Nava Durga Stuti

वृषारूढा सैषा हिमगिरिसुता शक्तिसरिता
त्रिशूलं हस्तेऽस्याः कमलकुसुमं शङ्करगता ।
सती नाम्ना ख्याता विगतजनने शुभ्रसुभगा
सदा पायाद्देवी विजयविभवा शैलतनया ।।

This verse describes Goddess Shailaputri. She is the mountain's daughter. A white bull is her vehicle. She flows like a river of power. One hand grasps a sharp trident. The other carries a soft lotus. Lord Shiva is her chosen cosmic partner. People knew her as Sati. That was her previous earthly life. Now her form looks bright and beautiful. The bull stands for unshakeable Dharma. Dharma provides steady solid support. The trident cuts through three main pains. These include physical, mental, and spiritual distress. The blooming lotus signifies deep detachment. It grows untouched by dirty mud. Her grace brings ultimate spiritual victory. She guards us at all times. True power stays totally grounded. It blooms beautifully in pure awareness.

तपश्चर्यासक्ता वरयति महेशं स्वमनसा
करे वामे कुण्डी भवति जपमालाऽपरकरे ।
विरागं त्यागं वा कलयति सदा दिव्यहृदये
तपोमूर्तिर्माता विकिरतु शिवं लोकनिवहे ।।

At this stage, the focus shifts to asceticism. The text describes Goddess Brahmacharini. She remains deep in intense penance. Her mind desires Shiva as her husband. A water pot rests in her left hand. A chanting rosary sits in her right hand. Her divine heart embraces pure detachment. She gave up all worldly desires. Her body is the very form of penance. The rosary represents constant mindful chanting. The water pot signifies absolute inner purity. Detachment is never a sad state. It is a state of vast freedom. She scatters goodness throughout the world. She blesses all living beings constantly. True devotion requires sharp intense focus. Real inner peace comes from letting go.

वराङ्गे घण्टाभा विलसति च चन्द्रोऽर्धकृतिमान्
मृगेन्द्रस्था देवी दशकरयुता हेमवदना ।
प्रचण्डैर्निर्घोषैस्तुमुलनिनदैर्यान्ति दनुजा
विदध्यात् कल्याणं निखिलभयजातं च हरतात् ।।

Notice how the verse presents fierce energy. This describes Goddess Chandraghanta. A half-moon decorates her forehead. It looks exactly like a bell. A mighty lion acts as her seat. She possesses ten strong arms. Her face shines like bright gold. She lets out a terrifying loud roar. This massive sound frightens evil demons. They run away in sheer panic. The fierce lion represents supreme courage. The loud bell sound is divine truth. This absolute truth shatters false ego. Inner negative traits flee from this sound. She grants overall worldly welfare. She removes all kinds of deep fear. Courage eliminates the darkest mental shadows. Supreme welfare arises in a fearless mind.

स्मितेन ब्रह्माण्डं रचयति च साम्लानविभवा
करे कोदण्डादिप्रहरणचयश्चामृतघटः ।
प्रभाऽऽदित्यस्यास्ते वपुषि निखिले कान्तिकिरणा
पुनीतां कूष्माण्डा विकिरतु विभां लोकहृदये ।।

A deeper truth about creation is revealed here. The text describes Goddess Kushmanda. She creates the universe very easily. She does it with a simple smile. Her cosmic power never fades away. She holds a bow and bright weapons. She also carries a nectar pot. Her entire body glows like the sun. Radiant light rays spread everywhere around her. A gentle smile shows effortless creation. The universe takes birth from pure joy. The sharp weapons destroy deep ignorance. The sweet nectar gives eternal spiritual life. Sun-like radiance removes all inner darkness. She purifies our heavy burdened hearts. She spreads divine light inside us. True joy is the actual source of life. Divine light heals the deepest spiritual wounds.

तपःपूता देवी मुनिकुलसमुत्पन्नविभवा
सदाऽमोघन्दात्री निखिलभयहन्त्री द्युतियुता ।
जगत्सर्वं यस्या नयननिमिषेणातपितरां
पराम्बा शक्तिः सा वितरतु कृपां भक्तनिकरे ।।

Why does the text highlight a sage's lineage? This verse honors Goddess Katyayani. She became pure through deep penance. She appeared in Sage Katyayana's family line. She always gives definite positive results. Her divine actions never fail. She destroys all existing worldly fears. She is filled with bright glowing light. She can heat the entire world. She does this in a mere blink. She is the supreme mother goddess. She is absolute pure cosmic energy. The sage's penance brought her divine presence down. Pure spiritual effort attracts immediate divine grace. Her intense heat burns away heavy karma. Her bright light guides lost wandering souls. She distributes mercy among her devoted seekers. Grace flows quickly to a sincere heart.

