Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (महिषासुरमर्दिनी स्तोत्रम्)
The Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (महिषासुरमर्दिनी स्तोत्रम्), popularly known by its opening phrase 'Aigiri Nandini' (अयि गिरिनन्दिनि), is an ecstatic 21-verse hymn composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya celebrating Goddess Durga's glorious triumph over the demon Mahishasura. Its rhythmic tempo mirrors the cosmic battlefield where the Divine Mother rides Her lion, severing the roots of ignorance, ego, and despair. Chanting it awakens vibrant female cosmic energy (Shakti), dispels deep-seated sorrow, and fills the home with unyielding courage.
Daily Recitation & Round Tracker
Recommendation: 1 recitation with energetic vocal rhythm. Tap the counter each time you finish a recitation.
॥ Dhyānam (Meditation Shloka) ॥
विद्युद्दामसमप्रभां मृगपतिस्कन्धस्थितां भीषणां कन्याभिः करवालखेटविलसद्धस्ताभिरासेविताम् । हस्तैश्चक्रगदासिखेटविशिखांश्चापं गुणं तर्जनीं बिभ्राणामनलात्मिकां शशिधरां दुर्गां त्रिनेत्रां भजे ॥
Vidyud-dāma-sama-prabhāṁ mṛga-pati-skandha-sthitāṁ bhīṣaṇāṁ Kanyābhiḥ karavāla-kheṭa-vilasad-dhastābhir-āsevitām | Hastaiś-cakra-gadāsi-kheṭa-viśikhāṁś-cāpaṁ guṇaṁ tarjanīṁ Bibhrāṇām-analātmikāṁ śaśi-dharāṁ durgāṁ trinetrāṁ bhaje ||
I worship Goddess Durga, who radiates with the brilliance of lightning, seated upon the shoulders of the king of beasts (the lion), fierce in form, served by maiden warriors holding gleaming swords and shields, bearing in Her multiple hands the discus, mace, sword, shield, arrows, bow, noose, and warning gesture (Tarjani mudra), effulgent like fire, crowned by the crescent moon, and graced with three omniscient eyes.
अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दसुते गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोऽधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते । भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १ ॥
Ayi giri-nandini nandita-medini viśva-vinodini nanda-sute Giri-vara-vindhya-śiro'dhi-nivāsini viṣṇu-vilāsini jiṣṇu-nute | Bhagavati he śitikaṇṭha-kuṭumbini bhūri-kuṭumbini bhūri-kṛte Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 1 ||
O daughter of the mountain king! Who brings joy to the whole earth, who delights the universe with Your divine play, O daughter of Nanda! Dwelling on the peaks of the lofty Vindhya mountains, delighting Lord Vishnu, praised by Indra! O Goddess, consort of Lord Shiva (Shitikantha), mother of the infinite cosmic family, doing abundant good! Victory, all victory unto You, O slayer of demon Mahishasura, with exquisitely beautiful matted tresses, O daughter of the mountains!
सुरवरवर्षिणि दुर्धरधर्षिणि दुर्मुखमर्षिणि हर्षरते त्रिभुवनपोषिणि शङ्करतोषिणि किल्बिषमोषिणि घोषरते । दनुजकदर्शिणि दुर्मदशोषिणि दुष्टनिरोषिणि दितिसुतरुषे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २ ॥
Sura-vara-varṣiṇi durdhara-dharṣiṇi durmukha-marṣiṇi harṣa-rate Tribhuvana-poṣiṇi śaṅkara-toṣiṇi kilbiṣa-moṣiṇi ghoṣa-rate | Danuja-kadarśiṇi durmada-śoṣiṇi duṣṭa-niroṣiṇi diti-suta-ruṣe Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 2 ||
Bestowing divine boons upon the gods, subduing the unyielding demons, crushing the arrogant demon Durmukha, ever delighting in pure joy! Sustainer of the three worlds, pleasing Lord Shankara, washing away sins with the thunderous roar of victory! Chastiser of demons, drying up their wicked pride, wrathful toward the sons of Diti! Victory, all victory unto You, O slayer of Mahishasura!
