devishyamalamatangikalidasa

Shyamala Dandakam

Shyamala Dandakam in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Morning hours, on Fridays, and during Navaratri; before study, music or performance·📜 Traditional hymn attributed to Kalidasa (Shakta / Sri Vidya tradition)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Shyamala Dandakam is a celebrated hymn attributed to the great poet Kalidasa, addressed to Devi Shyamala (Matangi) — the dark-hued Goddess of speech, music and minister of Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari. It opens with two meditative verses on Her ruby veena and four-armed form, then flows into the rhythmic 'dandaka' prose-poem that garlands Her from crown to feet with cascading epithets. Devotees recite it for mastery of speech, music, the arts, and the clearing of all obstacles to learning and eloquence.

Origin & Story

Traditional hymn attributed to Kalidasa (Shakta / Sri Vidya tradition) · Attributed to Mahakavi Kalidasa · Classical (attributed to the age of Kalidasa)

The Shyamala Dandakam is sung to Devi Shyamala (Matangi), the Goddess of speech and music who serves as the minister of Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari. According to a beloved tradition, the poet Kalidasa was once dull of wit until the Goddess blessed his tongue, whereupon poetry poured from him; in gratitude he composed hymns to Her, of which this dandaka — adoring Her from the crown of flowering curls to Her lotus feet — is the most famous. It begins with two meditation verses and flows into the rhythmic dandaka praising Her ruby veena, her bow of sugarcane and her enchanting, meaning-rich speech.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that Kalidasa, originally a simpleton, became the greatest of poets the very night the Divine Mother of speech touched his tongue; devotees believe that sincere recitation of this dandaka likewise awakens eloquence, music and learning, and that those who chant it before study or performance find the Mother loosening every knot in their speech.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

dhyānam māṇikyavīṇāmupalālayantīṃ madālasāṃ mañjulavāgvilāsām | māhendranīladyutikomalāṅgīṃ mātaṅgakanyāṃ manasā smarāmi || 1||

Meaning:Meditation: I call to mind the daughter of Matanga, who fondly plays a ruby-studded veena, languid with bliss, whose very play is the charm of sweet speech, her tender form glowing with the radiance of a great sapphire.

Verse 2

caturbhuje candrakalāvataṃse kaconnate kuṅkumarāgaśoṇe | puṇḍrekṣupāśāṅkuśapuṣpabāṇa- haste namaste jagadekamātaḥ || 2||

Meaning:O four-armed Goddess wearing the crescent moon, with high bosom reddened by saffron, holding in your hands the sugarcane bow, the noose, the goad and the flower-arrows — salutations to You, O sole Mother of the universe!

Verse 3

viniyogaḥ jaya janani sudhāsamudrāntarhṛdyanmaṇīdvīpasaṃrūḍha- bilvāṭavīmadhyakalpadrumākalpakādambakāntāravāsapriye kṛttivāsapriye sarvalokapriye |

Meaning:Victory to You, O Mother, who delight to dwell in the grove of kadamba and the wish-tree, in the heart of the bilva forest that flourishes upon the Island of Gems within the ocean of nectar — O beloved of Shiva clad in hide, O beloved of all the worlds!

Verse 4

sādarārabdhasaṃgītasambhāvanāsaṃbhramālolanīpasragābaddha- cūlī-sanāthatrike sānumatputrike |

Meaning:O Mother, daughter of the mountain (Himavan), whose three-folded crown of hair is bound and graced with a garland of kadamba flowers, swaying in the eager rapture of song lovingly begun!

Verse 5

śekharībhūtaśītāṃśurekhāmayūkhāvalībaddhasusnigdha- nīlālakaśreṇiśṛṃgārite lokasambhāvite |

Meaning:O One adorned with rows of soft, glossy dark curls, crowned and haloed by the rays of the crescent moon set upon them, honoured by all the worlds!

Verse 6

kāmalīlādhanussannibhabhrūlatā-puṣkarairveṣṭitānekaśambāka- rīśabdagarbhollasatkekinī-nādahāriṇi ||

Meaning:O One whose creeper-like brows are curved like the playful bow of Kama, whose speech, rich with meaning, enchants the heart like the sweet, resonant cry of the peacock!

