Mahishasura Mardini Stotram

Mahishasura Mardini Stotram: Mantra with Meaning

Mahishasura Mardini Stotram is a very popular devotional stotra of Goddess Durga, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati (Consort of Lord Shiva), composed by Guru Adi Shankaracharya. This stotra is addressed to Goddess Mahishasura Mardini, the Goddess who killed buffalo-demon Mahishasura. Mahishasura Mardini is the fierce form of Goddess Durga, where the Goddess is depicted as a fearless woman having ten arms each carrying a weapon, and sitting on a lion or tiger.

Durga, also known as Devi (Shakti), is a principal and popular form of Hindu Goddess. She is the warrior of goddess, whose mythology centers around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten peace, prosperity and dharma of the good. She is the fierce form of the protective mother goddess, willing to unleash her anger against wrong, violence (for liberation) and destruction (to empower creation).

The legend of Mahishasura:
Rambha, the king of Asuras, was enticed by the beauty of a female buffalo and eventually married her. The child who was born from this union was named Mahishasura because he was both buffalo as well as human (Mahisha literally means buffalo). As an Asura, Mahishasura wanted to wage war against the Devas, as the Devas and Asuras were perpetually in conflict. To make himself invincible, Mahishasura performed austerities (tapas) to Brahma, propitiating Brahma to confer upon him immortality. Brahma refused him the boon of immortality; instead, Brahma gave him a boon such that his death would happen only at the hands of a woman. Mahishasura imagined that this was the equivalent of immortality since he believed it was impossible for a woman to slay a person of his strength. Emboldened by this belief, he started a war with the Devas. In the battle that ensued, the Devas, led by Indra, were defeated. At this point, the Devas approached the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to seek help. The three great gods combined their divine energies and created a woman. The Goddess thus created was Durga. Durga, then led a battle against Mahishasura and killed him, thus fulfilling the prophecy that he would meet his death at the hands of a woman.

Hence, this Stotra is the worship of Durga, which depicts her killing Mahishasura, and many other demons.

Composed By: Adi Shankaracharya

Goddess Durga killing the demon Mahishasura

Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it

॥ महिषासुर-मर्दिनि-स्तोत्रम् ॥

अयि गिरि-नंदिनि नंदित-मेदिनि विश्व-विनोदिनि नंदनुते
गिरिवर-विन्ध्य-शिरोऽधि-निवासिनि विष्णु-विलासिनि जिष्णुनुते ।
भगवति हे शिति-कण्ठ-कुटुम्बिनि भूरि-कुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१॥

Salutations to You O daughter of the Mountain, Who delights the earth, Who fills the whole world with joy, Who is praised by Nandi, Who dwells on the summit of the Vindhyas (king of Mountains), Who gives joy to Lord Vishnu (being His sister), and Who is praised by Lord Indra,
Who is the consort of the One with blue throat (Lord Shiva), Who has innumerable families in this world (being the Cosmic Mother), and Who is the creator of the whole Universe; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

सुरवर-वर्षिणि दुर्धर-धर्षिणि दुर्मुख-मर्षिणि हर्षरते
त्रिभुवन-पोषिणि शंकर-तोषिणि कल्मष-मोषिणि घोषरते ।
दनुज-निरोषिणि दितिसुत-रोषिणि दुर्मद-शोषिणि सिंधुसुते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥२॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who shower boons to the Devas, Who overpowered the demon Durdhara, Who subdued Durmukha (the foul-mouthed demon), Who is immersed in bliss, Who sustains and nourishes all the three worlds, and Who delights Lord Shankara by removing all evils (sinful demons) by indulging Herself in the tumult of the battle,
Who quell the wrath of the demons (born from Danu), Who is angry with Asuras, Who destroys the evil pride of demons, and Who is the daughter of the Ocean (as Goddess Lakshmi); Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

अयि जगदम्ब मदम्ब कदम्ब-वन-प्रिय-वासिनि हासरते
शिखरि-शिरोमणि तुङ्ग-हिमालय-शृङ्ग-निजालय-मध्यगते ।
मधु-मधुरे मधु-कैटभ-गञ्जिनि कैटभ-भञ्जिनि रासरते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥३॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who enjoys dwelling in the forest of Kadamba trees, Who delights in laughter and cheerfulness, and Whose abode is in the middle of the crest-jewel of peaks of the lofty Himalayas,
Who is as sweet as honey, Who subdued the pride of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha and slayed them, and Who delights in the Rasa dance (spiritual dance with the mind completely absorbed in the Supreme); Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