चकास्ति स्कन्दोऽङ्के तनयसुकुमारः सुखकरो
भुजे श्रीपर्णं वै ननु वरदमुद्रा विजयते ।
इयं सिंहासीना सकलसुखदाऽसौ च वरदा
मनःशुद्धं वाचि प्रसरतु तन्नाम च विमलम् ।।

Building on the fierce forms, the teaching now softens. We see Goddess Skandamata here. Her young son Skanda sits on her lap. He gives great joy and happiness. She holds a lotus in her arm. Another hand forms a generous blessing gesture. She sits comfortably on a fierce lion. She gives all desired worldly joys. She also grants deep spiritual boons. The mother represents pure unconditional love. Holding the child shows tender cosmic care. The resting lion shows perfectly controlled power. Love and wild power exist together here. She purifies our restless scattered mind. Her pure name spreads in our daily speech. True peace comes through pure motherly grace. A clean mind naturally speaks pure words.

अभैषीत्तां दृष्ट्वा दितिसुतकुलं भीषणमहो
जघानेयं दैत्यान् सकलदनुजान् कोपमनसा ।
शिरोमाला कण्ठे वपुषि भुजगो घोरवदना
महाकाली सैषा ह्यभयवरदा पातु नियतम् ।।

The text now details a truly terrifying vision. This describes Goddess Kalaratri. The demon clan felt extreme deep fear. Just seeing her scared them completely. She killed these cruel selfish demons. She acted with an intensely angry mind. A skull garland hangs on her neck. A dark snake wraps around her body. Her face looks very fierce and scary. She is the great dark cosmic night. Yet she grants ultimate fearless boons. The thick darkness absorbs all worldly negativity. The dead skulls are conquered ego trips. The snake shows awakened coiled inner energy. Her fierce anger only destroys evil traits. She protects us constantly without fail. True safety sometimes comes in fierce shapes. Conquering ego brings absolute inner safety.

महादेवासक्ता शमितशुचिरूपा सुनयना
करे ढक्कास्वानो विभववरदा श्वेतवसना ।
बलीवर्द्दासीना दुरितशमना शुभ्रकरणा
महागौरी तुष्यान्मम नुतिनिपाठेन सततम् ।।

This moment introduces extreme peace and purity. The verse describes Goddess Mahagauri. She is deeply devoted to Lord Shiva. Her form is highly peaceful and pure. She has very beautiful expressive eyes. One hand holds a small rhythmic drum. She grants great wealth and fine boons. She wears completely spotless white clothes. She sits on a strong white bull. She removes all accumulated past sins. Her divine actions are totally pure. The white clothes mean pure untainted truth. The drum sound awakens sleeping spiritual wisdom. The bull represents stable solid righteousness. Her supreme purity washes away dark karma. May she feel pleased by this prayer. Perfect purity easily removes all past burdens. Inner peace is the highest spiritual wealth.

गदां चक्रं हस्ते नलिनकुसुमं शङ्खनिनदो
विभातीयं पद्मे तुहिनगिरिकन्या च वरदा ।
सदा चैषा दत्ते गरिमलघिमाद्यष्टविभवान्
पुनीतामात्मानं सकलकलुषं चित्तनिलयात् ।।

Look at the divine weapons held high. Here is Goddess Siddhidatri. She grasps a heavy solid mace. She spins a sharp swift discus. She gently holds a soft lotus. A conch shell sounds loudly and clearly. She sits gracefully on a lotus flower. She is the snow mountain's daughter. She grants excellent divine boons. She gives the eight great mystic powers. These include becoming extremely heavy or light. The heavy weapons cut down deep ignorance. The conch calls out clear spiritual truth. The mystic powers are early spiritual milestones. She deeply cleanses the inner human soul. She removes dirty stains from the mind. Ultimate perfection cleanses the heart completely. True power lies in total inner purity.

नवदुर्गास्तुतिं चैनां यः पठेद्यत्नतो मुदा ।
आरोग्यं धनधान्यं वै प्राप्नुयाच्च विशेषतः ।।

The prayer concludes here with a final promise. This is the closing beneficial verse. It talks about reading this beautiful praise. One must read it with sincere effort. One must read it with great joy. This praise honors the nine divine forms. The dedicated reader gains excellent good health. The reader gets abundant wealth and grain. These wonderful benefits come in special ways. Sincere effort brings solid mental discipline. Great joy brings an open receptive heart. Good health is the firm base of life. Abundant wealth supports necessary worldly duties. Material success and spiritual growth combine perfectly here. Sincere effort always brings good solid rewards. Joyful devotion creates a life of true abundance.

वृषारूढा सैषा हिमगिरिसुता शक्तिसरिता
त्रिशूलं हस्तेऽस्याः कमलकुसुमं शङ्करगता ।
सती नाम्ना ख्याता विगतजनने शुभ्रसुभगा
सदा पायाद्देवी विजयविभवा शैलतनया ।।

तपश्चर्यासक्ता वरयति महेशं स्वमनसा
करे वामे कुण्डी भवति जपमालाऽपरकरे ।
विरागं त्यागं वा कलयति सदा दिव्यहृदये
तपोमूर्तिर्माता विकिरतु शिवं लोकनिवहे ।।

वराङ्गे घण्टाभा विलसति च चन्द्रोऽर्धकृतिमान्
मृगेन्द्रस्था देवी दशकरयुता हेमवदना ।
प्रचण्डैर्निर्घोषैस्तुमुलनिनदैर्यान्ति दनुजा
विदध्यात् कल्याणं निखिलभयजातं च हरतात् ।।

