ಅಯಿಗಿರಿನಂದಿನಿ ನಂದಿತಮೇದಿನಿ ವಿಶ್ವವಿನೋದಿನಿ ನಂದನುತೇ ಗಿರಿವರವಿಂಧ್ಯ-ಶಿರೋಧಿನಿವಾಸಿನಿ ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿಲಾಸಿನಿ ಜಿಷ್ಣುನುತೇ। ಭಗವತಿ ಹೇ ಶಿತಿಕಂಠಕುಟುಂಬಿನಿ ಭೂರಿಕುಟುಂಬಿನಿ ಭೂರಿಕೃತೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
ayigirinandini nanditamedini viśvavinodini nandanute girivaravindhya-śirodhinivāsini viṣṇuvilāsini jiṣṇunute| bhagavati he śitikaṇṭhakuṭumbini bhūrikuṭumbini bhūrikṛte jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
O daughter of the mountain, delight of the earth and joy of the universe, praised by the gods; dweller on the crest of the great Vindhya, in whom Viṣṇu delights and whom victorious Indra extols; O Goddess, consort of the blue-throated Śiva, kin to all beings and doer of boundless good — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O showerer of boons on the gods, crusher of the unassailable, destroyer of the evil-faced, ever rejoicing; nourisher of the three worlds, delight of Śaṅkara, remover of sin; enraged at the demons and sons of Diti, drainer of their mad pride, O daughter of the ocean — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O Mother of the world, my own Mother, who love to dwell in the kadamba groves and delight in laughter; crest-jewel of mountains, dwelling amid the lofty Himālayan peaks that are your home; sweet as honey, vanquisher of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, ever in blissful play — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O Goddess who splits into a hundred pieces the trunks of the foe’s mighty war-elephants, of fierce valour tearing apart the enemy elephants; who with your own arm strike down and shatter the heads of the demon warriors — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O wielder of the irresistible, undecaying power raised up to slay the battle-maddened foe; who made the wise, foremost Śiva your messenger and lord of the goblin hosts; who brought to their end the sinful, ill-intentioned demon envoys — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
Verse 7 — ಅಯಿ ಶರಣಾಗತವೈರಿವಧೂವರವೀರವರಾಭಯದಾನಕರೇ…
ಅಯಿ ಶರಣಾಗತವೈರಿವಧೂವರವೀರವರಾಭಯದಾನಕರೇ ತ್ರಿಭುವನಮಸ್ತಕಶೂಲವಿರೋಧಿಶಿರೋಧಿಕೃತಾಮಲಶೂಲಕರೇ। ದುಮಿದುಮಿತಾಮರದುಂದುಭಿನಾದಮಹೋ ಮುಖರೀಕೃತತಿಗ್ಮಕರೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
O giver of fearless refuge and boons even to the wives and heroes of surrendering enemies; who set your spotless spear against the spear that menaced the heads of the three worlds; before whom the immortals’ kettledrums resound “dumi-dumi” amid blazing light — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O Goddess who by a mere roar reduced to ashes the hundreds of smoke-eyed demons (Dhūmralocana); who dried up in battle the blood-born seeds of Raktabīja; who gladdened the ghosts and goblins with the great sacrifice of slaying Śumbha and Niśumbha — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
Verse 9 — ಧನುರನುಸಂಗರಣಕ್ಷಣಸಂಗಪರಿಸ್ಫುರದಂಗನಟತ್ಕಟಕೇ…
ಧನುರನುಸಂಗರಣಕ್ಷಣಸಂಗಪರಿಸ್ಫುರದಂಗನಟತ್ಕಟಕೇ ಕನಕಪಿಶಂಗಪೃಷತ್ಕನಿಷಂಗರಸದ್ಭಟಶೃಂಗಹತಾಬಟುಕೇ। ಕೃತಚತುರಂಗಬಲಕ್ಷಿತಿರಂಗಘಟದ್ಬಹುರಂಗರಟದ್ಬಟುಕೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
dhanuranusaṃgaraṇakṣaṇasaṃgaparisphuradaṅganaṭatkaṭake kanakapiśaṅgapṛṣatkaniṣaṅgarasadbhaṭaśṛṅgahatābaṭuke| kṛtacaturaṃgabalakṣitiraṅgaghaṭadbahuraṅgaraṭadbaṭuke jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
