Mahishasura Mardini - Adi Shankaracharya

Uma Mohan and Gayatri Devi



Belluru Sisters



MS Subbalakshmi


Birendra Krishan Bhadra, Mahalaya, Bangla


महिषासुरमर्दिनिस्तोत्रम्
Navratri - Mahisasur Mardini Stotram (महिषासुरमर्दिनिस्तोत्रम्) - Sanskrit Hymn

Lyrics
Ayi giri nandini, nanditha medini, visva vinodini, nanda nuthe ,
Giri vara vindhya shirodhini vasini vishnu vilaasini jisnu nuthe ,
Bhagavati he shiti kanta kutumbini bhoori kutumbini bhoori kruthe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 1


Suravara varshini durdhara dharshini durmukha marshini harsha rathe ,
Tribhuvana poshini shankara toshini kilbisha moshini ghosha rathe ,
Danujani roshini ditisuta roshini durmada shoshini sindhu suthe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 2


Ayi jagadamba madamba kadamba vanapriya vaasini haasa rathe ,
Shikhari shiromani tunga himaalaya shringani jaalaya madhya gathe ,
Madhu madhure madhu kaitabha ganjini kaitabha bhanjini raasa rathe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 3


Ayi shata khanda vikhandita runda vitundita shunda gajaadhi pathe ,
Ripugaja ganda vidaarana chanda paraakrama shunda mrigaadhi pathe ,
Nijabhuja danda nipaatita khanda vipatita munda bhataadhi pathe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 4


Ayi rana durmada shatru vadhodita durdhara nirjara shakti bhruthe ,
Chaturavi chaara dhureena maha siva duta krita pramathaadhi pathe ,
Durita dureeha duraashaya durmati daanava duta krutaanta mathe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 5


Ayi sharanaa gata vairiva dhoovara veerava raabhaya daaya kare ,
Tribhuvana mastaka shoola virodhi sheerodhi kritaamala shoola kare ,
Dumidumi taamara dundubhi naada maho mukharee krita tigma kare ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 6


Ayi nija hunkriti maatra niraa krita dhoomra vilochana dhoomra shathe ,
Sama ravi shoshita shonita beeja samudbhava shonuta beeja lathe ,
Shiva shiva shumbha nishumbha mahaa hava tarpita bhuta pishaacha rathe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 7


Dhanuranu sanga ranakshana sanga parishphura danga natat katake ,
Kanakapi shanga prishatkani shanga rasadbhata sringa hataa batuke ,
Krutachatu ranga balakshithi ranga ghatadbahu ranga ratad batuke ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 8

Suralalanatha tatheye tatheye kritabhinayodara nrityarate,
Ritakukurat kukutogadadhi katalakutohala danarate,
Dhimikitadhi kitadimidhnidho mridanga nidarate,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 9


Jaya jaya japya jaye jaya shabda parasthuthi thath para vishva nuthe ,
Bhana Bhana Bhinjhimi Bhin kritha noopura sinjitha mohitha bhootha pathe ,
Natitha nataardha nateenatha naayaka naatitha naatya sugaana rathe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 10


Ayi sumanah sumanah sumanah sumanah sumano hara kaanthi yuthe ,
Shritha rajanee rajanee rajanee rajanee rajanee kara vakra vruthe ,
Sunayana vibhramara bhramara bhramara bhramara bhrama raadhi pathe,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 11

Sahita mahaahava mallama tallika mallitha rallaka malla rathe ,
Virachitha vallika pallika mallika bhillika bhillika varga vruthe ,
Sita krutha phullisa mullasi thaaruna thallaja pallava salla lithe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 12

Avirala ganda galanmada medura matha mathangaja raaja pathe ,
Tribhuvana bhooshana bhootha kalaanidhi roopa payonidhi raaja suthe ,
Ayi suda theejana laalasa maanasa mohana manmatha raaja suthe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 13

Kamala dalaamala komala kaanthi kalaakali thaamala bhaala lathe ,
Sakala vilaasa kalaa nilaya krama kelicha latkala hamsa kule ,
Alikula sankula kuvalaya mandala maulimi ladbaku laali kule ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 14

