ಶ್ರೀ ದುರ್ಗಾಷ್ಟಕಂ (ಕಾತ್ಯಾಯನಿ ಮಹಾಮಾಯೇ)
श्री दुर्गाष्टकम्
Also known as: durga ashtakam · durgashtakam · katyayani mahamaye · sri durga ashtakam · durga ashtak · katyayani mahamaye khadga bana
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✦ Meaning
The Durga Ashtakam ('Katyayani Mahamaye') is a popular eight-verse hymn saluting Goddess Durga in her many aspects — Katyayani, Kali, Yogamaya, the four Vedas and the eight-armed slayer of demons. Each verse closes with the refrain 'Durga-devi namo'stu te' — 'O Goddess Durga, salutations to you'. The closing phalashruti promises that whoever recites it with devotion gains all desires and reaches the abode of Durga.
Origin & Story
Traditional Shakta hymn (Durga stotra literature) · Unknown (traditional) · Puranic era
The Durga Ashtakam belongs to the rich body of devotional octets composed in praise of the Divine Mother. It draws its imagery from the Devi Mahatmya and the Bhagavata: Durga as Katyayani who slays Mahishasura, as Yogamaya born sister to Krishna, as the four Vedas embodied, and as the eight-armed warrior Goddess worshipped on the Ashtami and Navami of Navaratri. Its compact form has made it a favourite for daily recitation and for the great autumn Navaratri festival.
✦ As told in scripture
Worshippers recite the Durga Ashtakam on Maha-Ashtami night when the Goddess is believed to be most present; countless devotees attest that earnest recitation through Navaratri turned away grave difficulties and fulfilled long-cherished prayers, in keeping with the hymn's promise that the reciter 'obtains all his desires'.
Complete Text with Meaning
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कात्यायनि महामाये खड्गबाणधनुर्धरि। खड्गधारिणि चण्डि दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥१॥
katyayani mahamaye khadga-bana-dhanur-dhari | khadga-dharini chandi durga-devi namo'stu te ||1||
Meaning:ಓ ಕಾತ್ಯಾಯನೀ, ಮಹಾಮಾಯೇ, ಖಡ್ಗ-ಬಾಣ-ಧನುಸ್ಸು ಧರಿಸಿದವಳೇ, ಖಡ್ಗಧಾರಿಣೀ ಚಂಡೀ — ಓ ದೇವೀ ದುರ್ಗೇ, ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
वसुदेवसुते कालि वासुदेवसहोदरि। वसुन्धरे श्रिये दुर्गे दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥२॥
vasudeva-sute kali vasudeva-sahodari | vasundhare shriye durge durga-devi namo'stu te ||2||
Meaning:ಓ ವಸುದೇವನ ಮಗಳು ಕಾಳೀ, ವಾಸುದೇವನ (ಕೃಷ್ಣನ) ಸಹೋದರೀ, ಓ ವಸುಂಧರಾ, ಶ್ರೀ-ಸ್ವರೂಪಾ ದುರ್ಗೇ — ಓ ದೇವೀ ದುರ್ಗೇ, ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
योगनिद्रे महानिद्रे योगमाये महेश्वरि। योगसिद्धिकरि शुद्धे दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥३॥
yoga-nidre maha-nidre yoga-maye maheshwari | yoga-siddhi-kari shuddhe durga-devi namo'stu te ||3||
Meaning:ಓ ಯೋಗನಿದ್ರಾ, ಓ ಮಹಾನಿದ್ರಾ, ಓ ಯೋಗಮಾಯಾ, ಮಹೇಶ್ವರೀ, ಯೋಗಸಿದ್ಧಿ ನೀಡುವವಳೇ, ಶುದ್ಧಸ್ವರೂಪಾ — ಓ ದೇವೀ ದುರ್ಗೇ, ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
शङ्खचक्रगदापाणे शार्ङ्गाद्यायुधबाहवे। पीताम्बरधरे धन्ये दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥४॥
shankha-chakra-gada-pane sharngadyayudha-bahave | pitambara-dhare dhanye durga-devi namo'stu te ||4||
Meaning:ಓ ಶಂಖ, ಚಕ್ರ, ಗದೆ ಧರಿಸಿದವಳೇ, ಶಾರ್ಙ್ಗ ಮುಂತಾದ ಆಯುಧಗಳಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದ ಬಾಹುಗಳುಳ್ಳವಳೇ, ಪೀತಾಂಬರಧಾರಿಣೀ, ಧನ್ಯೇ — ಓ ದೇವೀ ದುರ್ಗೇ, ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
ऋग्यजुःसामाथर्वाणश्चतुःसामन्तलोकिनि। ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि ब्राह्मि दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥५॥