O Goddess whose ornaments dance as you move drawing the bow in the fray; whose golden-hued arrows from the quiver strike down the roaring warriors; who set the battlefield astir with the tumult of the four-fold army — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O Goddess delighting in the dance whose steps beat “ta-theyi ta-theyi”, absorbed in joyous song keeping rhythm and measure; delighting in the deep sound of the mṛdaṅga drum beating “dhu-dhu-kuṭa dhikita” — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
ಜಯ-ಜಯ-ಜಪ್ಯ-ಜಯೇಜಯಶಬ್ದ-ಪರಸ್ತುತಿ-ತತ್ಪರವಿಶ್ವನುತೇ ಝಣ-ಝಣ-ಝಿಂಝಿಮಿ ಝಿಂಕೃತ ನೂಪುರಸಿಂಜಿತಮೋಹಿತ ಭೂತಪತೇ। ನಟಿತನಟಾರ್ಧ ನಟೀ ನಟ ನಾಯಕ ನಾಟಿತನಾಟ್ಯ ಸುಗಾನರತೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
O Goddess acclaimed by all the world with cries of “jaya jaya”; enchanting the lord of beings with the jingling “jhaṇa-jhaṇa” of your anklets; delighting in the fine song and dance of master dancers — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O Goddess of surpassing loveliness, fair beyond the fair; whose face outshines the moon that lights the night; queen among the bees that hover about the lotus — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
ಸಹಿತಮಹಾಹವ-ಮಲ್ಲಮತಲ್ಲಿಕ-ಮಲ್ಲಿತರಲ್ಲಕ-ಮಲ್ಲರತೇ ವಿರಚಿತವಲ್ಲಿಕ-ಪಲ್ಲಿಕಮಲ್ಲಿಕ-ಭಿಲ್ಲಿಕಭಿಲ್ಲಿಕ-ವರ್ಗವೃತೇ। ಸಿತ್ಕೃತ್ಪುಲ್ಲಸಮುಲ್ಲಸಿತಾರುಣ-ತಲ್ಲಜ-ಪಲ್ಲವ-ಸಲ್ಲಲಿತೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
sahitamahāhava-mallamatallika-mallitarallaka-mallarate viracitavallika-pallikamallika-bhillikabhillika-vargavṛte| sitkṛtpullasamullasitāruṇa-tallaja-pallava-sallalite jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
O Goddess attended in the great battle by throngs of champion warriors and hosts of forest tribes; graceful with tender, glowing, reddish sprouts and blossoms — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O Goddess like a royal rutting elephant streaming with ichor; daughter of the moon-jewel, ocean of beauty, that adorns the three worlds; who charms the mind like Kāmadeva himself, longed for in the hearts of the fair — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
Verse 15 — ಕಮಲದಲಾಮಲ-ಕೋಮಲಕಾಂತಿ-ಕಲಾ-ಕಲಿತಾಮಲ-ಭಾಲಲತೇ…
ಕಮಲದಲಾಮಲ-ಕೋಮಲಕಾಂತಿ-ಕಲಾ-ಕಲಿತಾಮಲ-ಭಾಲಲತೇ ಸಕಲವಿಲಾಸ-ಕಲಾನಿಲಯಕ್ರಮ-ಕೇಲಿಚಲತ್ಕಲ-ಹಂಸಕುಲೇ। ಅಲಿಕುಲಸಂಕುಲ-ಕುವಲಯಮಂಡಲ-ಮೌಲಿಮಿಲದ್ಬಕುಲಾಲಿಕುಲೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
kamaladalāmala-komalakānti-kalā-kalitāmala-bhālalate sakalavilāsa-kalānilayakrama-kelicalatkala-haṃsakule| alikulasaṅkula-kuvalayamaṇḍala-maulimiladbakulālikule jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
O Goddess whose brow is a spotless, tender arc of beauty; abode of every grace, where swans move in playful sport; around whose dark lotus-like locks the bees swarm and cluster — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
ಕರಮುರಲೀರವ-ವೀಜಿತಕೂಜಿತ-ಲಜ್ಜಿತಕೋಕಿಲ-ಮಂಜುಮತೇ ಮಿಲಿತಪುಲಿಂದ-ಮನೋಹರಗುಂಜಿತ-ರಂಜಿತಶೈಲ-ನಿಕುಂಜಗತೇ। ನಿಜಗುಣಭೂತ-ಮಹಾಶಬರೀಗಣ-ಸದ್ಗುಣಸಂಭೃತ-ಕೇಲಿತಲೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
karamuralīrava-vījitakūjita-lajjitakokila-mañjumate militapulinda-manoharaguṃjita-raṃjitaśaila-nikuñjagate| nijaguṇabhūta-mahāśabarīgaṇa-sadguṇasambhṛta-kelitale jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