स्मितेन ब्रह्माण्डं रचयति च साम्लानविभवा
करे कोदण्डादिप्रहरणचयश्चामृतघटः ।
प्रभाऽऽदित्यस्यास्ते वपुषि निखिले कान्तिकिरणा
पुनीतां कूष्माण्डा विकिरतु विभां लोकहृदये ।।

तपःपूता देवी मुनिकुलसमुत्पन्नविभवा
सदाऽमोघन्दात्री निखिलभयहन्त्री द्युतियुता ।
जगत्सर्वं यस्या नयननिमिषेणातपितरां
पराम्बा शक्तिः सा वितरतु कृपां भक्तनिकरे ।।

चकास्ति स्कन्दोऽङ्के तनयसुकुमारः सुखकरो
भुजे श्रीपर्णं वै ननु वरदमुद्रा विजयते ।
इयं सिंहासीना सकलसुखदाऽसौ च वरदा
मनःशुद्धं वाचि प्रसरतु तन्नाम च विमलम् ।।

अभैषीत्तां दृष्ट्वा दितिसुतकुलं भीषणमहो
जघानेयं दैत्यान् सकलदनुजान् कोपमनसा ।
शिरोमाला कण्ठे वपुषि भुजगो घोरवदना
महाकाली सैषा ह्यभयवरदा पातु नियतम् ।।

महादेवासक्ता शमितशुचिरूपा सुनयना
करे ढक्कास्वानो विभववरदा श्वेतवसना ।
बलीवर्द्दासीना दुरितशमना शुभ्रकरणा
महागौरी तुष्यान्मम नुतिनिपाठेन सततम् ।।

गदां चक्रं हस्ते नलिनकुसुमं शङ्खनिनदो
विभातीयं पद्मे तुहिनगिरिकन्या च वरदा ।
सदा चैषा दत्ते गरिमलघिमाद्यष्टविभवान्
पुनीतामात्मानं सकलकलुषं चित्तनिलयात् ।।

नवदुर्गास्तुतिं चैनां यः पठेद्यत्नतो मुदा ।
आरोग्यं धनधान्यं वै प्राप्नुयाच्च विशेषतः ।।

vri'shaarood'haa saishaa himagirisutaa shaktisaritaa
trishoolam' haste'syaah' kamalakusumam' shankaragataa .
satee naamnaa khyaataa vigatajanane shubhrasubhagaa
sadaa paayaaddevee vijayavibhavaa shailatanayaa ..

tapashcharyaasaktaa varayati mahesham' svamanasaa
kare vaame kund'ee bhavati japamaalaa'parakare .
viraagam' tyaagam' vaa kalayati sadaa divyahri'daye
tapomoortirmaataa vikiratu shivam' lokanivahe ..

varaange ghant'aabhaa vilasati cha chandro'rdhakri'timaan
mri'gendrasthaa devee dashakarayutaa hemavadanaa .
prachand'airnirghoshaistumulaninadairyaanti danujaa
vidadhyaat kalyaanam' nikhilabhayajaatam' cha harataat ..

smitena brahmaand'am' rachayati cha saamlaanavibhavaa
kare kodand'aadipraharanachayashchaamri'taghat'ah' .
prabhaa''dityasyaaste vapushi nikhile kaantikiranaa
puneetaam' kooshmaand'aa vikiratu vibhaam' lokahri'daye ..

tapah'pootaa devee munikulasamutpannavibhavaa
sadaa'moghandaatree nikhilabhayahantree dyutiyutaa .
jagatsarvam' yasyaa nayananimishenaatapitaraam'
paraambaa shaktih' saa vitaratu kri'paam' bhaktanikare ..

chakaasti skando'nke tanayasukumaarah' sukhakaro
bhuje shreeparnam' vai nanu varadamudraa vijayate .
iyam' sim'haaseenaa sakalasukhadaa'sau cha varadaa
manah'shuddham' vaachi prasaratu tannaama cha vimalam ..

abhaisheettaam' dri'sht'vaa ditisutakulam' bheeshanamaho
jaghaaneyam' daityaan sakaladanujaan kopamanasaa .
shiromaalaa kant'he vapushi bhujago ghoravadanaa
mahaakaalee saishaa hyabhayavaradaa paatu niyatam ..

mahaadevaasaktaa shamitashuchiroopaa sunayanaa
kare d'hakkaasvaano vibhavavaradaa shvetavasanaa .
baleevarddaaseenaa duritashamanaa shubhrakaranaa
mahaagauree tushyaanmama nutinipaat'hena satatam ..

gadaam' chakram' haste nalinakusumam' shankhaninado
vibhaateeyam' padme tuhinagirikanyaa cha varadaa .
sadaa chaishaa datte garimalaghimaadyasht'avibhavaan
puneetaamaatmaanam' sakalakalusham' chittanilayaat ..

navadurgaastutim' chainaam' yah' pat'hedyatnato mudaa .
aarogyam' dhanadhaanyam' vai praapnuyaachcha visheshatah' ..

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi

Other stotras