Mahishasura Mardini Stotram — Meaning and Significance for Killing Arrogance
Introduction
Goddess Durga and Devi Mahatmyam
Mahishasura Mardini stotram is totally based on Devi mahatmyam in which Devi turn into the forms of Durga in Chandika to kill Mahishasura. This stotram have been composed or been devoted to Ramakrishn Kavi as well as Sri Adi Shankaracharya both. Extended tale of Mahishasura is in Durga Saptashati in chapter 2,3 & 4 and also can be seen in Devi Mahatamaya or Devi Bhagwati puraan. Mahishasura Mardini is the stotra of Maa Durga defined in Chandi paath in Durga Sapatashati. The Stotram is titled Mahishasura Mardini as Devi Maa Durga has vanquished Demon Mahishasura in the chandi form. Maa Durga is the primal origin of all forms of power as she’s a Shakti Avtaar, She’s inhabiting with many powers & qualities and well-known by several names.
Significance of Reciting Mahishasura Mardini Stotra
Maa Durga is an Adi Shakti who vanquish all the dreads inside any soul, who kills ego, rage. anger and grudge to remove all the negativities dwell in mind, soul and body. To receive the benedictions of Maa Durga one must surrender towards her, completely, then she’ll purify the adorer in her own way. To avail the energy of Maa Durga to vanquish in any combat or surmount any challenge or fear, reciting Mahishasura Mardini Strotam regularly with reverence is a benediction. Devi Maa will guide you to vanquish any warfare & provides you victory in all your works. Reciting Mahishasura Mardini Strotam will overmaster all pains from your Life. You’ll be auspicious by Powers of Devi Maa as she vanquished the demon Mahishasura. You can recite Mahishasura Mardini Strotam also at your residence.The Stotram has crucial role with Navaratri festivity when adorer venerates Devi Maa in nine forms of Durga , as it holds the prime message of Sri Chandi Paath.
Shri Chandi Saptashati Paath delineates us the tale of, How Devi Maa (Maa Durga or Mahamaya) took the Chandi Avtaar in order to dissipate the Demon Mahishasura, who was terrorizing the all Devas & Humans. According to traditionary tale, the combat of Devi Maa with Mahishasura took place during the 9 days of Navratri and ultimately ended with Mother’s Victory on the Tenth Day called as Vijayadashami, the day following Navaratri.
Thus, when we worship throughout the Navratri festivity, Devi Maa appears and fight all the negative forces in our own minds & hearts to purify our body, soul and mind. On the propitious day of Vijayadashami, She’s ultimately triumphant as we’re fetterless from millions negativities and sins those’re cryptic in our mind. Reciting Shri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram entire Navaratri, guides to invoke Devi Maa to come & decimate all of our negativities, which’re within us. This beautiful, sacred & holy Stotram has the power to decimate all the negativities dwelling within us.
Mahishasura Mardini Stotram or Mahishasur Maridini Slokah is a very strong and influential stotram of Goddess Durga in the admiration of divine mother written by Guru Adi Shankaracharya after Saundarya lahiri (Eulogizing the beauty of Maa Parvati). Adorers should chant this for conquest over adversities and quelling of their negative karma.
Synopsis of Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
Astrologically Bull emblematize the Mahishasura which enlightens over aggression, ambition, over confidence, unpredictable nature, power, fertility and perseverance. Bull being a Taurus signage seen for the fighting nature, arrogance (bully nature), hunger for power, pride, direction-less ambitions & exorbitant sexual desires those’re unmanageable for any being if it’s being affected by the Rajasic and Nodes Planets. Symbolically, a bull is masculine in disposition, so there’s an implication of bull emblematize over-aggression,valor, strength & male fertilization, the more you sustain the fertility more power you have, courage to fight & valor and more you can balance your sublunary desires those’re wandering directionless or aimless in disposition. The more you release the Veera (the Male fertility), more you slip the command over you anger, equilibrium and the more you feel feeble physically as well as internally.
Historically, it’s a signage of battling capability and male fertility that gives magnanimity and valor. In Spirituality, over sexual desires turns to aggression, higher passion and release command of temper for every men, at the end, will end with several weaknesses which creates dread of losing power in implicit soul, which’s symbolically characterized by the Mahishasura, a Bull that exhibit to achieve anything at any cost & the goddess Chandika characterize the filtering power and transformation with the help of divine mother force, any men can vanquish their Asuric aptitude as seen in the form of Mahishasura in them.
