Sri Kalika Ashtakam is the Slokam in praise of and as prayer to Sri Kalika Devi, one of the manifestations of Maa Sri Durga Devi.
Sri Kalika Ashtakam is composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya. It contains two parts, Dhyanam and Prayer. The benefits of chanting this Slokam are embedded in the text itself.
Sri Kalika Ashtakam is presented in Devanagari and English scripts with a simple English translation.
ध्यानं / Dhyaanam
गलद्रक्त मुण्डावली कण्ठ माला
महोघोर रावा सुदंष्ट्रा कराला
विवस्त्रा श्मशानालया मुक्त केशी
महा-काल कामाकुला कालिकेयम् (1)
galadh-raktha-muNdaavalee kaNTa maalaa
mahoa-ghora raavaa sudhaM-Shtraa karaalaa
vivasthraa shmashaana-alayaa muktha-keshee
mahaa-kaala kaama-akulaa kaali-kaeyam
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. She adorns the garland of severed skulls around Her neck. She makes the reverberating noise and Her teeth are protruding. She is fierce to look at. She roams around the cremation ground with the free appearance. She is Sri Kalika Devi, the Goddess of Darkness eager to mingle with Sri Maha Kaala, the God of Darkness (or God of time).
भुजे वाम युग्मे शिरोऽसिं दधाना
वरं दक्षयुग्मेऽभयं वै तथैव
सुमध्याऽपि तुङ्गस्तना भारनम्रा
लसद्रक्तसृक्कद्वया सुस्मितास्या (2)
bhujae vaama yugmae shiro(A)siM dhaDhaanaa
varaM dhakSha-yugmae(A)bhayam vai thathaiva
su-madhya(A)api tunGga-sthanaa bhaara-namraa
lasadh-raktha-srukka-dhvayaa susmitha-asyaa
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. In Her left hands, She holds the sword and the severed head. Her right hands depict abhaya (blessing protection) and varadha (blessing abundance) mudras. Her magnificent mid-body is slightly bent because of heavy upper body. Her lips are of shining red with a smile at the corner.
शव द्वन्द्व कर्णावतंसा सुकेशी
लसत्प्रेत पाणिं प्रयुक्तैक काञ्ची
शवाकारमञ्चाधिरूढा शिवाभिश्_
चतुर्दिक्षु शब्दायमानाऽभिरेजे (3)
shava dhvandhva karNa-avathaMsaa su-keshee
lasath-praetha paaNiM prayukthaika kaancchee
shava-akaara-manccha-aDhi-rooDaa shiva-abhish
chathur-dhikShu-shab-dhaaya-maana(A)bhiraejae
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. Her ear rings depict the symbol of corpses. She has the beautiful long hair. Her waist ornament is made of severed hands. She is mounted on the corpses with jackals making sounds from all the four sides. Sri Kalika Devi governs in such scenario.
स्तुतिः / Sthuthi
विरञ्च्यादि देवास्त्रयस्ते गुणास्त्रीन्
समाराध्य कालीं प्रधाना बभूबुः
अनादिं सुरादिं मखादिं भवादिं
स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः (4)
virancch-yaadhi dhevaas-thrayas-thae guNaa-sthreen
sama-araaDhya kaaleeM praDhaanaa babhoo-buh
anaadhiM suraadhiM makhaadhiM bhavaadhiM
svaroopaM thvadheeyaM na vindhanthi dhaevaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. Sri Brahma and the other two of the Trinity such as Sri Shiva and Sri Vishnu had chosen the three Gunas of Sri Kali as their virtues. They have considered Sri Kalika as their Deity of worship and they had become the pioneer of Devas. Sri Kalika Devi, You are beyond any beginning. You are the divine nascent origin for the emergence of the Devas. You are the divine origin of all the oblations and the You are the prime receiver of sacrifices. The worlds have originated from You. Even the Devas cannot discern Your mystical divine nature.
जगन्मोहनीयं तु वाग्वादिनीयं
सुहृत्पोषिणी शत्रु संहारणीयम्
वचस्तम्भनीयं किमुच्चाटनीयं
स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः (5)
jagan-mohaneeyaM thu vaag-vaadhi-neeyaM
suhruth-poaShiNee shathru saMhaaraNeeyam
vacha-stambhaneeyaM kim-uchchaata-neeyaM
svaroopaM thvadheeyaM na vindhanthi dhaevaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. Your supremacy fascinates the universe. You are the authority of the speaking words. Your magnificence protects the good-hearted persons and destroys the enemies (with evil intents). You have the authority to quell the speech and have power to destroy unnecessary talks (displaying vanity and pride). Even the Devas cannot discern Your mystical divine nature.
