Shyamala Navaratnamalika
Shyamala Navaratnamalika in English · English
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✦ Meaning
The Shyamala Navaratnamalika ('garland of nine gems to Shyamala') is a nine-verse hymn by Adi Shankaracharya to Goddess Raja-Shyamala — also called Matangi, the Sri Vidya Goddess of music, speech and the arts and the minister-companion (mantrini) of Lalita Tripurasundari. Each polished verse meditates on her dark beauty, her veena, her seven musical notes and her compassionate glance, hailing her as the parrot of Om, the nightingale of the Upanishads and the peahen of the Agamas. It is a treasured companion to the famous Shyamala Dandakam.
Origin & Story
Devotional Sri Vidya / Shakta hymn, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya (traditional attribution) · c. 8th century CE (traditional attribution)
Raja-Shyamala (Matangi) is the Goddess of music, speech and the arts in the Sri Vidya tradition, serving as the mantrini — minister and intimate companion — of Lalita Tripurasundari, who directs the celestial music and counsel of the Mother's court. This 'garland of nine gems' distils her worship into nine jewel-like verses overflowing with the imagery of the veena and the seven notes. Together with the longer Shyamala Dandakam, it is a favourite of devotees and of artists who seek her grace before they sing, play or compose.
✦ As told in scripture
Devotees and musicians hold that the grace of Shyamala, invoked through such hymns, loosens the tongue of the dull, perfects the art of the singer and the dancer, and brings the favour of Saraswati herself — for she is the very 'Mother of music' (saṅgīta-mātṛkā) praised in the second verse.
Complete Text with Meaning
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oṅkāra-pañjara-śukīm upaniṣad-udyāna-keli-kalakaṇṭhīm | āgama-vipina-mayūrīm āryām antar vibhāvaye gaurīm || 1||
Meaning:1. I meditate within my heart upon the noble fair Goddess Gauri — the parrot in the cage of Om, the sweet-voiced nightingale sporting in the garden of the Upanishads, the peahen roaming the forest of the Agamas.
dayamāna-dīrgha-nayanāṃ deśika-rūpeṇa darśitābhyudayām | vāma-kuca-nihita-vīṇāṃ varadāṃ saṅgīta-mātṛkāṃ vande || 2||
Meaning:2. I bow to her, the Mother of all music, the bestower of boons — with long eyes streaming compassion, who reveals well-being to her devotees by taking the form of a guru, holding the veena against her left bosom.
śyāmalima-saukumāryāṃ saundaryānanda-sampad-unmeṣām | taruṇima-karuṇā-pūrāṃ mada-jala-kallola-locanāṃ vande || 3||
Meaning:3. I adore her — dark-hued and delicate, the very blossoming of the wealth of the bliss of beauty, a flood of youthful compassion, her eyes rippling like waves of intoxicating joy.
nakha-mukha-mukharita-vīṇā-nāda-rasāsvādana-navanavollāsam | mukham amba modayatu māṃ muktā-tāṭaṅka-mugdha-hasitaṃ te || 4||
Meaning:4. O Mother, may thy face delight me — ever freshly radiant with the savour of the music streaming from the veena played by thy fingertips, adorned with pearl earrings and a charming, innocent smile.
sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-ratāṃ tāṃ vīṇā-saṅkrānta-kānta-hastāntām | śāntāṃ mṛdula-svāntāṃ kuca-bhara-tāntāṃ namāmi śiva-kāntām || 5||
Meaning:5. I bow to the beloved of Shiva — ever absorbed in the seven musical notes, her lovely fingers moving over the veena, serene, tender of heart, languid with the weight of her bosom.
avaṭu-taṭa-ghaṭita-cūlī-tāḍita-tāḷī-palāśa-tāṭaṅkām | vīṇā-vādana-leśā-kampita-śīrṣāṃ namāmi mātaṅgīm || 6||
Meaning:6. I bow to Matangi — her earrings of palmyra-leaf shape striking against the curls clustered at her cheeks, her head swaying ever so slightly with the playing of the veena.
vīṇā-ravānuṣaṅgaṃ vikala-kacāmoda-mādhurī-bhṛṅgam | karuṇā-pūra-taraṅgaṃ kalaye mātaṅga-kanyakāpāṅgam || 7||
Meaning:7. I contemplate the side-long glance of the daughter of Matanga — keeping company with the music of the veena, a bee drawn to the sweet fragrance of her loosened tresses, a wave in the flood of compassion.
mecakam āsecanakaṃ mithyā-dṛṣṭānta-madhya-bhāgaṃ te | mātas tava svarūpaṃ maṅgala-saṅgīta-saurabhaṃ vande || 8||
Meaning:8. O Mother, I adore thy form — dark and ever-delighting, never sating the eyes, its waist so slender that any comparison is but a false illusion, fragrant with auspicious music.
maṇi-bhaṅga-mecakāṅgīṃ mātaṅgīṃ naumi siddha-mātaṅgīm | yauvana-vana-sāraṅgīṃ saṅgītāmbhoruhānubhava-bhṛṅgīm || 9||
Meaning:9. I praise Matangi, the Siddha-Matangi — her limbs dark as a sapphire freshly cut, the doe of the forest of youth, the bee that drinks the bliss of the lotus of music.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Shyamala Navaratnamalika
Invokes Raja-Shyamala (Matangi), the Sri Vidya Goddess of music, learning, speech and the fine arts
Especially cherished by musicians, singers, dancers and students for mastery of the arts and eloquence
Each verse is a compact, musical meditation on the Goddess and her veena
Cultivates devotion, refinement of mind and a love of sacred music
A worthy shorter companion to the Shyamala Dandakam for daily recitation
Believed to bestow the grace of Saraswati-like wisdom and the fulfilment of creative pursuits
Recited during Shyamala worship and Navaratri for the Mother's blessings
How to Chant Shyamala Navaratnamalika
Sit before an image of Shyamala (Matangi) holding the veena, with a lamp and flowers. Recite the nine verses slowly, dwelling on the imagery of each — the parrot of Om, the veena, the seven notes, the compassionate glance. Musicians and students often chant it before practice or performance to invoke the Goddess of the arts. It may be recited once or three times daily, and is especially auspicious during Navaratri.
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Read the full Shyamala Navaratnamalika with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts