Shemsu Thoughts: stotram

this is one f my favorites !!!!

Mahishasura Mardini Stotram

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(This very popular stotra of Goddess Durga is supposed to have been written by Ramakrishna Kavi. Nothing is known about the author. The great Tenali Rama was known as Ramakrishna Kavi and he was a great Bhaktha of Durga. But there are no references to say hat he wrote this great work. Due to its very poetic nature and repetition of words in the same stanza with different nuances, this is extremely difficult to translate. I have used the one incomplete translation available in the web (http://sanskrit.gde.to/doc_devii/mahisha_mean.itx ) as well as the recent great translation by Sri.S.N.Sastry of Madras which has been posted in www.celestel.org. The version of the stotra which I have used is slightly different from what has been quoted above. I have used transliteration with roman script)

Ayi giri nandini, nandhitha medhini,
Viswa vinodhini nandanuthe,
Girivara vindhya sirodhi nivasini,
Vishnu Vilasini Jishnu nuthe,
Bhagawathi hey sithi kanda kudumbini,
Bhoori kudumbini bhoori kruthe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 1

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Who makes the whole earth happy,
Who rejoices with this universe,
Who is the daughter of Nanda,
Who resides on the peak of Vindhyas,
Who plays with Lord Vishnu,
Who has a glittering mien,
Who is praised by other goddesses,
Who is the consort of the lord with the blue neck,
Who has several families,
Who does good to her family.
Who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Suravara varshini, durdara darshini,
Durmukhamarshani, harsha rathe,
Tribhuvana poshini, Sankara thoshini,
Kilbisisha moshini, ghosha rathe,
Danuja niroshini, Dithisutha roshini,
Durmatha soshini, Sindhu suthe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 2

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh goddess who showers boons on devas,
Who punishes those who are undisciplined.
Who tolerates ugly faced ogres,
Who enjoys in being happy,
Who looks after the three worlds,
Who pleases lord Shiva,
Who removes effect of sins,
Who rejoices with the holy sound,
Who is angry on the progenies of Dhanu,
Who is angry with the children of Dithi,
Who discourages those with pride,
Who is the daughter of the Ocean,
Who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.


Ayi Jagadambha Madambha , Kadambha,
Vana priya vasini, Hasarathe,
Shikhari siromani, thunga Himalaya,
Srunga nijalaya, madhyagathe,
Madhu Madure, Mdhukaitabha banjini,
Kaitabha banjini, rasa rathe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 3

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh , mother of the entire world,
Who loves to live in the forest of Kadambha trees,
Who enjoys to smile,
Who lives in the top peak of the great Himalayas
Who is sweeter than honey,
Who keeps the treasures of Madhu and Kaidabha,
Who is the slayer of Kaidabha,
Who enjoys her dancing,
Who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Ayi satha kanda, vikanditha runda,
Vithunditha shunda, Gajathipathe,
Ripu Gaja ganda , Vidhaarana chanda,
Paraakrama shunda, mrugathipathe,
Nija bhuja danda nipaathitha khanda,
Vipaathitha munda, bhatathipathe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 4

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess who breaks the heads of ogres,
In to hundreds of pieces,
Who cuts the trunks of elephants in battle,
Who rides on the valorous lion,
Which tears the heads of elephants to pieces,
Who severs the heads of the generals of the enemy,
With her own arms,
Who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Ayi rana durmathaShathru vadhothitha,
Durdhara nirjjara, shakthi bruthe,
Chathura vicharadureena maha shiva,
Duthatkrutha pramadhipathe,
Duritha Dureeha, dhurasaya durmathi,
Dhanava dhutha kruithaanthamathe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 5

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess who has the strength which never diminishes,
To gain victory over enemies in the battle field,
Who made Pramatha, the attendant of Lord Shiva,
Known for his tricky strategy, as her assistant,
Who took the decision to destroy the asuras,
Who are bad people, with evil thoughts and mind,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Ayi saranagatha vairi vadhuvara,
Veera varaa bhaya dhayakare,
Tribhuvana masthaka soola virodhi,
Sirodhi krithamala shoolakare,
Dimidmi thaamara dundubinadha mahaa
Mukharikruthatigmakare,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 6

