SRI DURGAA ASHTOTTARA SHATANAAMAAVALI
Jai Shankar.
So far we have studied the following:
1.Shiva AshTottara Shatanaamaavali
2.Lalitaa AshTottara Shatanaamaavali
3. Durgaachandrakalaa Stuti
4. Lalitaa Trishati
Now, let me turn to Sri Durgaa AshTottara Shatanaamaavali, the 108 names of our beloved Mother Durgaa Parameshvari, whose radiant presence at Karla and Her mesmerising ”come hither’ look are simply unforgettable.
Devi is One (ekaa) and without a second (adviteeyaa). We invoke Her and adore Her as Durgaa Parameshvari, Lalitaa, Bhuvaneshvari, Tripurasundari, Raajaraajeshvari and so on. All of them denote that inseparable shakti of Brahman, the Absolute Reality. She is the Shakti whom the Lord endearingly calls ‘my maayaa’ (mama maayaa) in Gitaa (VII-14).
The names in the AshTottara of any deity connote a specific attribute of the deity. Denotation is one and the same, but,
connotations are countless. Denotation is the deity concerned, connotations are the attributes (guNa, karma, leelaa) of the deity.. When meaningfully chanted (arthaanusandhaana poorvaka), these pretty names unveil before us the splendour of the Divine.
These AshTottaraas, Trishatis and Sahasra Naamaavalis constitute a most charming feature of our Hinduism. We have. ASNs of not only gods and goddesses, but also of the Guru amd Godlike Aachaaryaas. There is an ASN for Gitaa as well.
Our Stutimanjari has several of these ASNs.
We will take up the names of Devi Durgaa from tomorrow.
As always, Dear Satish Kulkarni of Goregaon has kindly set apart a page for this series on his website.
The link is
https://bhanapcorner.online/sdas/
V RAJGOPAL BHAT
1st December 2020
Jai Shankar
1)ॐ माहेश्वर्यै नमः। Aum Maaheshvaryai Namaha
Salutations to Maaheshvari (the spouse and shakti of Maheshvara(Shiva).
As mentioned in Devi Kavacha, Her vehicle is the bull(Maaheshvari vrishaarooDhaa)(verse
no.10).
Please refer to Shiva AshTottara Shatanaamaavali for annotation on Maheshvara(no.2 in that series).
Maaheshvari is no.208 in LS(Lalitaa Sahasranaama)
2)ॐ महादेव्यै नमः। Aum Mahaadevyai namaha
Salutations to Mahaadevi (the spouse and shakti of Mahaadeva).
Mahaadeva is no.94 in SA.
In Devi Kavacha, She is hailed as the dispeller of sorrow clouding our mind(manah shoka vinaashinee(verse 29).
The spouses of all gods like Agni, Vaayu, VaruNa etc are Devi-s and Durga rules over them,. hence She is Mahaadevi.
Mahaadevi is no.209 in LS.
3)ॐ जयन्त्यै नमः। Aum Jayantyai namaha
Salutations to the Ever-conquering Devi.
Defeat(apajaya) is not in Her dictionary!
That’s why we pray to Her(in Argalaa) “jayam dehi”.
In Devi Kavacha, several names of Devi are invoked and prayers offered for protection of all our limbs and organs. Perchance, if anything is left out, Jayanti will do the needful. Verse no.42 says:
“If anything, in need of protection, has been left out, O Devi Jayanti, the Destroyer of sins, please protect me.”
रक्षाहीनं तु यत्स्थानं वर्जितं कवचेन तु।
तत्सर्वं रक्ष मे देवि जयन्ती पापनाशिनी ।।
4)ॐसर्वमङ्गलायै नमः। Aum sarvamangalaayai namaha
If Her name is uttered with devotion, it will bless us with all (sarva) shades of auspiciousness (mangalata). That’s why we say: “sarva mangala maangalye”.
In Devi Kavacha (verse no.26), Sarvamangalaa is invoked to protect the speech (vaacham me sarvamangalaa). When
our speech is truthful as well as pleasant (satyam brooyaat priyam brooyaat), it is sarvamangalaa. A subhaashita says that Nature has kept poison in various parts of the anatomy in the living creatures (like insects, serpents, scorpions etc), but, has made an exception in our case: both poison and nectar inhere in our tongue! It us upto us whether we wish to spew poison or spray nectar.
Sarvamangalaa is no.200 in LS.
5)ॐ लज्जायै नमः। Aum lajjaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi who personifies bashfulness (lajjaa).
Devi resides in all beings as lajjaa and, that’s why we pray in Aparaajitaa Stotra: yaa devi sarvabhooteshu lajjaaroopeNa samsthitaa…
Lajjaa is no.740 in LS.
6)ॐ भगवत्यै नमः। Aum bhagavatyai namaha
Salutations to Bhagavati.
If Shiva is Bhagavaan, Devi is Bhagavati.
Full meaning of Bhagavan has been given vide no.69 in SA(Aum bhagavate namaha).
In Devi Kavacha, Bhagavati is invoked for
protection of the waist (kaTyaam bhagavatee rakshet) (no31)
Bhagavati is no.279 in LS.
7)ॐ वन्द्यायै नमः। Aum vandyaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, most worthy of salutations.
Who is vandya? One who is senior in age(vayo vriddha) and/or senior in wisdom(jnaana vriddha).Mother Durgaa eminently qualifies on both counts.
