Shri Mahishasur Mardini Stotram (Śrī Mahiṣāsuramardini Stotram)
ayi girinandini nanditamedini viśvavinodini nandinute
girivaravindhyaśiro’dhinivāsini viṣṇuvilāsini jiṣṇunute .
bhagavati he śitikaṇṭhakuṭumbini bhūrikuṭumbini bhūrikṛte
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 1 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
1.1: Salutations to You O Divine Mother, I Invoke You; Who is the Daughter of the Mountain; By Whose presence the whole World is filled with Joy; For Whom the whole World is a Divine Play and Who is Praised by Nandi,
1.2: (I Invoke You O Devi) Who Dwell on the Summit of the Vindhyas, the Best of the Mountains; Who give Joy to Lord Vishnu (as His sister) and Who is Praised by Lord Indra,
1.3: O Goddess Bhagavati, Who is the Consort of the One with Blue Throat (Lord Shiva); Who has Many Many Relations in this World (being the Cosmic Mother) and Who has Created Abundance (in Creation),
1.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
suravaravarṣiṇi durdharadharṣiṇi durmukhamarṣiṇi harṣarate
tribhuvanapoṣiṇi śaṅkaratoṣiṇi kilbiṣamoṣiṇi ghoṣarate .
danujaniroṣiṇi ditisutaroṣiṇi durmadaśoṣiṇi sindhusute
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 2 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
2.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Who Shower Boons on the Devas; Who Overpowered Demon Durdhara (literally meaning Unrestrainable) and Endured Demon Durmukha (literally meaning Foul-Mouthed) and finally slayed him, and Who Delight in Her own Bliss,
2.2: (I Invoke You) Who Sustain and Nourish the Three-Worlds; Who Delight Lord Shankara by Removing the Sins (i.e. Sinful Demons) by Indulging in the Tumult of the Battle,
2.3: Who Quel the Wrath of the Danavas (Born from Danu) and is Angry with the Daityas (Son of Diti); Who Dry up the Foolish Pride of Demons; and Who is the Daughter of the Ocean (as Devi Lakshmi),
2.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
ayi jagadamba madamba kadamba vanapriyavāsini hāsarate
śikhari śiromaṇi tuṅgahimalaya śṛṅganijālaya madhyagate .
madhumadhure madhukaiṭabhagañjini kaiṭabhabhañjini rāsarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 3 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
3.1: Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Who is the Mother of the Universe; Who is My Own Mother; Who Like to Live in the Forest of Kadamba Trees (Kadamba) and Delight in Laughter and Mirth,
3.2: (I Invoke You) Who Abide in the Middle of the Crest-Jewel of the Peaks of Lofty Himalayas,
3.3: Who is as Sweet as Honey; Who Subdued the Pride of the Demons Madhu and Kaitabha and Destroyed the Demons (Madhu and) Kaitabha, Indulging in the Din and Uproar of the Great Battle,
3.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
ayi śatakhaṇḍa vikhaṇḍitaruṇḍa vituṇḍitaśuṇda gajādhipate
ripugajagaṇḍa vidāraṇacaṇḍa parākramaśuṇḍa mṛgādhipate .
nijabhujadaṇḍa nipātitakhaṇḍa vipātitamuṇḍa bhaṭādhipate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 4 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
4.1: Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Who is the Conquerer of the Enemy’s Elephants; Who Cut off their Trunks and Heads, and the Headless Bodies into Hundred Pieces,
4.2: (I Invoke You) Whose Lion Fiercely Tear Asunder the Faces of the Powerful Elephants of the Enemies,
4.3: Who Felled the Heads of Demons (Chanda) and Munda with the Weapons in Her Arms and Conquered the (Enemy) Warriors,
4.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
ayi raṇadurmada śatruvadhodita durdharanirjara śaktibhṛte
caturavicāra dhurīṇamahāśiva dūtakṛta pramathādhipate .
duritadurīha durāśayadurmati dānavaduta kṛtāntamate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 5 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
5.1: Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Who Manifested to Destroy the Battle-Intoxicated Arrogant Demons and Who is the possessor of Unrestrainable and Imperishable Power,
5.2: (I Invoke You) Who made Lord Shiva Her Messenger, that Shiva Who is Distinguished by Cleverness in Deliberation and is the Lord of the Ghosts and Goblins,
5.3: Who is Honoured for Bringing an End (i.e. Rejecting) to the Proposal of the Evil-Minded and Ignorant Messenger of the Demon (Shumbha) (and hence bringing an end to the demons themselves),
5.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
ayi śaraṇāgata vairivadhuvara vīravarābhaya dāyakare
tribhuvanamastaka śūlavirodhi śiro’dhikṛtāmala śūlakare .
