Hymns to DEVI : Durga

[Guest guest]

I salute, Thee, Leader of Yogis, one with the Brahman

Dweller in the Mandara Forest

Virgin, Kali, Spouse of Kapala, of tawny hue

Salutation to Thee, Bhadrakali

Reverence to Thee, MahaKali

Candi, Fearless one.Salutation to Thee

Saviour imbued with all good fortune

 

Of the race of Kata, greatly worshipful

Dreadful one, Giver of Victory, Victrix,

Who holdeth a peacock's tail for Thy banner,

Bearing formidable spear, sword, and shield ( made of skin )

younger Sister of the chief of cowherds,

Eldest one, born in the family of the cowherds Nanda

Delighting in the blood of Mahisa,

Kausiki, wearing yellow garments.

 

With auspicious smile,

Whose mouth devoured all demons,

Salutation to Thee, delighter in battle.

Uma, giver of shaka

In the form of Mahesvara, and in that of Vasudeva,

Destructress of Kaitabha

Golden-eyed, with half-opened eyes, grey-eyed,

Veda and Sruti, and most sacred.

Propirious to Brahmanas engaged in the sacrificial rites,

thou art Jataveda,

And art ever present in the sacred shrines in the chief cities of

Jambudvipa

 

Of Science Thou art the knowledge of Brahman,

Thou art the liberation of embdied beings,

Mother of Skanda

O Bhagavati Durga ! thou liveth in inaccessible regions

Svaha, Svadha, Kala and Kastha

 

Sarasvati, Savitri.

Mother of Vedas and Vedanta art Thou called.

I praise Thee from the pure depth of my heart.

By Thy favour let us be victorious in battle.

Ever dost thou abide in inaccessible regions,

In places full of fear and difficulty ;

In the houses of thy devotees, and in Patala.

In battle thou conquereth the Danavas.

thou art drowsiness and slumber

 

Thou hast power to show wonderfully the world,

Modesty, and beauty

Cause of creation and destruction

Creatrix, Mother, contentment, nourishment, constancy,

 

Light, Supportress of the sun and moon,

Power of Him who possesses power,

In ecstasy thou art perceived by Siddhas and Caranas

>From the Mahabharata

Hymns to the Goddess and Hymns to Kali

Sir John Woodroffe