Sri Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam

Sri Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam is also called Ambashtakam, because every verse opens with the word "Amba" and closes with the refrain "chidrupi paradevata bhagavati sri rajarajeshvari". Tradition attributes it to Adi Shankaracharya, though some manuscripts name a poet called Bhaktaraja and add further verses. Rajarajeshvari, the sovereign of the king of kings, is Lalita Tripurasundari. In long shardulavikridita lines the hymn strings together the names of many forms of the Goddess.

Verse by verse

Verse 1: Shambhavi, wearer of the moon, Aparna, Uma, Parvati, Kali, Haimavati, Shiva, the three-eyed one, Katyayani, Bhairavi, Savitri; ever young, doer of good, giver of sovereign prosperity.

Verse 2: Mohini, who brings joy to the three worlds; Vani, holding flute and veena in tender hands and lost in music; moon-faced Kalyani, slayer of Dhumraksha.

Verse 3: Her ornaments are described: jewelled anklets, bangles, armlets and necklaces, garlands of jasmine, champak and vaijayanti, hands graced by veena and flute, seated in the hero's posture.

Verses 4 and 5: The fierce forms appear: Raudri, Bhadrakali, Bagala, Jvalamukhi, Vaishnavi, Brahmani, Chamunda and Dakshayani. She is Varahi holding spear, bow, noose and goad, who quelled Madhu and Kaitabha, is served by Vani and Rama, and subdued Malla and other demons.

Verses 6 and 7: She creates, sustains and dissolves; she is Gayatri filled with the nectar of the pranava, and Omkari. Praised by the Agamas, she is mother of all from Brahma to the ant and wears a garland of the digits of consciousness.

Verse 8: The phala-shruti: one who reads this Ambashtakam daily receives the Mother's gracious glance and unbroken prosperity, and at the end liberation through her mantra.

Significance

The hymn presents gentle and fierce goddesses alike as aspects of one Lalita. During Dasara many temples decorate the Goddess as Rajarajeshvari, and this ashtakam is sung on that day. Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru takes its name from its Rajarajeshwari temple.

How and when to chant

Recite it in the evening during Navaratri, especially on Vijayadashami, and on Fridays and full moon days. Offer red flowers, kumkum archana and payasam or fruit, and chant once or three times. Anyone may recite this stotra; Srividya mantra practice itself is taken from a guru.