durgakatyayanidevishakti

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑍍

ஶ்ரீ துர்காஷ்டகம் (காத்யாயனி மஹாமாயே) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Navaratri (especially Ashtami and Navami), Fridays, and at dawn·📜 Traditional Shakta hymn (Durga stotra literature)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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'.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

𑌕𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌨𑌿 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌯𑍇 𑌖𑌡𑍍𑌗𑌬𑌾𑌣𑌧𑌨𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌰𑌿। 𑌖𑌡𑍍𑌗𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌚𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇॥௧॥

katyayani mahamaye khadga-bana-dhanur-dhari | khadga-dharini chandi durga-devi namo'stu te ||1||

Meaning:ஓ காத்யாயனீ, மஹாமாயே, கட்கம்-பாணம்-தனுசு தரித்தவளே, கட்கதாரிணீ சண்டீ — ஓ தேவீ துர்காவே, உனக்கு நமஸ்காரம்!

Verse 2

𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌿 𑌵𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑌹𑍋𑌦𑌰𑌿। 𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌰𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇॥௨॥

vasudeva-sute kali vasudeva-sahodari | vasundhare shriye durge durga-devi namo'stu te ||2||

Meaning:ஓ வசுதேவனின் மகள் காளீ, வாசுதேவனின் (கிருஷ்ணனின்) சகோதரீ, ஓ வசுந்தரா, ஶ்ரீ-சொரூபா துர்காவே — ஓ தேவீ துர்காவே, உனக்கு நமஸ்காரம்!

Verse 3

𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌨𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌨𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌮𑌾𑌯𑍇 𑌮𑌹𑍇𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌿। 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌕𑌰𑌿 𑌶𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇॥௩॥

yoga-nidre maha-nidre yoga-maye maheshwari | yoga-siddhi-kari shuddhe durga-devi namo'stu te ||3||

Meaning:ஓ யோகநித்திரா, ஓ மஹாநித்திரா, ஓ யோகமாயா, மஹேஶ்வரீ, யோகசித்தி அளிப்பவளே, சுத்தசொரூபா — ஓ தேவீ துர்காவே, உனக்கு நமஸ்காரம்!

Verse 4

𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌖𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌗𑌦𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌣𑍇 𑌶𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌧𑌬𑌾𑌹𑌵𑍇। 𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌧𑌰𑍇 𑌧𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇॥௪॥

shankha-chakra-gada-pane sharngadyayudha-bahave | pitambara-dhare dhanye durga-devi namo'stu te ||4||

Meaning:ஓ சங்கு, சக்கரம், கதை தரித்தவளே, ஶார்ங்கம் முதலிய ஆயுதங்களுடன் கூடிய புஜங்களுடையவளே, பீதாம்பரதாரிணீ, தன்யே — ஓ தேவீ துர்காவே, உனக்கு நமஸ்காரம்!

Verse 5

𑌋𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌜𑍁𑌃𑌸𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌥𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌣𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌤𑍁𑌃𑌸𑌾𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌿𑌨𑌿। 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌿𑌣𑌿 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌿 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇॥௫॥

rig-yajuh-samatharvanash chatuh-samanta-lokini | brahma-svarupini brahmi durga-devi namo'stu te ||5||

Meaning:ஓ ருக், யஜுர், சாம, அதர்வ — நான்கு வேதசொரூபா, சகல உலகங்களிலும் வியாபித்தவளே, பிரம்மசொரூபிணீ பிராஹ்மீ — ஓ தேவீ துர்காவே, உனக்கு நமஸ்காரம்!

Verse 6

𑌵𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌲𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍂𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌨𑌾𑌥𑌸𑌹𑍋𑌦𑌰𑌿। 𑌵𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌿𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌧𑌰𑍇 𑌧𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇॥௬॥

vrishninam kula-sambhute vishnu-natha-sahodari | vrishni-rupa-dhare dhanye durga-devi namo'stu te ||6||

Meaning:ஓ வ்ருஷ்ணி குலத்தில் பிறந்தவளே, விஷ்ணுநாதனின் சகோதரீ, வ்ருஷ்ணிரூபதாரிணீ, தன்யே — ஓ தேவீ துர்காவே, உனக்கு நமஸ்காரம்!

Verse 7

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌗𑍇 𑌶𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌶𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌣𑌿। 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌜𑌟𑌾𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇॥௭॥

sarvajne sarvage sharve sarveshe sarva-sakshini | sarvamrita-jata-bhare durga-devi namo'stu te ||7||

Meaning:ஓ சர்வஜ்ஞே, சர்வவ்யாபினீ, ஶர்வே, சர்வேஶ்வரீ, அனைத்திற்கும் சாட்சியே, சகல அமிர்தத்துடன் கூடிய சடையை தரித்தவளே — ஓ தேவீ துர்காவே, உனக்கு நமஸ்காரம்!