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess who forgives and gives refuge,
To the heroic soldiers of the enemy rank,
Whose wives come seeking refuge for them,
Oh Goddess who is armed with trident ,
Ready to throw on the heads of those,
Who cause great pain to the three worlds,
Oh Goddess who shines likes the hot sun,
And who is aroused by sound of “Dhumi, Dhumi,”
Produced by the beating of drums by the devas,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Ayi nija huum kruthimathra niraakrutha,
Dhoomra vilochana Dhoomra sathe,
Samara vishoshitha sonitha bheeja,
Samudhbhava sonitha bheejalathe,
Shiva shiva shumbha nishumbhamaha hava,
Tarpitha bhootha pisacha rathe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 7

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh, Goddess who blew away hundreds of ogres,
Who had smoking eyes,
With her mere sound of “Hum”
Oh Goddess who is the blood red creeper,
Emanating from the seeds of blood,
Which fell in the battle field,
Oh Goddess who delights in the company of Lord Shiva,
And the ogres Shumbha and Nishumbha,
Who were sacrificed in the battle field,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Dhanu ranushanga rana kshana sanga,
Parisphuradanga natath katake,
Kanaka pishanga brushathka nishanga,
Rasadbhata shrunga hatavatuke,
Kritha chaturanga bala kshithirangakadath ,
Bahuranga ratadhpatuke,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 8

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess who decks herself with ornaments,
On her throbbing limbs in the field of battle,
When she gets her bow ready to fight,
Oh Goddess , who killed her enemies,
In the field of battle with a shining sword,
And the shaking of her golden brown spots,
Oh Goddess , who made the battle ground of the four fold army,
In to a stage of drama with screaming little soldiers,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

jaya jaya japya jayejaya shabda ,
Parastuti tatpara vishvanute ,
Bhana Bhanabhinjimi bhingrutha noopura,
Sinjitha mohitha bhootha pathe,
Nadintha nataartha nadi nada nayaka,
Naditha natya sugaanarathe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 9

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess , whose victory is sung,
By the whole universe,
Which is interested in singing her victory,
Oh Goddess who attracts the attention of Lord Shiva,
By the twinkling sound made by her anklets,
While she is engaged in dancing,
Oh Goddess who gets delighted ,
By the dance and drama by versatile actors,
Even while she is half of Lord Shiva’s body,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Ayi sumana sumana,
Sumana sumanohara kanthiyuthe,
Sritha rajani rajani rajani,
Rajaneekaravakthra vruthe,
Sunayana vibhramarabhrama,
Bhramarabrahmaradhipadhe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 10

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess of the people with good mind,
Who is greatly gracious to such people,
Oh Goddess who appears very pretty to the good minded,
Oh Goddess with moon like face,
Who is as cool as the moon ,to those in the dark,
Oh Goddess whose face shines in the moon light,
Oh Goddess whose very pretty flower like eyes attracts the bees ,
Oh Goddess who attracts devotees ,like a flower which attracts bees,
Oh Goddess who attracts her lord like a bee,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Sahitha maha hava mallama hallika,
Mallitharallaka mallarathe,
Virachithavallika pallika mallika billika ,
Bhillika varga Vruthe,
Sithakruthapulli samulla sitharuna,
Thallaja pallava sallalithe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 11

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess who becomes happy,
In the sport of battle, assisted by warriors,
Oh Goddess who is surrounded by hunters,
Whose hut is surrounded by creepers,
And the tribes of Mallikas, Jillakas and Bhillakas,
Oh Goddess who is as pretty as
The famous fully opened flower,
Oh Goddess , who is as pretty as the creeper,
Full of red tender leaves,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.


Avirala ganda kalatha mada medura,
Matha matanga rajapathe,
Tribhuvana bhooshana bhootha kalanidhi,
Roopa payonidhi raja suthe,
Ayi suda thijjana lalasa manasa ,
Mohana manmatha raja suthe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 12

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess , who walks like a royal elephant in rut,
In Whose face there is a copious flow of ichors,
Oh Goddess , who is the daughter of the ocean of milk,
From where the pretty moon also took his birth,
Oh Goddess who is the ornament of the three worlds,
Oh Goddess who is worshipped by the God of love,
Who fills the minds of pretty ladies with desire,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Kamala dalaamala komala kanthi,
Kala kalithaamala bala lathe,
Sakala vilasa Kala nilayakrama,
Keli chalathkala hamsa kule,
Alikula sankula kuvalaya mandala ,
Mauli miladh bhakulalikule,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 13

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess , whose spotless forehead,
Which is of delicate prettiness,
Is like pure and tender lotus leaf,
Oh Goddess who moves like the spotlessly pretty swans,
Which Move with delicate steps,
And which is the epitome of arts,,
Oh Goddess ,Whose tress is surrounded
By bees from bakula trees,
Which normally crowd the tops of lotus flowers,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.


