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Bhrukuti-Kutilat Tasyah (Kali Springs Forth from the Goddess's Brow)

भ्रुकुटीकुटिलात्तस्या (देवी की भृकुटि से काली का प्रादुर्भाव)

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 During Navaratri, Kali Puja, or on Amavasya and Tuesdays at night·📜 Durga Saptashati Chapter 7

Also known as: bhrukuti kutilat tasya · birth of kali saptashati · kali manifestation durga saptashati · kali karala vadana · durga saptashati chapter 7

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Meaning

These celebrated verses from the seventh chapter of the Durga Saptashati describe the birth of Goddess Kali. When the demons Chanda and Munda attacked, Ambika's face darkened with wrath, and from her furrowed brow sprang forth Kali — fierce, sword and noose in hand, bearing a khatvanga staff, garlanded with skulls, clad in tiger-skin, her tongue lolling and her roar filling the skies. This is the scriptural source of Kali's iconic, terrifying form.

Origin & Story

Durga Saptashati Chapter 7 · Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana) · c. 400–600 CE (Markandeya Purana)

The demon-king Shumbha sent his generals Chanda and Munda with a fourfold army to seize the Goddess. As they advanced to capture her, Ambika's face grew dark with fury, and from the knit brow of her forehead the fierce Goddess Kali burst forth, sword and noose in hand. Kali devoured the demon hosts and beheaded Chanda and Munda, for which the Goddess named her Chamunda.

As told in scripture

It is traditionally believed that the very recitation of Kali's emergence here can drive away malign forces and break spells, for the form that scattered Chanda and Munda's armies is said to manifest its protective power around the sincere devotee who calls upon her.

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

भ्रुकुटीकुटिलात्तस्या ललाटफलकाद्द्रुतम् काली करालवदना विनिष्क्रान्तासिपाशिनी

bhrukuṭīkuṭilāttasyā lalāṭaphalakāddrutam kālī karālavadanā viniṣkrāntāsipāśinī

Meaning:From the knit brow of her forehead there suddenly sprang forth Kali, of terrible countenance, armed with sword and noose, bearing a strange skull-topped staff (khatvanga), adorned with a garland of human heads, clad in a tiger's skin, gruesome with her shrivelled flesh, her mouth gaping wide, terrifying with her lolling tongue, with deep-sunken reddened eyes, filling the quarters of the sky with her roar.

Verse 2

विचित्रखट्वाङ्गधरा नरमालाविभूषणा द्वीपिचर्मपरीधाना शुष्कमांसातिभैरवा

vicitrakhaṭvāṅgadharā naramālāvibhūṣaṇā dvīpicarmaparīdhānā śuṣkamāṃsātibhairavā

Verse 3

अतिविस्तारवदना जिह्वाललनभीषणा निमग्नारक्तनयना नादापूरितदिङ्मुखा

ativistāravadanā jihvālalanabhīṣaṇā nimagnāraktanayanā nādāpūritadiṅmukhā

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

भ्रुकुटीकुटिलात्🔊bhrukuṭī-kuṭilātFrom the knit, frowning brow
तस्याः ललाटफलकात्🔊tasyāḥ lalāṭa-phalakātFrom the surface of her forehead
द्रुतम्🔊drutamSuddenly, swiftly
काली करालवदना🔊kālī karāla-vadanāKali, of terrible (fierce) countenance
विनिष्क्रान्ता असिपाशिनी🔊viniṣkrāntā asi-pāśinīSprang forth, armed with sword and noose
विचित्रखट्वाङ्गधरा🔊vicitra-khaṭvāṅga-dharāBearing a strange skull-topped staff (khatvanga)
नरमालाविभूषणा🔊nara-mālā-vibhūṣaṇāAdorned with a garland of human heads
द्वीपिचर्मपरीधाना🔊dvīpi-carma-parīdhānāClad in a tiger's skin
शुष्कमांसातिभैरवा🔊śuṣka-māṃsāti-bhairavāGruesome with her shrivelled, emaciated flesh
अतिविस्तारवदना🔊ati-vistāra-vadanāWith a mouth gaping exceedingly wide
जिह्वाललनभीषणा🔊jihvā-lalana-bhīṣaṇāTerrifying with her lolling tongue
निमग्नारक्तनयना🔊nimagnā-rakta-nayanāWith deep-sunken, reddened eyes
नादापूरितदिङ्मुखा🔊nādāpūrita-diṅmukhāFilling the quarters of the sky with her roar

Benefits of Chanting Bhrukuti-Kutilat Tasyah (Kali Springs Forth from the Goddess's Brow)

Invokes Goddess Kali, the fiercest protective form of the Divine Mother

Recited for fearlessness and the swift destruction of grave dangers and enemies

Describes Kali's iconic form, ideal for dhyana (visualisation) during her worship

Burns away deep-rooted fears, negativity and obstacles that ordinary means cannot remove

Powerful during Navaratri, Kali Puja and on Amavasya nights

Strengthens the devotee's resolve to face and conquer the 'demons' of the mind

How to Chant Bhrukuti-Kutilat Tasyah (Kali Springs Forth from the Goddess's Brow)

Repetitions11times
Best TimeDuring Navaratri, Kali Puja, or on Amavasya and Tuesdays at night

Begin with the Saptashati seed mantra 'Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vichche'. Chant these dhyana verses slowly, building a vivid mental image of Kali emerging from the Goddess's brow with each line. Recited by devotees of Kali for protection and fearlessness, and as part of the seventh chapter path of the Durga Saptashati. Maintain reverence, as this is one of the most powerful descriptions of the fierce Mother.

Frequently Asked Questions

When the demons Chanda and Munda attacked, Ambika became fiercely angry and her face turned black as ink. From her furrowed, frowning brow Kali suddenly sprang forth, fierce of countenance, bearing sword, noose and skull-staff, to destroy the demon armies.
Kali's garland of heads, tiger-skin, lolling tongue and sunken red eyes embody the all-consuming power that annihilates evil and even devours time itself. Her fierce appearance is protective: it terrifies the wicked while sheltering the devotee.
These are verses 5 to 7 of the seventh chapter (Chanda-Munda-Vadha) of the Durga Saptashati, part of the Uttama Charita presided over by the Goddess Mahasaraswati.

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