dumidumitāmara dhundubhinādamahomukharīkṛta diṅmakare
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 6 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
6.1: Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Who gave Abhaya to the Heroic Soldiers of the Enemy when their Good Wives took Her Refuge,
6.2: (I Invoke You) Whose Pure Trident in Hand Capture the Heads of the Heads (Rulers) of the Three Worlds who Oppose that Trident,
6.3: Whose Victory give rise to Dumi-Dumi Sound of Dundubhi Drum flowing incessantly like Water which fills All the Directions with Joy,
6.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
ayi nijahuṅkṛti mātranirākṛta dhūmravilocana dhūmraśate
samaraviśoṣita śoṇitabīja samudbhavaśoṇita bījalate .
śivaśivaśumbha niśumbhamahāhava tarpitabhūta piśācarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 7 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
7.1: Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Who Reduced Demon Dhumralocana into Hundred Smoke Particles (i.e. Ashes) with a Mere Humkara,
7.2: (I Invoke You) Who Dried up the Strength of the original Demon Raktabija and Similar Raktabijas Produced from him like a Creeper Chain (from each drop of blood Seed ) during the Battle,
7.3: Whose Great Auspicious Sacrifice (resembling a Yagna) of Shumbha and Nishumbha satisfied the Ghosts and Fiends (attending Lord Shiva),
7.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
dhanuranuṣaṅga raṇakṣaṇasaṅga parisphuradaṅga naṭatkaṭake
kanakapiśaṅga pṛṣatkaniṣaṅga rasadbhaṭaśṛṅga hatābaṭuke .
kṛtacaturaṅga balakṣitiraṅga ghaṭadbahuraṅga raṭadbaṭuke
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 8 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
8.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Whose Bracelet Dances on Her Shining Arms Following the Movements of Her Bow during Each Instant of the Battle,
8.2: (I Invoke You) Whose Golden Arrows become Reddish (with blood) when they Cling to the Stupid Enemies and Slay them inspite of their Howls and Screams at the Top of their Voice (displaying vain pride),
8.3: Who Turn the Four-Fold Array (Caturanga) of Enemies surrounding from all sides, and consisting of Many Heads of Various Colours who Stupidly Howl and Scream (displaying their vain pride), INTO a Play of Decreasing Strength (of the Caturanga),
8.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
suralalanā tatatheyi tatheyi kṛtābhinayodara nṛtyarate
kṛta kukuthaḥ kukutho gaḍadādikatāla kutūhala gānarate .
dhudhukuṭa dhukkuṭa dhiṃdhimita dhvani dhīra mṛdaṃga ninādarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 9 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
9.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Following the Rhythm of Whose Great Battle the Celestial Dancers Dance the rhythm of Ta-Tha-Theyi, Ta-Theyi, expressing the sentiment of the battle with their Dramatic Acts,
9.2: (I Invoke You) Following the Rhythm of Whose Great Battle the Celestial Musicians Create Music capturing the Tense Eagerness of the battle with the Talas (musical beats) like Ku-Kutha, Ku-Kutha, Ga-Da-Dha, Ga-Da-Dha,
9.3: Following the Rhythm of Whose Great Battle a Steady Deep Sound of Dhu-Dhu-Kuta, Dhu-Kuta, Dhim-Dhimi is played in the background from the Mridangam (a musical drum),
9.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
jaya jaya japya jayejayaśabda parastuti tatparaviśvanute
jhaṇajhaṇajhiñjhimi jhiṅkṛta nūpuraśiñjitamohita bhūtapate .
naṭita naṭārdha naṭī naṭa nāyaka nāṭitanāṭya sugānarate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 10 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
10.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Who is Praised by the Whole World; For Whom they Mutter Victory Prayers before the Battle, Shout Victory Shouts after the Battle, which is then Followed by Singing Her Stuthis (Eulogy),
10.2: (I Invoke You) Whose Anklets Jingling with the Jhana-Jhana Sound Captivate Lord Shiva, the Lord of the Ghosts and Goblins,
10.3: Who Dance as Half of the Body of Lord Shiva, where the Male and the Female Dancers (having a single body) is the Hero of the Cosmic Play which is taking place along with the Beautiful Song (of the Divine Sound of Nada),
10.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
ayi sumanaḥsumanaḥsumanaḥ sumanaḥsumanoharakāntiyute
śritarajanī rajanīrajanī rajanīrajanī karavaktravṛte .
