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Mahishasura Mardini Stotra (Aigiri Nandini)

महिषासुर मर्दिनी स्तोत्र

Mahiṣāsura Mardinī Stotra

Deity

durga

Verses

15

Recitation

~10 min

Best Day

Tuesday

About this stotra

The Mahishasura Mardini Stotra — popularly called "Aigiri Nandini" — is one of the most powerful and widely recited hymns to Goddess Durga. Tradition attributes it to Adi Shankaracharya, who composed it after a vision of the Devi slaying Mahishasura.

The buffalo-demon Mahishasura had received a boon that no man or god could kill him. The combined energies of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and all the gods gave rise to Goddess Durga, who slew him after a fierce battle. Each verse of this stotra describes one form, weapon, or victory of the Goddess in rhythmic Sanskrit that practically sings itself. It is recited during Navaratri (especially Durga Ashtami and Mahanavami), and at any time when one needs courage, victory, or protection from overwhelming forces.

Benefits of recitation

  • Victory over the most difficult adversaries
  • Removal of fear, especially fear of harm
  • Awakening of inner Shakti — divine feminine power
  • Protection from black magic, evil spirits, and bad influences
  • Confidence and courage in battle (literal or metaphorical)
  • Especially powerful during Navaratri

Verses

Shloka 1

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दिनुते गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोऽधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते । भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayi giri-nandini nandita-medini viśva-vinodini nandi-nute giri-vara-vindhya-śiro'dhi-nivāsini viṣṇu-vilāsini jiṣṇu-nute bhagavati he śiti-kaṇṭha-kuṭumbini bhūri-kuṭumbini bhūri-kṛte jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

O Daughter of the Mountain, who delights the earth, who plays through the universe, praised by Nandi — who dwells on the peak of the Vindhya, sister of Vishnu, praised by Indra — O Goddess, family of the blue-throated (Shiva), of vast family, doer of vast deeds — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura, lovely-haired daughter of the Mountain!

Shloka 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सुरवरवर्षिणि दुर्धरधर्षिणि दुर्मुखमर्षिणि हर्षरते त्रिभुवनपोषिणि शङ्करतोषिणि किल्बिषमोषिणि घोषरते । दनुजनिरोषिणि दितिसुतरोषिणि दुर्मदशोषिणि सिन्धुसुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sura-vara-varṣiṇi durdhara-dharṣiṇi durmukha-marṣiṇi harṣa-rate tribhuvana-poṣiṇi śaṅkara-toṣiṇi kilbiṣa-moṣiṇi ghoṣa-rate danuja-niroṣiṇi diti-suta-roṣiṇi durmada-śoṣiṇi sindhu-sute jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

Showering boons on the gods, crusher of the un-conquerable, scorcher of evil-faced ones, lover of joy — sustainer of the three worlds, who pleases Shankara, remover of sins, lover of the battle-cry — wrathful to the demons, fierce upon the sons of Diti, drier of arrogance, born of the ocean — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 3

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयि जगदम्ब मदम्ब कदम्ब वनप्रियवासिनि हासरते शिखरि शिरोमणि तुङ्गहिमालय शृङ्गनिजालय मध्यगते । मधुमधुरे मधुकैटभगञ्जिनि कैटभभञ्जिनि रासरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayi jagad-amba mad-amba kadamba vana-priya-vāsini hāsa-rate śikhari śiro-maṇi tuṅga-himālaya śṛṅga-nijālaya madhya-gate madhu-madhure madhu-kaiṭabha-gañjini kaiṭabha-bhañjini rāsa-rate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

O mother of the world, my own mother, who loves to dwell in groves of kadamba trees, ever delighting in laughter — crest-jewel of mountains, abiding on the lofty Himalayan peak that is your true home — sweet as honey, conqueror of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, slayer of Kaitabha, delighting in the cosmic dance — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयि शतखण्ड विखण्डितरुण्ड वितुण्डितशुण्द गजाधिपते रिपुगजगण्ड विदारणचण्ड पराक्रमशुण्ड मृगाधिपते । निजभुजदण्ड निपातितखण्ड विपातितमुण्ड भटाधिपते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayi śata-khaṇḍa vikhaṇḍita-ruṇḍa vituṇḍita-śuṇḍa gajādhipate ripu-gaja-gaṇḍa vidāraṇa-caṇḍa parākrama-śuṇḍa mṛgādhipate nija-bhuja-daṇḍa nipātita-khaṇḍa vipātita-muṇḍa bhaṭādhipate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

You who shattered hundreds into pieces, severed enemy heads, broke the trunks of demonic elephants — fierce in tearing the temples of the enemy elephant-lords, of valour like a lion-king to all beasts — whose own arm-staff has felled and beheaded the chiefs of demonic warriors — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 5

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयि रणदुर्मद शत्रुवधोदित दुर्धरनिर्जर शक्तिभृते चतुरविचारधुरीणमहाशिव दूतकृत प्रमथाधिपते । दुरितदुरीह दुराशयदुर्मति दानवदुत कृतान्तमते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayi raṇa-durmada śatru-vadhodita durdhara-nirjara śakti-bhṛte catura-vicāra-dhurīṇa-mahāśiva dūta-kṛta pramathādhipate durita-durīha durāśaya-durmati dānava-duta kṛtānta-mate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