O Goddess whose sweet murmur outshines the cuckoo’s song fanned by the flute in your hand; who dwells in mountain groves ringing with the songs of the Pulinda tribes; who sports in the greenwood graced by the virtues of the great Śabara women — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
ಕಟಿತಟಪೀತ-ದುಕೂಲವಿಚಿತ್ರ-ಮಯೂಖತಿರಸ್ಕೃತ-ಚಂದ್ರರುಚೇ ಪ್ರಣತಸುರಾಸುರ-ಮೌಲಿಮಣಿಸ್ಫುರದಂಶುಲ-ಸನ್ನಖ-ಚಂದ್ರರುಚೇ। ಜಿತಕನಕಾಚಲ-ಮೌಲಿಪದೋರ್ಜಿತ-ನಿರ್ಭರಕುಂಜರ-ಕುಂಭಕುಚೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
kaṭitaṭapīta-dukūlavicitra-mayūkhatiraskṛta-candraruce praṇatasurāsura-maulimaṇisphuradaṃśula-sannakha-candraruce| jitakanakācala-maulipadorjita-nirbharakuṃjara-kumbhakuce jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
O Goddess whose silken yellow waist-garment eclipses the moon’s rays with its splendour; the glow of whose bright nails, as gods and demons bow, shines like little moons; whose fullness surpasses the golden peaks and the temples of elephants — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
ವಿಜಿತಸಹಸ್ರ-ಕರೈಕ-ಸಹಸ್ರ-ಕರೈಕ-ಸಹಸ್ರ-ಕರೈಕನುತೇ ಕೃತಸುರತಾರಕ-ಸಂಗರತಾರಕ-ಸಂಗರತಾರಕ-ಸುನೂಸುತೇ। ಸುರಥಸಮಾಧಿ-ಸಮಾನಸಮಾಧಿ-ಸಮಾಧಿ-ಸಮಾಧಿ-ಸುಜಾತರತೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
vijitasahasra-karaika-sahasra-karaika-sahasra-karaikanute kṛtasuratāraka-saṅgaratāraka-saṅgaratāraka-sunūsute| surathasamādhi-samānasamādhi-samādhi-samādhi-sujātarate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
O Goddess extolled again and again, victorious beyond the thousand-rayed sun and the thousand-armed; who fulfilled through deep meditation the hearts of King Suratha and the sage Samādhi — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
Verse 19 — ಪದಕಮಲಂ ಕರುಣಾನಿಲಯೇ ವರಿವಸ್ಯತಿ ಯೋನುದಿನಂ ಸ ಶಿವೇ ಅಯಿ…
ಪದಕಮಲಂ ಕರುಣಾನಿಲಯೇ ವರಿವಸ್ಯತಿ ಯೋನುದಿನಂ ಸ ಶಿವೇ ಅಯಿ ಕಮಲೇ ಕಮಲಾನಿಲಯೇ ಕಮಲಾನಿಲಯಃ ಸ ಕಥಂ ನ ಭವೇತ್। ತವ ಪದಮೇವ ಪರಂಪದಮಿತ್ಯನುಶೀಲಯತೋ ಮಮ ಕಿಂ ನ ಶಿವೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
padakamalaṃ karuṇānilaye varivasyati yonudinam sa śive ayi kamale kamalānilaye kamalānilayaḥ sa kathaṃ na bhavet| tava padameva parampadamityanuśīlayato mama kiṃ na śive jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
O gracious abode of compassion — whoever daily worships your lotus feet, O auspicious one, becomes like the Lord of Kamalā (Viṣṇu) himself; for one who holds that your feet are the very supreme state, what, O Goddess, remains unattained? — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
ಕನಕಲಸತ್ಕಲಸಿಂಧು-ಜಲೈರನು-ಸಿಂಚಿನುತೇ ಗುಣರಂಗಭುವಂ ಭಜತಿ ಸ ಕಿಂ ನ ಶಚೀಕುಚಕುಂಭತಟೀಪರಿರಂಭ-ಸುಖಾನುಭವಂ। ತವಚರಣಂ ಶರಣಂಕರವಾಣಿ ನತಾಮರವಾಣಿನಿವಾಸಿಶಿವಂ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಮರ್ದಿನಿ ರಮ್ಯ ಕಪರ್ದಿನಿ ಶೈಲಸುತೇ
kanakalasatkalasindhu-jalairanu-siñcinute guṇaraṅgabhuvam bhajati sa kiṃ na śacīkucakumbhataṭīparirambha-sukhānubhavam| tavacaraṇaṃ śaraṇaṅkaravāṇi natāmaravāṇinivāsiśivam jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
Does not one who bathes the arena of your virtues with streams from golden pitchers taste supreme bliss? I make your feet my refuge, O Goddess in whom the gods’ speech and the auspicious Śiva dwell — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