Vandyaa is no.348 in LS.
8)ॐ भवान्यै नमः। Aum Bhavaanyai namaha
Salutations to Bhavaani.
Shiva is Bhava(no.18 in AS). Bhava means He is the fountainhead of life. As His spouse, Durgaa is Bhavaani
Bhavaani is no.112 in LS.
9)ॐ पापनाशिन्यै नमः। Aum paapa-naashinyai namaha
Salutations to the destroyer of sins.
Self-explanatory. Paapanaashini is no.167 in LS.
10)ॐ चण्डिकायै नमः। Aum ChaNDikaayai namaha
Salutations to ChaNDikaa.
ChaND means to be angry. While battling the demons, She was naturally fuming with anger. Hence, Her name ChaNDikaa.
In Devi Kavacha, She is prayed for protection of the throat(verse no.25, kaNThadeshe tu
ChaNDikaa).
ChaNDikaa is no.755 in LS.
11)ॐकालरात्र्यै नमः। Aum kaalaraatrai namaha
Salutations to Kaalaraatri.
Kaalaraatri is seventh among the nava(9)
Durgaas(verse no.4 in Devi Kavacha).
The word means ‘the dark night’. It is the form of Devi, presiding over the dark night of dissolution(mahaapraLaya).
Kaalaraatri is invoked for protection of our
intestines(antraaNi)(verse 34 in Devi Kavacha.
Kaalaraatri is no.491 in LS.
12)ॐ भद्रकाल्यै नमः। Aum Bhadrakaalyai namaha
Salutations to Bhadrakaali.
Bhadrakaali is invoked for protection of the neck (greevaa) of the devotee (no.26 in DK).
Kaali may assume myriad forms for battling the negative forces, but, all of them will be ultimately conducive to our wellbeing(bhadram). Hence Her name as
Bhadrakaali is significant.
In LS no.115 is Bhadrapriyaa.
13)ॐ अपराजितायै नमः। Aum Aparaajitaayai namaha
Salutations to the Indefeatable Devi Durgaa.
Durgaa defeats the negative, destructive forces within and without. They may be demons out there or demonaic tendencies inside us. They get vanquished, not She.
Hence Her name Aparaajitaa. To perpetuate
this name in our memory, there is the solemn
Aparaajitaa Stotra
In LS instead of Aparaajitaa, we have Vijayaa,
no.346./
14)ॐ महाविद्यायै नमः। Aum Mahaavidyaayai namaha
Salutations to Mahaavidyaa (the loftiest learning).
“That is true learning which leads one to liberation” says a subhashita(saa vidyaa yaa vimuktaye). It is Brahma Vidyaa or Adhyaatma Vidyaa. In the Gita, the Lord says: of all streams of learning, I am Adhyaatma Vidyaa (X-32).). Devi Uma proclaims She is Brahma Vidya SwaroopiNi
in Kenopanishad. This Brahma Vidyaa is
Mahaavidyaa.
In Tantrokta Raatri Sooktam, verse no.6, She is refered to as Mahaavidyaa, Mahaamaayaa, Mahaamedhaa, Mahaadevi etc.
Mahaavidyaa is no.584 in LS. No.583 is
Aatma Vidyaa
15)ॐ महामेधायै नमः। Aum Mahaamedhaayai namaha
Salutations to Mahaamedhaa.
Devi has extra-ordinary intelligence (mahaa medhaa).
In verse no.10 of Mahishaantakaree Sooktam, we pray to Her as:
मेधासि देवि विदिताखिलशास्त्रसारा ।
(O Devi, You are the Intelligence wherewith You have assimilated the quintessence of all
scriptures.)
In LS no.538 is Medhaa.
16)ॐ महामायायै नमः Aum Mahaamaayaayai namaha
Salutations to Mahaamaayaa.
Maayaa is the creative power of the Divine.Every artist is a Maayaavi, a magician.
A great singer shuffles and reshuffles the seven notes and weaves a web of magic,
leaving us spellbound. A Ravi Varma does the same with pigments and a Kaalidaasa and a Tagore do this with the words in the dictionary. Who has endowed them with this
Maayaa-shakti? The answer is Mahaamaayaa.
At the sub-atomic level, there are none of the
attributes we associate with the visible material world, say the scientists.No colours, no sounds, no smell etc. The 3-dimensional table disappears there, they say. Then, how is it we rejoice in a world where all these lovely attributes jostle with each other? Who brought about this quantum leap from the colourless to the colourful? The answer is: Mahaamaayaa!
In LS no.215 is Mahaamaayaa.
17)ॐ महाबलायै नमः। Aum Mahaabalaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi with extra-ordinary (mahaa) strength (bala).
In LS, no.222 is Mahaabalaa, no.216 is Mahaasatvaa(same meaning) and no.221 is Mahaaveeryaa.
She could despatch the demons to their doom because She is Mahaabalaa.
18)ॐ कात्यायन्यै नमः। Aum Kaatyaayanyai namaha
Salutations to Kaatyaayani.
There was a sage called Kata and he prayed for Devi to be born as his daughter. He was Her staunch devotee. She grants this boon and is ‘born’ as his daughter. Hence Her name as Kaatyaayani.
