Kali · Stotram
Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
A fierce and tender hymn to Dakshina Kali, the slender, wild-haired Great Chandi beloved of Shiva — describing her terrifying form on Shiva’s body, then turning to ask her for learning, eloquence, victory, long life and, at the end of this body, liberation.
Traditional Shakta hymn, gathered from verses in several tantric texts
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Dakshina Kalika Stotram
Son of Kali · Power of Kali
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
ॐ कृशोदरि महाचण्डि मुक्तकेशि बलिप्रिये ।
Om Krishodari Mahachandi Muktakeshi Balipriye
oṃ kṛśodari mahācaṇḍi muktakeśi balipriye
Om, O slender-waisted one, great Chandi, with flowing hair, fond of offerings,
कुलाचारप्रसन्नास्ये नमस्ते शङ्करप्रिये ॥ १ ॥
Kulacharaprasannasye Namaste Shankarapriye
kulācāraprasannāsye namaste śaṅkarapriye
whose face is pleased by the Kula path — salutations to you, beloved of Shankara.
घोरदंष्ट्रे कोटराक्षि गीतिशब्दप्रसाधिनि ।
Ghoradamshtre Kotarakshi Gitishabdaprasadhini
ghoradaṃṣṭre koṭarākṣi gītiśabdaprasādhini
With fearsome teeth and deep-set eyes, adorned by the sound of song,
घुरघोरारवास्फारे नमस्ते चित्तवासिनि ॥ २ ॥
Ghuraghoraravasphare Namaste Chittavasini
ghuraghorāravāsphāre namaste cittavāsini
filling the air with terrible roars — salutations to you who dwell in the mind.
बन्धूकपुष्पसङ्काशे त्रिपुरे भयनाशिनि ।
Bandhukapushpasankashe Tripure Bhayanashini
bandhūkapuṣpasaṅkāśe tripure bhayanāśini
Red as the bandhuka flower, Tripura, destroyer of fear,
भाग्योदयसमुत्पन्ने नमस्ते वरवर्णिनि ॥ ३ ॥
Bhagyodayasamutpanne Namaste Varavarnini
bhāgyodayasamutpanne namaste varavarṇini
born at the dawning of good fortune — salutations to you, fairest one.
जय देवि जगद्धात्रि त्रिपुराद्ये त्रिदेवते ।
Jaya Devi Jagaddhatri Tripuradye Tridevate
jaya devi jagaddhātri tripurādye tridevate
Victory, Goddess, nurse of the world, first of the three cities, the three gods in one;
भक्तेभ्यो वरदे देवि महिषघ्नि नमोऽस्तुते ॥ ४ ॥
Bhaktebhyo Varade Devi Mahishaghni Namostute
bhaktebhyo varade devi mahiṣaghni namo'stute
giver of boons to devotees, Goddess, slayer of Mahisha — salutations to you.
घोरविघ्नविनाशाय कुलाचारसमृद्धये ।
Ghoravighnavinashaya Kulacharasamriddhaye
ghoravighnavināśāya kulācārasamṛddhaye
For the destruction of terrible obstacles and the flourishing of the Kula path,
नमामि वरदे देवि मुण्डमालाविभूषणे ॥ ५ ॥
Namami Varade Devi Mundamalavibhushane
namāmi varade devi muṇḍamālāvibhūṣaṇe
I bow to you, boon-giving Goddess, adorned with a garland of heads.
रक्तधारासमाकीर्णे कलकाञ्चीविभूषिते ।
Raktadharasamakirne Kalakanchivibhushite
raktadhārāsamākīrṇe kalakāñcīvibhūṣite
Covered in streams of blood, adorned with a jingling girdle,
सर्वविघ्नहरे कालि नमस्ते भैरवप्रिये ॥ ६ ॥
Sarvavighnahare Kali Namaste Bhairavapriye
sarvavighnahare kāli namaste bhairavapriye
remover of all obstacles, O Kali — salutations to you, beloved of Bhairava.
नमस्ते दक्षिणामूर्त्ते कालि त्रिपुरभैरवि ।
Namaste Dakshinamurtte Kali Tripurabhairavi
namaste dakṣiṇāmūrtte kāli tripurabhairavi
Salutations to you, Dakshina, Kali, Tripura Bhairavi,
भिन्नाञ्जनचयप्रख्ये प्रवीणशवसंस्थिते ॥ ७ ॥
Bhinnanjanachayaprakhye Pravinashavasamsthite
bhinnāñjanacayaprakhye pravīṇaśavasaṃsthite
dark as a heap of crushed collyrium, seated on a corpse —
गलच्छोणितधाराभिः स्मेराननसरोरुहे ।
Galacchonitadharabhih Smerananasaroruhe
galacchoṇitadhārābhiḥ smerānanasaroruhe
your lotus face smiling amid streams of trickling blood,
पीनोन्नतकुचद्वन्द्वे नमस्ते घोरदक्षिणे ॥ ८ ॥
Pinonnatakuchadvandve Namaste Ghoradakshine
pīnonnatakucadvandve namaste ghoradakṣiṇe
full-breasted mother — salutations to you, fierce Dakshina.
