Kali Stotram
काली स्तोत्र
खड्गं चक्रगदेषुचापपरिघाञ्छूलं भुशुण्डीं शिरः शङ्खं सन्दधतीं करैस्त्रिनयनां सर्वाङ्गभूषावृताम्। नीलाश्मद्युतिमास्यपाददशकां सेवे महाकालिकां यामस्तौत्स्वपिते हरौ कमलजो हन्तुं मधुं कैटभम्॥ या श्रीः स्वयं सुकृतिनां भवनेष्वलक्ष्मीः पापात्मनां कृतधियां हृदयेषु बुद्धिः। श्रद्धा सतां कुलजनप्रभवस्य लज्जा तां त्वां नताः स्म परिपालय देवि विश्वम्॥ विश्वेश्वरि त्वं परिपासि विश्वं विश्वात्मिका धारयसीह विश्वम्। विश्वेशवन्द्या भवती भवन्ति विश्वाश्रया ये त्वयि भक्तिनम्राः॥ या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥ या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥ या देवी सर्वभूतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥ सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके। शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Every verse here comes from the Durga Saptashati. They are gathered together as a hymn to Mahakali; they do not form a separate, independent stotram of their own.
Meaning
This hymn is put together from verses of the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam). The first is the dhyana of Mahakali: ten faces, ten arms and ten feet, radiant like a blue gem, the goddess Brahma praised when he needed Madhu and Kaitabha destroyed. It is followed by "Ya shrih svayam sukritinam" from chapter four, "Vishveshvari tvam paripasi vishvam" from chapter eleven, three of the "Ya devi sarvabhuteshu" verses from chapter five, and finally "Sarvamangala mangalye".
Benefits
- 🪷Recited by devotees seeking protection from fear and negative influences
- 🪷Believed to build inner courage and resolve
- 🪷Holds a special place in Shakti worship and tantric sadhana traditions
- 🪷Widely recited during Kali Puja and Navratri
Chanting Method
Recite with a calm, steady mind before an image of Kali, ideally in the evening or at night, with a lit lamp. In tantric tradition it is done under a guru's guidance with specific rituals, but ordinary devotees may recite it with sincerity at any time.
Best Time
Evening or night, and especially during Kali Puja and Navratri.