There is a Gaayatri invoking Her, as under:
कात्यायनाय विद्महे कन्याकुमारि धीमहि।
तन्नो दुर्गिः प्रचोदयात्।।
Our first salutation in the above mantra is to the sage Kaatyaayana, to whom we owe Kaatyaayani.The other two names(Kanyaakumaari and Durgi) refer to
Kaatyaayani
There is a Vrata by Her name. ‘Eligible’ girls who perform it get blessed and meet their
‘princes charming’ very soon thereafter.
Kaatyaayani is no.556 in LS.
19) ॐ जयायै नमः। Aum Jayaayai namaha
Salutations to Jaya, the ever-conquering Devi.
Jayaa is no.377 in LS.
Devi is Aparaajitaa(indefeatable) because She is Jayaa. She comes, She sees and She
conquers!
20)ॐ दुर्गायै नमः। Aum Durgaayai namaha
Salutations to Durga.
Verse no.10 in Mahishaantakaree Sookta says:दुर्गासि दुर्गभवसागरनौरसङ्गा।
(O Devi, You are Durgaa and You are the boat
to ferry us across the difficult (durga) ocean of relative existence (samsaara. While doing
all this, You remain detached (asangaa))
The word, Durgaa, sparkles with many many meanings.
She saves us from durgati ( sure downfall).
She can be approached (gantum) and understood (avagantum) with strenuous effort (dukkhena gantum avagantum shakyaa yaa saa Durgaa).
Life becomes durgama (difficult to go through) without Her.
Life is safe and secure with Her beside us
because She affords us the security of a fort (durga).
The popular Devi Aarti says: O Devi, without You, samsaara is too difficult (Devi durghaTa bhaari tuzaviNa samsaari).
There is a garland of 32 names of Durgaa, all
beginning with the initial two letters (durga)
called Durgaa Dvaa-trimshat Naamamaalaa.
It is in the Gita Press edition of DS. P.P.Swami Parijnanashram-III was fond of these names and I have seen His handwritten copy of these 32 names with a devotee, duly blessed with an autograph.
Durgaa is no.190 in LS.
21)ॐ मन्दारवनवासिन्यै नमः। Aum Mandaaravana vaasinyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who dwells (vaasini) in the forest (vana) of Mandaara trees.
Mandaara is a heavenly tree, one of the five
kalpavrikshaas in the garden of Indra.
During our study of Trishati, we have seen that Lalitaa is fond of trees and creepers.
She loves solitude and hence, Her fascination for Mandaara-vana.
In LS, no.776 is Mandaara kusumapriyaa.
22)ॐ आर्यायै नमः। Aum Aaryaayai namaha
Salutations to Aaryaa (the epitome of culture).Aaryaa is one who is noble and
worthy of respect.
We have seen earlier that Devi Lalitaa is the epitome of culture and sophistication. Finesse and grace in thought, speech and deed is Her nature.
Names nos.156 to 173 in LS reflect this
Aaryan nature.
In Sanskrit drama, Aarya is an honorific title
of addressing superiors in age, wisdom and authority.
23)ॐ गिरिसुतायै नमः। Aum Girisutaayai namaha
Salutations to the daughter of the mountain
(giri sutaa).
Paarvati is the daughter of Himaalaya. No.956 in LS is ‘dhara sutaa'(dhara is mountain).
24)ॐ धात्र्यै नमः। Aum dhaatryai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who fosters and sustains the world.(dhaarayati traayate cha).
Verse no.4 in Tantrokta Raatri Sookta says: “tvayaa etat dhaaryate vishvam”(this universe is upheld by You).
No.337 in LS is Vidhaatri.
25)ॐ महिषासुरघातिन्यै नमः Aum Mahishaasura-ghaatinyai namaha
Salutations to the slayer (ghaatini) of Mahishaasura, the demon.
Mahisha or he-buffalo is a symbol of laziness and sloth. A subhaashita says: Laziness is a deadly enemy, lurking within us.(aalasyam hi manushyaaNaam shareerastho mahaan ripuhu). By Her grace, this insidious demon should be ‘slayed’ if
saadhanaa should proceed well.
No.599 in LS is daityahantree.
26)ॐ सिद्धिदायै नमः। Aum siddhidaayai namaha
Salutations to the daughter of the mountain
(giri sutaa).
Paarvati is the daughter of Himaalaya. No.956 in LS is ‘dhara sutaa'(dhara is mountain).
27)ॐ बुद्धिदायै नमः। Aum buddhidaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, the bestower of buddhi.
“yaa devi sarvabhooteshu buddhiroopeNa samsthitaa” says Aparaajitaa Stotra.
No.223 in LS is Mahaabuddhi.
28)ॐ नित्यायै नमः। Aum nityaayai namaha
Salutations to the Eternal (nityaa) Devi.
Nityaa is no.136 in LS.
Shiva is Eternal, so is His shakti.
29)ॐ वरदायै नमः। Aum varadaayai namaha
Varadaa is no.331 in LS.
Salutations to Devi, the bestower of boons(varadaa).
Self-explanatory
30)ॐ वरवर्णिन्यै नमः। Aum varavarNinyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, Beautiful and Fair-complexioned.
Self-explanatory.
31)ॐ अम्बिकायै नमः। Aum Ambikaayai namaha
Salutations to the Mother(Ambikaa) Goddess.
Ambikaa is no.295 in LS.