आरक्तमुखशान्ताभिर्नेत्रालिभिर्विराजिते ।
Araktamukhashantabhirnetralibhirvirajite
āraktamukhaśāntābhirnetrālibhirvirājite
Shining with rows of eyes, reddish and peaceful,
शवद्वयकृतोत्तंसे नमस्ते मदविह्वले ॥ ९ ॥
Shavadvayakritottamse Namaste Madavihvale
śavadvayakṛtottaṃse namaste madavihvale
wearing two corpses as earrings — salutations to you, drunk with ecstasy.
पञ्चाशन्मुण्डघटितमालालोहितलोहिते ।
Panchashanmundaghatitamalalohitalohite
pañcāśanmuṇḍaghaṭitamālālohitalohite
Crimson with the garland strung of fifty heads,
नानामणिविशोभाढ्ये नमस्ते ब्रह्मसेविते ॥ १० ॥
Nanamanivishobhadhye Namaste Brahmasevite
nānāmaṇiviśobhāḍhye namaste brahmasevite
resplendent with many jewels — salutations to you, served by Brahma.
शवास्थिकृतकेयूरे शङ्खकङ्कणमण्डिते ।
Shavasthikritakeyure Shankhakankanamandite
śavāsthikṛtakeyūre śaṅkhakaṅkaṇamaṇḍite
With armlets made of corpses’ bones, adorned with conch-shell bangles,
शववक्षःसमारूढे नमस्ते विष्णुपूजिते ॥ ११ ॥
Shavavakshahsamarudhe Namaste Vishnupujite
śavavakṣaḥsamārūḍhe namaste viṣṇupūjite
mounted on a corpse’s chest — salutations to you, worshipped by Vishnu.
शवमांसकृतग्रासे साट्टहासे मुहुर्मुहुः ।
Shavamamsakritagrase Sattahase Muhurmuhuh
śavamāṃsakṛtagrāse sāṭṭahāse muhurmuhuḥ
Feeding on corpse flesh, laughing loudly again and again,
मुखशीघ्रस्मितामोदे नमस्ते शिववन्दिते ॥ १२ ॥
Mukhashighrasmitamode Namaste Shivavandite
mukhaśīghrasmitāmode namaste śivavandite
delighting in quick smiles — salutations to you, revered by Shiva.
खड्गमुण्डधरे वामे सव्येऽभयवरप्रदे ।
Khadgamundadhare Vame Savyebhayavaraprade
khaḍgamuṇḍadhare vāme savye'bhayavaraprade
Holding a sword and head in your left hands, granting fearlessness and boons with your right,
दन्तुरे च महारौद्रे नमस्ते चण्डनायिके ॥ १३ ॥
Danture Cha Maharaudre Namaste Chandanayike
danture ca mahāraudre namaste caṇḍanāyike
with great teeth, most terrible — salutations to you, fierce leader.
त्वं गतिः परमा देवि त्वं माता परमेश्वरि ।
Tvam Gatih Parama Devi Tvam Mata Parameshvari
tvaṃ gatiḥ paramā devi tvaṃ mātā parameśvari
You are the highest refuge, Goddess; you are the Mother, supreme Lady;
त्राहि मां करुणासार्द्रे नमस्ते चण्डनायिके ॥ १४ ॥
Trahi Mam Karunasardre Namaste Chandanayike
trāhi māṃ karuṇāsārdre namaste caṇḍanāyike
save me, you who are moist with compassion — salutations to you, fierce leader.
नमस्ते कालिके देवि नमस्ते भक्तवत्सले ।
Namaste Kalike Devi Namaste Bhaktavatsale
namaste kālike devi namaste bhaktavatsale
Salutations to you, Goddess Kalika; salutations to you who love your devotees;
मूर्खतां हर मे देवि प्रतिभाजयदायिनि ॥ १५ ॥
Murkhatam Hara Me Devi Pratibhajayadayini
mūrkhatāṃ hara me devi pratibhājayadāyini
take away my foolishness, Goddess, giver of genius and victory.
