Mahishasuramardinistotram

(PrayertotheGoddesswhokilledMahishasura) ByRamakrishnakavi TranslatedbyP.R.Ramachander (ThisverypopularstotraofGoddessDurgaissupposedtohavebeenwrittenby RamakrishnaKavi.Nothingisknownabouttheauthor.ThegreatTenaliRamawas knownasRamakrishnaKaviandhewasagreatBhakthaofDurga.Butthereare noreferencestosayhathewrotethisgreatwork.Duetoitsverypoeticnature andrepetitionofwordsinthesamestanzawithdifferentnuances,thisis extremelydifficulttotranslate.Ihaveusedtheoneincompletetranslation availableintheweb(http://sanskrit.gde.to/doc_devii/mahisha_mean.itx ) aswell astherecentgreattranslationbySri.S.N.SastryofMadraswhichhasbeenposted inwww.celestel.org.TheversionofthestotrawhichIhaveusedisslightly differentfromwhathasbeenquotedabove.Ihaveusedtransliterationwith romanscript) Ayigirinandini,nandhithamedhini, Viswavinodhininandanuthe, Girivaravindhyasirodhinivasini, VishnuVilasiniJishnunuthe, Bhagawathiheysithikandakudumbini, Bhoorikudumbinibhoorikruthe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.1 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, Whomakesthewholeearthhappy, Whorejoiceswiththisuniverse, WhoisthedaughterofNanda, WhoresidesonthepeakofVindhyas, WhoplayswithLordVishnu, Whohasaglitteringmien, Whoispraisedbyothergoddesses, Whoistheconsortofthelordwiththeblueneck, Whohasseveralfamilies, Whodoesgoodtoherfamily. Whohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Suravaravarshini,durdaradarshini, Durmukhamarshani,harsharathe, Tribhuvanaposhini,Sankarathoshini, Kilbisishamoshini,ghosharathe, Danujaniroshini,Dithisutharoshini, Durmathasoshini,Sindhusuthe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.2

Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, Ohgoddesswhoshowersboonsondevas, Whopunishesthosewhoareundisciplined. Whotoleratesuglyfacedogres, Whoenjoysinbeinghappy, Wholooksafterthethreeworlds, WhopleaseslordShiva, Whoremoveseffectofsins, Whorejoiceswiththeholysound, WhoisangryontheprogeniesofDhanu, WhoisangrywiththechildrenofDithi, Whodiscouragesthosewithpride, WhoisthedaughteroftheOcean, Whohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura.

AyiJagadambhaMadambha,Kadambha, Vanapriyavasini,Hasarathe, Shikharisiromani,thungaHimalaya, Srunganijalaya,madhyagathe, MadhuMadure,Mdhukaitabhabanjini, Kaitabhabanjini,rasarathe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.3 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, Oh,motheroftheentireworld, WholovestoliveintheforestofKadambhatrees, Whoenjoystosmile, WholivesinthetoppeakofthegreatHimalayas Whoissweeterthanhoney, WhokeepsthetreasuresofMadhuandKaidabha, WhoistheslayerofKaidabha, Whoenjoysherdancing, Whohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Ayisathakanda,vikanditharunda, Vithundithashunda,Gajathipathe, RipuGajaganda,Vidhaaranachanda, Paraakramashunda,mrugathipathe, Nijabhujadandanipaathithakhanda, Vipaathithamunda,bhatathipathe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.4 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain,

OhGoddesswhobreakstheheadsofogres, Intohundredsofpieces, Whocutsthetrunksofelephantsinbattle, Whoridesonthevalorouslion, Whichtearstheheadsofelephantstopieces, Whoseverstheheadsofthegeneralsoftheenemy, Withherownarms, Whohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. AyiranadurmathaShathruvadhothitha, Durdharanirjjara,shakthibruthe, Chathuravicharadureenamahashiva, Duthatkruthapramadhipathe, DurithaDureeha,dhurasayadurmathi, Dhanavadhuthakruithaanthamathe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.5 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddesswhohasthestrengthwhichneverdiminishes, Togainvictoryoverenemiesinthebattlefield, WhomadePramatha,theattendantofLordShiva, Knownforhistrickystrategy,asherassistant, Whotookthedecisiontodestroytheasuras, Whoarebadpeople,withevilthoughtsandmind, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Ayisaranagathavairivadhuvara, Veeravaraabhayadhayakare, Tribhuvanamasthakasoolavirodhi, Sirodhikrithamalashoolakare, Dimidmithaamaradundubinadhamahaa Mukharikruthatigmakare, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.6 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddesswhoforgivesandgivesrefuge, Totheheroicsoldiersoftheenemyrank, Whosewivescomeseekingrefugeforthem, OhGoddesswhoisarmedwithtrident, Readytothrowontheheadsofthose, Whocausegreatpaintothethreeworlds, OhGoddesswhoshineslikesthehotsun, AndwhoisarousedbysoundofDhumi,Dhumi, Producedbythebeatingofdrumsbythedevas, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair,

Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Ayinijahuumkruthimathraniraakrutha, DhoomravilochanaDhoomrasathe, Samaravishoshithasonithabheeja, Samudhbhavasonithabheejalathe, Shivashivashumbhanishumbhamahahava, Tarpithabhoothapisacharathe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.7 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, Oh,Goddesswhoblewawayhundredsofogres, Whohadsmokingeyes, WithhermeresoundofHum OhGoddesswhoisthebloodredcreeper, Emanatingfromtheseedsofblood, Whichfellinthebattlefield, OhGoddesswhodelightsinthecompanyofLordShiva, AndtheogresShumbhaandNishumbha, Whoweresacrificedinthebattlefield, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Dhanuranushangaranakshanasanga, Parisphuradanganatathkatake, Kanakapishangabrushathkanishanga, Rasadbhatashrungahatavatuke, Krithachaturangabalakshithirangakadath, Bahurangaratadhpatuke, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.8 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddesswhodecksherselfwithornaments, Onherthrobbinglimbsinthefieldofbattle, Whenshegetsherbowreadytofight, OhGoddess,whokilledherenemies, Inthefieldofbattlewithashiningsword, Andtheshakingofhergoldenbrownspots, OhGoddess,whomadethebattlegroundofthefourfoldarmy, Intoastageofdramawithscreaminglittlesoldiers, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. jayajayajapyajayejayashabda, Parastutitatparavishvanute , BhanaBhanabhinjimibhingruthanoopura,

Sinjithamohithabhoothapathe, Nadinthanataarthanadinadanayaka, Nadithanatyasugaanarathe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.9 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddess,whosevictoryissung, Bythewholeuniverse, Whichisinterestedinsinginghervictory, OhGoddesswhoattractstheattentionofLordShiva, Bythetwinklingsoundmadebyheranklets, Whilesheisengagedindancing, OhGoddesswhogetsdelighted, Bythedanceanddramabyversatileactors, EvenwhilesheishalfofLordShivasbody, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Ayisumanasumana, Sumanasumanoharakanthiyuthe, Sritharajanirajanirajani, Rajaneekaravakthravruthe, Sunayanavibhramarabhrama, Bhramarabrahmaradhipadhe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.10 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddessofthepeoplewithgoodmind, Whoisgreatlygracioustosuchpeople, OhGoddesswhoappearsveryprettytothegoodminded, OhGoddesswithmoonlikeface, Whoisascoolasthemoon,tothoseinthedark, OhGoddesswhosefaceshinesinthemoonlight, OhGoddesswhoseveryprettyflowerlikeeyesattractsthebees, OhGoddesswhoattractsdevotees,likeaflowerwhichattractsbees, OhGoddesswhoattractsherlordlikeabee, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Sahithamahahavamallamahallika, Mallitharallakamallarathe, Virachithavallikapallikamallikabillika, BhillikavargaVruthe, Sithakruthapullisamullasitharuna, Thallajapallavasallalithe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.11

Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddesswhobecomeshappy, Inthesportofbattle,assistedbywarriors, OhGoddesswhoissurroundedbyhunters, Whosehutissurroundedbycreepers, AndthetribesofMallikas,JillakasandBhillakas, OhGoddesswhoisasprettyas Thefamousfullyopenedflower, OhGoddess,whoisasprettyasthecreeper, Fullofredtenderleaves, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura.

Aviralagandakalathamadamedura, Mathamatangarajapathe, Tribhuvanabhooshanabhoothakalanidhi, Roopapayonidhirajasuthe, Ayisudathijjanalalasamanasa, Mohanamanmatharajasuthe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.12 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddess,whowalkslikearoyalelephantinrut, InWhosefacethereisacopiousflowofichors, OhGoddess,whoisthedaughteroftheoceanofmilk, Fromwheretheprettymoonalsotookhisbirth, OhGoddesswhoistheornamentofthethreeworlds, OhGoddesswhoisworshippedbytheGodoflove, Whofillsthemindsofprettyladieswithdesire, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Kamaladalaamalakomalakanthi, Kalakalithaamalabalalathe, SakalavilasaKalanilayakrama, Kelichalathkalahamsakule, Alikulasankulakuvalayamandala, Maulimiladhbhakulalikule, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.13 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddess,whosespotlessforehead, Whichisofdelicateprettiness, Islikepureandtenderlotusleaf,

OhGoddesswhomoveslikethespotlesslyprettyswans, WhichMovewithdelicatesteps, Andwhichistheepitomeofarts,, OhGoddess,Whosetressissurrounded Bybeesfrombakulatrees, Whichnormallycrowdthetopsoflotusflowers, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura.