You who, fierce in war, rose up to slay the foe — wielder of the unstoppable, ageless Shakti — who made the great Shiva — chief of clear discernment — your messenger to Mahishasura, queen of his attendants — who became Death itself for the wicked-deeded, ill-intentioned, evil-minded demon-emissaries — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 6

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयि शरणागत वैरिवधूवर वीरवराभय दायकरे त्रिभुवनमस्तक शूलविरोधि शिरोऽधिकृतामल शूलकरे । दुमिदुमितामर दुन्दुभिनादमहोमुखरीकृत तिग्मकरे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayi śaraṇāgata vairi-vadhū-vara vīra-varābhaya dāyakare tribhuvana-mastaka śūla-virodhi śiro'dhikṛtāmala śūla-kare dumi-dumitāmara dundubhi-nāda-maho-mukharī-kṛta tigma-kare jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

O bestower of fearlessness on noble heroes — the husbands of women whose enemies fled to your refuge — whose pure trident is poised over the heads of the enemies of the three-world peaks — whose sharp hand rings out resoundingly with the celestial drums beating "dumi-dumi" — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 7

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयि निजहुङ्कृति मात्रनिराकृत धूम्रविलोचन धूम्रशते समरविशोषित शोणितबीज समुद्भवशोणित बीजलते । शिवशिवशुम्भनिशुम्भमहाहव तर्पितभूतपिशाचरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayi nija-huṅkṛti mātra-nirākṛta dhūmra-vilocana dhūmra-śate samara-viśoṣita śoṇita-bīja samudbhava-śoṇita bīja-late śiva-śiva-śumbha-niśumbha-mahāhava tarpita-bhūta-piśāca-rate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

By a single roar of yours, the smoke-eyed demon Dhumralochana and his hundreds of smoke-warriors were vanquished — in battle you dried up the blood-droplets of Raktabija and the new demons sprouting from each drop — in the great war that fed the bhutas and pishachas with the blood of Shumbha and Nishumbha — chanting "Shiva! Shiva!" — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 8

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

धनुरनुषङ्ग रणक्षणसङ्ग परिस्फुरदङ्ग नटत्कटके कनकपिशङ्ग पृषत्कनिषङ्ग रसद्भटशृङ्ग हताबटुके । कृतचतुरङ्ग बलक्षितिरङ्ग घटद्बहुरङ्ग रटद्बटुके जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

dhanur-anuṣaṅga raṇa-kṣaṇa-saṅga parisphurad-aṅga naṭat-kaṭake kanaka-piśaṅga pṛṣatka-niṣaṅga rasad-bhaṭa-śṛṅga hatābaṭuke kṛta-caturaṅga bala-kṣiti-raṅga ghaṭad-bahuraṅga raṭad-baṭuke jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

Bow in hand, your limbs blazing in the moment of battle, your bracelets dancing — your golden-tawny quiver flashes — slaying the enemy ranks roaring on their war-horns — on the field arrayed with the four-fold army, where countless colours and battle-cries clash — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 9

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

जय जय जप्य जयेजयशब्द परस्तुति तत्परविश्वनुते झणझणझिञ्जिमि झिङ्कृतनूपुर सिञ्जितमोहित भूतपते । नटित नटार्ध नटी नट नायक नाटित नाट्य सुगानरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

jaya jaya japya jaye-jaya-śabda parastuti tat-para-viśva-nute jhaṇa-jhaṇa-jhiñjimi jhiṅkṛta-nūpura siñjita-mohita bhūta-pate naṭita naṭārdha naṭī naṭa-nāyaka nāṭita-nāṭya sugāna-rate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

O praised by the world, all extolling and devoted to chanting "Victory! Victory!" — whose anklets ring "jhana-jhana-jhinjimi", enchanting even the lord of beings (Shiva) — half of the divine dancer (Ardhanari), partner of the master-dancer Nataraja, delighting in beautiful song — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 10

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयि सुमनःसुमनःसुमनः सुमनःसुमनोहरकान्तियुते श्रितरजनीरजनीरजनी रजनीरजनीकरवक्त्रवृते । सुनयनविभ्रमरभ्रमरभ्रमर भ्रमरभ्रमराधिपते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayi sumanaḥ-sumanaḥ-sumanaḥ sumanaḥ-sumano-hara-kānti-yute śrita-rajanī-rajanī-rajanī rajanī-rajanī-kara-vaktra-vṛte sunayana-vibhrama-rabhramara-bhramara bhramara-bhramarādhipate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

O fair-flowered, fair-minded, beautiful Goddess, endowed with a heart-stealing radiance even greater than flowers — whose face is like the moon (the maker of nights), surrounded by night-blooming lotuses — whose lovely playful eyes wander like a queen of bees among bees — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 11