Kara muralee rava veejitha koojitha lajjitha kokila manju mathe ,
Militha pulinda manohara gunjitha ranjitha shaila nikunja gathe ,
Nijaguna bhootha mahaa shabaree gana sadguna sambhrutha keli thale ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 15

Katita tapeeta dukoola vichithra mayookha tiraskritha chandra ruche,
Pranatha suraasura mauli manisphura damshula sannakha chandra ruche,
Jithakana kaachala mauli padorjitha nirbhara kunjara kumbha kuche ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 16

Vijitha sahasra karaika sahasra karaika sahasra karaika nuthe ,
Kruta sura thaaraka sangara thaaraka sangara thaaraka soonu nuthe ,
Suratha samaadhi samaanasa maadhi samaadhi samaadhi sujaatha rathe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 17

Pada kamalam karunaa nilaye vari vasyati yonu dinam sa shive ,
Ayi kamale kamalaa nilaye kamalaa nilayahsa katham na bhaveth ,
Tava padameva param pada mityanu sheelayatho mama kim na shive ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 18

Kanaka lasat kala sindhu jalai ranu sinchi nute guna ranga bhuvam ,
Bhajathi sa kim na sachi kucha kumbha thatee pari rambha sukhaanu bhavam ,
Thava charanam sharanam kara vaani nataa mara vaani nivaa si sivam ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 19

Tava vimalendu kulam vadha nendu malam sakalam nanu koola yathe ,
Kimu puru hootha pureendu mukhee sumukhee bhirasau vimukhee kriyathe ,
Mama thu matham siva naama dhane bhavatee kripayaa kimutha kriyathe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 20

Ayi mayi deena dayaalu thayaa krupa yaiva thvayaa bhavi thavya mume ,
Ayi jagatho jananee krupa yaasi yathaasi thathaa nubhi thaasi rathe ,
Yadu chitha mathra bhavathyu raree kuruthaa duruthaa pama paa kuruthe ,
Jaya jaya he mahishaasura mardhini ramyaka pardhini shaila suthe 21


mahishhaasuramardinistotram composed
by Adi Jagadguru Sri Shakaraacarya Bhagavatpada..
with translation:

ayi girina.ndini na.nditamedini vishvavinodini na.ndanute
girivara vi.ndhya shirodhinivaasini vishhNuvilaasini jishhNunute .
bhagavati he shitikaNThakuTuMbini bhuuri kuTuMbini bhuuri kR^ite
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 1..

O daughter of the mountain, who makes the whole earth happy,
who makes the whole universe rejoice, praised by Nandin |
dwelling on the peak of the great Vindhya mountain,
glittering widely, praised by those desirous of victory |
O Goddess, wife of the blue necked Siva, One who has many families,
One who has done a lot, |
be victorious, be victorious, O destroyer of the demon mahisa, with
beautiful braids of hair, daughter of the mountain Himalaya ||

suravaravarshhiNi durdharadharshhiNi durmukhamarshhiNi harshharate
tribhuvanaposhhiNi sha.nkaratoshhiNi kilbishhamoshhiNi ghoshharate .
danuja niroshhiNi ditisuta roshhiNi durmada shoshhiNi sindhusute
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 2..

O bestower of boons on Gods, One who assails those hard to
control, who tolerates those with ugly faces (?),
one engrossed in rejoicing |
One who nourishes the three worlds, One who pleases sankara,
One who removes sins, One who engrosses in sound of Om (?) |
One who is angry with the progeny of Danu (demon), One who is angry
with the sons of Diti (also demon), One who destroys those with evil
intoxication of pride, O daughter of the ocean ||

ayi jagadaMba madaMba kadaMba vanapriya vaasini haasarate
shikhari shiromaNi tuN^ga himaalaya shR^i.nga nijaalaya madhyagate .
madhu madhure madhu kaiTabha ga.njini kaiTabha bha.njini raasarate
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 3..