Kara murali rava veejitha koojitha,
Lajjitha kokila manjumathe,
Militha pulinda manohara kunchitha,
Ranchitha shaila nikunjakathe,
Nija guna bhootha maha sabari gana,
Sathguna sambrutha kelithale,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 14

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess with sweet tender thoughts,
Whose sweet enchanting music,
Made through the flute in her hands,
Put the sweet voiced nightingale to shame,
Oh Goddess who stays in pleasant mountain groves,
Which resound with the voice of tribal folks,
Oh Goddess, whose playful stadium,
Is filled with flocks of tribal women,
Who have many qualities similar to her,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Kati thata peetha dukoola vichithra,
Mayuka thiraskrutha Chandra ruche,
Pranatha suraasura mouli mani sphura ,
Damsula sannka Chandra ruche,
Jitha kanakachala maulipadorjitha,
Nirbhara kunjara kumbhakuche,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 15

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh goddess, who wears yellow silks on her waist,
Which has peculiar brilliance ,
That puts the moon to shame,
Oh goddess, whose toe nails shine like the moon,
Because of the reflection of the light,
From the crowns of Gods and asuras who bow at her feet,
Oh Goddess whose breasts which challenge,
The forehead of elephants and the peaks of golden mountains,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Vijitha sahasra karaika sahasrakaraika,
Sarakaraika nuthe,
Krutha sutha tharaka sangaratharaka,
Sangaratharaka soonu suthe,
Suratha Samadhi samana Samadhi,
Samadhi Samadhi sujatharathe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 16

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess , whose splendour ,
Defeats the Sun with his thousand rays
Oh Goddess , who is saluted by the Sun,
Who has thousands of rays,
Oh Goddess who was praised,
By Tharakasura after his defeat,
In the war between him and your son,
Oh Goddess who was pleased with King Suratha,
And the rich merchant called Samadhi,
Who entered in to Samadhi,
And who prayed for endless Samadhi,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Padakamalam karuna nilaye varivasyathi,
yo anudhinam sa shive,
Ayi kamale kamala nilaye kamala nilaya
Sa katham na bhaveth,
Thava padameva param ithi
Anusheelayatho mama kim na shive,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 17

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Oh Goddess, in whom mercy lives,
And who is auspiciousness itself,
He who worships thine lotus feet,
Daily without fail,
Would for sure be endowed with wealth,
By that Goddess who lives on lotus,
And if I consider thine feet as only refuge,
Is there anything that I will not get,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Kanakala sathkala sindhu jalairanu
Sinjinuthe guna ranga bhuvam,
Bhajathi sa kim na Shachi kucha kumbha
Thati pari rambha sukhanubhavam,
Thava charanam saranam kara vani
Nataamaravaaninivasi shivam,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 18

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
He who sprinkles the water of the ocean,
Taken in a golden pot , on your play ground,
Oh Goddess will get the same pleasure ,
Like the Indra in heaven, when he fondles,
The pot like breasts of his wife Suchi,
So I take refuge in thine feet Oh Goddess,
Which is also place where Shiva resides,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Thava Vimalendu kulam vadnedumalam
Sakalayananu kulayathe,
Kimu puruhootha pureendu mukhi
Sumukhibhee rasou vimukhi kriyathe,
Mama thu matham shivanama dhane
Bhavathi krupaya kimu na kriyathe,
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 19

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
He who keeps thine face adorned by moon,
In his thought would never face rejection,
By the bevy of pretty beauties with moon like face,
In the celestial Indra’s court,
And so oh Goddess who is held in esteem by Shiva,
I am sure you would not reject my wishes,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Ayi mai deena dayalu thaya krupayaiva
Thvaya bhavthavyam ume,
Ayi jagatho janani kripayaa asi
thatha anumithasi rathe
Na yaduchitham atra bhavathvya rari kurutha,
durutha pamapakarute
Jaya Jaya Mahishasura mardini ,
Ramya kapardini, shaila Suthe. 20

Victory and victory to you,
Oh darling daughter of the mountain,
Please shower some mercy on me,
As you are most merciful on the oppressed.
Oh mother of the universe ,be pleased,
To give me the independence ,
To consider you as my mother
And do not reject my prayer even if it is improper,
But be pleased to drive away all my sorrows,
Oh Goddess who has captivating braided hair,
Who is the daughter of a mountain.
And who is the slayer of Mahishasura.

