Namo Devyai Mahadevyai
नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै in English · English
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✦ Meaning
'Namo Devyai Mahadevyai' opens the Tantrokta Devi Suktam (the Aparajita Stuti) in Chapter 5 of the Durga Saptashati, sung by the gods on the Himalaya as they invoked the invincible Goddess to slay Shumbha and Nishumbha. It is a cascade of salutations to the Mother in all her names and powers — Mahadevi, Shiva, Prakriti, Gauri, Kalyani, Siddhi, Durga and more. These very verses lead directly into the famous 'Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu' litany. They are loved as a pure act of bowing — namaskara — to the Goddess present in every form.
Origin & Story
Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam) Chapter 5 — Tantrokta Devi Suktam / Aparajita Stuti, verses 7-10; from the Markandeya Purana · Sage Markandeya (traditional) · Ancient (the Devi Mahatmyam is dated to c. 5th-6th century CE)
When the asuras Shumbha and Nishumbha seized the three worlds and the offices of the gods, the deities, cast out and defeated, went to the Himalaya and called to mind the invincible Goddess (Aparajita), who had promised to end their direst calamities whenever remembered. There, beside Himavan, lord of mountains, they extolled her as Vishnu-maya with the Tantrokta Devi Suktam, beginning with these salutations — 'Namo Devyai Mahadevyai' — that lead into the celebrated 'Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu' litany.
✦ As told in scripture
It is said that the gods' recitation of this stuti on the Himalaya so pleased the Goddess that she manifested as Ambika from the sheath of Parvati's body — radiant as Gauri — to undertake the slaying of Shumbha and Nishumbha. Devotees hold that those who bow with these salutations are likewise never abandoned by the Aparajita ('unconquered') Devi, who comes to the aid of all who remember her.
Complete Text with Meaning
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namo devyai mahādevyai śivāyai satataṃ namaḥ namaḥ prakṛtyai bhadrāyai niyatāḥ praṇatāḥ sma tām
Meaning:Salutation to the Devi, to the Mahadevi, to the auspicious Shiva ever salutation; salutation to Prakriti, to the gracious one — with reverence we bow to her.
raudrāyai namo nityāyai gauryai dhātryai namo namaḥ jyotsnāyai cendurūpiṇyai sukhāyai satataṃ namaḥ
Meaning:Salutation to the terrible (Raudri), to the eternal (Nitya), to Gauri, to the Supporter (Dhatri); to the moonlight and to her of moon-like form, to bliss, ever salutation.
kalyāṇyai praṇatāṃ vṛddhyai siddhyai kurmo namo namaḥ nairṛtyai bhūbhṛtāṃ lakṣmyai śarvāṇyai te namo namaḥ
Meaning:To the auspicious (Kalyani), to her who is the prosperity (Vriddhi) of the devout, to attainment (Siddhi), we offer salutation; to Nairriti, to the Lakshmi of kings, to Sharvani — to you, salutation, salutation.
durgāyai durgapārāyai sārāyai sarvakāriṇyai khyātyai tathaiva kṛṣṇāyai dhūmrāyai satataṃ namaḥ
Meaning:To Durga, to her who carries (us) beyond the difficult (Durgapara), to the Essence (Sara), to the doer of all (Sarvakarini), to Fame (Khyati), and likewise to the dark (Krishna) and the smoke-hued (Dhumra), ever salutation.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै
A pure act of namaskara (salutation) to the Goddess in all her names and forms
Invokes the Mother as Mahadevi, Shiva, Prakriti, Gauri, Kalyani, Siddhi and Durga together
Believed to draw the grace of the invincible Aparajita Devi who removes all calamity
Cultivates humility and surrender as the heart bows again and again 'namo namah'
Forms the sacred opening of the 'Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu' stuti recited during Navaratri
Recited for protection, auspiciousness, growth (vriddhi) and spiritual attainment (siddhi)
How to Chant नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै
Sit before an image or yantra of Durga with a lit lamp, fold the hands in reverence, and recite these salutation verses after 'Om'. They are most powerful when chanted as the opening of the full Tantrokta Devi Suktam, flowing into the 'Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu' litany. Let each 'namah' be an inward bow. This stuti is part of daily Durga worship and is recited at the close of the Durga Saptashati during the nine nights of Navaratri.
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