32)ॐ सुखदायै नमः। Aum sukhadaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, the bestower(daa) of happiness(sukha).
In LS it is Sukhapradaa, no.192.
Self-explanatory.
33)ॐ सौम्यायै नमः। Aum soumyaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, the Gentle Goddess.
Devi can be gentle as well as ferocious as the occasion demands. When She is gentle, She is Shaantaa-Durgaa. As Kaali, She is the very opposite.
34)ॐ जगन्मात्रे नमः। Aum jaganmaatre namaha
Salutations to the Universal Mother.
Self-explanatory.
35)ॐ शिवप्रियायै नमः। Aum Shivapriyaayai namaha
Salutations to the Beloved (priyaa) of Shiva.
Shivapriyaa is no.409 in LS.
Self-explanatory.
36)भक्तसंतापसंहर्त्र्यै नमः। Aum bhakta santaapa samhartryai namaha
Salutations to the Redeemer (samhartree) of the distress (santaapa) of devotees (bhakta).
Self-explanatory.
37)ॐ सर्वकामप्रपूरिण्यै नमः। Aum sarvakaama prapooriNyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who fulfills (prapooriNi) all the wishes (sarvakaama)(of devotees).
Self-explanatory.
38)ॐ जगत्कर्त्र्यै नमः। Aum jagatkartryai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who creates (kartree) the universe (jagat)
39)ॐ जगध्दात्र्यै नमः। Aum jagat dhaatryai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who upholds(dhaarayati) and protects(traayate) the universe.
40)ॐ जगत्पालनतत्परायै नमः। Aum jagat paalana tatparaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is engaged (tatparaa) in taking care (paalana)
of the universe.
41)ॐ अव्यक्तायै नमः। Aum avyaktaayai namaha
Salutations to the unmanifest(avyaaktaa)
Devi.
Devi is not visible and manifest(vyaktaa) to
our senses. She is, therefore, unmanifest
(avyaktaa).However, She is accessible to us through love and devotion
Avyaktaa is no.398 in LS.
42)ॐ व्यक्तरूपायै नमः। Aum vyaktaroopaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, whose form (roopa) is manifest (vyakta).
This has two meanings: 1) Though She is
unmanifest, She can assume many forms as occasion demands and become manifest, either to get rid of the demons or to bless Her devotee with Her vision.
2) The visible universe is itself Her manifest
(vyakta) form(roopa).
No.399 in LS is vyaktaavyakta swaroopiNee.
43)ॐ भीमायै नमः। Aum bheemaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi,the formidable (bheemaa) .
Just as She can be Soumyaa(no.33 ), gentle and gracious, and be Shaantaa-Durgaa to Her devotees, She can also assume formidable(bheema) and ferocious forms to wipe out the scourge of demons.
44)ॐ त्रिपुरसुन्दर्यै नमः। Aum Tripurasundaryai namaha
Salutations to Tripurasundari.
Our three bodies – sthoola(gross physical),
sookshma(astral) and causal(kaaraNa) -are the three cities(pura). Devi, who is chit-swaroopaa(consciousness) pervades them within and without. All our beauty
emanates from Her. If God is Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram, Devi is Satyaa, Shivaa and Sundari.
45)ॐ अपर्णायै नमः। Aum AparNaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi AparNaa.
ParNa means leaf. Paarvati’s penance to be
Shivaa’s spouse, was very rigorous. She
subsisted on leaves(parNa), reducing their
intake everyday until She gave up its intake
altogether(a-parNaa). Then, Her anxious mother Menaa, remonstrated and told Paarvati: u-maa(don’t do it). Hence Her name: Umaa.
AparNaa is no.754 in LS.
46)ॐ ललितायै नमः। AumLalitaayai namaha
Salutations to Lalitaa (the Graceful).
We have studied this name in depth already.
The last(no.1000) in LS is Lalitaambikaa.
47)ॐ वेद्यायै नमः। Aum Vedyaayai namaha
Salutations to Vedyaa (the Knowable).
As the Lord says in Gitaa(XV-.15 ), He is the
purport of all Vedaas. We have also seen earlier in this series that Devi is the purpose and the purport of all scriptures(Aagama, Nigama).
No.335 in LS is Veda-vedyaa.
Sri RamakrishNa used to say again and again that the only worth knowing(vedya)
entity for us is God.
The Kenopanishad says gravely as under:
“In this birth if one knows(realises) the Truth, it is okay; but, if one does not, well, it is an
incalculabke loss.” (इह चेदवेदीदथ सत्यमस्ति न चेदिहावेदीन्महती विनष्टिः।
Sri RamakrishNa says: Once a Pandit, very
proud of his scholarship, boarded a boat along with a few others. On the way, he asked the poor boatman if he knew this and if he knew that and for every ‘no’ from him, the Pandit taunted him “you have lived in vain”. Then, suddenly, it became stormy and the boat was about to sink. The boatman
asked the Pandit: Sir, do you know how to swim?.The flabbergasted Pandit sadly said: no.Now, it was the boatman’s turn to taunt the Pandit: Sir, not knowing how to swim, you have lived in vain!
We should know how to swim in this sea of
samsaara. This is also the central message of Aachaarya Shankaraa’s Bhaja Govindam .
48)ॐ पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननायै नमः। Aum PoorNachandra nibhaananaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, whose face (aanana) is like (nibha) a full moon (poorNa chandra).
