Original text
शिव उवाच शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि, कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रमुत्तमम् । येन मन्त्रप्रभावेण चण्डीजापः शुभो भवेत ॥1॥ न कवचं नार्गलास्तोत्रं कीलकं न रहस्यकम् । न सूक्तं नापि ध्यानं च न न्यासो न च वार्चनम् ॥2॥ कुञ्जिकापाठमात्रेण दुर्गापाठफलं लभेत् । अति गुह्यतरं देवि देवानामपि दुर्लभम् ॥3॥ गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन स्वयोनिरिव पार्वति । मारणं मोहनं वश्यं स्तम्भनोच्चाटनादिकम् । पाठमात्रेण संसिद्ध्येत् कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रमुत्तमम् ॥4॥ ॥ अथ मन्त्रः ॥ ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ॥ ॐ ग्लौं हुं क्लीं जूं सः ज्वालय ज्वालय ज्वल ज्वल प्रज्वल प्रज्वल ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ज्वल हं सं लं क्षं फट् स्वाहा ॥ ॥ इति मन्त्रः ॥ नमस्ते रूद्ररूपिण्यै नमस्ते मधुमर्दिनि । नमः कैटभहारिण्यै नमस्ते महिषार्दिनि ॥1॥ नमस्ते शुम्भहन्त्र्यै च निशुम्भासुरघातिनि । जाग्रतं हि महादेवि जपं सिद्धं कुरूष्व मे ॥2॥ ऐंकारी सृष्टिरूपायै ह्रींकारी प्रतिपालिका । क्लींकारी कामरूपिण्यै बीजरूपे नमोऽस्तु ते ॥3॥ चामुण्डा चण्डघाती च यैकारी वरदायिनी । विच्चे चाभयदा नित्यं नमस्ते मन्त्ररूपिणि ॥4॥ धां धीं धूं धूर्जटेः पत्नी वां वीं वूं वागधीश्वरी । क्रां क्रीं क्रूं कालिका देवि शां शीं शूं मे शुभं कुरु ॥5॥ हुं हुं हुंकाररूपिण्यै जं जं जं जम्भनादिनी । भ्रां भ्रीं भ्रूं भैरवी भद्रे भवान्यै ते नमो नमः ॥6॥ अं कं चं टं तं पं यं शं वीं दुं ऐं वीं हं क्षं । धिजाग्रं धिजाग्रं त्रोटय त्रोटय दीप्तं कुरु कुरु स्वाहा ॥7॥ पां पीं पूं पार्वती पूर्णा खां खीं खूं खेचरी तथा । सां सीं सूं सप्तशती देव्या मन्त्रसिद्धिं कुरुष्व मे ॥8॥ इदं तु कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रं मन्त्रजागर्तिहेतवे । अभक्ते नैव दातव्यं गोपितं रक्ष पार्वति ॥ यस्तु कुञ्जिकाया देवि हीनां सप्तशतीं पठेत् । न तस्य जायते सिद्धिररण्ये रोदनं यथा ॥ ॥ इति श्रीरुद्रयामले गौरीतन्त्रे शिवपार्वतीसंवादे कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration
Shiva uvacha Shrinu devi pravakshyami, kunjikastotramuttamam | Yena mantraprabhavena chandijapah shubho bhaveta ||1|| Na kavacham nargalastotram kilakam na rahasyakam | Na suktam napi dhyanam cha na nyaso na cha varchanam ||2|| Kunjikapathamatrena durgapathaphalam labhet | Ati guhyataram devi devanamapi durlabham ||3|| Gopaniyam prayatnena svayoniriva parvati | Maranam mohanam vashyam stambhanochchatanadikam | Pathamatrena sansiddhyet kunjikastotramuttamam ||4|| || atha mantrah || Om aim hrim klim chamundayai vichche || Om glaum hum klim jum sah jvalaya jvalaya jvala jvala prajvala prajvala Aim hrim klim chamundayai vichche jvala ham sam lam ksham phat svaha || || iti mantrah || Namaste rudrarupinyai namaste madhumardini | Namah kaitabhaharinyai namaste mahishardini ||1|| Namaste shumbhahantryai cha nishumbhasuraghatini | Jagratam hi mahadevi japam siddham kurushva me ||2|| Ainkari srishtirupayai hrinkari pratipalika | Klinkari kamarupinyai bijarupe namostu te ||3|| Chamunda chandaghati cha yaikari varadayini | Vichche chabhayada nityam namaste mantrarupini ||4|| Dham dhim dhum dhurjateh patni vam vim vum vagadhishvari | Kram krim krum kalika devi sham shim shum me shubham kuru ||5|| Hum hum hunkararupinyai jam jam jam jambhanadini | Bhram bhrim bhrum bhairavi