sunayanavibhramara bhramarabhramara bhramarabhramarādhipate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 11 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
11.1: Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Whose Beautiful Mind is United with a Charming Appearance,
11.2: (I Invoke You) Whose Beautiful Face makes Subserviant the Beauty of the Moon Light of Night by Hiding them with Its Own Beauty,
11.3: Whose Beautiful Eyes Conquer the Beauty of the Bees by Its Own Beauty,
11.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
sahitamahāhava mallamatallika mallitarallaka mallarate
viracitavallika pallikamallika jhillikabhillika vargavṛte .
śitakṛtaphulla samullasitāruṇa tallajapallava sallalite
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 12 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
12.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Who is Accompanied in the Great Battle against Excellent Wrestlers (Fighters) by Girls who appear Tender like Jasmine Fighting against the Enemies,
12.2: (I Invoke You) Whose Accompaniments are Composed of Girls from the Bheel Tribe who are Tender like Creepers of Jasmine and buzz like Swarms of Bees,
12.3: Whose Face Play a Smile Created by Joy which appear like Dawn Shining forth with Red Colour and Blossoming the Excellent Buds of Flowers,
12.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
aviralagaṇḍa galanmadamedura mattamataṅga jarājapate
tribhuvanabhuṣaṇa bhūtakalānidhi rūpapayonidhi rājasute .
ayi sudatījana lālasamānasa mohana manmatharājasute
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 13 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
13.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Who is like a Royal Intoxicated Elephant from whose Cheeks the Thick Mada (Intoxicant) Oozes out and Falls Incessantly (in the form of Arts, Beauty and Power),
13.2: (I Invoke You) Who is the Daughter of the King and from Whom comes the Treasures of Arts, Beauty and Power which are Ornaments of the Three Worlds,
13.3: 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,
13.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
kamaladalāmala komalakānti kalākalitāmala bhālalate
sakalavilāsa kalānilayakrama kelicalatkala haṃsakule .
alikulasaṅkula kuvalayamaṇḍala maulimiladbakulālikule
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 14 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
14.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; On Whose Stainless, Shining Forehead is Artistically Curved the Tender Beauty of a Spotless, Shining Lotus Petal,
14.2: (I Invoke You) Whose Movement resemble the Playful, Soft Movements of a Flock of Swans from Which All Schools of Arts are Manifested in Succession,
14.3: Whose Ornamented and Braided Hair Combines the Beauty and Sweetness of the Blue Water Lily crowded by Swarm of Bees AND the Bakula Flower infested with a Swarm of Bees,
14.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
karamuralīrava vījitakūjita lajjitakokila mañjumate
militapulinda manoharaguñjita rañjitaśaila nikuñjagate .
nijagaṇabhūta mahāśabarīgaṇa sadguṇasambhṛta kelitale
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 15 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
15.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Who make the Sound of Flute in Hand appear Wet and Monotonous; Who put the Cuckoo to Shame by the Beauty (of Her Voice),
15.2: (I Invoke You) Who Hum Heart-Stealing Songs along with the Girls of the Pulinda Tribe while Walking in the Brightly Coloured (due to blooming flowers) Grooves of the Mountains,
15.3: Who Play with the Tribal Women of Her Group who are filled with Good Virtues,
15.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
kaṭitaṭapīta dukūlavicitra mayukhatiraskṛta candraruce
praṇatasurāsura maulimaṇisphura daṃśulasannakha candraruce
jitakanakācala maulimadorjita nirbharakuñjara kumbhakuce
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 16 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
16.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Whose Waist is Soaked with Silk Clothes of Various Colours, the Lustre of Which Eclipses the Brightness of the Moon,
16.2: (I Invoke You) On Whose Toe-Nails Which Throb with the Radiance of Gems of Diadem and Spreads Its Brightness like Moon, Prostate the Devas and the Asuras,
16.3: Who Win over the Mighty Heads Swollen with Pride like Golden Mountain, with the Pre-eminence (of Power and Compassion) Abounding in Her Pitcher-Like Bosom,
16.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
vijitasahasrakaraika sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraikanute
kṛtasuratāraka saṅgaratāraka saṅgaratāraka sūnusute .
surathasamādhi samānasamādhi samādhisamādhi sujātarate .
