Listen and chant along
Play the video and follow the stotra text below.
Sri Mahishasura Mardini Ashtottara Shatanamavali
1. Om Mahatyai Namah
2. Om Chetanaayai Namah
3. Om Maayaayai Namah
4. Om Mahaagauryai Namah
5. Om Maheshvaryai Namah
6. Om Mahodaraayai Namah
7. Om Mahaabuddhyai Namah
8. Om Mahaakaalyai Namah
9. Om Mahaa Balaayai Namah
10. Om Mahaa Sudhaayai Namah
11. Om Mahaa Nidraayai Namah
12. Om Mahaa Mudraayai Namah
13. Om Mahaa Dayaayai Namah
14. Om Mahaa Bhogaayai Namah
15. Om Mahaa Mohaayai Namah
16. Om Mahaa Jayaayai Namah
17. Om Mahaatushtyai Namah
18. Om Mahaa Lajjaayai Namah
19. Om Mahaadhrityai Namah
20. Om Mahaa Ghoraayai Namah
21. Om Mahaa Drishtraayai Namah
22. Om Mahaakaantyai Namah
23. Om Mahaakrityai Namah
24. Om Mahaa Padmaayai Namah
25. Om Mahaa Medhaayai Namah
26. Om Mahaa Bodhaayai Namah
27. Om Mahaa Tapase Namah
28. Om Mahaa Sthaanaayai Namah
29. Om Mahaa Ravaayai Namah
30. Om Mahaa Roshaayai Namah
31. Om Mahaayudhaayai Namah
32. Om Mahaa Bandhana Samharyai Namah
33. Om Mahaabhaya Vinaashinyai Namah
34. Om Mahaa Netraayai Namah
35. Om Mahaa Vaktraayai Namah
36. Om Mahaa Vakshase Namah
37. Om Mahaa Bhujaayai Namah
38. Om Mahaa Maheeruhaayai Namah
39. Om Poornaayai Namah
40. Om Mahaa Chhaayaayai Namah
41. Om Mahaanaghaayai Namah
42. Om Mahaashaantyai Namah
43. Om Mahaashvaasaayai Namah
44. Om Mahaa Parvata Nandinyai Namah
45. Om Mahaa Brahmamayyai Namah
46. Om Maatre Namah
47. Om Mahaa Saaraayai Namah
48. Om Mahaa Suraghnyai Namah
49. Om Mahatyai Namah
50. Om Paarvatyai Namah
51. Om Charchitaayai Namah
52. Om Shivaayai Namah
53. Om Mahaa Kshaantyai Namah
54. Om Mahaa Bhraantyai Namah
55. Om Mahaa Mantraayai Namah
56. Om Mahaa Tantraayai Namah
57. Om Mahaamayyai Namah
58. Om Mahaa Kulaayai Namah
59. Om Mahaa Lolaayai Namah
60. Om Mahaa Maayaayai Namah
61. Om Mahaa Phalaayai Namah
62. Om Mahaa Nilaayai Namah
63. Om Mahaa Sheelaayai Namah
64. Om Mahaa Baalaayai Namah
65. Om Mahaa Nilayaayai Namah
66. Om Mahaa Kalaayai Namah
67. Om Mahaa Chitraayai Namah
68. Om Mahaa Setave Namah
69. Om Mahaa Hetave Namah
70. Om Yashasvinyai Namah
71. Om Mahaa Vidyaayai Namah
72. Om Mahaa Saadhyaayai Namah
73. Om Mahaa Satyaayai Namah
74. Om Mahaa Gatyai Namah
75. Om Mahaa Sukhinyai Namah
76. Om Mahaa Duhsvapna Naasinyai Namah
77. Om Mahaa Mokshapradaayai Namah
78. Om Mahaa Pakshaayai Namah
79. Om Mahaa Yashasvinyai Namah
80. Om Mahaa Bhadraayai Namah
81. Om Mahaa Vaanyai Namah
82. Om Mahaa Roga Vinaasinyai Namah
83. Om Mahaa Dhaaraayai Namah
84. Om Mahaa Kaaraayai Namah
85. Om Mahaa Maaryai Namah
86. Om Khecharyai Namah
87. Om Mohinyai Namah
88. Om Mahaa Kshemankaryai Namah
89. Om Mahaa Kshamaayai Namah
90. Om Mahaishvarya Pradaayinyai Namah
91. Om Mahaa Vishaghnyai Namah
92. Om Vishadaayai Namah
93. Om Mahaa Dukhah Vinaasinyai Namah
94. Om Mahaa Varshaayai Namah
95. Om Mahaa Tattvaayai Namah
96. Om Mahaa Kailaasa Vaasinyai Namah
97. Om Mahaa Subhadraayai Namah
98. Om Subhagaayai Namah
99. Om Mahaa Vidyaayai Namah
100. Om Mahaa Satyai Namah
101. Om Mahaa Pratyangiraayai Namah
102. Om Mahaa Nityaayai Namah
103. Om Mahaa Pralaya Kaarinyai Namah
104. Om Mahaa Shaktyai Namah
105. Om Mahaamatyai Namah
106. Om Mahaa Mangala Kaarinyai Namah
107. Om Mahaa Devyai Namah
108. Om Mahaa Sura Vimardinyai Namah
Iti Shree Mahishaasura Mardini Devi Ashtottara Shatanaamaavali
Meaning
This namavali gives 108 names of Durga as Mahishasura Mardini, the Goddess who destroyed the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Every name is framed as Om ... namah, which suits archana: a flower, a few grains of akshata or a pinch of kumkum is placed before the Goddess with each name. The list itself does not say which scripture it is drawn from.
Names built on maha
It opens with Mahatyai (to the great one), Chetanayai (to consciousness) and Mayayai (to the power of illusion). After that almost every name joins maha, great, to a quality. Mahabuddhyai is great intellect, and Mahanidrayai is the great sleep in which the worlds rest at dissolution. Names such as Mahanetrayai, Mahabhujayai and Mahayudhayai picture her eyes, arms and weapons as she stands ready for battle.
Fear, bad dreams, illness
A run of names speaks of particular troubles. Mahabhaya Vinashinyai destroys great fear, Mahaduhsvapna Nashinyai ends bad dreams and Maharoga Vinashinyai drives away disease. Maha Parvata Nandinyai, Parvatyai, Shivayai and Maha Kailasa Vasinyai remind the reader that this warrior is Parvati, who lives on Kailasa with Shiva. Near the end, Maha Pratyangirayai names the fierce protective form Pratyangira.
When it is used
The list closes with Mahasura Vimardinyai, the crusher of the great asura, tying the whole litany to the Mahishasura episode of the Devi Mahatmya. Families recite it through Sharad Navaratri and on Vijayadashami, and on Tuesdays and Fridays for Devi puja.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Mahishasura Mardini Ashtottara different from the Ayi Giri Nandini stotram?
Why do almost all names in the Mahishasura Mardini Ashtottara begin with Maha?
Which name in the Mahishasura Mardini Ashtottara refers to the killing of Mahishasura?
When is the Mahishasura Mardini Ashtottara Shatanamavali usually recited?
How long does the Mahishasura Mardini 108 names archana take, and what should one watch while counting?
Comments
Please login to leave a comment
Loading comments...