Self-explanatory.
In LS no.129 is Sharad chandra nibhaananaa. No.243 is Chaaruchandra
kalaadharaa.
49)ॐ चामुण्डायै नमः। Aum ChaamuNDaayai namaha
Salutations to ChaamuNDaa.
Durgaa is known as ChaamuNDaa since She
slayed ChaNDa and MuNDa.
Says Durgaa Saptashati(Ch.VII-27):
यस्मात् चंडं च मुंडं च गृहीत्वा त्वमुपागता ।
चामुंडेति तथा लोके ख्याता देवी भविष्यसि ।।
In LS no.49 is ChaamuNDaayai namaha.
No.756 is ChaNDamuNDaasura-nishoodinee.
What is Her vehicle? Hold your breath! It is the dead body(verse no.20 in Devi Kavacha says: ChaamuNDaa shava-vaahanaa).She protects the ten directions(evam dasha disho rakshet) with this most improbable vehicle.She makes the impossible possible.What is dead to us becomes animate in Her hands and serves as Her vehicle! Hence She is Maayaa(aghaTita
ghaTana paTeeyasee Maayaa)!
50)ॐ चतुरायै नमः। Aum Chaturaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is very clever (chaturaa).
She cleverly takes care of the five functions (kritya) – creation, preservation,
dissolution, punishment and benediction.
(panchakritya paraayaNaa).
51)ॐ चंद्रायै नमः। Aum Chandraayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is delightful like moon.
Chandra is symbol of rasa. “somo bhootvaa
rasaatmakaha” says Gita(XV-13). The Taittiriya Upanishad says: HE is rasa(raso vai saha).We have heard Poojya Swamiji singing: “rasamaya ho jaa madhukara man”. This aesthetic impulse is symbolised by the. moon. Shri KrishNa says: He becomes the sap of life in the herbs and plants by becoming the moon. Art is also the sap of our life. It makes our life worthwhile.
52ॐ गुणत्रयविभाविन्यै नमः। Aum guNatraya vibhaaginyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who allocates the three
guNaas.
No.984 in LS is TriguNaa.
Nature is Her province and the mind-boggling variety in nature is due to the interplay of satva, rajas and tamas (three guNaas).
53)ॐ हेरम्बजनन्यै नमः। Aum Heramba jananyai namaha
Salutations toDevi, the mother of Heramba.
Heramba is GaNapati. As a child, Ganesha kept on bawling out: he amba he amba(O mother, O mother), hence the name Heramba
stuck to Him.
54)ॐ काल्यै नमः। Aum Kaalyai namaha
Salutations to Kaali.
The opening Charitra(there are altogether three) in Durgaa Saptashati centres around
Kaali. “kaalayati(destroys) iti kaali”. She
sounded the death-knell of the demons.
No.751 in LS is Mahaakaali
55)ॐ त्रिगुणायै नमः। Aum TriguNaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who represents the three
guNaas.
This name is same like no.52 above.
As Kaali She personified TamoguNa, as Lakshmi, RajoguNa and as Saraswati,
SatvaguNa.
In LS, no.397 is Moola-prakriti, no.763 is
TriguNaatmikaa and no.984 is TriguNaa.
56)ॐ यशोधारिण्यै नमः। Aum YashodhaariNyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, the custodian of success
(yashas).
In Argala we pray: “yasho dehi”, “give me success”.
No.474 in LS is Yashasvini.
57)ॐ उमायै नमः। Aum Umaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi Umaa.
Umaa is no.633 in LS.
Please refer to no.45 above(AparNaa) to know how the name Uma came about.
Shiva says in Linga PuraaNa: “Alter the sequence of A, U and M into U M A and it
becomes Your name.”
58)ॐ कलशहस्तायै नमः। Aum Kalasha-hastaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, whose hand (hasta) holds the pitcher (kalasha).
She holds the amrita-kalasha.
This kalasha never runs dry for saadhakaas
of all shades. Be it dharma, artha, kaama and
moksha – Her kalasha holds promise to everyone.
59)ॐदैत्यदर्पनिषूदिन्यै नमः। Aum daityadarpa nishoodinyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who quelled (nishoodini) the arrogance (darpa) of the demons (daitya).
In LS, no.599 is daityahantre.
60)ॐ बुध्द्यै नमः। Aum buddhyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who resides in us as buddhi.
“yaa devi sarvabhooteshu buddhiroopeNa samsthitaa” (Aparaajitaa Stotra, no.8).
In LS no.223 is Mahaabuddhi.
61)ॐ कान्त्यै नमः। Aum kaantyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who resides in us as the
lustre (of complexion etc)
“yaa devi ….kaantiroopeNa….”(Aparaajitaa Stotra, verse 19).
In LS no.449 is kaanti.
62)ॐ क्षमायै नमः। Aum kshamaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who resides in us as
forgiveness.
“yaa devi…..kshaanti…..(AS verse no.14). Kshaanti means forgiveness.
63)ॐ शान्त्यै नमः। Aum shaantyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who resides in us as peace.
“yaa devi….(AS no.17)
In LS no.447 is shaanti.
64)ॐ पुष्ट्यै नमः। Aum pushTyai namaha
Salutations to Devi who nourishes (pushTi) us.
When are we nourished well? When we eat with relish and we eat with relish when we have appetite. “Appetite is the best sauce”
goes the saying. Who gives us appetite?