अयि शतखण्ड-विखण्डित-रुण्ड-वितुण्डित-शुण्ड-गजाधिपते
रिपु-गज-गण्ड-विदारण-चण्ड-पराक्रम-शुण्ड-मृगाधिपते ।
निज-भुजदण्ड-निपातित-खण्ड-विपातित-मुण्ड-भटाधिपते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥४॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who conquered the enemy's mighty elephants by cutting off their trunks, heads and the headless bodies into hundred pieces, and Whose mount (Lion) fiercely tear asunder the faces of powerful elephants of the enemies,
Who slayed the heads of demons with the weapons in Her arms and conquered them; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

अयि रणदुर्मद-शत्रु-वधोदित-दुर्धर-निर्जर-शक्ति-भृते
चतुर-विचार-धुरीण-महाशिव-दूत-कृत-प्रमथाधिपते ।
दुरित-दुरीह-दुराशय-दुर्मति-दानव-दुत-कृतान्तमते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥५॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who was manifested to destroy the battle-intoxicated arrogant demons, Who is the possessor of unrestrainable and imperishable power, and Who made Lord Shiva (One Who is foremost in the art of discriminating between right and wrong, and is the Lord of Ghosts and Goblins) Her messenger,
Who is honored for bringing an end (or rejecting) to the proposal (of marrying Shumbha or Nishumbha) of the evil-minded and ignorant messenger of the demon, and hence bringing an end to the demons themselves; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

अयि शरणागत-वैरि-वधुवर-वीर-वराभय-दायकरे
त्रिभुवन-मस्तक-शुल-विरोधि-शिरोऽधि-कृतामल-शूलकरे ।
दुमि-दुमि-तामर-धुन्दुभि-नाद-महो-मुखरीकृत-दिग्मकरे
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥६॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who gave protection and boons to the heroic soldiers of the enemy when their good wives took Her refuge, and Whose pure Trident in hand slayed the heads of the enemies who oppose Her Trident removing the sorrows of all the three worlds,
Whose victory gives rise to Dumi-Dumi sound produced by the divine musical instrument known as Dundubhi, flowing incessantly like water which fills all directions with joy; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

अयि निज हुङ्कृतिमात्र-निराकृत-धूम्र-विलोचन-धूम्रशते
समर-विशोषित-शोणित-बीज-समुद्भव-शोणित-बीज-लते ।
शिव-शिव-शुम्भ-निशुम्भ-महाहव-तर्पित-भूत-पिशाचरते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥७॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who scattered the demon Dhumralocana into hundred smoke particles (or ashes) with a mere Humkara, and Who slayed in battle numerous Raktabijas rising up from the blood of original demon Raktabija who was weakened in the fight,
Whose great auspicious sacrifice of Shumbha and Nishumbha (i.e slaying of these demons) satisfied the ghosts and goblins (attendants of Lord Shiva); Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

धनु-रनुषङ्ग-रण-क्षण-सङ्ग-परिस्फुरदङ्ग-नटत्कटके
कनक-पिशङ्ग-पृषत्क-निषङ्ग-रसद्भट-शृङ्ग-हताबटुके ।
कृत-चतुरङ्ग-बलक्षिति-रङ्ग-घटद्-बहुरङ्ग-रटद्-बटुके
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥८॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Whose bracelets dances on Her shining arms following the movements of Her bow during each instant of the battle, and Whose enemies are killed by blows on the back of their necks with the golden-hued weapon known as Sringa,
Who turns the four-fold army of enemies surrounding Her from all sides during the battle into a stage of drama with screaming little soldiers; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

सुरललनात-तथेयि-तथेयि-कृताभि-नयोदर-नृत्यरते
कृत कुकुथः कुकुथो गडदादिक-ताल कुतूहल-गानरते ।
धुधुकुट-धुक्कुट-धिंधिमित-ध्वनि-धीरमृदंग-निनादरते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥९॥

