Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
The Gayatri of Mahakali — “May we know the great Kali, may we meditate on her who dwells in the cremation ground; may Kali inspire us” — a fierce, freeing prayer to the Mother of time.
Traditional Gayatri of Mahakali
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Kali Gayatri Mantra
Son of Kali · Divine Chants, Vol. 1
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 महाकाल्यै च विद्महे
Om Mahakalyai Cha Vidmahe
oṃ mahākālyai ca vidmahe
Om — may we know the great Kali;
श्मशानवासिन्यै च धीमहि ।
Smashana Vasinyai Cha Dhimahi
śmaśānavāsinyai ca dhīmahi
may we meditate on her who dwells in the cremation ground;
तन्नो काली प्रचोदयात् ॥
Tanno Kali Prachodayat
tanno kālī pracodayāt
may Kali inspire and awaken us.
Kali is the Mother beyond time — kāla means both “time” and “black,” and Kali is the dark, infinite womb from which everything comes and into which everything returns. Her fearsome appearance frightens only what deserves to be frightened: ego, illusion and attachment.
Her Gayatri follows the classic pattern — know, meditate, be inspired. It calls her Mahākālī, the great Kali, and Śmaśānavāsinī, “she who dwells in the cremation ground.” The cremation ground is where every pretence burns away; it is the place of complete honesty, and so it is Kali’s home.
Different lineages use slightly different wordings of the Kali Gayatri; this is one of the most widely chanted. Devotees chant it for courage, fearlessness and freedom from whatever holds them back.
A cremation ground is where all differences end — rich and poor, proud and humble become ash alike. For a seeker, it is a powerful reminder of what is truly lasting.
Kali dwelling there means she is present at every ending, every loss and every letting-go — and that she turns endings into liberation.
Kali’s devotees, like the 19th-century saint Ramakrishna, speak of her as the most tender of mothers. Her sword cuts away ignorance, and her raised hands promise “do not fear” and offer blessings.
Like a mother protecting her child, she is fierce only towards what harms her children.
When to chant
How many times
11, 21 or 108 times on a mala.
Light a lamp, ideally with sesame or mustard oil.
Sit facing an image of Kali or simply the flame.
Chant the three lines slowly with the recording.
With each repetition, offer one fear or attachment into her fire.
End in silence, resting in the stillness that remains.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
mahākālyai
ma-haa-kaal-yai.
śmaśānavāsinyai
shma-shaa-na-vaa-sin-yai — “she who dwells in the cremation ground.”
kālī
kaa-lee — two long vowels.
What is the Kali Gayatri Mantra?
“Om Mahakalyai Cha Vidmahe, Smashanavasinyai Cha Dhimahi, Tanno Kali Prachodayat” — “May we know the great Kali, may we meditate on her who dwells in the cremation ground; may Kali inspire us.”
Why are there different versions of the Kali Gayatri?
Different traditions use slightly different epithets for Kali in the first two lines. All follow the same Gayatri pattern and the same intention.
When should the Kali Gayatri be chanted?
New-moon nights, Kali Puja, Tuesdays and Saturdays are traditional, and any time you need courage.
Is Kali a frightening goddess?
Her form is fierce, but in devotion she is the loving Mother who destroys fear, ego and ignorance — never her children.