Mother Durgaa. “yaadevi…kshudharoopeNa….(AS verse 10).
In LS no.444 is pushTi.
65)ॐ तुष्ट्यै नमः। Aum tushTyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who resides in us as
contentment (tushTi).
“yaa devi…(AS no.24).
In LS no.443 is tushTi.
66)ॐ धृत्यै नमः। Aum dhrityai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who endows us with stamina and fortitude (dhriti).
In LS no.446 is dhriti.
67)ॐ मातेय नमः। Aum matyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who gives us understanding (mati) (good thoughts etc).
In LS no.445 is mati.
What is the message of all these little names from no.60 to 67? The lesson is we have to be grateful to Mother Durga for all
these blessings. What will be our life if these
‘vitamins’ are missing? Let ours be an attitude of gratitude to Her always.
68)ॐ वरायुधधरायै नमः। Aum varaayudha dharaayai namaha
Salutatiins to Devi, who wields excellent (vara) weapons (aayudha).
DS describes in ch. 2 how Devi was gifted various weapons by gods from their personal
armouries.
In LS no.530 is sarvaayudha dharaa.
69)ॐ धीरायै नमः। Aum dheeraayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is bold and courageous (dheeraa).
In LS no.916 is dheeraa.
70)ॐ गौर्यै नमः। Aum Gauryai namaha
Salutations to Gauri.
Shiva is fair in complexion like camphor(karpoora gauram). His spouse, Devi, too,is a perfect match. She, too, is fair in complexion and hence Her name as Gauri.
Gauri is no.635 in LS.
71)ॐ शाकम्भर्यै नमः। Aum Shaakambharyai namaha
Salutations to Devi Shaakambhari.
As described in DS(ch.11), when famine and drought plagued the land, Devi assumed the form of Shaakambhari. She brought about
heavy rainfall and the fields were once again
flush with vegetables(shaaka).
72)ॐ शिवायै नमः। Aum Shivaayai namaha
Salutations to Shivaa.
As the spouse of Shiva, Devi is Shivaa, the Auspicious and the Serene.like Shiva Himself.
Shivaa is no.53 in LS.
73)ॐ अष्टसिध्दिप्रदायै नमः। Aum AshTasiddhi pradaayai namaha
Salutations to the bestower(pradaa) of fhe eight miraculous powers(ashTasiddhi).
In LS, no.224 is Mahaasiddhi.
74)ॐ वामायै नमः। Aum Vaamaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, the beautiful (vaamaa) and who is seated on the left(vaama bhaaga)
of Shiva.
In LS no.469 is Vaamadevi.
75)ॐ शिववामाङ्गवासिन्यै नमः। Aum Shiva-vaamaanga vaasinyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who occupies(vaasini)
the left side(vaamaanga) of Shiva.
In LS no.52 is Shiva Kaameshvaraankasthaa.
76)ॐ धर्मदायै नमः। Aum Dharmadaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who inspires us to follow
Dharma.
Dharma is the first Purushaartha.
In LS no.959 is Dharmavardhini.
77)ॐ धनदायै नमः। Aum Dhanadaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who bestows(daa) wealth(dhana).
Dhana stands for Artha, the second Purushaartha.
In LS no.670 is Dhanadaa. No.886 is Dhana
dhaanyavivardhinee.
78)ॐ श्रीदायै नमः। Aum Shreedaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who bestows shree.
Ordinarily we construe shree to mean wealth.
Wealth becomes shree when we utilise it for ‘bahujana hitaaya, bahujana sukhaaya’ ( for the welfare of many). The hoard of a miser is not shree.. Scholarship attains shree when one shares his learning with others. Then, it attains ‘mangalataa'(auspiciousness). ‘shree
mangalaat prabhavati’. Shree is grace, values, decency, decorum, a sense of proportion and harmony.. It is like the sparkle of a genuine diamond. A life where there is no room for God and the Guru is lacklustre, devoid of shree. That is why the concluding verse of Gita by Sanjaya says: ” yatra yogeshvarah KrishNo yatra Paartho dhanurdharaha, TATRA SHREE”. Shree flowers when God and man are not alienated from each other, and man finds his ultimate fulfilment in the company of God.
In LS no.127 is Shreekaree.
79)ॐ कामदायै नमः। Aum Kaamadaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who bestows Kaama, the
third Purushaartha(objective in life).
In LS no.63 is Kaamadaayinee.
80)ॐ मोक्षदायै नमः। Aum Mokshadaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who bestows Moksha.
Moksha is the fourth and ultimate (charama)
Purushaartha. What is Moksha? Moha (mo) -kshaya (ksha) is Moksha. What is Moha? Aham and Mama (I and mine).As Avidyaa Maayas, She binds us with the twin ropes of
I and mine. As Vidyaa Maayaa She sets us free. This is Her cosmic play.
In LS we have no.737 MuktiroopiNee, no.764
Svargaapavargadaa and no.839 Muktinilayaa.
81)ॐ अपरायै नमः। Aum Aparaayai namaha
Salutations to Aparaa.
Devi is Paraa, transcendental, but, She is also immanent in the material(jada) universe, the Aparaa prakriti.
In LS, no.418 is JaDashakti and 419 is jaDaatmikaa.