bhadre bhavanyai te namo namah ||6|| Am kam cham tam tam pam yam sham vim dum aim vim ham ksham | Dhijagram dhijagram trotaya trotaya diptam kuru kuru svaha ||7|| Pam pim pum parvati purna kham khim khum khechari tatha | Sam sim sum saptashati devya mantrasiddhim kurushva me ||8|| Idam tu kunjikastotram mantrajagartihetave | Abhakte naiva datavyam gopitam raksha parvati || Yastu kunjikaya devi hinam saptashatim pathet | Na tasya jayate siddhiraranye rodanam yatha || || iti shrirudrayamale gauritantre shivaparvatisanvade kunjikastotram sampurnam ||
The key to the Saptashati
Kunjika means key. The Durga Saptashati (Chandi Path), seven hundred verses from the Markandeya Purana, is traditionally recited with a set of supporting texts: Kavach, Argala, Kilak and the Rahasyas. This stotra, said to come from the Rudrayamala Tantra in a dialogue between Shiva and Parvati, claims that it can stand in for all of them. Shiva says: no Kavach, no Argala, no Kilak, no Rahasya, no Sukta, no dhyana, no nyasa, no archana is needed; by reciting the Kunjika alone one gains the fruit of the Durga path.
Its structure
- Shiva's introduction (four verses): the claims above, and the instruction to keep it secret "as you would your own womb, Parvati", since it is powerful enough for every Tantric rite.
- The mantra: the Navarna mantra, Om aim hrim klim chamundayai vichche, followed by a longer mantra of bijas and the commands jvalaya jvalaya, "blaze, blaze".
- Eight verses of praise: salutations to the Devi as slayer of Madhu, Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha; an explanation of the bijas (aim as creation, hrim as preservation, klim as desire); and a cascade of seed syllables for Dhurjati's consort, Vageshwari, Kalika, Bhairavi, Parvati and Khechari, ending: "grant me siddhi in the mantra of the Saptashati".
- Closing: it is for awakening the mantra and must not be given to the undevoted; one who reads the Saptashati without the Kunjika gains no siddhi, "like crying in the forest".
How to recite it
- Before or after the Durga Saptashati, or on its own when there is no time for the full path, especially in Navratri.
- Pronounce the bijas clearly and slowly; if unsure, listen to a reliable recitation first or learn from a teacher.
- Recite with a red flower, a ghee lamp and a calm, devotional intention. Its Tantric rites are traditionally done only under guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Kunjika" mean?
"Key". The stotra is the key that unlocks the power of the Durga Saptashati.
Can Kunjika Stotram replace the full Durga Saptashati?
The stotra itself says its recitation gives the fruit of the Durga path; many use it when they cannot read all 700 verses.
What is the Navarna mantra in it?
"Om aim hrim klim chamundayai vichche", the nine-syllable mantra of Chamunda at the core of the Saptashati.
Should it be kept secret?
The text says not to give it to the undevoted. Today it is widely published; devotees take this as a call to recite it with respect.
When is it best recited?
In Navratri, on Ashtami and Navami especially, and with the Saptashati at any time.
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