Lyrics (Devanagari)
अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दनुते गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोऽधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते। भगवति हे शितिकण्ठकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकुटुम्बिनि भूरिकृते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते॥ सुरवरवर्षिणि दुर्धरधर्षिणि दुर्मुखमर्षिणि हर्षरते त्रिभुवनपोषिणि शङ्करतोषिणि किल्बिषमोषिणि घोषरते। दनुजनिरोषिणि दितिसुतरोषिणि दुर्मदशोषिणि सिन्धुसुते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते॥ अयि जगदम्ब मदम्ब कदम्ब वनप्रियवासिनि हासरते शिखरि शिरोमणि तुङ्गहिमालय शृङ्गनिजालय मध्यगते। मधुमधुरे मधुकैटभगञ्जिनि कैटभभञ्जिनि रासरते जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते॥ ... (महिषासुरमर्दिनी स्तोत्र — 21 पद्यों में शक्तिशाली छंद, आद्य शंकराचार्य को समर्पित) ... जय जय हे महिषासुरमर्दिनि रम्यकपर्दिनि शैलसुते॥
Ayi girinandini nandita-medini vishwavinodini nandanute Girivara-vindhya-shiro'dhinivasini Vishnu-vilasini jishnu-nute, Bhagavati he shitikanthakutumbini bhurikutumbini bhurikrite Jaya jaya he Mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute. ... (21 rhythmically intense verses celebrating Durga's destruction of the buffalo demon Mahishasura, attributed to the poet-devotee tradition of Adi Shankaracharya) ... Jaya jaya he Mahishasuramardini ramyakapardini shailasute.
Meaning
One of the most rhythmically celebrated Sanskrit hymns, this stotram glorifies Durga as the daughter of the mountain (Girinandini) who destroys the buffalo demon Mahishasura, praising her beauty, valor, and role as protector of the three worlds.
When & Why It Is Recited
Recited during Navratri, especially on Ashtami and Navami, for courage, protection and victory over difficulties, often sung for its powerful rhythmic quality.