82)ॐ चित्स्वरूपायै नमः। Aum Chitswaroopaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, whose nature is Pure Consciousness(chitswaroopaa).
The previous name(no.81) said Devi is immanent in the jada(inanimate). Now, this name no.82 says Her form is pure consciousness. She is chitswaroopaa mahaamounaa to quote Poojya Swamiji’s bhajan.
There are many names in LS highlighting Her
chitswaroopa. To quote a few:
no.416. chitshaktihi
no.417. chetanaaroopaa
no.918. chaitanyaarghya samaaraadhyaa
no.919. chaitanya kusumapriyaa
no.004. chidagnikuNDa sambhootaa
83)ॐ चिदानन्दायै नमः। Aum Chidaanandaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is Consciousness and Bliss.
No.364 in LS is chidekarasa-roopiNee.
84)ॐ जयश्रियै नमः। Aum Jayashriyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is glorious with victory.
No.377 in LS is Jayaa.
No.127 is Shreekaree.
85)ॐ जयदायिन्यै नमः। Aum Jayadaayinyai namaha
Salutations to Devi,, who confers (daayinee) victory.
That is why we pray to Her in Argalaa: jayam dehi.
86)ॐ सर्वमङ्गल माङ्गल्यायै नमः। Aum Sarvamangala-maangalyaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi who is supremely auspicious.
As already annotated earlier in Trishati vide no.124, adoration of Devi bestows auspiciousness much more than all other socalled auspicious articles put together.
No.200 in LS is Sarvamangalaa.
87)ॐ जगत्त्रयहितैषिण्यै नमः। Aum Jagat traya hitaishiNyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, desirous of the welfare(hitaishiNi) of the three worlds(jagat traya)
88)ॐशर्वाण्यै नमः। Aum SharvaaNyai namaha
Salutations to Devi SharvaaNee.
Sharva is Shiva, His spouse is SharvaaNee.
Shiva is called Sharva because He ‘destroys'(shriNaati hinasti antakaale sarvam) all during PraLaya.
SharvaaNee is no.124 in LS.
89)ॐ पार्वत्यै नमः। Aum Paarvatyai namaha
Salutations to Paarvatee.
Devi is daughter of the mountain(parvata),
Himaalaya. Hence Her name Paarvati.
No.246 in LS is Paarvatee.
90)ॐ धन्यायै नमः। Aum Dhanyaayai namaha
Salutations to Dhanyaa, the Fortunate.
Devi fulfilled Her wish to be the spouse of Shiva. So, She considers Herself Dhanyaa,
the Fortunate. We, too, will be Dhanya if we are devoted to Lord Bhavanishankar, Divine Mother, our Guru and Guruparamparaa and
bask in their perpetual Grace.
Dhanyaa is no.957 in LS.
91)ॐ स्कन्दमात्रे नमः। Aum Skandamaatre namaha
Salutations to the Mother of Skanda(Kaartikeya).
Skanda and Ganesha are siblings.
Skanda is also called Guha.
In LS, no.606 is Guhajanmabhooh and no.706 is Guhaambaa.
92)ॐ अखिलेश्वर्यै नमः। Aum Akhileshvaryai namaha
Salutations to the Empress (eeshvaree) of the entire (akhila) universe.
In LS we have no.2 Shree Mahaaraajnee and
no.3 Shrimath Simhaasaneshvaree.
93)ॐ प्रपन्नार्तिहरायै नम: । Aum Prapannaartiharaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi,who removes (harati) the distress (aarti) of those who surrender (prapanna) to Her.
God or Goddess removes our distress only when we surrender. Surrender stands for an
open mind, eagerly receptive. A closed mind
cannot fully avail the benefit of Her/His
anugraha. If the sunlight should stream in and disinfect our home, we should let it in
by keeping our doors and windows open.
If I want to store the rain water, my vessel should not be kept inverted. This is obvious.
Look at one of the Dhyaana shlokaas of Gitaa. It is Prapanna paarijaataaya. Paarijaata is Kalpavraksha. KrishNa becomes the wish-fulfilling tree for those who are prapanna(sharaNaagata).
In NaraayaNee Sookta, in verse no.11, we pray: “sharaNaagata deenaarta paritraaNa
paraayaNe”. In verse no.2, we say: Devi
prapannaartihare praseeda”.
So, everywhere, the focus is on surrender.
94)ॐ देव्यै नमः। Aum Devyai namaha
Salutations to Devi.
Shiva is Deva. His spouse is Devi.
95)ॐ सुभगायै नमः। Aum Subhagaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, fully (su) endowed with the. six excellences (bhaga).
Aishvarya, Veerya, Yashah, Shree, Jnaana and Vairaagya are the excellences. Endowed
with them fully, God becomes Bhagavaan and Goddess, Bhagavatee.
No.761 in LS is Subhagaa.
96)ॐ कामरूपिण्यै नमः। Aum KaamaroopiNyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who can assume any form (roopa) as She wishes (kaama).
Durgaa Saptashati depicts various names and forms assumed by Devi from time to time in Her encounters with the demons.
No.824 in LS is bahuroopaa.
97)ॐ निराकारायै नमः। Aum Niraakaaraayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is formless (devoid of aakaara,form).
No.137 in LS is Niraakaaraa
98)ॐ साकारायै नमः। Aum Saakaaraayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, with form (aakaara).
No.401 in LS is Vividhaakaaraa.
