durgamahishasuramahishasura-mardininavratri

Ayi Shatakhanda Vikhandita

Ayi Shatakhanda Vikhandita in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 During Navratri, especially Ashtami and Navami, or any time courage and protection are needed·📜 Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, verse 4 (attributed to Adi Shankaracharya)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is the fourth verse of the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (Ayi Giri Nandini), attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. With cascading alliteration it pictures Durga in the thick of cosmic battle — shattering elephant-demons, tearing open their temples and beheading demon chiefs with her own arms — before bursting into the famous refrain 'Jaya Jaya He Mahishasura Mardini'. It is one of the most thrilling, fast-paced stanzas of the hymn.

Origin & Story

Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, verse 4 (attributed to Adi Shankaracharya) · Adi Shankaracharya (traditionally) · 8th century CE

This is the fourth stanza of the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, an ecstatic Durga hymn whose complex meter mirrors the rhythm of the cosmic battle. While the opening verses adore the Goddess as the mountain-daughter, this verse plunges into the warfare itself, portraying Durga astride her lion, shattering elephant-demons and beheading the demon hosts — a vivid picture of the war recounted in the Devi Mahatmyam.

✦ As told in scripture

The Devi Mahatmyam tells how Mahishasura, granted that no male could slay him, conquered the heavens, and the gods poured their combined energies into Durga. She battled the demon armies for nine nights (Navratri) and on the tenth day pinned the shape-shifting buffalo-demon with her foot and pierced his heart with her trident, as the gods rained flowers. This verse celebrates her unstoppable valour in that war.

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The Mantra

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Ayi shatakhandavikhanditarundavitunditashundagajadhipate Ripugajagandavidaranachandaparakramashunda mrigadhipate Nijabhujadandanipatitakhandavipatitamundabhatadhipate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute

Meaning:O Goddess who shattered into a hundred pieces the lordly elephant-demons, hewing off their trunks and severing their heads; the lioness of fierce valour who tore open the temples of the enemy elephants; who with your own staff-like arms felled and beheaded the chiefs of the demon warriors — victory, victory to you, O slayer of the demon Mahisha, of lovely matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Ayi🔊O! (an affectionate vocative addressing the Goddess)

Shatakhanda🔊Into a hundred pieces

Vikhandita🔊Shattered, broken apart

Runda🔊Headless trunks (of the demon-elephants)

Vitundita🔊With trunks torn off

Shunda🔊Trunk (of an elephant)

Gajadhipate🔊O conqueror of the lordly elephant-demons

Ripu-gaja-ganda-vidarana🔊Tearing open the temples of the enemy elephants

Chanda-parakrama🔊Of fierce valour and prowess

Mrigadhipate🔊O rider of the king of beasts (the lion)

Nija-bhuja-danda🔊By your own staff-like arms

Nipatita🔊Struck down, felled

Munda-bhatadhipate🔊O slayer of the lords of the (demon) warriors, beheading them

Jaya jaya he🔊Victory, victory to you!

Mahishasuramardini🔊O slayer of the buffalo-demon Mahishasura

Ramyakapardini🔊O Goddess with beautiful braided locks

Shailasute🔊O daughter of the mountain (Parvati)

Benefits of Chanting Ayi Shatakhanda Vikhandita

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A powerful warrior verse of the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram invoking Durga's fierce battle valour

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Chanted for courage, victory over enemies and the destruction of negativity

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Its rapid, alliterative meter creates an intense, trance-like devotional momentum

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Especially recited during Navratri, particularly on Ashtami and Navami

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Best sung aloud — its rhythm carries the energy of the cosmic battle

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Invokes Durga's protective, demon-slaying aspect for those facing hardship or fear

How to Chant Ayi Shatakhanda Vikhandita

Repetitions3times

Best TimeDuring Navratri, especially Ashtami and Navami, or any time courage and protection are needed

This verse is best SUNG rather than merely recited — its power lies in its galloping meter. Build through the three long lines to the climactic refrain 'Jaya Jaya He Mahishasura Mardini Ramyakapardini Shailasute'. Listen to a recording first to learn the cadence, then chant 3 times during Navratri evenings before an image of Durga.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Ayi Shatakhanda Vikhandita written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It describes Goddess Durga in fierce battle — shattering the demon-elephants into a hundred pieces, tearing open their temples as a lioness of mighty valour, and felling and beheading the chiefs of the demon warriors with her own arms — ending with the victory refrain 'Jaya Jaya He Mahishasura Mardini'.

It is the fourth verse of the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (also known by its opening 'Ayi Giri Nandini'), traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and immensely popular during Navratri.

It is built from long Sanskrit compound words packed with alliteration ('shatakhanda-vikhandita-runda-vitundita-shunda'). This dense, rhythmic sound is intentional — it mirrors the rush and clamour of the cosmic battle and gives the verse its thrilling momentum when sung.

It is chanted during Durga worship, especially on Ashtami and Navami of Navratri, and at any time one seeks courage, protection and the strength to overcome difficulties.