
Original text
अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दिनुते गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोऽधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते । भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १ ॥ सुरवरवर्षिणि दुर्धरधर्षिणि दुर्मुखमर्षिणि हर्षरते त्रिभुवनपोषिणि शङ्करतोषिणि किल्बिषमोषिणि घोषरते दनुजनिरोषिणि दितिसुतरोषिणि दुर्मदशोषिणि सिन्धुसुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २ ॥ अयि जगदम्ब मदम्ब कदम्बवनप्रियवासिनि हासरते शिखरिशिरोमणि तुङ्गहिमालय शृङ्गनिजालय मध्यगते । मधुमधुरे मधुकैटभगञ्जिनि कैटभभञ्जिनि रासरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ३ ॥ अयि शतखण्ड विखण्डितरुण्ड वितुण्डितशुण्ड गजाधिपते रिपुगजगण्ड विदारणचण्ड पराक्रमशुण्ड मृगाधिपते । निजभुजदण्ड निपातितखण्ड विपातितमुण्ड भटाधिपते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ४ ॥ अयि रणदुर्मद शत्रुवधोदित दुर्धरनिर्जर शक्तिभृते चतुरविचार धुरीणमहाशिव दूतकृत प्रमथाधिपते । दुरितदुरीह दुराशयदुर्मति दानवदूत कृतान्तमते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ५ ॥ अयि शरणागत वैरिवधुवर वीरवराभय दायकरे त्रिभुवनमस्तक शूलविरोधि शिरोऽधिकृतामल शूलकरे । दुमिदुमितामर धुन्दुभिनादमहोमुखरीकृत दिङ्मकरे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ६ ॥ अयि निजहुङ्कृति मात्रनिराकृत धूम्रविलोचन धूम्रशते समरविशोषित शोणितबीज समुद्भवशोणित बीजलते । शिवशिवशुम्भ निशुम्भमहाहव तर्पितभूत पिशाचरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ७ ॥ धनुरनुषङ्ग रणक्षणसङ्ग परिस्फुरदङ्ग नटत्कटके कनकपिशङ्ग पृषत्कनिषङ्ग रसद्भटशृङ्ग हतावटुके । कृतचतुरङ्ग बलक्षितिरङ्ग घटद्बहुरङ्ग रटद्बटुके जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ८ ॥ सुरललना ततथेयि तथेयि कृताभिनयोदर नृत्यरते कृत कुकुथः कुकुथो गडदादिकताल कुतूहल गानरते । धुधुकुट धुक्कुट धिन्धिमित ध्वनि धीर मृदङ्ग निनादरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ९ ॥ जय जय जप्य जयेजयशब्द परस्तुति तत्परविश्वनुते झणझणझिञ्झिमि झिङ्कृत नूपुरशिञ्जितमोहित भूतपते । नटित नटार्ध नटी नट नायक नाटितनाट्य सुगानरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १० ॥ अयि सुमनःसुमनःसुमनः सुमनःसुमनोहरकान्तियुते श्रितरजनी रजनीरजनी रजनीरजनी करवक्त्रवृते । सुनयनविभ्रमर भ्रमरभ्रमर भ्रमरभ्रमराधिपते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ ११ ॥ सहितमहाहव मल्लमतल्लिक मल्लितरल्लक मल्लरते विरचितवल्लिक पल्लिकमल्लिक झिल्लिकभिल्लिक वर्गवृते । शितकृतफुल्ल समुल्लसितारुण तल्लजपल्लव सल्ललिते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १२ ॥ अविरलगण्ड गलन्मदमेदुर मत्तमतङ्गजराजपते त्रिभुवनभूषण भूतकलानिधि रूपपयोनिधि राजसुते । अयि सुदतीजन लालसमानस मोहन मन्मथराजसुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १३ ॥ कमलदलामल कोमलकान्ति कलाकलितामल भाललते सकलविलास कलानिलयक्रम केलिचलत्कल हंसकुले । अलिकुलसङ्कुल कुवलयमण्डल मौलिमिलद्बकुलालिकुले जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १४ ॥ करमुरलीरव वीजितकूजित लज्जितकोकिल मञ्जुमते मिलितपुलिन्द मनोहरगुञ्जित रञ्जितशैल निकुञ्जगते । निजगुणभूत महाशबरीगण सद्गुणसम्भृत केलितले जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १५ ॥ कटितटपीत दुकूलविचित्र मयूखतिरस्कृत चन्द्ररुचे प्रणतसुरासुर मौलिमणिस्फुर दंशुलसन्नख चन्द्ररुचे जितकनकाचल मौलिमदोर्जित निर्भरकुञ्जर कुम्भकुचे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १६ ॥ विजितसहस्रकरैक सहस्रकरैक सहस्रकरैकनुते कृतसुरतारक सङ्गरतारक सङ्गरतारक सूनुसुते । सुरथसमाधि समानसमाधि समाधिसमाधि सुजातरते । जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १७ ॥ पदकमलं करुणानिलये वरिवस्यति योऽनुदिनं सुशिवे अयि कमले कमलानिलये कमलानिलयः स कथं न भवेत् । तव पदमेव परम्पदमित्यनुशीलयतो मम किं न शिवे जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १८ ॥ कनकलसत्कलसिन्धुजलैरनुषिञ्चति तेगुणरङ्गभुवम् भजति स किं न शचीकुचकुम्भतटीपरिरम्भसुखानुभवम् । तव चरणं शरणं करवाणि नतामरवाणि निवासि शिवम् जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ १९ ॥ तव विमलेन्दुकुलं वदनेन्दुमलं सकलं ननु कूलयते किमु पुरुहूतपुरीन्दु मुखी सुमुखीभिरसौ विमुखीक्रियते । मम तु मतं शिवनामधने भवती कृपया किमुत क्रियते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २० ॥ अयि मयि दीन दयालुतया कृपयैव त्वया भवितव्यमुमे अयि जगतो जननी कृपयासि यथासि तथानुमितासिरते । यदुचितमत्र भवत्युररीकुरुतादुरुतापमपाकुरुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते ॥ २१ ॥ ॥ इति श्रीमहिषासुरमर्दिनिस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration
Ayi girinandini nanditamedini vishvavinodini nandinute Girivaravindhyashiro'dhinivasini vishnuvilasini jishnunute Bhagavati he shitikanthakutumbini bhurikutumbini bhurikrite Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||1|| Suravaravarshini durdharadharshini durmukhamarshini harsharate Tribhuvanaposhini shankaratoshini kilbishamoshini ghosharate Danujaniroshini ditisutaroshini durmadashoshini sindhusute Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||2|| Ayi jagadamba madamba kadambavanapriyavasini hasarate Shikharishiromani tungahimalaya shringanijalaya madhyagate Madhumadhure madhukaitabhaganjini kaitabhabhanjini rasarate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||3|| Ayi shatakhanda vikhanditarunda vitunditashunda gajadhipate Ripugajaganda vidaranachanda parakramashunda mrigadhipate Nijabhujadanda nipatitakhanda vipatitamunda bhatadhipate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||4|| Ayi ranadurmada shatruvadhodita durdharanirjara shaktibhrite Chaturavichara dhurinamahashiva dutakrita pramathadhipate Duritaduriha durashayadurmati danavaduta kritantamate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||5|| Ayi sharanagata vairivadhuvara viravarabhaya dayakare Tribhuvanamastaka shulavirodhi shiro'dhikritamala shulakare Dumidumitamara dhundubhinadamahomukharikrita dinmakare Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||6|| Ayi nijahunkriti matranirakrita dhumravilochana dhumrashate Samaravishoshita shonitabija samudbhavashonita bijalate Shivashivashumbha nishumbhamahahava tarpitabhuta pishacharate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||7|| Dhanuranushanga ranakshanasanga parisphuradanga natatkatake Kanakapishanga prishatkanishanga rasadbhatashringa hatavatuke Kritachaturanga balakshitiranga ghatadbahuranga ratadbatuke Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||8|| Suralalana tatatheyi tatheyi kritabhinayodara nrityarate Krita kukuthah kukutho gadadadikatala kutuhala ganarate Dhudhukuta dhukkuta dhindhimita dhvani dhira mridanga ninadarate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||9|| Jaya jaya japya jayejayashabda parastuti tatparavishvanute Jhanajhanajhinjhimi jhinkrita nupurashinjitamohita bhutapate Natita natardha nati nata nayaka natitanatya suganarate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||10|| Ayi sumanahsumanahsumanah sumanahsumanoharakantiyute Shritarajani rajanirajani rajanirajani karavaktravrite Sunayanavibhramara bhramarabhramara bhramarabhramaradhipate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||11|| Sahitamahahava mallamatallika mallitarallaka mallarate Virachitavallika pallikamallika jhillikabhillika vargavrite Shitakritaphulla samullasitaruna tallajapallava sallalite Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||12|| Aviralaganda galanmadamedura mattamatangajarajapate Tribhuvanabhushana bhutakalanidhi rupapayonidhi rajasute Ayi sudatijana lalasamanasa mohana manmatharajasute Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||13|| Kamaladalamala komalakanti kalakalitamala bhalalate Sakalavilasa kalanilayakrama kelichalatkala hansakule Alikulasankula kuvalayamandala maulimiladbakulalikule Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||14|| Karamuralirava vijitakujita lajjitakokila manjumate Militapulinda manoharagunjita ranjitashaila nikunjagate Nijagunabhuta mahashabarigana sadgunasambhrita kelitale Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||15|| Katitatapita dukulavichitra mayukhatiraskrita chandraruche Pranatasurasura maulimanisphura danshulasannakha chandraruche Jitakanakachala maulimadorjita nirbharakunjara kumbhakuche Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||16|| Vijitasahasrakaraika sahasrakaraika sahasrakaraikanute Kritasurataraka sangarataraka sangarataraka sunusute Surathasamadhi samanasamadhi samadhisamadhi sujatarate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||17|| Padakamalam karunanilaye varivasyati yo'nudinam sushive Ayi kamale kamalanilaye kamalanilayah sa katham na bhavet Tava padameva parampadamityanushilayato mama kim na shive Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||18|| Kanakalasatkalasindhujalairanushinchati tegunarangabhuvam Bhajati sa kim na shachikuchakumbhatatiparirambhasukhanubhavam Tava charanam sharanam karavani natamaravani nivasi shivam Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||19|| Tava vimalendukulam vadanendumalam sakalam nanu kulayate Kimu puruhutapurindu mukhi sumukhibhirasau vimukhikriyate Mama tu matam shivanamadhane bhavati kripaya kimuta kriyate Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||20|| Ayi mayi dina dayalutaya kripayaiva tvaya bhavitavyamume Ayi jagato janani kripayasi yathasi tathanumitasirate Yaduchitamatra bhavatyurarikurutadurutapamapakurute Jaya jaya he mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute ||21|| Iti shrimahishasuramardinistotram sampurnam ||
