Mahishasura Mardini Stotram Translated by S. N. Sastri
[Mahishasuramardini stotram is based on Devi mahatmyam in which Devi takes the
forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati to slay Madhu and Kaitabha, Mahishasura,
and Sumbha and Nisumbha respectively. This stotra is said to have been composed
by Ramakrishna Kavi about whom no details are available.]
1. O Daughter of the Mountain, who delight the earth, who make the whole
universe enjoy, who are praised by Nandikesvara, who dwell on the summit of the
king of mountains, the Vindhyas, who took the form of the consort of Vishnu (as
Lakshmi), who are praised by Indra, O consort of Siva (the blue-necked), who
have innumerable families, who are the Creatrix of the whole universe, who slew
the demon Mahisha, who have charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain,
hail unto You, hail unto You.
2. O Daughter of the Mountain, who delight Indra, who crushed the demon Durdhara,
who subdued Durmukha, who are immersed in bliss, who nourish all the three
worlds, who make Sankara happy, who remove all sins, who delight in celebration,
who are angry with Asuras, who destroy evil pride, who destroyed the demon
Durdama, who was born as the daughter of the ocean (as Lakshmi), who have
charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto
You.
3. O Mother of the universe, who enjoy dwelling in Kadambavana, who is anointed
with perfume, who sport a gentle smile, who dwell in Your abode on the peak of
the lofty Himalaya mountain, the crest-jewel among mountains, who enjoy the
sweetness of honey, who slew Madhu and Kaitabha, who destroy all sins, who
delight in the Raasa dance, who crushed Mahishasura, who have charming locks of
hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
4. You who eliminated Dhoomralochana and hundreds pf Dhoomras by a mere 'humkaara',
who slew in battle numerous Raktabijas who rose up from the blood of Raktabija
who was weakened in the fight, and, wonder of wonders, who slew in a mighty
battle Sumbha, Nisumbha, and the arrogant leaders of the ghosts, who have
charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto
You.
5. You who cut down with the weapon known as 'Satakhanda' the heads and trunks
of mighty elephants, whose mount is the powerful lion which killed the elephants
of the enemy with severe blows on their necks, who killed the ferocious generals
of the army of Bhandasura with blows by your hand, You who have charming locks
of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
6. You whose clinking bangles shine by contact with your body in the festival of
the battle with bows, whose enemies are killed by blows on the back of their
necks with the weapon known as 'Sringa' which is resplendent like gold and
yellow in colour, and adorns your hip, You who have charming locks of hair, O
Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
7. O You whose might remains unbearable even after the burden has been removed
by the slaying of arrogant enemies in battle, who made Siva Your messenger -
Siva who is foremost in the art of discriminating between right and wrong, who
slew the demon messenger who was sinful, cruel, and evil-minded, You who have
charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto
You.
8. You whose hands gave protection and boons to the brave husbands of the women
in the enemy's camp who surrendered themselves to You, who wield in Your hand
for the slaying of enemies the sanctified trident which removes the sorrows of
all the three worlds, who make the quarters resound with the divine musical
instrument known as 'Dundubhi', You who have charming locks of hair, O Daughter
of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
9. You whose praises are sung by people ever eager to praise You with charming
words like 'victory to You', who captivate even Siva, the Lord of all beings
with the clinging sound of Your anklets, who are fond of dancing with Siva in
the sport in which He dances as Ardhanareeswara, You who have charming locks of
hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
10. You who are supremely lustrous and decorated by the flowers in the form of
the charming minds of the good, who shine like the moon for the lotuses in a
lotus-pond, the movement of whose charming eyes gives the impression of hovering
bees, You who have charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto
You, hail unto You.
11. You who are fond of the sport in the form of a mighty battle against groups
of mighty warriors, who are surrounded by hunters who build their huts with
creepers and forest tribes known as Mallikas, Jhillikas and Bhillikas, whose
body is soft like the beautiful tender red leaf, You who have charming locks of
hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
12. You whose gait is like that of a well-nourished lordly elephant in rut along
whose cheeks there is an abundant flow of ichor, You who took the form of
Goddess Lakshmi, the daughter of the ocean of milk which is the place of origin
of the moon which is the eternal ornament of the three worlds, who captivate
even Manmatha who captivates the minds of beautiful women full of desire, You
who have charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail
unto You.
13. O You whose forehead is incomparable and is lustrous like a tender beautiful
lotus petal, who are the repository of all kinds of dances and are like the
gently cooing swan, in whose hair there is an array of bees, whose hair is
adorned with a garland of beautiful flowers, You who have charming locks of
hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
14. You who put to shame even the koel with the sweet tunes spreading out from
Your flute, who move about among the creepers in the Kailasa mountain, who enjoy
the dances of Your divine damsels and various other sports, You who have
charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto
You.
15. You set at nought even the splendour of the moon with the charm of your
reddish body, black locks of hair and the yellow robe worn around the waist,
whose toe-nails shine with the resplendence of the gems in the crowns of the
gods and asuras who prostrate before You, whose high breasts quiver as if by the
force of the torrents of water flowing down from the summits of the Meru
mountain which was conquered by Lord Siva, You who have charming locks of hair,
O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
16. You who by Your splendour defeat even the sun with thousands of rays, You
who are prostrated to by the sun god with his thousands of rays, You who were
praised by the son of Tarakasura after that asura was killed by Your son Lord
Subrahmanya in the battle between the gods and Tarakasura when the gods were
defeated, You who were pleased with the chanting of mantras by the royal sage
Suratha and the Vaisya named Samadhi who was himself like samadhi and who prayed
for nirvikalpa samadhi, You who have charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the
Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
17. Whoever constantly worships Your lotus feet, You who are the abode of
compassion and who are auspiciousness itself, he will certainly be endowed with
all prosperity. O Goddess Parvati, I who always meditate on Your lotus feet
looking upon them as my ultimate refuge will certainly get it. O Goddess Lakshmi,
who bestow everything on devotees, You who have charming locks of hair, O
Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto You.
18. Whoever sprinkles the sacred precincts of Your abode with water from a
golden pot will attain the position of Indra by Your grace. O consort of Lord
Siva, I take refuge at Your holy feet. Deign to bless me with all prosperity,
You who have charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You,
hail unto You.
19. Whoever repeatedly meditates on Your divine face adorned by the crescent
moon, will he ever be rejected by beautiful women like those in Indra's abode? O
most valued treasure of Siva, why do You not fulfill my wishes, You who have
charming locks of hair, O Daughter of the Mountain, hail unto You, hail unto
You.
20. O Goddess Uma, deign to bestow on me also Your compassion, You who are
always inclined to shower compassion on the weak, O Goddess Rama, may You be
hailed as the Mother of the universe. You are my mother also. I too am Your son.
You may reject my prayer if it is not proper. Deign to remove my sorrow.