Devyapadhakshamapana Stotram

Na mantram no yantram thadapi cha na jane sthuthimaho,
Na chahwanam dhyanam thadapi cha na jane sthuthi kadha,
Na jane mudrasthe thadapi na jane vilapanam,
Param jane matha thwadanusaranam klesa haranam. 1

Neither I know mantra nor thanthra nor your praise,
Neither I know how to call you, nor meditate nor praise you,
Neither I know mudras nor how to cry to you,
But I know that by obeying you, I would get rid of all problems.

Vidhera gnanena dravina virahena alasathaya,
Vidheyasakya thaw thava charanayor yachyathirabhooth,
Hadethath kshanthavyam anani sa kalodharini shive,
Kuputhro jayetha kwachidapi, kumatha na bhavathi. 2

I forgot to salute your feet due to ignorance of rules,
Due to having no money, being lazy and inefficient.
Oh, mother of all the world and giver of all that is good,
It is easy for you to excuse me,
For a bad son may be born but there can be no bad mother.

Pruthvya puthrasthe janai bahava ssanthi sarala,
Param thesham madhye virala tharaloham thava sutha,
Madheeyoayam thyagasamuchidamidham, no thava shive,
Kuputhro jayetha, kwachidapi kumatha na bhavathi. 3

Oh mother, you have many great sons in this wide world,
And in their midst I happen to be retarded and lost,
But oh mother, it is not proper for you to leave me out,
For a bad son may be born but there can be no bad mother.

Jaganmata mathasthava charana sevanarachitha,
Nava datham devi dravinamapi bhooyasthava maya,
Thadapi thwam sneham mayi nirupamam,
Kuputhro jayetha, kwachidapi kumatha na bhavathi. 4

Oh, God of all worlds, Neither have I done service at your feet,
Nor have I given in charity immeasurable wealth,
But you have to shower your incomparable affection on me,
For a bad son may be born but there can be no bad mother.

Parithyakthwa devaan vividha vidha sevakulathaya,
Maya pancha seetherr adhikam apanithethu vayasi,
Idhanim chenmathasthava yadhi krupanapi bhavitha,
Niralambo lambodara janani kam yami saranam 5

In this age past fifty, leaving the worship of other devas,
Due to several problems of service and worries,
I have approached you for your grace.
If you do not take mercy on me at this stage,
What is the protection for me who is without any support.

Chida Basma lepo garala samanam, dik pata dharo,
Jadadhari kande bujagapathi hari pasupathi,
Kapali bhootheso bajathi jagadeesaika padavim,
Bhavani thwad panigrahana paripati phalamidham. 6

That god Pasupathi who applies ash from cremation ground,
Who eats poison, who wears no cloths,
Who wears a garland of serpent and who has a begging bowl,
Who has not washed or combed his hair and who is god of devils,
Has attained the position of the Lord of the universe.
Is it not Bhavani, because he has married you?

Na mokshasyakamksha na cha vibhava vanchapi cha na me,
Na vignanapeksha Sasimukhi Sukheschapi na puna,
Athasthwam samyache janani jananam yathu mama vai,
Mrudani rudrani shiva shiva bhavani japatha. 7

I am not interested in salvation nor in great wealth,
I am not interested in knowledge, science or pleasures,
Hey mother, I beg of you that I should spend this life,
Chanting thy names like Mrudani, Rudrani and Bhavani.

Naradhithasi vidhina vividhopacharai,
Kim rooksha chintana parair na krutham vachopi,
Syame thwameva yadhi kinchanamayyanadhe,
Danye krupamuchitham amba param thavaiva. 8

Oh Mother, Syama, I have never worshipped thee,
Following the rules laid out for worship,
And also I have abused you by using cruel words,
And still if you have a little mercy on this orphan,
It is because of your graceful and merciful conduct.

Jagadamba, vichithramathra kim,
Paripoorna karunasthi chenmayi,
Aparadha parampara vrutham,
Nahi matha samupekshathe sutham. 9

Hey mother of the world,
Why is it surprising that you,
Have lot of mercy on me,
For no mother neglects her son,
Even if he has done several mistakes.

Mathsama pathaki Nasthi,
Papagni thathsama nahi ,
Evam gnathwa maha devi,
Yadayogyam thadha kuru. 10

There is no sinner like me,
Nor is there anyone like you,
Who can pardon all these great sins,
Oh goddess great, understand these both,
And do whatever you think is fit.

~Adi Shankaracharya

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Monday, August 3, 2009

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