गद्यपद्यमयीं वाणीं तर्कव्याकरणादिकम् ।
Gadyapadyamayim Vanim Tarkavyakaranadikam
gadyapadyamayīṃ vāṇīṃ tarkavyākaraṇādikam
Speech in prose and verse, logic, grammar and the rest —
अनधीतागतां विद्यां देहि दक्षिणकालिके ॥ १६ ॥
Anadhitagatam Vidyam Dehi Dakshinakalike
anadhītāgatāṃ vidyāṃ dehi dakṣiṇakālike
give me learning that comes without study, O Dakshina Kalika.
जयं देहि सभामध्ये धनं देहि धनागमे ।
Jayam Dehi Sabhamadhye Dhanam Dehi Dhanagame
jayaṃ dehi sabhāmadhye dhanaṃ dehi dhanāgame
Give me victory in the assembly, wealth when wealth is due,
देहि मे चिरजीवित्वं कालिके रक्ष दक्षिणे ॥ १७ ॥
Dehi Me Chirajivitvam Kalike Raksha Dakshine
dehi me cirajīvitvaṃ kālike rakṣa dakṣiṇe
give me long life; Kalika, protect me, O Dakshina.
राज्यं देहि यशो देहि पुत्रान् दारान् धनं तथा ।
Rajyam Dehi Yasho Dehi Putran Daran Dhanam Tatha
rājyaṃ dehi yaśo dehi putrān dārān dhanaṃ tathā
Give me sovereignty, give me fame, children, spouse and wealth too;
देहान्ते देहि मे मुक्तिं जगन्मातः प्रसीद मे ॥ १८ ॥
Dehante Dehi Me Muktim Jaganmatah Prasida Me
dehānte dehi me muktiṃ jaganmātaḥ prasīda me
at the end of this body give me liberation — Mother of the world, be gracious to me.
ॐ मङ्गला भैरवी दुर्गा कालिका त्रिदशेश्वरी ।
Om Mangala Bhairavi Durga Kalika Tridasheshvari
oṃ maṅgalā bhairavī durgā kālikā tridaśeśvarī
Om — Mangala, Bhairavi, Durga, Kalika, queen of the gods,
उमा हैमवती कन्या कल्याणी भैरवेश्वरी ॥ १९ ॥
Uma Haimavati Kanya Kalyani Bhairaveshvari
umā haimavatī kanyā kalyāṇī bhairaveśvarī
Uma, daughter of Himavat, the maiden, Kalyani, queen of Bhairava;
काली ब्राह्मी च माहेशी कौमारी वैष्णवी तथा ।
Kali Brahmi Cha Maheshi Kaumari Vaishnavi Tatha
kālī brāhmī ca māheśī kaumārī vaiṣṇavī tathā
Kali, Brahmi, Maheshi, Kaumari and Vaishnavi too,
वाराही वासवी चण्डी त्वां जगुर्मुनयः सदा ॥ २० ॥
Varahi Vasavi Chandi Tvam Jagurmunayah Sada
vārāhī vāsavī caṇḍī tvāṃ jagurmunayaḥ sadā
Varahi, Vasavi, Chandi — so the sages have always sung of you.
उग्रतारेति तारेति शिवेत्येकजटेति च ।
Ugratareti Tareti Shivetyekajateti Cha
ugratāreti tāreti śivetyekajaṭeti ca
As Ugratara, Tara, Shiva and Ekajata,
लोकोत्तरेति कालीति गीयसे कृतिभिः सदा ॥ २१ ॥
Lokottareti Kaliti Giyase Kritibhih Sada
lokottareti kālīti gīyase kṛtibhiḥ sadā
as the one beyond the world and as Kali, you are always sung by the wise.
यथा काली तथा तारा तथा छिन्ना च कुल्लुका ।
Yatha Kali Tatha Tara Tatha Chhhinna Cha Kulluka
yathā kālī tathā tārā tathā chinnā ca kullukā
As Kali, so Tara, so Chhinnamasta and Kulluka —
एकमूर्त्तिश्चतुर्भेदा देवि त्वं कालिका पुरा ॥ २२ ॥
Ekamurttishchaturbheda Devi Tvam Kalika Pura
ekamūrttiścaturbhedā devi tvaṃ kālikā purā
one form in four aspects; Goddess, you were Kalika from the beginning.
एकद्वित्रिविधा देवी कोटिधानन्तरूपिणी ।
Ekadvitrividha Devi Kotidhanantarupini
ekadvitrividhā devī koṭidhānantarūpiṇī
The Goddess is one, two and threefold, of endless forms in millions;
अङ्गाङ्गिकैर्नामभेदैः कालिकेति प्रगीयते ॥ २३ ॥
Angangikairnamabhedaih Kaliketi Pragiyate
aṅgāṅgikairnāmabhedaiḥ kāliketi pragīyate
through the names of her parts and her whole, she is sung as Kalika.