अयि शतखण्डविखण्डितरुण्डवितुण्डितशुण्डगजाधिपते रिपुगजगण्डविदारणचण्डपराक्रमशुण्डमृगाधिपते । निजभुजदण्डनिपातितखण्डविपातितमुण्डभटाधिपते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ३ ॥
Ayi śata-khaṇḍa-vikhaṇḍita-ruṇḍa-vituṇḍita-śuṇḍa-gajādhipate Ripu-gaja-gaṇḍa-vidāraṇa-caṇḍa-parākrama-śuṇḍa-mṛgādhipate | Nija-bhuja-daṇḍa-nipātita-khaṇḍa-vipātita-muṇḍa-bhaṭādhipate Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 3 ||
O Destroyer of Mahishasura, who sliced the trunks and trunks of enemy war-elephants into a hundred fragments, whose lion mount tears through the temples of adversary tuskers, who felled the heads of demon chieftains with Her mighty arms, all victory unto You, O Daughter of the Mountain!
अयि रणदुर्मदशत्रुवधोदितदुर्धरनिर्जरशक्तिभृते चतुरविचारधुरीणमहाशिवदूतकृतप्रमथाधिपते । दुरितदुरीहदुराशयदुर्मतिदानवदूतकृतान्तमते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ४ ॥
Ayi raṇa-durmada-śatru-vadhodita-durdhara-nirjara-śakti-bhṛte Catura-vicāra-dhurīṇa-mahā-śiva-dūta-kṛta-pramathādhipate | Durita-durīha-durāśaya-durmati-dānava-dūta-kṛtānta-mate Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 4 ||
Embodying the irresistible might of the gods to annihilate arrogant foes in war, who honored Lord Shiva by making Him Her ambassador, appearing as the Lord of Death unto malicious demon messengers, victory unto You, O Mountain Daughter!
अयि शरणागतवैरिवधूबरवीरवराभयदायकरे त्रिभुवनमस्तकशूलविरोधिकशूलोत्कृतशूलकरे । दुमिदुमितामरदुन्दुभिनादमहोमुखरीकृतदिङ्निकरे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ५ ॥
Ayi śaraṇāgata-vairi-vadhū-vara-vīra-varābhaya-dāya-kare Tribhuvana-mastaka-śūla-virodhika-śūlotkṛta-śūla-kare | Dumi-dumitāmara-dundubhi-nāda-maho-mukharī-kṛta-diṅ-nikare Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 5 ||
Granting fearlessness to the wives of fallen adversaries who surrender to You, holding aloft the trident that pierced the tormentors of the three worlds, amidst the thunderous roll of celestial kettle-drums resounding across all directions, hail to You, O Mountain Maiden!
अयि निजहुंकृतिमात्रनिराकृतधूम्रविलोचनधूम्रशते समरविशोषितशोणितबीजसमुद्भवशोणितबीजलते । शिवशिवशुम्भनिशुम्भमहाहवतर्पितभूतपिशाचरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ६ ॥
Ayi nija-huṅkṛti-mātra-nirākṛta-dhūmra-vilocana-dhūmra-śate Samara-viśoṣita-śoṇita-bīja-samudbhava-śoṇita-bīja-late | Śiva-śiva-śumbha-niśumbha-mahāhava-tarpita-bhūta-piśāca-rate Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 6 ||
Who reduced Dhumralochana and hundreds of his demon warriors to ashes with a single sacred roar (Humkara), who drank every drop of Raktabija's blood preventing his rebirth, satisfying legions of ghouls in the great battle against Shumbha and Nishumbha, victory to You, O Mountain Daughter!