इयं स्वर्गदात्री पुनः कल्पवल्ली
मनोजास्तु कामान् यथार्थं प्रकुर्यात्
तथा ते कृतार्था भवन्तीति नित्यं
स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः (6)
iyam svarga-daathree punah kalpa-vallee
manoa-jaasthu kaamaan yaThaarThaM prakuryaath
taThaa thae kruthaarThaa bhavanthi-ithi nithyaM
svaroopaM thvadheeyaM na vindhanthi dhaevaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. You bless and bestow Your benevolence which is heavenly. Similar to the wish fulfilling creeper, You bless the fulfillment of the ardent wishes of your devout devotees. Hence, the world always revers You and is thankful to You. Even the Devas cannot discern Your mystical divine nature.
सुरा पान मत्ता सुभक्तानुरक्ता
लसत्पूतचित्ते सदाविर्भवत्ते
जप ध्यान पूजा सुधा धौत पङ्का
स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः (7)
suraa paana maththaa su-bhaktha-anurakthaa
lasath-pootha-ciththae sadha-avir-bhavath-thae
japa Dhyaana poojaa suDhaa Dhautha panGkaa
svaroopaM thvadheeyaM na vindhanthi dhaevaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. You have pleasure in partaking of Sura, the divine nectar. You are delighted with Your ardent and devout devotees. You dwell in the pure hearts. You reside in the hearts in which the impurities are cleaned with meditation on You, Puja to You and recitation of Your name and glory. Even the Devas cannot discern Your mystical divine nature.
चिदानन्दकन्दं हसन् मन्दमन्दं
शरच्चन्द्र कोटि प्रभा पुञ्जबिम्बम्
मुनीनां कवीनां हृदि द्योत यन्तं
स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः (8)
chidha-anandha-kandhaM hasan mandha mandhaM
sharach-chandra koati prabha punccja-bimbam
muneenaaM kaveenaaM hrudhi dyotha yanthaM
svaroopaM thvadheeyaM na vindhanthi dhaevaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. Your appearance is that of Supreme Spiritual Consciousness. Your manifestation is felt with Your gentle smile. Your form is that of the moon of the autumn sky. Your form radiates like the million rays of moon. The Sages and the Scholars feel Your presence in the deep cave of their hearts (and minds). Even the Devas cannot discern Your mystical divine nature.
महामेघकाली सुरक्तापि शुभ्रा
कदाचिद् विचित्राकृतिर्योगमाया
न बाला न वृद्धा न कामातुरापि
स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः (9)
mahaa-megha-kaalee su-raktha-api shubhraa
kadhaa-chidh vichithraa-kruthir-yoga-maayaa
na baalaa na vrudhDhaa na kaamaathura-api
svaroopaM thvadheeyaM na vindhanthi dhaevaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. Your appearance is as dark as the loaded cloud. You also appear reddish. You are as pure as white. Your appearance cannot be confined to any manifestation as You take many hues due to Your Yogic attributes. You are neither a small baby girl nor an old woman nor a young woman. Even the Devas cannot discern Your mystical divine nature.
क्षम स्वापराधं महागुप्त भावं
मया लोकमध्ये प्रकाशिकृतं यत्
तव ध्यानपूतेन चापल्य भावात्
स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः (10)
kShama sva-aparaaDhaM mahaa-guptha bhaavaM
mayaa loaka-maDhyae prakaashi-krutham yath
thava Dhyaana-poothaena chaapalya bhaavaath
svaroopaM thvadheeyaM na vindhanthi dhaevaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. Kindly bless Your forgiveness to me for my mistakes as I have mentioned Your manifestation and nature as understood by me to this world. I have done the revelation just like a child. My heart is made pure through my meditation on You. Even the Devas cannot discern Your mystical divine nature.
यदि ध्यान युक्तं पठेद् यो मनुष्यस्
तदा सर्वलोके विशालो भवेच्च
गृहे चाष्टसिद्धिर्मृते चापि मुक्तिः
स्वरूपं त्वदीयं न विन्दन्ति देवाः (11)
yadhi dhyaana yukthaM paTedh yoa manuShyas
thadhaa sarva-loakae vishaaloa bhavech-cha
gruhae cha-aShta-sidhDhir-mruthe chaapi mukthih
svaroopaM thvadheeyaM na vindhanthi dhaevaah
Humble Salutations to Sri Kalika Devi. The person who sincerely reads and recites this Slokam shall become a great person in all the worlds. Such person will be blessed and bestowed with the eight siddhies while living and shall attain liberation / moksha at the end. Even the Devas cannot discern Your mystical divine nature.
