayadāyakare
tribhuvana mastaka śūlavirodhiśirodhikṛtāmala śūlakare
dumidumitāmara dundubhināda maho mukharīkṛta tigmakare
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 6 ||

Your hand grants fearlessness even to brave enemy warriors, and to their wives, who come to you for refuge. Your hand holds the spotless trident, laid upon the heads of foes who had become a torment to the three worlds. The 'dumi-dumi' of the gods' war-drums resounds everywhere in your glory. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

ayi nijahuṅkṛtimātra nirākṛta dhūmravilocana dhūmraśate
samaraviśoṣita śoṇitabīja samudbhavaśoṇita bījalate
śiva śiva śumbha niśumbha mahāhava tarpita bhūta piśācarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 7 ||

With a mere 'hum' of yours, Dhumralochana and his hundreds were reduced to smoke. In battle you dried up the blood of Raktabija, and with it the endless demons that sprang from each drop. In the great war with Shumbha and Nishumbha you sated and gladdened the bhutas and pishachas, the spirits of the battlefield. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

dhanuranusaṅga raṇakṣaṇasaṅga parisphuradaṅga naṭatkaṭake
kanaka piśaṅgapṛṣatkaniṣaṅgarasadbhaṭa śṛṅga hatāvaṭuke
kṛtacaturaṅga balakṣitiraṅga ghaṭadbahuraṅga raṭadbaṭuke
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 8 ||

As you draw your bow in the thick of battle, your limbs quiver and the bracelets on your arms seem to dance. With golden arrows drawn from your quiver you strike down the foremost of the roaring enemy warriors. On a battlefield crowded with the four divisions of the enemy army (chariots, elephants, horses and foot soldiers), your Batuka attendants of many forms raise their cries. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

suralalanā tatatheyi tatheyi kṛtābhinayodara nṛtyarate
kṛta kukuthaḥ kukutho gaḍadādikatāla kutūhala gānarate
dhudhukuṭa dhukkuṭa dhindhimita dhvani dhīra mṛdaṅga ninādarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 9 ||

You delight in the dance of the celestial maidens, rich in expressive gesture, to the beat of 'tatha-thei, tatha-thei'. You enjoy songs set to playful rhythms sounding 'kukutha, gadada'. You delight in the deep, steady sound of the mridanga drum beating 'dhudhukuta dhukkuta dhindhimi'. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

jaya jaya japya jaye jaya śabdaparastuti tatpara viśvanute
bhaṇa bhaṇa bhiñjimi bhiṅkṛtanūpura siñjitamohita bhūtapate
naṭitanaṭārdha naṭīnaṭanāyaka nāṭitanāṭya sugānarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 10 ||

O Victorious One, worthy to be hailed with 'jaya, jaya', the whole universe praises you, eager to raise cries of victory. The jingling of your anklets enchants Shiva, lord of all beings. You delight in the graceful dance and sweet song of Nataraja, lord of dancers, half of whose dancing form is you. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

ayi sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanohara kāntiyute
śrita rajanī rajanī rajanī rajanī rajanīkara vaktravṛte
sunayana vibhramara bhramara bhramara bhramara bhramarādhipate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 11 ||

O lovely one, your radiance is more charming than flowers, and you win the hearts of the good. Your face shines like the moon that lights up the night. Your beautiful eyes dart about playfully like black bees; you are Bhramari, queen of the bees. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

sahita mahāhava mallama tallika mallita rallaka mallarate
viracita vallika pallika mallika bhillika bhillika varga vṛte
sitakṛta phullasamullasitāruṇa tallaja pallava sallalite
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 12 ||

In the great battle you rejoice amid your band of warrior-women, who fight like seasoned wrestlers. You are surrounded by groups of Bhilla (forest-dwelling) women adorned with creepers, tender leaves and jasmine. You are as graceful as fresh red shoots, made bright by white, full-blown blossoms. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

aviralagaṇḍagalanmadamedura mattamataṅgaja rājapate
tribhuvanabhūṣaṇabhūtakalānidhi rūpapayonidhi rājasute
ayi sudatījana lālasamānasa mohanamanmatha rājasute
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 13 ||