Word-by-Word Meaning

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māṇikya-vīṇām🔊a veena (lute) studded with rubies

upalālayantīṃ🔊fondly playing upon / caressing

madālasāṃ🔊languid, gently intoxicated with bliss

mañjula-vāg-vilāsām🔊She whose play is sweet and beautiful speech

māhendranīla-dyuti🔊with the radiance of a great sapphire (deep blue)

komalāṅgīṃ🔊She of soft, delicate limbs

mātaṅga-kanyāṃ🔊the daughter of the sage Matanga (Matangi / Shyamala)

manasā smarāmi🔊I meditate upon (Her) with my mind

caturbhuje🔊O four-armed Goddess

candra-kalā-vataṃse🔊O One who wears the crescent moon as an ornament

kuṅkuma-rāga-śoṇe🔊reddened with the hue of saffron / kumkum

puṇḍrekṣu🔊the sugarcane bow

pāśāṅkuśa🔊the noose and the goad

puṣpa-bāṇa🔊the flower arrows

haste🔊in (whose) hands (these are held)

namaste jagad-eka-mātaḥ🔊salutations to You, O sole Mother of the universe

jaya janani🔊Victory to You, O Mother!

sudhā-samudra-antaḥ🔊within the ocean of nectar (the cosmic ocean of immortal bliss)

maṇī-dvīpa🔊the Island of Gems (Manidvipa, the supreme abode of the Devi)

bilvāṭavī-madhya🔊in the midst of the forest of bilva (bael) trees

kalpa-druma🔊the wish-fulfilling Kalpaka tree

kṛttivāsa-priye🔊O beloved of Shiva (Krittivasa, the one clad in tiger-skin)

sarva-loka-priye🔊O One dear to all the worlds

nīlālaka-śreṇi🔊rows of dark, glossy curls of hair

kekinī-nāda-hāriṇi🔊O One whose speech enchants like the sweet cry of the peahen / peacock

Benefits of Chanting Shyamala Dandakam

✦

Invokes Devi Shyamala (Matangi), the Goddess of speech, music and the fine arts

✦

Traditionally recited for eloquence, command of language, and success in learning and the arts

✦

Said to bestow the grace of Saraswati and Lalita, sharpening intellect and creativity

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The flowing dandaka rhythm itself trains clear, melodious and confident speech

✦

Removes obstacles to study, performance and self-expression

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Cultivates devotion to the Divine Mother in Her gentle, blissful, music-loving form

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Bestows beauty of expression and the favour of the Mother who is 'minister' of the supreme Devi

How to Chant Shyamala Dandakam

Repetitions1times

Best TimeMorning hours, on Fridays, and during Navaratri; before study, music or performance

After bathing, sit facing east before an image of Devi Shyamala or Saraswati with a lamp and flowers. First recite the two dhyana verses ('Manikya-veenam...'), then chant the dandaka in a steady, flowing rhythm without breaking the cascade of epithets. Students, singers and speakers often recite it before study or performance to invoke clear speech and the Mother's grace. Conclude with a prayer for wisdom and eloquence.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Shyamala Dandakam 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.

Shyamala (also Matangi or Raja-Shyamala) is the dark-complexioned Divine Mother of speech, music and the arts. In the Sri Vidya tradition She is the 'Mantrini' or minister-commander of Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari, and She is closely identified with Saraswati as the deity of language and wisdom.

It is traditionally attributed to the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. A well-known legend says he received the gift of poetry by the grace of the Goddess, and this dandaka is sung as his offering of devotion to Her.

A dandaka is a special metrical form in Sanskrit poetry — a long, flowing composition built from extended compound words and a continuous rhythm, like an unbroken garland. The Shyamala Dandakam uses this form to praise the Goddess from head to foot in one cascading stream.

Because Shyamala is the Goddess of speech, music and learning, the hymn is recited for eloquence, sharp intellect, success in the arts, and the removal of obstacles to study and performance. The rhythmic recitation itself cultivates clear, confident speech.