O Divine Mother! Following the rhythm of the great battle, the celestial dancers dance in the rhythm of Ta-Ta-Theyi, Ta-Theyi, expressing the sentiment of the battle with their dramatic acting, their music creating the tense eagerness with the musical beats like Ku-Kutha, Ku-Kutha, Ga-Da-Daa, Ga-Da-Daa,
And a steady deep sound of Dhu-Dhu-Kuta, Dhu-Kuta, Dhim-Dhimi in the background from the musical instrument known as Mridanga; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

जय-जय-जप्य-जये-जय-शब्द-परस्तुति-तत्पर-विश्वनुते
झणझण-झिंझिमि-झिंकृत-नूपुर-शिञ्जित-मोहित-भूतपते ।
नटित-नटार्ध-नटीनट-नायक-नाटित-नाट्य-सुगानरते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१०॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who is praised by the whole world with charming words like 'Victory to You', which is then followed by singing Her Stuti (prayer), and Who captivates even Shiva, the Lord of all beings, with the jingling sound of Her anklets,
Who dances as half of the body of Lord Shiva in the sport in which He dances as Ardhanareeswara (male and female dancers having a single body) in the divine sound of Nada; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

अयि सुमनःसुमनःसुमनःसुमनःसुमनोहर कान्तियुते
श्रित-रजनी-रजनी-रजनी-रजनी-रजनीकर-वक्त्र-वृते ।
सुनयन-विभ्रमरभ्रमरभ्रमरभ्रमरभ्रमराधिपते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥११॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who is greatly gracious to the people with good mind (intellect), and Who has a cool and shining face resplendent like a full moon,
Whose beautiful eyes conquer the beauty of the bees; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

सहित-महाहव-मल्लम-तल्लिक-मल्लित-रल्लक-मल्लरते
विरचित-वल्लिक-पल्लिक-मल्लिक-झिल्लिक-भिल्लिक-वर्गवृते ।
शित-कृतपुल्लि-समुल्ल-सिताऽरुण-तल्लज-पल्लव-सल्ललिते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१२॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Who is fond of the sport in the form of a mighty battle against groups of mighty warriors, and Who is accompanied by hunters who build their huts with creepers and forest tribes known as Mallikas, Jhillikas and Bhillikas,
Whose face is as beautiful as fully bloomed flower shining with a beautiful smile of joy; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

अविरल-गण्ड-गलन्मद-मेदुर-मत्त-मतङ्गज-राजपते
त्रिभुवन-भूषण-भूत-कलानिधि-रूप-पयोनिधि-राजसुते ।
अयि सुद-तीजन-लालस-मानस-मोहन-मन्मथ-राजसुते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१३॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Whose gait is like a well-nourished lordly elephant in rut along Whose cheeks there is an abundant flow of ichor, and Who is the daughter of the ocean of milk (as Goddess Lakshmi) which is also the place of origin of the moon (the eternal ornament of the three worlds),
Who is like the daughter of Manmatha (God of Love) who gives rise to the desires and infatuation in the mind for women with beautiful smile; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

कमल-दलामल-कोमल-कान्ति-कला-कलिताऽमल-भाललते
सकल-विलास-कला-निलयक्रम-केलि-चलत्-कलहंसकुले ।
अलिकुल-सङ्कुल-कुवलय-मण्डल-मौलि-मिलद्-बकुलालिकुले
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१४॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Whose forehead is lustrous like a tender beauty of a spotless, shining lotus petal, and Whose movement resembles the artistic, soft movements of a flock of swan,
Whose hair is adorned with a garland of Bakula flowers infested with a swarm of bees; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

कर-मुरली-रव-वीजित-कूजित-लज्जित-कोकिल-मञ्जुमते
मिलित-पुलिन्द-मनोहर-गुञ्जित-रञ्जित-शैल-निकुञ्जगते ।
निज-गुणभूत-महा-शबरी-गण-सद्गुण-सम्भृत-केलितले
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१५॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Whose sweet enchanting music made through the flute in Her hands put the sweet-voiced nightingale to shame, Who resides in the pleasant mountain groves which resound with the voice of tribal folks,
Whose playful stadium is filled with the flocks of tribal women who are filled with good virtues; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

