The Unstoppable Force: A Celebration of Shakti
From the very first verse, the Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram doesn’t just invite the Divine Mother; it commands attention. Its rhythmic, alliterative, and intensely visual verses have made it one of the most popular and captivating hymns in the Hindu tradition, often recognized instantly by its opening phrase: Ayi Giri Nandini.
This profound hymn, attributed to the great 8th-century sage Adi Shankaracharya, is a towering tribute to Goddess Durga in her fiercest form—the one who slew the seemingly invincible buffalo-demon, Mahishasura. But the Stotram’s longevity and power don’t come from mere mythology; they come from the deep spiritual symbolism of the battle.
The Mahishasura Mardini Stotram is a declaration that the ultimate, unyielding power of the cosmos is inherently feminine (Shakti). It is an invitation to tap into that energy to win the greatest battle of all: the war against the ego.
The Symbolic Battle: Slaying the Beast Within
The story of the Goddess Durga fighting Mahishasura is much more than a tale of gods and demons; it’s a blueprint for inner transformation.
– Mahishasura: The Ego-Demon: The demon Mahishasura is often depicted as half-man, half-buffalo. The buffalo symbolizes Mahiṣa—the dull, bestial, and compulsive nature within human beings. It represents the unchecked Ego, Arrogance, and Inertia that resist change and spiritual growth. The demon believed no man or god could defeat him, symbolizing the ego’s belief in its own invincibility.
– Goddess Durga: The Unified Power: The gods, unable to defeat the demon, combine their energies to create Durga. She is the embodiment of their collective power (Shakti). Her ten arms, each carrying a weapon gifted by a different deity, signify that all cosmic powers reside within the Divine Feminine and are channeled through her for righteous action.
– The Victory: The ten-day battle, celebrated during Navaratri, culminates in Durga’s victory on Vijayadashami (the tenth day). This is the inner journey where the soul cultivates nine divine qualities (the nine nights) before finally slaying the ego and achieving victory.
By chanting the Stotram, you are asking the Mother to perform that same fierce, necessary act of spiritual destruction within your heart.
Poetic Power and Musicality
The Stotram’s verses are celebrated for their literary brilliance, utilizing alliteration and a dramatic, powerful rhythm. The language creates vivid imagery of the battle—the rhythmic clanging of her bells (kiṅkiṇī) on her waist, the roar of her lion, and the swiftness of her attack. This is why the hymn is so deeply captivating in musical renditions; the sound itself is a form of spiritual cleansing.
For instance, the refrain:
Jaya Jaya He Mahiṣāsura Mardini, Ramya Kapardini, Śaila Sute (Victory, Victory to you, O Destroyer of Mahishasura, O beautiful-haired daughter of the Mountain!)
This repetition anchors the chanter in the consciousness of victory and beautiful strength, helping to dissolve self-doubt and negativity with every rhythmic phrase.
Transformative Benefits for the Devotee
The practice of reciting the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram brings about profound changes in the devotee’s internal landscape:
- Courage and Fearlessness: The core benefit is the elimination of inner fear. Chanting this hymn builds Vīrya (spiritual valor) and self-confidence, allowing the devotee to face life’s challenges—be they professional, social, or emotional—with unwavering determination.
- Purification of the Mind: It acts as a powerful catalyst to burn away negative thoughts (duṣṭa mati), attachments (moha), and anger (kopa).
- Holistic Protection: It is believed to create an energetic shield that guards the devotee against external malice, the evil eye, and subtle negative forces.
- Spiritual Alignment: By meditating on Durga as the Daughter of the Mountain (Śailasutā), you connect to the stable, grounded energy of the Earth, ensuring your spiritual practice is rooted in reality.
The Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram is a universal call to the Goddess, asking her not to grant favors, but to grant the strength to overcome the obstacles we create for ourselves. It is the ultimate hymn of empowerment for anyone ready to step into their fullest potential.
Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram Sanskirt Lyric
श्री महिषासुर मर्दिनी स्तोत्रम् (अयिगिरि नन्दिनि)
अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दिनुते
गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते ।
भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 1 ॥
सुरवरवर्षिणि दुर्धरधर्षिणि दुर्मुखमर्षिणि हर्षरते
त्रिभुवनपोषिणि शङ्करतोषिणि कल्मषमोषिणि घोररते । [किल्बिष-, घोष-]
दनुजनिरोषिणि दितिसुतरोषिणि दुर्मदशोषिणि सिन्धुसुते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 2 ॥
अयि जगदम्ब मदम्ब कदम्बवनप्रियवासिनि हासरते
शिखरि शिरोमणि तुङ्गहिमालय शृङ्गनिजालय मध्यगते ।
मधुमधुरे मधुकैटभगञ्जिनि कैटभभञ्जिनि रासरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 3 ॥
अयि शतखण्ड विखण्डितरुण्ड वितुण्डितशुण्ड गजाधिपते
रिपुगजगण्ड विदारणचण्ड पराक्रमशुण्ड मृगाधिपते ।
निजभुजदण्ड निपातितखण्ड विपातितमुण्ड भटाधिपते [-चण्ड]
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 4 ॥
अयि रणदुर्मद शत्रुवधोदित दुर्धरनिर्जर शक्तिभृते
चतुरविचारधुरीण महाशिव दूतकृत प्रमथाधिपते ।
दुरितदुरीह दुराशय दुर्मति दानवदूत कृतान्तमते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 5 ॥
अयि शरणागत वैरिवधूवर वीरवराभयदायकरे
त्रिभुवन मस्तक शूलविरोधि शिरोधिकृतामल शूलकरे ।
दुमिदुमितामर दुन्दुभिनाद महो मुखरीकृत तिग्मकरे
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 6 ॥
अयि निजहुङ्कृतिमात्र निराकृत धूम्रविलोचन धूम्रशते
समरविशोषित शोणितबीज समुद्भवशोणित बीजलते ।
शिव शिव शुम्भ निशुम्भ महाहव तर्पित भूत पिशाचरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 7 ॥
धनुरनुसङ्ग रणक्षणसङ्ग परिस्फुरदङ्ग नटत्कटके
कनक पिशङ्ग पृषत्कनिषङ्गरसद्भट शृङ्ग हतावटुके ।
कृतचतुरङ्ग बलक्षितिरङ्ग घटद्बहुरङ्ग रटद्बटुके
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 8 ॥
सुरललना ततथेयि तथेयि कृताभिनयोदर नृत्यरते
कृत कुकुथः कुकुथो गडदादिकताल कुतूहल गानरते ।
धुधुकुट धुक्कुट धिन्धिमित ध्वनि धीर मृदङ्ग निनादरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 9 ॥
जय जय जप्य जये जय शब्दपरस्तुति तत्पर विश्वनुते
भण भण भिञ्जिमि भिङ्कृतनूपुर सिञ्जितमोहित भूतपते । [झ-, झिं-]
नटितनटार्ध नटीनटनायक नाटितनाट्य सुगानरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 10 ॥
अयि सुमनः सुमनः सुमनः सुमनः सुमनोहर कान्तियुते
श्रित रजनी रजनी रजनी रजनी रजनीकर वक्त्रवृते ।
सुनयन विभ्रमर भ्रमर भ्रमर भ्रमर भ्रमराधिपते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 11 ॥
सहित महाहव मल्लम तल्लिक मल्लित रल्लक मल्लरते
विरचित वल्लिक पल्लिक मल्लिक भिल्लिक भिल्लिक वर्ग वृते ।
सितकृत फुल्लसमुल्लसितारुण तल्लज पल्लव सल्ललिते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 12 ॥
अविरलगण्डगलन्मदमेदुर मत्तमतङ्गज राजपते
त्रिभुवनभूषण भूतकलानिधि रूपपयोनिधि राजसुते ।
अयि सुदतीजन लालसमानस मोहनमन्मथ राजसुते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 13 ॥
कमलदलामल कोमलकान्ति कलाकलितामल भाललते
सकलविलास कलानिलय क्रमकेलिचलत्कलहंसकुले ।
अलिकुल सङ्कुल कुवलय मण्डल मौलिमिलद्भकुलालि कुले
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 14 ॥
करमुरलीरव वीजित कूजित लज्जितकोकिल मञ्जुमते
मिलित पुलिन्द मनोहर गुञ्जित रञ्जितशैल निकुञ्जगते ।
निजगुणभूत महाशबरीगण सद्गुणसम्भृत केलितले
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 15 ॥
कटितटपीत दुकूलविचित्र मयूखतिरस्कृत चन्द्ररुचे
प्रणतसुरासुर मौलिमणिस्फुर दंशुलसन्नख चन्द्ररुचे ।
जितकनकाचल मौलिपदोर्जित निर्भरकुञ्जर कुम्भकुचे
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 16 ॥