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 17 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
17.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Who Conquer Thousands of Enemies who fight against Her with Thousands of Hands (by manifesting Her Own Thousand Hands); Who then Make Thousands of Hands (of Devotees) Praise Her,
17.2: (I Invoke You) Who Created the Rescuer of the Devas (Son Kartikeya) to Fight with Demon Tarkasura and then Urged Her Son for that Great Fight,
17.3: Who is Pleased with both: The Devotional Contemplation like King Suratha for Worldly Gains, and also the Excellent Devotional Contemplation like Merchant Samadhi for Spiritual Knowledge,
17.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
padakamalaṃ karuṇānilaye varivasyati yo’nudinaṃ suśive
ayi kamale kamalānilaye kamalānilayaḥ sa kathaṃ na bhavet .
tava padameva parampadamityanuśīlayato mama kiṃ na śive
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 18 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
18.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You knowing that Whoever Serves Your Highly Auspicious Lotus Feet Everyday, Which is an Abode of Compassion, …
18.2: (He Serves) That Lotus (Lotus Feet), Which is an Abode of Kamala (Goddess Mahalakshmi); (Therefore) Will He Not Himself Become an Abode of Kamala (i.e. filled with Purity and Prosperity)?
18.3: Your Feet Indeed is the Supreme Feet (i.e. Supreme Refuge); Therefore How can I Not Practise Devotion Towards them, O Auspicious Mother?
18.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
kanakalasatkalasindhujalairanuṣiñcati teguṇaraṅgabhuvam
bhajati sa kiṃ na śacīkucakumbhataṭīparirambhasukhānubhavam .
tava caraṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ karavāṇi natāmaravāṇi nivāsi śivam
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 19 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
19.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You knowing that when a Devotee Washes the Place where Your Attributes are Exhibited (i.e. Your Place of Worship) with Water from River which is Shining like Gold and Flowing Softly, …
19.2: Will He not Feel the Joy of Your All-Embracing Grace contained in Your Pitcher-Like Bosom (i.e. Cosmic Heart)?
19.3: (Therefore) I Take Refuge at Your Feet, O Vani (Devi Mahasaraswati), and I Prostate before You, O Eternal Vani (Devi Mahasaraswati), in Whom Resides All Auspiciousness,
19.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
tava vimalendukulaṃ vadanendumalaṃ sakalaṃ nanu kūlayate
kimu puruhūtapurīndu mukhī sumukhībhirasau vimukhīkriyate .
mama tu mataṃ śivanāmadhane bhavatī kṛpayā kimuta kriyate
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 20 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
20.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Whose Moon-Like Face is the Abode of Spotless and Stainless Purity which Certainly Subdues All Impurities,
20.2: Otherwise, Why have my Mind Turned Away from the Moon-Faced Beautiful Ladies like those present in Indra’s Castle?
20.3: According to my opinion; Without Your Grace, How is it possible to Discover the Treasure of Shiva’s Name within us? (Therefore I continue to Invoke Your Grace),
20.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
ayi mayi dīna dayālutayā kṛpayaiva tvayā bhavitavyamume
ayi jagato jananī kṛpayāsi yathāsi tathānumitāsirate .
yaducitamatra bhavatyurarīkurutādurutāpamapākurute
jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasute .. 21 ..
(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
21.1: (Salutations to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; You Must Bestow Your Grace on Me, O Mother Uma, Who is Compassionate to the Miserable,
21.2: (I Invoke You) O Mother of the Universe; Just as Your Grace is Showered (on the Devotees), In the Same Manner are Your Arrows Scattered (on the Enemies) (destroying their egos),
21.3 Please do Whatever is Appropriate at this time, O Worshipful Mother, to Remove the Sorrows and Afflictions (of the world) which has become Difficult for me to bear,
21.4: Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain.
The Mahishasura Mardini Stotram holds immense significance during Navratri. Composed by the great sage Adi Shankaracharya around 810 AD, this stotram is based on the Devi Mahatmyam and extols the different powers (shaktis) of the Devi. The Devi takes different forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati and destroys the demons - Madhu and Kaitabha, Mahishasura, and Sumbha and Nisumbha.
Mahishasura Mardini Stotram is said to bring peace to the devotee and removes all fear and sadness. It drives away negative emotions like doubt, anger, ego and inertia. This stotram also removes obstacles from the path of the believer.
“The place where Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram is sung every day, I will always be present and never leave.”
— The Devi’s proclamation in the 12th chapter of the Devi Mahatmyam