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सहितमहाहव मल्लमतल्लिक मल्लितरल्लक मल्लरते विरचितवल्लिक पल्लिकमल्लिक झिल्लिकभिल्लिक वर्गवृते । सितकृतपुल्लिसमुल्ललितारुणतल्लज पल्लवसल्ललिते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sahita-mahāhava malla-matallika mallita-rallaka malla-rate viracita-vallika pallika-mallika jhillika-bhillika varga-vṛte sita-kṛta-pulli-samullalitāruṇa-tallaja pallava-sallalite jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

Surrounded in the great battle by powerful warriors, defeating mighty wrestlers, delighting in the wrestlers' fight — attended by maids of woven creeper-bowers, jasmine-decked, with chirping crickets and forest tribes — gracefully adorned with white-spotted, soft-red sprouts and tender leaves — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 12

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सुरललना ततथेयि तथेयि कृताभिनयोदर नृत्यरते कृत कुकुथः कुकुथो गडदादिकताल कुतूहल गानरते । धुधुकुट धुक्कुट धिंधिमित ध्वनि धीर मृदङ्ग निनादरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sura-lalanā tatatheyi-tatheyi kṛtābhinayodara nṛtya-rate kṛta kukuthaḥ kukutho gaḍadādika-tāla kutūhala gāna-rate dhudhukuṭa dhukkuṭa dhiṃ-dhimita dhvani dhīra mṛdaṅga nināda-rate jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

Delighting in the dance of celestial maidens — "tata-theyi tatheyi" — and their joyful, expressive movements — delighting in the wondrous song "kukutha-kukutha" and the rhythmic beats with cymbals and drums — delighting in the steady mridanga drumming "dhu-dhu-kuta dhuk-kuta dhim-dhimita" — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 13

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

पुरुषसमेतिता तितिकिल भीतिकिल तितिकिल बहुलकलारतिविक्रमणे अयि चितचिञ्चित चित्रकलाधि चलाचल चित्रकला रकलामलिते । गज वर वाजि वराजि वराजि वराजि वराजि वराजि वराजितरुण्डबले जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

puruṣa-sametitā titikila bhītikila titikila bahula-kalārati-vikramaṇe ayi cita-ciñcita citra-kalādhi calācala citra-kalā raka-lāmalite gaja-vara vāji-varāji varāji varāji varāji varāji varājita-ruṇḍa-bale jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

Great in the many feats of valour — frightful, terrifying, frightful — that even valiant men cannot equal — O Goddess, embellished with shifting designs, mistress of many wondrous arts, refining art itself with art — whose forces, defeating mighty elephants and steeds many times over, conquer the bodies of all foes — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 14

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सुरथसमाधि समानसमाधि समाधिसमाधि सुजातरते गिरिवरसुप्रिय कलितकलापि कलाकलि कलिप्रिय कन्तियुते । गिरिजगिरामवरामलमुख्यगणा गणगणनुत साधुसुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

suratha-samādhi samāna-samādhi samādhi-samādhi sujāta-rate giri-vara-supriya kalita-kalāpi kalā-kali kali-priya kanti-yute girija-girām-avarāmala-mukhya-gaṇā gaṇa-gaṇa-nuta sādhu-sute jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

You who are pleased by the equal-minded meditation of King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi — beloved of the great mountain, adorned with arts and the playful peacock, lover of skill, full of beauty — born to the speech of the daughter of the mountain, foremost among the pure flock, praised by all the ganas — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Shloka 15

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयि निरलंबमलंबमहोदधिमेव विलम्बितदुर्मतिषु । सरसहसासमशीलगुणैरिह कुत्र च के च गुणाश्रितये । महिषमहासुर मर्दनतत्परि शक्ति समीहित कीर्तिवृते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayi niralambam-alambam-ahodadhim eva vilambita-durmatiṣu sarasa-hasā-sama-śīla-guṇair iha kutra ca ke ca guṇāśrita-ye mahiṣa-mahāsura mardana-tatpari śakti samīhita kīrti-vṛte jaya jaya he mahiṣāsura-mardini ramya-kapardini śaila-sute

English meaning

O Goddess — the supportless support, the very ocean of refuge — for those mired in evil-mindedness: where else, and in whom, will those who seek good qualities — sweet laughter, fair character — find them? You whose Shakti is intent upon slaying the great buffalo-demon, whose fame all desire — Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahishasura!

Sources verified against

  • Adi Shankaracharya — traditional attribution
  • Gita Press, Gorakhpur — Bṛhatstotraratnākara
  • Devi Mahatmyam tradition — Markandeya Purana related

Frequently asked questions

When should I recite Mahishasura Mardini Stotra (Aigiri Nandini)?

Best days: Tuesday, Friday. Best time: evening.

What language is this stotra in?

The original is in Sanskrit (or Awadhi for the Hanuman Chalisa). We provide it in Devanagari script, IAST transliteration for pronunciation, and English meaning for understanding.

How accurate is the text?

Each stotra is cross-validated against multiple published authoritative sources, listed on this page under "Sources verified against". If you spot any discrepancy from your tradition, please let us know.

How long does it take to recite?

Approximately 10 minutes at a steady, devotional pace.

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