विजित सहस्रकरैक सहस्रकरैक सहस्रकरैकनुते
कृत सुरतारक सङ्गरतारक सङ्गरतारक सूनुसुते ।
सुरथसमाधि समानसमाधि समाधि समाधि सुजातरते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 17 ॥
पदकमलं करुणानिलये वरिवस्यति योऽनुदिनं स शिवे
अयि कमले कमलानिलये कमलानिलयः स कथं न भवेत् ।
तव पदमेव परम्पदमित्यनुशीलयतो मम किं न शिवे
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 18 ॥
कनकलसत्कल सिन्धुजलैरनुसिञ्चिनुते गुणरङ्गभुवं
भजति स किं न शचीकुचकुम्भ तटीपरिरम्भ सुखानुभवम् ।
तव चरणं शरणं करवाणि नतामरवाणि निवासि शिवं
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 19 ॥
तव विमलेन्दुकुलं वदनेन्दुमलं सकलं ननु कूलयते
किमु पुरुहूत पुरीन्दुमुखी सुमुखीभिरसौ विमुखीक्रियते ।
मम तु मतं शिवनामधने भवती कृपया किमुत क्रियते
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 20 ॥
अयि मयि दीनदयालुतया कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे
अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथाऽनुभितासिरते ।
यदुचितमत्र भवत्युररि कुरुतादुरुतापमपाकुरु ते [मे]
जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ 21 ॥
इति श्री महिषासुरमर्दिनि स्तोत्रम् ॥
Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram English Lyric
Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (Ayigiri Nandini)
ayi girinandini nanditamēdini viśvavinōdini nandinutē
girivaravindhyaśirōdhinivāsini viṣṇuvilāsini jiṣṇunutē ।
bhagavati hē śitikaṇṭhakuṭumbini bhūrikuṭumbini bhūrikṛtē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 1 ॥
suravaravarṣiṇi durdharadharṣiṇi durmukhamarṣiṇi harṣaratē
tribhuvanapōṣiṇi śaṅkaratōṣiṇi kalmaṣamōṣiṇi ghōraratē । [kilbiṣa-, ghōṣa-]
danujanirōṣiṇi ditisutarōṣiṇi durmadaśōṣiṇi sindhusutē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 2 ॥
ayi jagadamba madamba kadambavanapriyavāsini hāsaratē
śikhari śirōmaṇi tuṅgahimālaya śṛṅganijālaya madhyagatē ।
madhumadhurē madhukaiṭabhagañjini kaiṭabhabhañjini rāsaratē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 3 ॥
ayi śatakhaṇḍa vikhaṇḍitaruṇḍa vituṇḍitaśuṇḍa gajādhipatē
ripugajagaṇḍa vidāraṇachaṇḍa parākramaśuṇḍa mṛgādhipatē ।
nijabhujadaṇḍa nipātitakhaṇḍa vipātitamuṇḍa bhaṭādhipatē [-chaṇḍa]
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 4 ॥
ayi raṇadurmada śatruvadhōdita durdharanirjara śaktibhṛtē
chaturavichāradhurīṇa mahāśiva dūtakṛta pramathādhipatē ।
duritadurīha durāśaya durmati dānavadūta kṛtāntamatē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 5 ॥
ayi śaraṇāgata vairivadhūvara vīravarābhayadāyakarē
tribhuvana mastaka śūlavirōdhi śirōdhikṛtāmala śūlakarē ।
dumidumitāmara dundubhināda mahō mukharīkṛta tigmakarē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 6 ॥
ayi nijahuṅkṛtimātra nirākṛta dhūmravilōchana dhūmraśatē
samaraviśōṣita śōṇitabīja samudbhavaśōṇita bījalatē ।
śiva śiva śumbha niśumbha mahāhava tarpita bhūta piśācharatē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 7 ॥
dhanuranusaṅga raṇakṣaṇasaṅga parisphuradaṅga naṭatkaṭakē
kanaka piśaṅga pṛṣatkaniṣaṅgarasadbhaṭa śṛṅga hatāvaṭukē ।
kṛtachaturaṅga balakṣitiraṅga ghaṭadbahuraṅga raṭadbaṭukē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 8 ॥
suralalanā tatathēyi tathēyi kṛtābhinayōdara nṛtyaratē
kṛta kukuthaḥ kukuthō gaḍadādikatāla kutūhala gānaratē ।