Verse 8

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌬𑌾𑌹𑍁 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌵𑌮𑍀𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍇। 𑌅𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌹𑌾𑌸𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍇 𑌭𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇॥௮॥

ashta-bahu mahasattve ashtami-navami-priye | attahasa-priye bhadre durga-devi namo'stu te ||8||

Meaning:ஓ அஷ்டபுஜா மஹாசத்த்வா, அஷ்டமீ-நவமீ திதியின் பிரியே, அட்டகாசத்தில் களிப்பவளே, பத்ரே — ஓ தேவீ துர்காவே, உனக்கு நமஸ்காரம்!

Verse 9

𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌤𑍋 𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌠𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌰𑌃। 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌮𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌂 𑌸 𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑌿॥

durgashtakam idam punyam bhaktito yah pathen narah | sarva-kamam avapnoti durga-lokam sa gacchati ||

Meaning:எந்த மனிதன் பக்தியுடன் இந்த புனித துர்காஷ்டகத்தை ஓதுகிறானோ, அவன் சகல காமனைகளையும் அடைந்து துர்காலோகத்திற்கு செல்கிறான்.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌕𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌨𑌿🔊katyayaniO Katyayani — the Goddess born in the lineage of sage Katyayana

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌯𑍇🔊mahamayeO great power of cosmic illusion (Maha-Maya)

𑌖𑌡𑍍𑌗𑌬𑌾𑌣𑌧𑌨𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌧𑌰𑌿🔊khadga-bana-dhanur-dhariBearer of the sword, arrow and bow

𑌚𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌿🔊chandiO fierce Chandi

𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌿 𑌨𑌮𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍇🔊durga-devi namo'stu teO Goddess Durga, salutations to you (the refrain ending each verse)

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌿🔊kaliO Kali (the dark, all-devouring power of time)

𑌵𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑌹𑍋𑌦𑌰𑌿🔊vasudeva-sahodariSister of Vasudeva (Krishna) — Yogamaya born to deliver him

𑌵𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌰𑍇 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍇🔊vasundhare shriyeO bearer of wealth (Earth) and prosperity (Shri/Lakshmi)

𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌨𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌰𑍇🔊yoga-nidreO Yoganidra — the cosmic sleep of Vishnu

𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌮𑌾𑌯𑍇🔊yoga-mayeO Yogamaya — the divine power of yogic illusion

𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌕𑌰𑌿🔊yoga-siddhi-kariGranter of success in yoga and spiritual attainment

𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌖𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌗𑌦𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌣𑍇🔊shankha-chakra-gada-paneHolding conch, discus and mace in your hands

𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰𑌧𑌰𑍇🔊pitambara-dhareClad in yellow silken garments

𑌋𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌜𑍁𑌃𑌸𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌥𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌣🔊rig-yajuh-samatharvanaYou are the four Vedas — Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌿𑌣𑌿🔊brahma-svarupiniOne whose very form is Brahman / the sacred Veda

𑌵𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍀𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌲𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌭𑍂𑌤𑍇🔊vrishninam kula-sambhuteBorn in the clan of the Vrishnis (Krishna's lineage)

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌗𑍇🔊sarvajne sarvageO all-knowing, all-pervading one

𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌣𑌿🔊sarva-sakshiniThe witness of all (omniscient observer)

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌬𑌾𑌹𑍁🔊ashta-bahuThe eight-armed Goddess

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮𑍀𑌨𑌵𑌮𑍀𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍇🔊ashtami-navami-priyeFond of the eighth and ninth lunar days (the Durga-puja tithis)

𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌂 𑌸 𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑌿🔊durga-lokam sa gacchatiHe attains the abode of Durga (Devi-loka)

Benefits of Chanting ஶ்ரீ துர்காஷ்டகம் (காத்யாயனி மஹாமாயே)

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A complete, concise salutation to Durga in her principal forms — ideal for daily worship

✦

The phalashruti promises fulfilment of all righteous desires (sarva-kama)

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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

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Affords protection, courage and the destruction of inner and outer enemies

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Short enough to memorise, making consistent devotion easy

How to Chant ஶ்ரீ துர்காஷ்டகம் (காத்யாயனி மஹாமாயே)

Repetitions8times

Best TimeNavaratri (especially Ashtami and Navami), Fridays, and at dawn

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete ஶ்ரீ துர்காஷ்டகம் (காத்யாயனி மஹாமாயே) written in the Grantha 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.

It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn (ashtakam) addressed to Goddess Durga, beginning 'Katyayani Mahamaye'. Each verse praises a different aspect of the Goddess and ends with the salutation 'Durga-devi namo'stu te'.

In the Bhagavata tradition the Goddess took birth as Yogamaya, the sister of Krishna (Vasudeva's son), to protect him at his birth and announce the doom of Kamsa. So she is hailed as 'sister of Vasudeva/Vishnu', the same Yogamaya and Maha-Maya.

During Navaratri, and most especially on Ashtami and Navami — the eighth and ninth lunar days — which the hymn names as beloved of the Goddess (ashtami-navami-priye). It is also recited on Fridays and at dawn through the year.

The phalashruti (fruit-verse) declares that whoever recites this holy Durga Ashtakam with devotion 'obtains all his desires and goes to the abode of Durga' — promising both worldly fulfilment and ultimate residence with the Mother.