Devi or Deva cannot be confined to any set name and form. Sky assumes the forms of objects enclosed. Water assumes the forms of vessels. Deva and Devi have the potential to assume myriad names and forms.
That is why the Lord says in Gitaa: ” As the devotees invoke Me, so do I respond”.(ye
yathaa maam prapadyante, taan tathaiva bhajaamyaham)( 4-11). If a devotee invokes Him as Raama, He will not respond as KrishNa. He will give vision exactly as
conceived by the devotee. Hence, Hinduism has no quarrel with any other religion.
99)ॐ महाकाल्यै नमः। Aum Mahaakaalyai namaha
Salutations to Mahaakaali.
Durgaa Saptashati has three Charitraas and the presiding deity of Prathama Charitra is Mahaakaali, who is TamoguNa pradhaanaa.
No.751 in LS is Mahaakaali.
100)ॐ सुरेश्वर्यै नमः। Aum Sureshvaryai namaha
Salutations to Devi, the Ruler (eeshvaree) of gods and goddesses (suraas).
101)ॐ श्रध्दायै नमः। Aum Shraddhaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who personifies Faith.
Devi is accessible through faith of the devotee. Faith is Her gift. Devi resides in us as Faith. Says Aparaajitaa Stotra: “yaa devi
sarvabhooteshu shraddhaa roopeNa samsthitaa/namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaha”(18).
Faith is the true wealth of a saadhaka. It is the backbone of his success. Gita has many verses extolling faith. “Man is defined by faith”(17-3”)
Man is what his faith is”(17-3).
“One endowed with faith acquires knowledge”(4-39).
A Subhaashita says: Raama needed a bridge to cross the ocean, but, for Hanuman, Raam-Naam was enough. He crossed the. ocean with a single leap! So much faith in
Raam-naam!
This shraddhaa is three-pronged: faith in God, faith in the Guru and faith in oneself.
The first two must give rise to the last.
Says Swami Vivekananda: “He is an atheist
who does not believe in himself”.(Complete Works 2-301).
Who gives us this faith? Our Divine Mother
Durgaa. Salutations to Her.
102)ॐ ध्रुवायै नमः। Aum Dhruvaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is stable and everlasting.
Shiva is Dhruva, eternal, unchanging and, as His spouse, She is naturally Dhruvaa
103)ॐ कृत्यायै नमः। Aum Krityaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, engrossed in Her functions (kritya).
As explained earlier in this series(no.50),Devi is proficient(paraayaNaa) in five(pancha) functions(kritya) -srishTi, sthiti, laya, nigraha and anugraha.
104)ॐ मृडायै नमः। Aum MriDaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who delights (mriDayati)
us.
Shiva is called MriDa(one who gives us joy).
MriDa is no.91 in Shiva’s 108 names. His spouse is MriDaa.
In LS no.211 is MriDapriyaa and no.564 is
MriDanee.
105)ॐ भक्तवत्सलायै नमः। Aum Bhaktavatsalaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who has motherly love (vaatsalya) for Her devotees.
LS has many names highlighting Her love for Her devotees.
No.117. Bhakta saubhaagya-daayinee
No.118. Bhaktipriyaa
No.119. Bhaktigamyaa
No.120. Bhaktivashyaa
No.747. Bhaktachitta keki ghanaaghanaa
106)ॐ सर्वशक्तिसमायुक्तायै नमः। Aum Sarvashakti samaayuktaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is endowed (samaayuktaa) with all powers
(sarva shakti).
As the creative Maayaa shakti of God, She is
the repository of all powers. Whatever powers we have – jnaana shakti, icchaa shakti, kriyaa shakti – are just tiny drops from
Her reservoir.
In the second chapter of DS we are told that
while preparing to battle with the demons, all gods lent their individual shakti and tejas to Her to make Her omnipotent.
No.199 in LS is Sarvashaktimayee.
107)ॐ शरण्यायै नमः। Aum SharaNyai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who is worthy of our surrender (sharaNyaa).
A weak, powerless entity cannot expect surrender from anyone. Only the powerful, who wield authority, and can solve our problems attract surrender. Devi fulfills all
these expectations abundantly and hence
She is SharaNyaa.
108)ॐ सर्वकामदायै नमः। Aum Sarvakaamadaayai namaha
Salutations to Devi, who bestows (daa) all (sarva) that we desire (kaama).
Dharma, Artha(wealth, property etc), Kaama
(desires) and Moksha are the Purushaarthaas(goals of life). Whatever we
deserve, She will give. It is upto us to seek from Her thoughtfully.
No.37 in this series already covered, is identical in meaning. It is Sarvakaama-prapooriNyai namaha.
No.291 in LS is Purushaarthapradaa.
No.331 is Varadaa
No.698 is Sarvaarthadaatree
No.760 is Trivarga daatree
No.989 is Vaanchitaartha-pradaayinee
SRI DURGAA ASHTOTTARA SHATANAAMAAVALI CONCLUDED.
AUM DURGAAYAI NAMAHA
Durga ASN recited by Poojya Swamiji
Partial audio (from no.54 onwards) of Durga ASN recited by Poojya Swamiji during Devi Poojan at Shri Guru Math, Mallapur in 2007.
Sorry, I could not get the full audio. My sincere thanks to dear Shantish Nayel and Anupama Chandavar of Bangalore for making this audio available.