धनुरनुसङ्गरणक्षणसङ्गपरस्फुरदङ्गनटत्कटके कनकपिशङ्गपृषत्कनिषङ्गवसद्भटशृङ्गहताबटुके । कृतचतुरङ्गबलक्षितिरङ्गघटद्बहुरङ्गरटद्बटुके जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ७ ॥
Dhanur-anusaṅga-raṇa-kṣaṇa-saṅga-parasphurad-aṅga-naṭat-kaṭake Kanaka-piśaṅga-pṛṣatka-niṣaṅga-vasad-bhaṭa-śṛṅga-hatābaṭuke | Kṛta-caturaṅga-bala-kṣiti-raṅga-ghaṭad-bahu-raṅga-raṭad-baṭuke Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 7 ||
Whose golden wristlets dance upon Her arms as She draws the bowstring, whose gleaming golden arrows shatter the crests of ferocious demon champions, turning the battlefield into a stage of cosmic drama, victory to You, O Mountain Princess!
अयि बहुलद्युतिमिञ्जितचाकचकत्कुचकुम्भपटीररुचे सुरललताततिसङ्गतसङ्करसम्मदसम्मतमन्दगते । धृतसितपुष्करमण्डनखण्डितचण्डकरद्युतिसारवपुः जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ८ ॥
Ayi bahula-dyuti-miñjita-cākacakat-kuca-kumbha-paṭīra-ruce Sura-lalatāti-saṅgata-saṅgara-sammada-sammata-manda-gate | Dhṛta-sita-puṣkara-maṇḍana-khaṇḍita-caṇḍa-kara-dyuti-sāra-vapuḥ Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 8 ||
Radiant with divine sandalwood paste, walking with the graceful, majestic gait praised by celestial nymphs, adorned with white lotuses and outshining the midday sun, all glory to You, O Daughter of the Himalayas!
जय जय जप्यजये जयशब्दपरस्तुतितत्परविश्वनुते भण भण भञ्जितशिञ्जितनूपुरसिञ्चितमोहितभूतपते । नटितनटार्धनटीनटनाटकनाटितनाट्यरसे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ९ ॥
Jaya jaya japya-jaye jaya-śabda-parastuti-tatpara-viśva-nute Bhaṇa bhaṇa bhañjita-śiñjita-nūpura-siñcita-mohita-bhūta-pate | Naṭita-naṭārdha-naṭī-naṭanāṭaka-nāṭita-nāṭya-rase Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 9 ||
Adored with cries of 'Victory, Victory' across the entire cosmos, enchanting Lord Shiva with the sweet chiming of Your ankle bells, manifesting the transcendent aesthetic of dance with Nataraja, triumph unto You, O Mountain Daughter!
अयि सुमनःसुमनःसुमनःसुमनःसुमनोहरकान्तियुते श्रितरजनीरजनीरजनीरजनीरजनीकरवक्त्रवृते । सुनयनविभ्रमरभ्रमरभ्रमरभ्रमरभ्रमराधिपते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १० ॥
Ayi sumanaḥ-sumanaḥ-sumanaḥ-sumanaḥ-sumanohara-kānti-yute Śrita-rajanī-rajanī-rajanī-rajanī-rajanī-kara-vaktra-vṛte | Sunayana-vibhramara-bhramara-bhramara-bhramara-bhramarādhipate Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 10 ||
Exuding beauty that enchants the purest minds of the gods, whose lotus face glows radiant like the autumn full moon, with eyes shimmering like dark honeybees hovering over blossoms, hail to You, O Mountain Princess!
सहितमहाहवमल्लमथल्लिकमल्लितरल्लकमल्लरते विरचितवल्लिकपल्लिकमल्लिकझिल्लिकभिल्लिकवर्गवृते । शितकृतफुल्लसमुल्लसितारुणतल्लजपल्लवपादयुगे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ११ ॥
Sahita-mahāhava-malla-mathallika-mallita-rallaka-malla-rate Viracita-vallika-pallika-mallika-jhillika-bhillika-varga-vṛte | Śita-kṛta-phulla-samullasitāruṇa-tallaja-pallava-pāda-yuge Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 11 ||
Delighting in subduing the fiercest wrestling titans on the battleground, accompanied by forest nymphs amidst jasmine bowers, whose tender lotus feet glow like blooming red petals, victory unto You, O Mountain Maiden!