शम्भुः पञ्चमुखेनैव गुणान् वक्तुं न ते क्षमः ।
Shambhuh Panchamukhenaiva Gunan Vaktum Na Te Kshamah
śambhuḥ pañcamukhenaiva guṇān vaktuṃ na te kṣamaḥ
Even Shambhu with his five mouths cannot tell your virtues;
चापल्यैर्यत्कृतं स्तोत्रं क्षमस्व वरदा भव ॥ २४ ॥
Chapalyairyatkritam Stotram Kshamasva Varada Bhava
cāpalyairyatkṛtaṃ stotraṃ kṣamasva varadā bhava
forgive this hymn made in restlessness, and be the giver of boons.
प्राणान् रक्ष यशो रक्ष पुत्रान् दारान् धनं तथा ।
Pranan Raksha Yasho Raksha Putran Daran Dhanam Tatha
prāṇān rakṣa yaśo rakṣa putrān dārān dhanaṃ tathā
Protect my life, protect my good name, my children, spouse and wealth;
सर्वकाले सर्वदेशे पाहि दक्षिणकालिके ॥ २५ ॥
Sarvakale Sarvadeshe Pahi Dakshinakalike
sarvakāle sarvadeśe pāhi dakṣiṇakālike
at all times and in every place, protect me, O Dakshina Kalika.
यः सम्पूज्य पठेत् स्तोत्रं दिवा वा रात्रिसन्ध्ययोः ।
Yah Sampujya Pathet Stotram Diva Va Ratrisandhyayoh
yaḥ sampūjya paṭhet stotraṃ divā vā rātrisandhyayoḥ
Whoever worships and reads this hymn by day, or at the junctions of night,
धनं धान्यं तथा पुत्रं लभते नात्र संशयः ॥ २६ ॥
Dhanam Dhanyam Tatha Putram Labhate Natra Samshayah
dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ tathā putraṃ labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ
gains wealth, grain and children — of this there is no doubt.
Dakshina Kali is the most widely worshipped form of Kali, especially in Bengal: dark as collyrium, four-armed, her left hands holding a sword and a severed head, her right hands granting fearlessness and boons, standing on the still body of Shiva. “Dakshina” means both “the southern, right-hand one” and “the generous one who gives the reward”.
This hymn praises that form detail by detail — her loosened hair, fearsome teeth, the garland of fifty heads (the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet), the ornaments of bone, her smile amid the blood — and calls her by the names of the great goddesses: Bhairavi, Durga, Uma, Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Chamundi, Tara, Chhinnamasta.
Then the tone changes. The devotee asks her, as a mother, to remove their foolishness and give them prose and poetry, logic and grammar “without study”, victory in the assembly, wealth, long life, family — and liberation at death. The sanskritdocuments.org edition notes that many of its verses are shared with other Kali hymns; it is a compiled hymn rather than a single ancient text.
In the familiar image Kali stands upon Shiva, who lies still beneath her. One reading is that Shiva is pure consciousness — unmoving, the ground — and Kali is Shakti, the power that moves and acts. Without Shakti, Shiva is shava, a corpse; with her, he is Shiva, the auspicious.
The hymn calls her “seated on a corpse” and “mounted on the chest of a corpse” — the dance of power upon the still ground of being.
When to chant
How many times
Once, after worship.
Light a lamp before an image of Kali and offer red hibiscus if you have it.
Chant the hymn steadily, picturing each detail of her form.
In verses 15–18, ask sincerely for what you need.
Close with “Om Krim Kalikayai Namah.”
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
dakṣiṇa
duk-shi-na — the retroflex “n”.
kṛśodari
kri-sho-da-ri — “slender-waisted one.”
caṇḍanāyike
chun-da-naa-yi-kay — “O fierce leader.”
Who is Dakshina Kali?
The most widely worshipped form of Kali: dark, four-armed, holding a sword and a severed head and granting fearlessness and boons, standing on Shiva.
What does this stotram ask for?
After praising her form, it asks for the removal of foolishness, learning and eloquence, victory, wealth, long life and family, and finally liberation.
When should it be recited?
The hymn says by day, or at the junctions of night; many recite it at Kali Puja, on new-moon nights, and on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Is this an ancient text?
Its verses are traditional, but the sanskritdocuments.org edition notes they are gathered from several Kali texts, so it is best seen as a traditional compiled hymn.