Kali Chalisa

Victory to Kali who wears a garland of skulls, to the bearer of the skull-bowl, the fierce and dreadful one.

Beloved of Shankara, the leaf-less ascetic Mother; glory to her with matted locks, the Mother of the universe.

You are the power of Brahman and you are the cosmic illusion; you are the Mother of the world and its sustainer.

With a body smeared in blood and blood upon her mouth, she takes a terrifying form upon the battlefield.

A garland of severed heads adorns her neck, while she holds the skull-bowl and the sword in her hands.

A girdle of arms shines at her waist; seeing her, even Death himself flees in fear.

Whenever the wicked grew strong and oppression increased, you appeared, O Mother, to set things right.

However many demons and titans stood in battle, you destroyed them all by the might of your arms.

From Raktabija came a grave calamity, yet you slew him, the Goddess descended as a woman warrior.

You killed Chanda and Munda in an instant, and from that deed earned the name Chamunda.

Shumbha and Nishumbha you slew in a moment; there is no other in the world equal to you.

When Mahishasura grew mighty and proud, you assumed a fierce form and destroyed that foolish demon.

When Daksha arranged his great sacrifice, you appeared there in the form of Sati.

Unable to bear the insult to Shiva, O Mother, you cast your body into the sacrificial fire.

Born again in the house of Himalaya as Parvati, you were once more united with Shiva.

You are Sita and you are Radha; without you the troubles of the world cannot be removed.

You are Gauri and you are Brahmani; you are the auspicious beloved of Vishnu.

You are the nourisher of the world, and you are also Mari who dissolves it when the time comes.

Whenever a devotee fell into deep suffering, you rushed to him as his protector.

You kindle a light within darkness and carry the fallen across the ocean of existence.

With Bhairava you dance your cosmic dance, and the whole creation keeps time to its rhythm.

When your foot fell upon Shiva's chest, you drew out your tongue in a gesture of shame and tenderness.

Though your form is exceedingly fearsome, to the devotee you are the very giver of joy.

Whoever meditates on you, O Mother, finds fear, grief, and distress wiped away.

All tantra and mantra draw their power from you; the seeker meditates on you day after day.

By remembering you, sins are destroyed and the bondage of birth and death is broken.

You are called the supreme wisdom, revealing yourself in the ten great forms of knowledge.

As Kali, Tara, and Chhinnamasta you appear; as Bhuvaneshwari and Bagalamukhi you remove all fear.

As Dhumavati, Matangi, and Kamala, and as Tripurasundari, you are spotless in every virtue.

You are the power and you are the support; without you the whole world stands empty.

Whoever comes seeking your shelter crosses safely over the ocean of worldly existence.

You drive away every disease and sorrow and swiftly remove poverty and pain.

You are the destroyer of enemies, the remover of obstacles and the one who lifts away calamity.

Whoever repeats your name a hundred times is never again touched by misfortune.

Ghosts and evil spirits cannot come near, for you grant mighty protection to your devotee.

On the one who holds you in meditation you grow pleased, O bestower of liberation.

Upon whomever your grace descends, that rare soul attains every happiness.

O Mother, you are the mine of compassion, purifier of the fallen and breaker of the enemy's pride.

Whoever sings your praises with true devotion obtains the very fruit his heart desires.

Your servant prays at your feet: dwell within my heart, O Mother, and take away my suffering.