O mother of the world, my mother, One who loves to dwell
in a forest of Kadamba trees, One who keeps on smiling |
One who is on her own dwelling on the tall peak of the
Himalaya, the greatest among the mountains |
One who is very sweet, One who has the treasure of demons Madhu and
Kaitabha, destroyer of the demon Kaitabha, engaged in raasa
dancing ||

ayi shatakhaNDa vikhaNDita ruNDa vituNDita shuNDa gajaadhipate
ripu gaja gaNDa vidaaraNa chaNDa paraakrama shuNDa mR^igaadhipate .
nija bhuja daNDa nipaatita khaNDa vipaatita muNDa bhaTaadhipate
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 4..

O One who split the heads (of demons) into hundreds of
pieces and One who cut the trunks of great battle elephants |
whose great lion is skilled in terrifying valor in tearing apart the
temples of enemy elephants |
One who has cut down into pieces the heads of enemy
chieftains with the strength of her own arms ||

ayi raNa durmada shatru vadhodita durdhara nirjara shaktibhR^ite
chatura vichaara dhuriiNa mahaashiva duutakR^ita pramathaadhipate .
durita duriiha duraashaya durmati daanavaduuta kR^itaa.ntamate
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 5..

O One who holds the invincible and undiminishing striking
force which arose on the occasion of killing the enemies who were
hard to subdue on the battlefield |
who made Pramatha, the great attendant of Shiva, a leader in subtle
thinking, her commander (?) |
who decided to destroy the messenger of demons who were
sinful, with evil intentions, thoughts and mind ||

ayi sharaNaagata vairi vadhuuvara viira varaabhaya daayakare
tribhuvana mastaka shuula virodhi shirodhi kR^itaamala shuulakare .
dumidumi taamara du.ndubhinaada maho mukhariikR^ita tigmakare
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 6..

O One who gives protection to the great heroic husbands of
the enemy wives who have come seeking refuge |
One who holds in her hands a spotless spear pointed towards the head
of the opponent who is causing a great pain for all the three worlds |
One who is like the blazing hot sun, aroused by the power of
resounding noise of the drums of Gods ||

ayi nija hu.NkR^iti maatra niraakR^ita dhuumra vilochana dhuumra shate
samara vishoshhita shoNita biija samud.hbhava shoNita biija late .
shiva shiva shuMbha nishuMbha mahaahava tarpita bhuuta pishaacharate
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 7..

O One who has blown aside hundreds of streams of smoke
coming from demons with smoking eyes merely with her own
roaring |
who is like a vine of blood-drops grown from the dried blood drops in
battle |
One who delights in the company of auspicious Shiva, Shumbha,
Nishumbha, and the spirits who were fed during the great battle.|

dhanuranu sa.nga raNakShaNasa.nga parisphura da.nga naTatkaTake
kanaka pisha.nga pR^ishhatka nishha.nga rasad.hbhaTa shR^i.nga hataavaTuke .
kR^ita chaturaN^ga balakShiti raN^ga ghaTad.hbahuraN^ga raTad.hbaTuke
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 8..

One who decks herself with dancing ornaments on throbbing
limbs at the moment of the battle, making her bow ready |
who killed the huge enemy soldiers with a shining sword and with
(arrows from) a quiver which has golden brown spots |
who made the battleground with fourfold army into a stage with a
colorful drama with screaming little soldiers ||

jaya jaya japya jayejaya shabda parastuti tatpara vishvanute
bhaNa bhaNa bhiJNjimi bhi.nkR^ita nuupura si.njita mohita bhuutapate .
naTita naTaardha naTiinaTa naayaka naaTita naaTya sugaanarate
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 9..

Be victorious! be victorious! whose victory should be sung,
praised by the whole universe ready to sing the praise extolling her
victory |
who attracted the attention of shiva by twinkling of bells making
various sounds of dancing |
who delights in beautiful singing and in dance-drama presented by a
leading dancer acting out the role of an actress with half of his body ||

ayi sumanaH sumanaH sumanaH sumanaH sumanohara kaa.ntiyute
shrita rajanii rajanii rajanii rajanii rajaniikara vaktravR^ite .
sunayana vibhramara bhramara bhramara bhramara bhramaraadhipate
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 10..