Thus, Reciting Mahishasura Mardini Strotam and reading the tale of Mahishasura characterize the higher and deeper spiritual lessons for those who are seeking liberation. Those who’re confronting difficulty in controlling passions and higher desires because of their animalistic character (tamas) in body & mind and everytime feel disquieting, instability and lack of peace in their metaphysical practice, they should implore to the Mother Goddess Durga to transmute them into a positive person with preponderance of Sattva Guna. Divine Mother will guide you to command your animalistic desires and become a pious and divine, even she’ll assist you in dissipating your devilish karma to drive further in the way of Mukti or higher liberation from all mundane passions.
Tale of Maa Durga and Mahishasura
Tale of combat between Maa Durga & Mahisahsura remains from the Deva & Asura Sangram, when Devas were vanquished by Asuras & they were restraining by the demons. For millenniums, there was a demon called Mahishasura. He was part buffalo and part demon, born from Asura Rambha & beautiful female Buffalo Mahisi, de-facto the princess Shyamala accursed to be a buffalo.
Later Mahishasura meditated for millenniums, so he could enamor Lord Brahma and in return be auspicious with power and immortality. After much austerity, Lord Brahma came to him and said, “I am very contented with your obeisance. Solicit any boon that you wish.”
The conceited Mahishasura said, “Lord, I do not want any man or god to be able to slay me and only I can be slayed by a women.”
Braced with this boon, Mahishasura referred himself as immortal or imperishable, as no man or god could touch him. He went undaunted. In his pride and Ire, he practically ruined the Earth. The lands were soon were in his obscurity and his massacres were prevalent. Not only this, also he pursuit away the gods out of paradise.
Frightened, the Gods went to Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva and explicated their contretemps.They propounded for conservancy and said that if any actions not be take, soon, the earth and the heaven and all beings there, would be ruined. The lords Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva were hopping raving. They discussed for a moment & then they commenced to radiate a dazzling light, which is never seen before. The light was so radiant, that even the sun paled infront of it. With this, the other Gods also united and the light shined even vivid. Out of this rattling light, the ten armed Goddess Durga was born, the incarnation of Adi Shakti.
Being a woman, there was nothing could stop Goddess Durga from slaying Mahishasura, as his boon only defends him from gods and men. Such was the smartness and cunning of Lord Brahma. One by one the sovereigns come to her and given her a meteoric array of weaponry. Lord Shiva gave her a dangerous Trishul. The sinewy Sudarshan chakra was handed over to her by Lord Vishnu. She got a Quiver of arrows from Lord Varuna, the God of the Sea. Lord Indra, gave a Thunderbolt, to rattle the earth. Lord Vishwakarma, the Architect of the Gods, gave a perilous axe. Lord Yamaraja, the God of Death, gave her a strong Sceptre. Agni gifted a flaming dart. She got a kamandal, or pitcher, from Lord Brahma. Airavata, Indra’s white elephant, gave Goddess Durga, a bell. Its noise assisted her to confuse the demons. The mighty Himalayas gave Goddess Durga a lion to ride upon. Kaal, or Time, gave her a sharp sword.
Armed with ten weapons gifted by the gods to her, one for each arm, she was ready to show Mahishasura who the boss of the bosses was and moved to conquer with him. Maa Durga combated Mahishasura for ten whole days. On the tenth day, she chopped-off his head with her sword.
This shows the compendium of, Why Navratri festivity is to be coaxed for 9 days and then in 10th day conquest is to be celebrated after knocking-down and killing the demon.
Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दिनुते
गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोऽधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते ।
भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १ ॥
सुरवरवर्षिणि दुर्धरधर्षिणि दुर्मुखमर्षिणि हर्षरते
त्रिभुवनपोषिणि शङ्करतोषिणि किल्बिषमोषिणि घोषरते
दनुजनिरोषिणि दितिसुतरोषिणि दुर्मदशोषिणि सिन्धुसुते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २ ॥
अयि जगदम्ब मदम्ब कदम्ब वनप्रियवासिनि हासरते
शिखरि शिरोमणि तुङ्गहिमलय शृङ्गनिजालय मध्यगते ।
मधुमधुरे मधुकैटभगञ्जिनि कैटभभञ्जिनि रासरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ३ ॥
अयि शतखण्ड विखण्डितरुण्ड वितुण्डितशुण्द गजाधिपते
रिपुगजगण्ड विदारणचण्ड पराक्रमशुण्ड मृगाधिपते ।
निजभुजदण्ड निपातितखण्ड विपातितमुण्ड भटाधिपते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ४ ॥
अयि रणदुर्मद शत्रुवधोदित दुर्धरनिर्जर शक्तिभृते
चतुरविचार धुरीणमहाशिव दूतकृत प्रमथाधिपते ।
दुरितदुरीह दुराशयदुर्मति दानवदुत कृतान्तमते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ५ ॥
अयि शरणागत वैरिवधुवर वीरवराभय दायकरे
त्रिभुवनमस्तक शुलविरोधि शिरोऽधिकृतामल शुलकरे ।
दुमिदुमितामर धुन्दुभिनादमहोमुखरीकृत दिङ्मकरे
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ६ ॥
अयि निजहुङ्कृति मात्रनिराकृत धूम्रविलोचन धूम्रशते
समरविशोषित शोणितबीज समुद्भवशोणित बीजलते ।
शिवशिवशुम्भ निशुम्भमहाहव तर्पितभूत पिशाचरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ७ ॥
धनुरनुषङ्ग रणक्षणसङ्ग परिस्फुरदङ्ग नटत्कटके
कनकपिशङ्ग पृषत्कनिषङ्ग रसद्भटशृङ्ग हताबटुके ।
कृतचतुरङ्ग बलक्षितिरङ्ग घटद्बहुरङ्ग रटद्बटुके
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ८ ॥
सुरललना ततथेयि तथेयि कृताभिनयोदर नृत्यरते
कृत कुकुथः कुकुथो गडदादिकताल कुतूहल गानरते ।
धुधुकुट धुक्कुट धिंधिमित ध्वनि धीर मृदंग निनादरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ९ ॥
जय जय जप्य जयेजयशब्द परस्तुति तत्परविश्वनुते
झणझणझिञ्झिमि झिङ्कृत नूपुरशिञ्जितमोहित भूतपते ।
नटित नटार्ध नटी नट नायक नाटितनाट्य सुगानरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १० ॥
अयि सुमनःसुमनःसुमनः सुमनःसुमनोहरकान्तियुते
श्रितरजनी रजनीरजनी रजनीरजनी करवक्त्रवृते ।
सुनयनविभ्रमर भ्रमरभ्रमर भ्रमरभ्रमराधिपते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ११ ॥
सहितमहाहव मल्लमतल्लिक मल्लितरल्लक मल्लरते
विरचितवल्लिक पल्लिकमल्लिक झिल्लिकभिल्लिक वर्गवृते ।
शितकृतफुल्ल समुल्लसितारुण तल्लजपल्लव सल्ललिते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १२ ॥
अविरलगण्ड गलन्मदमेदुर मत्तमतङ्गजराजपते
त्रिभुवनभूषण भूतकलानिधि रूपपयोनिधि राजसुते ।
अयि सुदतीजन लालसमानस मोहन मन्मथराजसुते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १३ ॥
कमलदलामल कोमलकान्ति कलाकलितामल भाललते
सकलविलास कलानिलयक्रम केलिचलत्कल हंसकुले ।
अलिकुलसङ्कुल कुवलयमण्डल मौलिमिलद्बकुलालिकुले
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १४ ॥
करमुरलीरव वीजितकूजित लज्जितकोकिल मञ्जुमते
मिलितपुलिन्द मनोहरगुञ्जित रञ्जितशैल निकुञ्जगते ।
निजगणभूत महाशबरीगण सद्गुणसम्भृत केलितले
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १५ ॥
कटितटपीत दुकूलविचित्र मयुखतिरस्कृत चन्द्ररुचे
प्रणतसुरासुर मौलिमणिस्फुर दंशुलसन्नख चन्द्ररुचे
जितकनकाचल मौलिमदोर्जित निर्भरकुञ्जर कुम्भकुचे
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १६ ॥
विजितसहस्रकरैक सहस्रकरैक सहस्रकरैकनुते
कृतसुरतारक सङ्गरतारक सङ्गरतारक सूनुसुते ।
सुरथसमाधि समानसमाधि समाधिसमाधि सुजातरते ।
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १७ ॥
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 ॥ १८ ॥
कनकलसत्कलसिन्धुजलैरनुषिञ्चति तेगुणरङ्गभुवम्
भजति स किं न शचीकुचकुम्भतटीपरिरम्भसुखानुभवम् ।
तव चरणं शरणं करवाणि नतामरवाणि निवासि शिवम्
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १९ ॥
तव विमलेन्दुकुलं वदनेन्दुमलं सकलं ननु कूलयते
किमु पुरुहूतपुरीन्दु मुखी सुमुखीभिरसौ विमुखीक्रियते ।
मम तु मतं शिवनामधने भवती कृपया किमुत क्रियते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २० ॥
अयि मयि दीन दयालुतया कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे
अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथानुमितासिरते ।
यदुचितमत्र भवत्युररीकुरुतादुरुतापमपाकुरुते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २१ ॥