rig-yajuh-samatharvanash chatuh-samanta-lokini | brahma-svarupini brahmi durga-devi namo'stu te ||5||
Meaning:ಓ ಋಕ್, ಯಜುಃ, ಸಾಮ, ಅಥರ್ವ — ನಾಲ್ಕು ವೇದಸ್ವರೂಪಾ, ಸರ್ವ ಲೋಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಾ, ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸ್ವರೂಪಿಣೀ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮೀ — ಓ ದೇವೀ ದುರ್ಗೇ, ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
वृष्णीनां कुलसम्भूते विष्णुनाथसहोदरि। वृष्णिरूपधरे धन्ये दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥६॥
vrishninam kula-sambhute vishnu-natha-sahodari | vrishni-rupa-dhare dhanye durga-devi namo'stu te ||6||
Meaning:ಓ ವೃಷ್ಣಿಕುಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಿಸಿದವಳೇ, ವಿಷ್ಣುನಾಥನ ಸಹೋದರೀ, ವೃಷ್ಣಿರೂಪಧಾರಿಣೀ, ಧನ್ಯೇ — ಓ ದೇವೀ ದುರ್ಗೇ, ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
सर्वज्ञे सर्वगे शर्वे सर्वेशे सर्वसाक्षिणि। सर्वामृतजटाभारे दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥७॥
sarvajne sarvage sharve sarveshe sarva-sakshini | sarvamrita-jata-bhare durga-devi namo'stu te ||7||
Meaning:ಓ ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞೇ, ಸರ್ವವ್ಯಾಪಿನೀ, ಶರ್ವೇ, ಸರ್ವೇಶ್ವರೀ, ಸರ್ವ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಣೀ, ಸಮಸ್ತ ಅಮೃತದಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿದ ಜಟೆಯನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿದವಳೇ — ಓ ದೇವೀ ದುರ್ಗೇ, ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
अष्टबाहु महासत्त्वे अष्टमीनवमीप्रिये। अट्टहासप्रिये भद्रे दुर्गादेवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥८॥
ashta-bahu mahasattve ashtami-navami-priye | attahasa-priye bhadre durga-devi namo'stu te ||8||
Meaning:ಓ ಅಷ್ಟಭುಜಾ ಮಹಾಸತ್ತ್ವಾ, ಅಷ್ಟಮೀ-ನವಮೀ ತಿಥಿಯ ಪ್ರಿಯೇ, ಅಟ್ಟಹಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ರಮಿಸುವವಳೇ, ಭದ್ರೇ — ಓ ದೇವೀ ದುರ್ಗೇ, ನಿನಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ!
दुर्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं भक्तितो यः पठेन्नरः। सर्वकाममवाप्नोति दुर्गालोकं स गच्छति॥
durgashtakam idam punyam bhaktito yah pathen narah | sarva-kamam avapnoti durga-lokam sa gacchati ||
Meaning:ಯಾವ ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಈ ಪವಿತ್ರ ದುರ್ಗಾಷ್ಟಕವನ್ನು ಪಠಿಸುತ್ತಾನೋ, ಅವನು ಸಮಸ್ತ ಕಾಮನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆದು ದುರ್ಗಾಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting ಶ್ರೀ ದುರ್ಗಾಷ್ಟಕಂ (ಕಾತ್ಯಾಯನಿ ಮಹಾಮಾಯೇ)
A complete, concise salutation to Durga in her principal forms — ideal for daily worship
The phalashruti promises fulfilment of all righteous desires (sarva-kama)
Recitation is said to lead the devotee to Durga-loka, the Goddess's abode
Especially powerful when chanted on Ashtami and Navami during Navaratri
Invokes Durga as Yogamaya — granter of success in yoga and spiritual practice
Affords protection, courage and the destruction of inner and outer enemies
Short enough to memorise, making consistent devotion easy
How to Chant ಶ್ರೀ ದುರ್ಗಾಷ್ಟಕಂ (ಕಾತ್ಯಾಯನಿ ಮಹಾಮಾಯೇ)
Sit before an image of Durga, light a lamp and offer red flowers and kumkum. Recite the eight verses with devotion, dwelling on the refrain 'Durga-devi namo'stu te' at the close of each, and conclude with the phalashruti. Recitation is most fruitful during Navaratri — particularly on the eighth (Ashtami) and ninth (Navami) days, which the hymn itself names as dear to the Goddess. Eight or nine recitations daily through Navaratri is a traditional practice.
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