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Shree Kaalaraatri Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih
1. Om Kaalaraatri/Devyai Namaha
2. Om Kaalajnaayai Namaha
3. Om Kaala/Maatraayai Namaha
4. Om Kaala/Dhaatryai Namaha
5. Om Kalaavatyai Namaha
6. Om Kaaladaayai Namaha
7. Om Kaalahoyai Namaha
8. Om Kaala/Daitya/Nikrintinyai Namaha
9. Om Kaalasthaayai Namaha
10. Om Kaala/Roopinyai Namaha
11. Om Kaashthaayai Namaha
12. Om Kaanana/Sthaayai Namaha
13. Om Kaashmeera/Lipta/Vakshojaayai Namaha
14. Om Kaashmeera/Drava/Charchitaayai Namaha
15. Om Kunjareshvara/Gaaminyai Namaha
16. Om Kambu/Kanthyai Namaha
17. Om Karaalaakshyai Namaha
18. Om Kaamaartaayai Namaha
19. Om Kakaara/Varna/Sarvaangyai Namaha
20. Om Kalaayai Namaha
21. Om Kaashthaayai Namaha
22. Om Kastooree/Rasa/Neelaangyai Namaha
23. Om Kamalaa/Pradaayai Namaha
24. Om Kumaaryai Namaha
25. Om Kumbha/Karnyai Namaha
26. Om Kaala/Karnyai Namaha
27. Om Kshaantyai Namaha
28. Om Kshudhaayai Namaha
29. Om Kaantyai Namaha
30. Om Kundalinyai Namaha
31. Om Kalpa/Vallyai Namaha
32. Om Kunjikaayai Namaha
33. Om Kudukkaayai Namaha
34. Om Kaala/Bhairavyai Namaha
35. Om Kukkutyai Namaha
36. Om Karpataayai Namaha
37. Om Kula/Kuttanyai Namaha
38. Om Kuleshvaryai Namaha
39. Om Kala/Svanaayai Namaha
40. Om Kootaakaaraayai Namaha
41. Om Katakantaayai Namaha
42. Om Kshaamodaryai Namaha
43. Om Kshaya/Heenaayai Namaha
44. Om Kshara/Varjitaayai Namaha
45. Om Kshapaayai Namaha
46. Om Kshobha/Karyai Namaha
47. Om Karunaa/Mayyai Namaha
48. Om Kalaalaapaayai Namaha
49. Om Kaumudyai Namaha
50. Om Kumudaakaraayai Namaha
51. Om Kalaayai Namaha
52. Om Krooraayai Namaha
53. Om Krooraashayaayai Namaha
54. Om Kalpa/Chaarinyai Namaha
55. Om Kolaayai Namaha
56. Om Kalihrid/Ekala/Krite Namaha
57. Om Kashaayai Namaha
58. Om Karandhamaayai Namaha
59. Om Kulyaayai Namaha
60. Om Kurukullaayai Namaha
61. Om Kula/Anganaayai Namaha
62. Om Kaalyai Namaha
63. Om Kaalaraatryai Namaha
64. Om Kapaalinyai Namaha
65. Om Kaatyaayanyai Namaha
66. Om Kalyaanyai Namaha
67. Om Kaala/Aakaaraayai Namaha
68. Om Karaalinyai Namaha
69. Om Kampita/Aananaayai Namaha
70. Om Kamraayai Namaha
71. Om Kudambikaayai Namaha
72. Om Krodhanaayai Namaha
73. Om Kalpaanta/Ambhoda/Nirghoshaayai Namaha
74. Om Kaama/Dhenave Namaha
75. Om Kaaminyai Namaha
76. Om Kaama/Vandyaayai Namaha
77. Om Kaama/Suve Namaha
78. Om Kaama/Vanitaayai Namaha
79. Om Kaama/Dhure Namaha
80. Om Kaamaayai Namaha
81. Om Kaamyaayai Namaha
82. Om Kamalaayai Namaha
83. Om Kaama/Keli/Vinodinyai Namaha
84. Om Kaamanaayai Namaha
85. Om Kaamadaayai Namaha
86. Om Kaamaakhyaayai Namaha
87. Om Kaama/Dhenave Namaha
88. Om Kaama/Dhaama/Nivaasinyai Namaha
89. Om Kaama/Ankushaayai Namaha
90. Om Kaama/Peetha/Sthitaayai Namaha
91. Om Kaamukyai Namaha
92. Om Kamaneeyaayai Namaha
93. Om Kaama/Kalaa/Kaalyai Namaha
94. Om Kaama/Daayinyai Namaha
95. Om Krityaayai Namaha
96. Om Kalikaayai Namaha
97. Om Kamaneeya/Subhaavinyai Namaha
98. Om Kaatyaayanyai Namaha
99. Om Kalaa/Dhaaraayai Namaha
100. Om Kamaneeyaayai Namaha
101. Om Kamalaavatyai Namaha
102. Om Karaalyai Namaha
103. Om Kamalaa/Architaayai Namaha
104. Om Kanakaayai Namaha
105. Om Kanaka/Praanaayai Namaha
106. Om Kanaka/Achala/Vaasinyai Namaha
107. Om Kanaka/Aabhaayai Namaha
108. Om Kanaka/Pradaayai Namaha
Iti Shree Kaalaraatri Ashtottarashatanaamaavalih
Meaning
The Kalaratri Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a list of 108 names of Kalaratri Devi, the seventh form of Durga, worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri. She is the fiercest of the nine forms, dark as the deepest night, yet kind to all who come to her. The namavali begins with Om Kaalaraatridevyai Namaha, Om Kaalajnaayai Namaha, "the knower of time", and Om Kaalamaatraayai Namaha.
Significance
All 108 names begin with the sound "K", and the list moves in clear groups. Early names are built on "Kaala", time and darkness, matching her name, "the dark night". Om Kastooreerasaneelaangyai Namaha describes her body as dark like musk, and Om Karaalaakshyai Namaha means the one with fearsome eyes. Om Kaalyai Namaha, Om Kaalaraatryai Namaha and Om Kaatyaayanyai Namaha appear close together, linking her with Kali and the other fierce forms of the Mother.
Then the tone changes. A long run of names built on "Kaama", wish, shows her as the giver of what devotees long for, such as Om Kaamadhenave Namaha, "the wish-fulfilling cow". Om Karunaamayyai Namaha means the one full of compassion. This is the balance the story teaches: two hands that frighten and two that bless. The fear she causes is for the asuras like Chanda, Munda and Raktabija, not for her devotees.
How and when to chant
The natural time to chant this namavali is on the seventh day of Navaratri, Ashvayuja Shukla Saptami, though it can be said on any day. Light a lamp before her picture or the Navaratri kalasha and offer a pinch of kumkuma or a flower at each name. Blue flowers, especially blue water lilies, are offered to her. Black grapes, black sesame and sugarcane juice are popular naivedya. There is no need to fear her image at home; she is worshipped with the same lamp and flowers as every other form. A steady recitation takes about ten minutes. A namavali needs no initiation, so anyone can chant it with devotion.
To read how she destroyed Chanda, Munda and Raktabija, see the story of Kalaratri Devi.
Frequently asked questions
Which day of Navaratri is Kalaratri worshipped, and who is she?
What is the Kalaratri Ashtottara Shatanamavali and how is it chanted?
What is the mantra of Kalaratri?
What flowers and naivedya are offered to Kalaratri?
What does "Om Karunaamayyai Namaha" mean?
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