अविरलगण्डगलन्मदमेदुरमत्तमत्तङ्गजराजपते त्रिभुवनभूषणभूतकलानिधिरूपपयोनिधिराजसुते । अयि सुदतीजनलालसमानसमोहनमन्मथराजसुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १२ ॥
Avirala-gaṇḍa-galan-mada-medura-matta-mataṅgaja-rāja-pate Tribhuvana-bhūṣaṇa-bhūta-kalā-nidhi-rūpa-payonidhi-rāja-sute | Ayi sudatī-jana-lālasa-mānasa-mohana-manmatha-rāja-sute Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 12 ||
Majestic like an elephant lord flowing with rut, daughter of the milk-ocean and jewel of the three worlds, vanquisher of Kamadeva's pride, all victory to You, O Mountain Daughter!
कमलदलामलकोमलकान्तिकलाकलितामलभालतले सकलविलासकलानिलयक्रमकेलिचलत्कलहंसकुले । अलिकुलसङ्कुलकुवलयमण्डलमौलिलसद्धटितालिकुले जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १३ ॥
Kamala-dalāmala-komala-kānti-kalā-kalitāmala-bhāla-tale Sakala-vilāsa-kalā-nilaya-krama-keli-calat-kala-haṁsa-kule | Ali-kula-saṅkula-kuvalaya-maṇḍala-mauli-lasad-ghaṭitāli-kule Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 13 ||
With a flawless forehead glowing tender as a lotus petal, source of all fine arts moving with the elegance of royal swans, Her locks dark like swarms of bees upon night lotuses, hail to You, O Mountain Maiden!
करमुरलीरववीजितकूजितकोकिलमञ्जुलमञ्जुमते मिलितपुलिन्दमनोहरगुञ्जितरञ्जितशैलनिकुञ्जगते । निजगुणभूतमनोज्ञशतामृतवर्षिणि संशितशोकनुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १४ ॥
Kara-muralī-rava-vījita-kūjita-kokila-mañjula-mañju-mate Milita-pulinda-manohara-guñjita-rañjita-śaila-nikuñja-gate | Nija-guṇa-bhūta-manojña-śatāmṛta-varṣiṇi saṁśita-śoka-nute Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 14 ||
Surpassing the cuckoo with the melodious flute notes from Her hands, wandering joyfully through mountain groves, raining hundreds of streams of nectar with Her virtues and dispelling sorrow, victory to You, O Mountain Daughter!
कटितटपीतदुकूलविचित्रमयूखतिरस्कृतचन्द्ररुचे प्रणतसुरासुरमौलिमणिस्फुरदंशुलसन्नखचन्द्ररुचे । जितकनकाचलमौलिसदोर्जितनिर्भरकुञ्जरकुम्भकुचे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १५ ॥
Kaṭi-taṭa-pīta-dukūla-vicitra-mayūkha-tiraskṛta-candra-ruce Praṇata-surāsura-mauli-maṇi-sphurad-aṁśu-lasann-akha-candra-ruce | Jita-kanakācala-mauli-sadorjita-nirbhara-kuñjara-kumbha-kuce Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 15 ||
Whose golden yellow silks eclipse the moon's luster, whose toenails reflect the sparkling crown jewels of prostrate gods and demons, majestic as Mount Meru, hail unto You, O Daughter of the Peaks!
विजितसहस्रकरैकसहस्रकरैकसहस्रकरैकनुते कृतसुरतारकसङ्गरतारकसङ्गरतारकसूनुसुते । सुरथसमाधिसमानसमाधिसमाधिसमाधिसुजातरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १६ ॥
Vijita-sahasra-karaika-sahasra-karaika-sahasra-karaika-nute Kṛta-sura-tāraka-saṅgara-tāraka-saṅgara-tāraka-sūnu-sute | Suratha-samādhi-samāna-samādhi-samādhi-samādhi-sujāta-rate Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 16 ||
Outshining thousands of suns and extolled by countless folded hands, Mother of Skanda who destroyed demon Taraka, bestower of supreme samadhi and salvation upon King Suratha and Merchant Samadhi, victory to You, O Mountain Goddess!