Karamuraliravaveejithakoojitha, Lajjithakokilamanjumathe, Milithapulindamanoharakunchitha, Ranchithashailanikunjakathe, Nijagunabhoothamahasabarigana, Sathgunasambruthakelithale, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.14 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddesswithsweettenderthoughts, Whosesweetenchantingmusic, Madethroughthefluteinherhands, Putthesweetvoicednightingaletoshame, OhGoddesswhostaysinpleasantmountaingroves, Whichresoundwiththevoiceoftribalfolks, OhGoddess,whoseplayfulstadium, Isfilledwithflocksoftribalwomen, Whohavemanyqualitiessimilartoher, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Katithatapeethadukoolavichithra, MayukathiraskruthaChandraruche, Pranathasuraasuramoulimanisphura, DamsulasannkaChandraruche, Jithakanakachalamaulipadorjitha, Nirbharakunjarakumbhakuche, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.15 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, Ohgoddess,whowearsyellowsilksonherwaist, Whichhaspeculiarbrilliance, Thatputsthemoontoshame, Ohgoddess,whosetoenailsshinelikethemoon, Becauseofthereflectionofthelight, FromthecrownsofGodsandasuraswhobowatherfeet, OhGoddesswhosebreastswhichchallenge,

Theforeheadofelephantsandthepeaksofgoldenmountains, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Vijithasahasrakaraikasahasrakaraika, Sarakaraikanuthe, Kruthasuthatharakasangaratharaka, Sangaratharakasoonusuthe, SurathaSamadhisamanaSamadhi, SamadhiSamadhisujatharathe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.16 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddess,whosesplendour, DefeatstheSunwithhisthousandrays OhGoddess,whoissalutedbytheSun, Whohasthousandsofrays, OhGoddesswhowaspraised, ByTharakasuraafterhisdefeat, Inthewarbetweenhimandyourson, OhGoddesswhowaspleasedwithKingSuratha, AndtherichmerchantcalledSamadhi, WhoenteredintoSamadhi, AndwhoprayedforendlessSamadhi, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Padakamalamkarunanilayevarivasyathi, yoanudhinamsashive, Ayikamalekamalanilayekamalanilaya Sakathamnabhaveth, Thavapadamevaparamithi Anusheelayathomamakimnashive, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.17 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, OhGoddess,inwhommercylives, Andwhoisauspiciousnessitself, Hewhoworshipsthinelotusfeet, Dailywithoutfail, Wouldforsurebeendowedwithwealth, BythatGoddesswholivesonlotus, AndifIconsiderthinefeetasonlyrefuge, IsthereanythingthatIwillnotget, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura.

Kanakalasathkalasindhujalairanu Sinjinuthegunarangabhuvam, BhajathisakimnaShachikuchakumbha Thatiparirambhasukhanubhavam, Thavacharanamsaranamkaravani Nataamaravaaninivasishivam, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.18 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, Hewhosprinklesthewateroftheocean, Takeninagoldenpot,onyourplayground, OhGoddesswillgetthesamepleasure, LiketheIndrainheaven,whenhefondles, ThepotlikebreastsofhiswifeSuchi, SoItakerefugeinthinefeetOhGoddess, WhichisalsoplacewhereShivaresides, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. ThavaVimalendukulamvadnedumalam Sakalayananukulayathe, Kimupuruhoothapureendumukhi Sumukhibheerasouvimukhikriyathe, Mamathumathamshivanamadhane Bhavathikrupayakimunakriyathe, JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.19 Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, Hewhokeepsthinefaceadornedbymoon, Inhisthoughtwouldneverfacerejection, Bythebevyofprettybeautieswithmoonlikeface, InthecelestialIndrascourt, AndsoohGoddesswhoisheldinesteembyShiva, Iamsureyouwouldnotrejectmywishes, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura. Ayimaideenadayaluthayakrupayaiva Thvayabhavthavyamume, Ayijagathojananikripayaaasi thathaanumithasirathe Nayaduchithamatrabhavathvyararikurutha, duruthapamapakarute JayaJayaMahishasuramardini, Ramyakapardini,shailaSuthe.20

Victoryandvictorytoyou, Ohdarlingdaughterofthemountain, Pleaseshowersomemercyonme, Asyouaremostmercifulontheoppressed. Ohmotheroftheuniverse,bepleased, Togivemetheindependence, Toconsideryouasmymother Anddonotrejectmyprayerevenifitisimproper, Butbepleasedtodriveawayallmysorrows, OhGoddesswhohascaptivatingbraidedhair, Whoisthedaughterofamountain. AndwhoistheslayerofMahishasura