dhudhukuṭa dhukkuṭa dhindhimita dhvani dhīra mṛdaṅga ninādaratē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 9 ॥
jaya jaya japya jayē jaya śabdaparastuti tatpara viśvanutē
bhaṇa bhaṇa bhiñjimi bhiṅkṛtanūpura siñjitamōhita bhūtapatē । [jha-, jhiṃ-]
naṭitanaṭārdha naṭīnaṭanāyaka nāṭitanāṭya sugānaratē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 10 ॥
ayi sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanaḥ sumanōhara kāntiyutē
śrita rajanī rajanī rajanī rajanī rajanīkara vaktravṛtē ।
sunayana vibhramara bhramara bhramara bhramara bhramarādhipatē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 11 ॥
sahita mahāhava mallama tallika mallita rallaka mallaratē
virachita vallika pallika mallika bhillika bhillika varga vṛtē ।
sitakṛta phullasamullasitāruṇa tallaja pallava sallalitē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 12 ॥
aviralagaṇḍagalanmadamēdura mattamataṅgaja rājapatē
tribhuvanabhūṣaṇa bhūtakalānidhi rūpapayōnidhi rājasutē ।
ayi sudatījana lālasamānasa mōhanamanmatha rājasutē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 13 ॥
kamaladalāmala kōmalakānti kalākalitāmala bhālalatē
sakalavilāsa kaḻānilaya kramakēlichalatkalahaṃsakulē ।
alikula saṅkula kuvalaya maṇḍala maulimiladbhakulāli kulē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 14 ॥
karamuraḻīrava vījita kūjita lajjitakōkila mañjumatē
milita pulinda manōhara guñjita rañjitaśaila nikuñjagatē ।
nijaguṇabhūta mahāśabarīgaṇa sadguṇasambhṛta kēḻitalē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 15 ॥
kaṭitaṭapīta dukūlavichitra mayūkhatiraskṛta chandraruchē
praṇatasurāsura mauḻimaṇisphura daṃśulasannakha chandraruchē ।
jitakanakāchala mauḻipadōrjita nirbharakuñjara kumbhakuchē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 16 ॥
vijita sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraikanutē
kṛta suratāraka saṅgaratāraka saṅgaratāraka sūnusutē ।
surathasamādhi samānasamādhi samādhi samādhi sujātaratē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 17 ॥
padakamalaṃ karuṇānilayē varivasyati yō’nudinaṃ sa śivē
ayi kamalē kamalānilayē kamalānilayaḥ sa kathaṃ na bhavēt ।
tava padamēva parampadamityanuśīlayatō mama kiṃ na śivē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 18 ॥
kanakalasatkala sindhujalairanusiñchinutē guṇaraṅgabhuvaṃ
bhajati sa kiṃ na śachīkuchakumbha taṭīparirambha sukhānubhavam ।
tava charaṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ karavāṇi natāmaravāṇi nivāsi śivaṃ
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 19 ॥
tava vimalēndukulaṃ vadanēndumalaṃ sakalaṃ nanu kūlayatē
kimu puruhūta purīndumukhī sumukhībhirasau vimukhīkriyatē ।
mama tu mataṃ śivanāmadhanē bhavatī kṛpayā kimuta kriyatē
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 20 ॥
ayi mayi dīnadayālutayā kṛpayaiva tvayā bhavitavyamumē
ayi jagatō jananī kṛpayāsi yathāsi tathā’nubhitāsiratē ।
yaduchitamatra bhavatyurari kurutādurutāpamapākuru tē [mē]
jaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutē ॥ 21 ॥
iti śrī mahiṣāsuramardini stōtram ॥
Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram Video
, composed by Adi Shankaracharya. This hymn celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over the ego-demon and instills courage and spiritual strength.){kind=link}