पदकमलं करुणानिलये वरिवस्यति योऽनुदिनं सुशिवे अयि कमले कमलानिलये कमलानिलयः स कथं न भवेत् । तव पदमेव परम्पदमित्यनुशीलयतो मम किं न शिवे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १७ ॥
Pada-kamalaṁ karuṇā-nilaye varivasyati yo'nudinaṁ suśive Ayi kamale kamalā-nilaye kamalā-nilayaḥ sa kathaṁ na bhavet | Tava padam-eva param-padam-ity-anuśīlayato mama kiṁ na śive Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 17 ||
O Abode of Compassion! Whoever serves Your lotus feet daily, O auspicious Mother, how shall he not become an abode of fortune and wealth? Viewing Your feet as the supreme refuge, what auspiciousness shall I not attain?
कनकविचित्रकलानिधिवक्त्रलसद्विमलालिकुलादरिते पदनखचन्द्रकिरणपरिमण्डलमण्डितपादयुगे । जय जय जप्यजये जयशब्दपरस्तुतितत्परविश्वनुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १८ ॥
Kanaka-vicitra-kalā-nidhi-vaktra-lasad-vimalāli-kulādarite Pada-nakha-candra-kiraṇa-parimaṇḍala-maṇḍita-pāda-yuge | Jaya jaya japya-jaye jaya-śabda-parastuti-tatpara-viśva-nute Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 18 ||
Adorned with golden countenance beaming fair as the full moon, Her feet ringed with rays shining like lunar beams from Her toenails, hailed with chants of victory across the cosmos, all glory to You, O Mountain Daughter!
कमलानिलये कमले कमनीयकलानिलये कुरु मयि कृपां सकलं दुरितं दलयन् जननी मम पाहि सदा शरणागतकम् । भवसागरतारिणि मातस्त्वमेव गतिर्मम पारमपारपदं जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १९ ॥
Kamalā-nilaye kamale kamanīya-kalā-nilaye kuru mayi kṛpāṁ Sakalaṁ duritaṁ dalayan jananī mama pāhi sadā śaraṇāgatam | Bhava-sāgara-tāriṇi mātas-tvam-eva gatir-mama pāram-apāra-padaṁ Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 19 ||
O Dweller in the Lotus, home of all divine beauty, shower Your grace upon me! Banish all my sorrows and sins, protect me who takes refuge in You. Deliverer across the ocean of worldly existence, You alone are my ultimate goal!
अयि मयि दीनदयालुदये कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथानुरुतासि मयि । यदचितं यदयुक्तमिदं ननु तत्त्वमपाकरुरुद्यतये जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २० ॥
Ayi mayi dīna-dayālu-daye kṛpayaiva tvayā bhavitavyam-ume Ayi jagato jananī kṛpayāsi yathāsi tathā-nurutāsi mayi | Yad-acitaṁ yad-ayuktam-idaṁ nanu tat-tvam-apākurur-udyataye Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 20 ||
O Uma, overflowing with compassion for the helpless, be gracious unto me! As the Mother of all creation, cast Your tender maternal gaze upon me, forgive whatever shortcomings I possess, and uplift my soul!
तव विमलेन्दुकुलं वदनं दमलं कलयन्ननुशीलयति किमु पुरुहूतपुरन्दुमुखी सुमुखीभिरसौ विमुखीक्रियते । मम तु मतं शिवनामधने भवती कृपया किमु न क्रियते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २१ ॥
Tava vimalendu-kulaṁ vadanaṁ damalaṁ kalayan-nanuśīlayati Kimu puruhūta-purandu-mukhī sumukhībhir-asau vimukhī-kriyate | Mama tu mataṁ śiva-nāma-dhane bhavatī kṛpayā kimu na kriyate Jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute || 21 ||
Whoever meditates upon Your spotlessly pure countenance, blooming like the autumn moon, will he ever be trapped by heavenly damsels? Never! O Consort of Shiva, by Your divine grace, can anything remain unachieved? Victory, eternal victory unto You, O Slayer of Mahishasura, fair daughter of the Himalayas!
Phalaśruti (Sacred Fruits of Recitation)
Reciting this hymn daily with loving surrender crowns the devotee with victory over inner impurities, protection from adversaries, and supreme grace from the Mother of the Universe.
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