कटि-तट-पीत-दुकूल-विचित्र-मयुख-तिरस्कृत-चन्द्ररुचे
प्रणत-सुरासुर-मौलि-मणिस्फुर-दंशुल-सन्नख-चन्द्ररुचे ।
जित-कनकाचल-मौलि-पदोर्जित-निर्भर-कुञ्जर-कुम्भकुचे
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१६॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Whose waist is soaked with silk of various colors, the luster of which eclipses the brightness of the moon, and 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,
Whose breasts challenge the forehead of elephants and the peaks of golden mountains; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

विजित-सहस्र-करैक-सहस्र-करैक-सहस्र-करैकनुते
कृत-सुरतारक-सङ्गर-तारक-सङ्गर-तारक-सूनुसुते ।
सुरथ-समाधि-समान-समाधि-समाधि-समाधि-सुजातरते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१७॥

Salutations to You O Divine Mother, Whose splendor defeats even the Sun with thousands of rays, Who is saluted by the Sun with his thousands of rays, and Who was praised by Tarakasura demon after his defeat in the war between him and Her son,
Who were pleased with the chanting of mantras by the royal sage Suratha and the Vaisya named Samadhi who himself was like Samadhi and who prayed for Nirvikalpa Samadhi; Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

पदकमलं करुणा-निलये वरिवस्यति योऽनुदिनं स शिवे
अयि कमले कमला-निलये कमला-निलयः स कथं न भवेत् ।
तव पदमेव परम्पद-मित्यनुशीलयतो मम किं न शिवे
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१८॥

O Divine Mother! Whoever worships Your auspicious lotus feet, everyday, Which is an abode of compassion, Which is an abode of Kamala (Goddess Lakshmi); that person will certainly be endowed with all prosperity.
Your feet indeed is the Supreme feet (i.e. Supreme refuge). How can I not practice devotion towards them, O Auspicious Mother? Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

कनकल-सत्कल-सिन्धु-जलैरनु-षिञ्चिनुते-गुण-रङ्ग-भुवम्
भजति स किं न शची-कुच-कुम्भ-तटी-परि-रम्भ-सुखानु-भवम् ।
तव चरणं शरणं करवाणि नतामरवाणि-निवासि शिवम्
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥१९॥

O Divine Mother! Whoever sprinkles water from the river, taken in a golden pot, in the place where Your attributes are exhibited (i.e. Your place of worship), will get the same pleasure like the Indra in heaven by Your grace.
Therefore, O Goddess, I take refuge at Your holy feet, Which is also a place where Lord Shiva resides. I prostrate before You, O eternal Vani (Devi Saraswati), in Whom resides all auspiciousness. Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

तव विमलेऽन्दु-कुलं वदनेन्दुमलं सकलं ननु कूलयते
किमु पुरुहूत-पुरीन्दु-मुखी-सुमुखीभि-रसौ-विमुखी-क्रियते ।
मम तु मतं शिवनाम-धने भवती कृपया किमु त क्रियते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥२०॥

O Divine Mother! Whoever repeatedly meditates on Your divine face resplendent like a full moon, will never be rejected by beautiful women like those in Indra's abode.
O Goddess, Who is held in esteem by Shiva, I am sure You would not reject my wishes. Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

अयि मयि दीन दयालु-तया कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे
अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथाऽनुमितासिरते ।
यदुचितमत्र भवत्युररी कुरुता-दुरुतापमपा-कुरुते
जय जय हे महिषासुर-मर्दिनि रम्य-कपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥२१॥

O Divine Mother! O compassionate Mother! Please bestow Your grace on me. O Mother of the Universe, be pleased to give me the independence to consider You as my mother.
You may reject my prayer at this time if it is not proper, O worshipful Mother, but please remove my sorrows and afflictions which has become difficult for me to bear. Victory to You, O destroyer of the demon Mahishasura, Who has charming locks of hair, and Who is the daughter of the Mountain.

।। इति श्री शङ्कराचार्यविरचितं महिषासुरमर्दिनिस्तोत्रम् सम्पूर्णम् ।।

Thus ends the hymn Mahishasura Mardini Stotram composed by Shri Shankaracharya.

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NOTE:
This is the original version of Mahishasura Mardini Stotram. You may find that some texts do not match the words from the song. Know that, the texts written here is the correct and complete one. For easy reading, dash sign (-) is placed in the middle of texts, leaving space as it is. If you want the original format, just remove dash sign from all the verses.