The hymn of the battle
"Aigiri Nandini" is probably the most-heard Sanskrit hymn of Navratri. It praises the Devi as Mahishasura-mardini, the crusher of Mahisha, the buffalo-demon whose story is told in the Devi Mahatmya: no god could defeat him, so the gods' combined radiance became the goddess, who rode out on her lion and killed him. Each of the 21 verses ends with the same line — "Jaya jaya he Mahishasura-mardini ramya-kapardini shaila-sute", "Victory, victory to you, slayer of Mahisha, of the beautiful matted locks, daughter of the mountain".
What it describes
- Verses 1–3 — who she is: daughter of the mountain (Giri-nandini) who delights the earth, dwelling on the peak of the Vindhyas, Vishnu's delight, Shiva's consort, mother of a great family; mother who loves the kadamba forest; slayer of Madhu and Kaitabha.
- Verses 4–8 — the battle: elephants' trunks hacked into a hundred pieces; her lion tearing the enemy's elephants; Shiva himself sent as her messenger; Dhumralochana reduced to smoke by her mere hunkara; the seeds of Raktabija dried up on the battlefield; Shumbha and Nishumbha's great war feeding the ghosts; the clatter of bows, quivers and chariots.
- Verses 9–10 — the dance: celestial women dancing tatatheyi tatheyi, the drums going dhudhukuta dhukkuta dhimdhimita, anklets ringing jhanajhana — the hymn turns into percussion.
- Verses 11–17 — her beauty: lovelier than the moon, eyes like bees, her yellow silk outshining moonlight, surrounded by her tribal companions and hunting women in the forest, praised by the thousand-rayed sun.
- Verses 18–21 — surrender: "One who worships your lotus feet daily — how could he not become the abode of Lakshmi?... Your feet alone are the supreme state... Be merciful to me, Uma, mother of the world — do what is fitting, and take away my great suffering."
The sound
Much of the hymn's force is in its sound rather than its sense. Verse 11 plays one word, sumanah, five times with five meanings; the same verse spins rajani and bhramara the same way. Verse 17 repeats sahasrakara and samadhi. Every line runs in long compounds with internal rhymes, and the refrain lands like a drumbeat. This is why the hymn is so often sung, in rising tempo, rather than recited.
Who wrote it
It is popularly attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, but several editions credit Ramakrishna Kavi, and the style differs from Shankara's other hymns; its authorship is genuinely uncertain. A related version is found in the Shiva Rahasya. What is certain is its place in practice: in Bengal it is part of the dawn broadcast on Mahalaya that opens Durga Puja, and across India it is sung through Navratri.
When to recite it
- Every day of Navratri, especially Ashtami and Navami, and at dawn on Mahalaya.
- Tuesdays and Fridays, and before undertakings that need courage.
- Read slowly at first: the long compounds are easy to stumble over. Listening to a good rendition while following the text is the fastest way to learn it.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Aigiri Nandini?
Popularly attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, but some editions credit Ramakrishna Kavi; the authorship is uncertain.
How many verses does the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram have?
21 in the commonly sung version, each ending with the same refrain.
What does "ramya kapardini shaila sute" mean?
"You of the beautiful matted locks, daughter of the mountain" — Parvati as Durga.
Why is it sung on Mahalaya?
Mahalaya marks the goddess's invocation before Durga Puja; in Bengal the dawn programme "Mahishasura Mardini" includes this hymn and has become part of the festival.
Who is Mahishasura?
The buffalo-demon of the Devi Mahatmya who could not be killed by any god, and whom Durga, born of all the gods' combined power, destroyed.
Spotted a mistake?
If you find any grammatical, Hindi, English, mantra-text or other mistake on this page, tell us — we will correct it within 24 hours.