Your stately gait is like that of a royal elephant in rut, its temples streaming without pause. O princess, daughter of the mountain king, you are an ocean of beauty and a moon that adorns the three worlds. O princess, your charm captivates even the hearts of lovely women, as though you were the god of love himself. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

kamaladalāmala komalakānti kalākalitāmala bhālalate
sakalavilāsakalānilaya kramakelicalatkalahaṃsakule
alikula saṅkula kuvalaya maṇḍala maulimiladbhakulāli kule
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 14 ||

Your spotless forehead, soft and radiant as a lotus petal, is graced by the crescent moon. You are the home of every grace and art, and you move in play like a flock of gliding swans. Your hair is crowned with blue water-lilies and bakula flowers, around which swarms of bees gather. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

karamuralīravavījitakūjita lajjitakokila mañjumate
milita pulinda manohara guñjita rañjitaśaila nikuñjagate
nijaguṇabhūta mahāśabarīgaṇa sadguṇasambhṛta kelitale
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 15 ||

The sweet music of the flute in your hand puts even the cooing cuckoos to shame. You wander in mountain groves made lovely by the humming songs of the gathered Pulinda tribes. You play amid great bands of Shabara women who embody your own qualities and are rich in virtue. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

kaṭitaṭapīta dukūlavicitra mayūkhatiraskṛta candraruce
praṇatasurāsura maulimaṇisphuradaṃśulasannakha candraruce
jitakanakācala maulipadorjita nirbharakuñjara kumbhakuce
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 16 ||

The shimmering rays of the yellow silk at your waist outshine the moonlight. When gods and demons bow at your feet, the gleam of their crown-jewels makes your toenails shine like moons. Your full bosom, likened to the brow of a mighty elephant, surpasses the golden peaks of Mount Meru. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

vijita sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraikanute
kṛta suratāraka saṅgaratāraka saṅgaratāraka sūnusute
surathasamādhi samānasamādhi samādhisamādhi sujātarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 17 ||

Conqueror of foes with a thousand arms, you are praised by the thousand-rayed sun. You are the mother of Kumara (Skanda), who became the saviour of the gods by vanquishing the demon Taraka in battle. You were pleased by King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi, who worshipped you in deep, steady meditation. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

padakamalaṃ karuṇānilaye varivasyati yo'nudinaṃ sa śive
ayi kamale kamalānilaye kamalānilayaḥ sa kathaṃ na bhavet
tava padameva parampadamityanuśīlayato mama kiṃ na śive
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 18 ||

O abode of compassion, O auspicious one: whoever worships your lotus feet every day, O Kamala who dwells in the lotus, how could he not become a home of prosperity himself? I hold always that your feet alone are the highest goal; O Shiva, what then could I lack? Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

kanakalasatkala sindhujalairanusiñcinuteguṇaraṅgabhuvaṃ
bhajati sa kiṃ na śacīkucakumbha taṭīparirambha sukhānubhavam
tava caraṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ karavāṇi natāmaravāṇi nivāsi śivaṃ
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 19 ||

Whoever bathes the courtyard of your shrine, the stage of your glories, with water from shining golden pots, will he not enjoy the bliss of heaven, like Indra in Shachi's embrace? O Goddess, before whom the gods and Saraswati (Vani) bow, I take refuge in your feet, the home of all that is auspicious. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

tava vimalendukulaṃ vadanendumalaṃ sakalaṃ nanu kūlayate
kimu puruhūta purīndumukhī sumukhībhirasau vimukhīkriyate
mama tu mataṃ śivanāmadhane bhavatī kṛpayā kimuta kriyate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 20 ||

Your face, flawless as the moon, surely draws all beings to you. Would the moon-faced maidens of Indra's heaven ever turn away from one devoted to you? But this is my firm belief, O Goddess whose treasure is Shiva's name: what is there that your grace cannot do? Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!

ayi mayi dīnadayālutayā kṛpayaiva tvayā bhavitavyamume
ayi jagato jananī kṛpayāsi yathāsi tathā'nubhitāsirate
yaducitamatra bhavatyurari kurutādurutāpamapākuru te
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute || 21 ||

O Uma, out of your kindness to the helpless, you must show me your grace. O Mother of the world, you are full of compassion, and that is how the world knows you. Do whatever you deem fitting here, and take away my deep suffering. Victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, with beautiful matted hair, O daughter of the mountain!