Tvam Svaha Tvam Svadha (Brahma's Stuti to Yoganidra)
त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा (ब्रह्मकृत योगनिद्रा स्तुति)
Also known as: tvam svaha tvam svadha · brahma krita yoganidra stuti · yoganidra stuti · brahma stuti durga saptashati · mahamaya stuti chapter 1
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✦ Meaning
This is Brahma's celebrated hymn to Yoganidra (the Great Goddess as cosmic sleep) from the very first chapter of the Durga Saptashati. As the demons Madhu and Kaitabha rise to slay him while Vishnu sleeps the yogic sleep on the cosmic ocean, Brahma praises the Devi as Svaha, Svadha, the soul of Om, the creator, sustainer and dissolver of the universe, and as Mahamaya who deludes even the wise. Pleased, she withdraws from Vishnu, who awakens and destroys the two asuras.
Origin & Story
Durga Saptashati Chapter 1 · Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana) · Ancient (composed c. 400–600 CE as part of the Markandeya Purana)
In the Prathama Charita of the Devi Mahatmya, at the end of a cosmic cycle the universe becomes a single ocean and Vishnu lies in yogic sleep upon Ananta-Shesha. From the wax of his ears arise two terrible asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, who rush to slay Brahma seated on the lotus from Vishnu's navel. Unable to wake Vishnu, Brahma extols the Goddess of Sleep (Yoganidra) with this hymn, beginning 'Tvam svaha tvam svadha.' Pleased, she withdraws from Vishnu's body; he awakens and, after a five-thousand-year battle, slays the two demons.
✦ As told in scripture
Tradition holds that just as Brahma was delivered from the unassailable demons Madhu and Kaitabha the very moment the Goddess was praised, a devotee who recites this first stuti with faith is freed from overwhelming, seemingly invincible troubles, and the 'sleep of delusion' clouding the mind is lifted into spiritual awakening.
Complete Text with Meaning
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ब्रह्मोवाच त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका । सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता ॥
brahmovāca tvaṃ svāhā tvaṃ svadhā tvaṃ hi vaṣaṭkāraḥ svarātmikā sudhā tvamakṣare nitye tridhā mātrātmikā sthitā
Meaning:Brahma said: You are Svaha and Svadha; you are indeed the Vashatkara, the very soul of sound. You are the nectar Sudha, O eternal, imperishable One; you abide as the three matras of Om, and as the eternal half-matra that cannot be separately uttered. You yourself are the Sandhya, the Savitri, the supreme Mother of the gods, O Goddess. By you this universe is upheld, by you this world is created; by you it is sustained, O Goddess, and you ever devour it at the end. At creation you take the form of creation, in protection the form of sustenance, and at the world's end the form of dissolution, O you who are the world itself. You are the Mahavidya, Mahamaya, Mahamedha and Mahasmriti; you are the Mahamoha, the Mahadevi, the Maheshwari. You are Shri, you are Ishwari, you are Hri, you are the intellect marked by inner awakening; you are modesty, nourishment and contentment, tranquillity and forbearance. You are the supreme of the high and the low; you alone are the Supreme Sovereign. And whatever thing exists anywhere, real or unreal, O soul of all — of all that you are the Power; how then can I praise you fully? Delude these two unassailable asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, and let the Lord of the world, the unfallen Vishnu, be quickly brought to waking.
अर्धमात्रा स्थिता नित्या यानुच्चार्याविशेषतः । त्वमेव सन्ध्या सावित्री त्वं देवि जननी परा ॥
ardhamātrā sthitā nityā yānuccāryāviśeṣataḥ tvameva sandhyā sāvitrī tvaṃ devi jananī parā
त्वयैतद्धार्यते विश्वं त्वयैतत् सृज्यते जगत् । त्वयैतत् पाल्यते देवि त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा ॥
tvayaitaddhāryate viśvaṃ tvayaitat sṛjyate jagat tvayaitat pālyate devi tvamatsyante ca sarvadā
विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरूपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने । तथा संहृतिरूपान्ते जगतोऽस्य जगन्मये ॥
visṛṣṭau sṛṣṭirūpā tvaṃ sthitirūpā ca pālane tathā saṃhṛtirūpānte jagato'sya jaganmaye
महाविद्या महामाया महामेधा महास्मृतिः । महामोहा च भवती महादेवी महेश्वरी ॥
mahāvidyā mahāmāyā mahāmedhā mahāsmṛtiḥ mahāmohā ca bhavatī mahādevī maheśvarī
त्वं श्रीस्त्वमीश्वरी त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्बोधलक्षणा । लज्जा पुष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिस्त्वं शान्तिः क्षान्तिरेव च ॥
tvaṃ śrīstvamīśvarī tvaṃ hrīstvaṃ buddhirbodhalakṣaṇā lajjā puṣṭistathā tuṣṭistvaṃ śāntiḥ kṣāntireva ca
परापराणां परमा त्वमेव परमेश्वरी । यच्च किञ्चित्क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्वाखिलात्मिके ॥
parāparāṇāṃ paramā tvameva parameśvarī yacca kiñcitkvacidvastu sadasadvākhilātmike
तस्य सर्वस्य या शक्तिः सा त्वं किं स्तूयसे मया । मोहयैतौ दुराधर्षावसुरौ मधुकैटभौ । प्रबोधं च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु ॥
tasya sarvasya yā śaktiḥ sā tvaṃ kiṃ stūyase mayā mohayaitau durādharṣāvasurau madhukaiṭabhau prabodhaṃ ca jagatsvāmī nīyatāmacyuto laghu
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Tvam Svaha Tvam Svadha (Brahma's Stuti to Yoganidra)
Invokes the Devi as Mahamaya and Yoganidra — the supreme power behind creation, preservation and dissolution
Considered a powerful awakening prayer to dispel inner ignorance (the sleep of delusion) and confer spiritual wakefulness
Recited at the very start of the Durga Saptashati paath, sanctifying the entire recitation
Praises the Goddess as the soul of Om and the Vedas, deepening devotion and Self-knowledge
Believed to grant protection from unseen dangers, just as Brahma was saved from Madhu and Kaitabha
Cultivates surrender to the divine Mother as the one Shakti pervading all that exists
How to Chant Tvam Svaha Tvam Svadha (Brahma's Stuti to Yoganidra)
Sit facing east or north before an image of the Devi. Light a lamp and recite the hymn slowly, dwelling on the Mother as Mahamaya and Yoganidra. It is traditionally chanted at the opening of the first charita (Prathama Charita) of the Saptashati, whose presiding deity is Mahakali. After recitation, meditate silently on the Goddess as the one power within and behind all creation.
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