O One who has a flowerlike complexion attractive to the
good heart of the goodhearted people |
(meaning of this part is unclear, the last word seems to mean
"surrounded by the face of the moon" )
(meaning of this compound is not clear)

sahita mahaahava mallama tallika mallita rallaka mallarate
virachita vallika pallika mallika bhillika bhillika varga vR^ite .
sitakR^ita pullisamulla sitaaruNa tallaja pallava sallalite
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 11..
avirala gaNDa galanmada medura matta mataN^gaja raajapate
tribhuvana bhuushhaNa bhuuta kalaanidhi ruupa payonidhi raajasute .
ayi suda tiijana laalasamaanasa mohana manmatha raajasute
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 12..

Who is in charge of huge royal elephants in fury whose rut is
streaming down their temples incessantly |
princess, the daughter of the ocean, who has the beauty of the moon,
the ornament of all the three worlds |
princess of cupid who enchants the minds desirous of ladies with
beautiful teeth |

kamala dalaamala komala kaa.nti kalaakalitaamala bhaalalate
sakala vilaasa kalaanilayakrama keli chalatkala ha.nsa kule .
alikula saN^kula kuvalaya maNDala maulimilad.hbhakulaali kule
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 13..

Whose spotless forehead is enhanced by the beautiful
complexion, pure and delicate like that of lotus petals |
whose flock of swans is moving sportingly with steps which are the
marks of all beautiful arts |
whose bees from the bakula trees meet on the tops of lotus flowers
which are crowded with (their own) bees ||

kara muralii rava viijita kuujita lajjita kokila maJNjumate
milita pulinda manohara guJNjita ra.njitashaila nikuJNjagate .
nijaguNa bhuuta mahaashabariigaNa sadguNa saMbhR^ita kelitale
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 14..

Whose sweet cooing sounds made with the flute held in her
own hands have put to shame the Kokila bird and who has sweet
thoughts |
who is in colorful mountain groves pleasantly resounding with the
assembled mountain folks |
whose playground is filled with good qualities of the flocks of the
great tribal women who are manifestations of her own qualities ||

kaTitaTa piita dukuula vichitra mayuukhatiraskR^ita cha.ndra ruche
praNata suraasura maulimaNisphura da.nshula sannakha cha.ndra ruche .
jita kanakaachala maulipadorjita nirbhara ku.njara kuMbhakuche
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 15..

Who has set aside the brilliance of the moon with the colorful
rays coming from the yellow silk she is wearing on her waist |
whose toe-nails shine like the moon because of the rays
emanating form the crest jewels of the bowing gods and demons |
whose breasts outshine the temples of wild elephants and the
high peaks of the golden mountains ||

vijita sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraikanute
kR^ita surataaraka saN^garataaraka saN^garataaraka suunusute .
suratha samaadhi samaanasamaadhi samaadhisamaadhi sujaatarate
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 16..

Who has set aside the brilliance of the moon with the colorful
rays coming from the yellow silk she is wearing on her waist |
whose toe-nails shine like the moon because of the rays
emanating form the crest jewels of the bowing gods and demons |
whose breasts outshine the temples of wild elephants and the high
peaks of the golden mountains ||

padakamalaM karuNaanilaye varivasyati yo.anudina.n sa shive
ayi kamale kamalaanilaye kamalaanilayaH sa kathaM na bhavet.h .
tava padameva paraMpadamityanushiilayato mama kiM na shive
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 17..

O benevolent goddess accompanied by Shiva, if someone daily
cherishes your lotuslike feet |
(contd. from prev line) then, O lotus dwelling Lakshmi, how will he
not become wealthy? |
O auspicious Goddess, is there anything that I would not have, if I
earnestly believe that your feet are the highest goal to be achieved? ||

kanakalasatkala sindhu jalairanu siJNchinute guNa raN^gabhuvaM
bhajati sa kiM na shachiikucha kuMbha taTii pariraMbha sukhaanubhavam.h .
tava charaNaM sharaNaM karavaaNi nataamaravaaNi nivaasi shivaM
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 18..