tava vimalendukulaṃ vadanendumalaṃ sakalaṃ nanukūlayate kimu puruhūtapurīndu-mukhī-sumukhībhirasau vimukhīkriyate| mama tu mataṃ śivanāmadhane bhavatī kṛpayā kimuta kriyate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsuramardini ramya kapardini śailasute
Your spotless full-moon face outshines the very orb of the moon; are not even the fair-faced women of Indra’s city turned away, outshone by it? My conviction, O treasure of Śiva’s name, rests on you alone — what more need your grace do? — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
O Umā, be gracious to me, lowly as I am, out of your very compassion; O Mother of the world, you are ever as compassionate as your nature is; do here whatever is fitting, and take away my grievous suffering — victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahiṣāsura, lovely one of beautiful matted locks, O daughter of the mountain!
ಫಲಶ್ರುತಿಃ
ಫಲಶ್ರುತಿಃ
phalaśrutiḥ
Phalaśruti — the fruit of reciting this hymn.
Verse 23 — ಸ್ತುತಿಮಿಮಾಂ ಸ್ತಿಮಿತಃ ಸುಸಮಾಧಿನಾ ನಿಯಮತೋ…
ಸ್ತುತಿಮಿಮಾಂ ಸ್ತಿಮಿತಃ ಸುಸಮಾಧಿನಾ ನಿಯಮತೋ ಯಮತೋನುದಿನಂ ಪಠೇತ್। ಪರಮಯಾ ರಮಯಾ ಸ ನಿಷೇವ್ಯತೇ ಪರಿಜನೋಽರಿಜನೋಽಪಿ ಚ ತಂ ಭಜೇತ್ ॥
stutimimāṃ stimitaḥ susamādhinā niyamato yamatonudinaṃ paṭhet| paramayā ramayā sa niṣevyate parijano'rijano'pi ca taṃ bhajet ||
Whoever, calm and composed in deep meditation, recites this hymn with discipline day by day is cherished by the supreme Goddess Ramā; his kinsfolk — and even his foes — come to honour him.
About Mahiṣāsura Mardinī Stotram
Mahiṣāsura Mardinī Stotram is a Sanskrit stotra, composed by Rāmakṛṣṇa Kavi, addressed to Durga — a Stotra. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, each verse with its English meaning. Source text: Sanskrit Wikisource.
Also known as: Aigiri Nandini, Ayigiri Nandini, Mahishasura Mardini Stotram.
A poet-devotee of the Goddess — identified in some traditions with Tenāli Rāma of Kṛṣṇadevarāya’s Vijayanagara court — generally credited by scholars with the Mahiṣāsura Mardinī Stotra (Ayigiri Nandini). The hymn is popularly ascribed to Ādi Śaṅkara, but it lacks his customary colophon and that attribution is largely modern; the verse text is public domain.
Mahiṣāsura Mardinī Stotram is a 22-verse hymn to the Goddess as Mahiṣāsura Mardinī, the slayer of the buffalo-demon. It is attributed to Rāmakṛṣṇa Kavi and is best known by its incipit "Aigiri Nandini", sung widely during Navarātri.
Who composed the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram?
The hymn is generally credited to the poet-devotee Rāmakṛṣṇa Kavi. Although it is often popularly ascribed to Ādi Śaṅkara, that attribution is largely modern — the verse text itself is public domain and its style points to a later poet.
What is the meaning of Aigiri Nandini?
"Aigiri Nandini" (also written "Ayigiri Nandini") is the incipit of Mahiṣāsura Mardinī Stotram: it hails the daughter of the mountain (nandinī) — the Goddess, daughter of Himālaya — and is the name by which the hymn is most widely searched and recited.
How do I read the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram on Avabodhak?
Every verse of Mahiṣāsura Mardinī Stotram is shown in Devanagari, Roman (IAST) and English meaning, line by line. Free to read, no login required; the practice view lets you chant along through the long verses.