If someone bathes you, the playground of virtues, with
shining golden waters of the ocean |
will he not experience in heaven the happiness (equal to that of
Indra) embracing the full bosom of Sachi? |
O Goddess worshipped by the speech of Gods, I take refuge in your
feet, which are also the abode of Shiva ||

tava vimalendukulaM vadanendumalaM sakalaM nanu kuulayate
kimu puruhuuta puriindumukhii sumukhiibhirasau vimukhiikriyate .
mama tu mataM shivanaamadhane bhavatii kR^ipayaa kimuta kriyate
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 19..

He who sufficiently dedicates himself to your entire
moonlike face, which is as bright as a host of spotless moons |
will he be turned away (in heaven) by the moon-faced
beauties of the city of Indra? |
(the text of this line is unclear)

ayi mayi diinadayaalutayaa kR^ipayaiva tvayaa bhavitavyamume
ayi jagato jananii kR^ipayaasi yathaasi tathaa.anumitaasirate .
yaduchitamatra bhavatyurari kurutaadurutaapamapaakurute
jaya jaya he mahishhaasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute .. 20..

.. iti shriimad.h aadyasha.nkaraachaaryavirachitaa
shriimahishhaasuramardini stotraM saMpuurNam.h ..

O Uma, you should be kindly disposed toward me because of
your virtue of compassion toward the meek |
(meaning unclear) |
you may choose to do (with me) whatever is appropriate, she
removes the great pain (of her devotees). |

source: http://sanskrit.gde.to/doc_devii/mahisha_mean.itx

Mahishasura Mardini, the Slayer of Mahisha, the Buffalo Demon -- is so central to the Shakta religion that it merits separate consideration.

HER STORY

Her basic myth is simple, as the greatest stories tend to be: Mahisha, a great demon (asura), has undertaken extraordinary austerities, and thereby accrued such vast power that even the Gods can no longer defeat him. In successive battles, they lose the three worlds to Mahisha's superior might -- and the Cosmic Order in thrown into disarray.

Clearly, a hero and savior is needed -- but who can defeat an enemy that is mightier than the Gods? Answer: The Power (Shakti) that created both the Gods and the enemy in the first place. In order to access that Power, the Gods must reverse the downward unfolding of Divine manifestation, i.e. the cosmic tattvas. (Not coincidentally, this is also the goal of any sadhana undertaken by a human devotee. To help understand the lesson offered here, think of Mahisha as the individual human ego.)

Accordingly, all the Gods simultaneously offer Their own individual powers back to their common Source. And as They do so, They behold an extraordinary sight, as the Source begins to materialize before their eyes:

An exceedingly fiery mass like a flaming mountain
Did the Gods see, filling the firmament with flames.
That peerless splendor, born from the bodies of all the Gods,
Unifying and pervading the triple world with its lustre, became a Woman.
(Devi Mahatmyam, 2.11-12.<)

She is Maha Devi, the Great Goddess, the Mother of all beings, divine and mortal. Taking the warrior form of Her avatar, Goddess Durga, She departs on Her lion mount to meet the demon. A battle of nine days and nine nights ensues, during which Devi decimates Mahisha's armies using lesser Goddesses produced from Her own body.

At last, She and Mahisha alone remain standing on the corpse-strewn battlefield. Of course, Mahisha cannot win, but he takes the forms of many powerful beasts as he tries. While he is in mid-transformation from Buffalo back to Human form, Devi finally slays him, thus saving the Universe, restoring the Cosmic Order -- and earning the title, Mahishasura Mardini.


NAVRATRI, OR DURGA POOJA

Hindus commemorate this great battle each autumn during Durga Pooja, or Navratri -- the Festival of Nine Nights. This is the year's most important festival for Shaktas. Each night a different form of Goddess Durga is worshiped; collectively, these forms are known as the Nine Durgas, or Navdurga.During Navratri, the story of the slaying of Mahisha is told and retold in many forms


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahisasura_Mardini