The Siddha Kunjika Stotra is a short text, mostly of seed syllables and salutations, that many people say with the Durga Saptashati during Navratri. A kunjika is a key. The text presents itself as a key that opens the benefit of the Saptashati and says that, when it is read, the Kavacha, the Argala, the Kilaka and the other opening texts are not needed. This page gives the text as it is printed in the Nirnaya Sagar edition of 1958, with a transliteration and a plain meaning, and says plainly what the text is and where it comes from.
What the text is, and what it is not
It is not part of the Devi Mahatmya, and it is not among the texts in the Nirnaya Sagar Saptashati of 1917, whose contents list the Kavacha, Argala, Kilaka, Ratri Suktam and the Rahasyas but not the Kunjika. The 1958 print has it as a separate item after the thirteen chapters, and gives its source in the colophon as the Damara Tantra, a talk between Shiva and Parvati. We cannot confirm that attribution, and we do not know the age of the text. It is a text of the tantric tradition and is later than the Devi Mahatmya, which is how the print itself presents it, as an addition to the Saptashati.
| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| Opening formula | The sage (Sadashiva), metre (Anushtubh), deity (Trigunatmika, the goddess made of the three qualities), seed (aim), power (hrim) and pin (klim) |
| Verses 1 to 4 | Shiva speaks to the goddess. He says that the Kunjika makes the Chandi recitation fruitful and does away with the need for the other opening texts. Verse 4 names the six tantric rites |
| Seed-syllable passages | Strings of seed syllables (bija mantras), with verbs among them. They are sounds and are not translated |
| Salutations | Lines of salutation to the goddess in her forms, with the sounds attached to her names |
| Closing rule | It is not to be given to one without devotion, and the Saptashati read without it is said to bear no fruit |
How to read it, and a note of care
The Kunjika is short, and many people say it as a quick form of the Chandi Path. Others, including many teachers of the tradition, hold that it is not a replacement for the Saptashati and that the longer recitation should be learned properly. Practice differs, so follow your own family or teacher.
The text lists the six tantric rites (killing, bewildering, subduing, stopping, driving away and the like) in verse 4 and says they are accomplished by recitation. We give the text as it is printed, because it is the text, and we report that claim as the text’s own. This site does not teach those rites and does not recommend them, and we make no promise about the results of reciting. The seed syllables must be said correctly to be said at all, and that is best learned by ear from a teacher. This site gives the text and its meaning. It does not promise results from reciting it. Where the text itself speaks of fruits, we say that the text says so.
The text, transliteration and meaning
ॐ अस्य श्रीकुञ्जिकास्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य सदाशिव ऋषिः । अनुष्टुप्छन्दः । श्रीत्रिगुणात्मिका देवता । ॐ ऐं बीजम् । ॐ ह्रीं शक्तिः । ॐ क्लीं कीलकम् । मम सर्वाभीष्टसिद्ध्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः ।
Om asya shrikunjikastotramantrasya sadashiva rishih, anushtupchhandah, shritrigunatmika devata, om aim bijam, om hrim shaktih, om klim kilakam, mama sarvabhishtasiddhyarthe jape viniyogah
NoteThe formula said before the text. It names the sage (Sadashiva), the metre (Anushtubh), the deity (the goddess made of the three qualities), the seed (aim), the power (hrim) and the pin (klim), and the purpose, which is the success of every wish in the recitation.
शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रमुत्तमम्
येन मन्त्रप्रभावेण चण्डीजापः शुभो भवेत् ॥ १ ॥
Shrinu devi pravakshyami kunjikastotramuttamam
Yena mantraprabhavena chandijapah shubho bhavet
MeaningShiva says: Listen, goddess. I shall tell you the best Kunjika Stotra, by the power of whose mantra the recitation of the Chandi becomes auspicious.
न कवचं नार्गलास्तोत्रं कीलकं न रहस्यकम्
न सूक्तं नापि वा ध्यानं न न्यासो न वार्चनम् ॥ २ ॥
Na kavacham nargalastotram kilakam na rahasyakam
Na suktam napi va dhyanam na nyaso na varchanam
MeaningThe text says that with it there is no need for the Kavacha, the Argala Stotra, the Kilaka or the Rahasyas, nor for the hymn, the meditation, the placing of the mantras on the body, or the worship.
कुञ्जिकापाठमात्रेण दुर्गापाठफलं लभेत्
अतिगुह्यतरं देवि देवानामपि दुर्लभम् ॥ ३ ॥
Kunjikapathamatrena durgapathaphalam labhet
Atiguhyataram devi devanamapi durlabham
MeaningBy reading the Kunjika alone, the text says, one gains the fruit of reading the Durga Saptashati. It is the most secret thing, goddess, hard to get even for the gods.
गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन स्वयोनिरिव पार्वति
मारणं मोहनं वश्यं स्तम्भनोच्चाटनादिकम् ॥ ४ ॥
Gopaniyam prayatnena svayoniriva parvati
Maranam mohanam vashyam stambhanochchatanadikam
MeaningIt is to be guarded with care, Parvati, as one guards one's own source. The text then lists the six rites of the tantric tradition: killing, bewildering, subduing, stopping, driving away and the rest.
पाठमात्रेण संसिद्ध्येत् कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रमुत्तमम्
Pathamatrena samsiddhyet kunjikastotramuttamam
MeaningBy recitation alone it is made perfect: the best Kunjika Stotra.
ॐ श्रूँ श्रूँ श्रूँ शं फट् ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं ज्वल उज्ज्वल प्रज्वल ह्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं स्रावय स्रावय शापं नाशय नाशय श्रीं श्रीं श्रीं जूं सः स्रावय आदय स्वाहा
Om shrun shrun shrun sham phat aim hrim klim jvala ujjvala prajvala hrim hrim klim sravaya sravaya shapam nashaya nashaya shrim shrim shrim jum sah sravaya adaya svaha
MeaningThis is a string of seed syllables (bija mantras), which are sounds with a sacred use and no ordinary meaning. The words among them are verbs: blaze, blaze up, flow, destroy the curse. Svaha closes it as at an offering.
ॐ श्लीं हूँ क्लीं ग्लां जूं सः ज्वलोज्ज्वल मन्त्रं प्रबल हं सं लं क्षं फट् स्वाहा
Om shlim hun klim glam jum sah jvalojjvala mantram prabala ham sam lam ksham phat svaha
MeaningA second string of seed syllables. The words in it are 'blaze up', 'mantra' and 'strengthen'. Seed syllables are not translated.
नमस्ते रुद्ररूपायै नमस्ते मधुमर्दिनि
नमस्ते कैटभनाशिन्यै नमस्ते महिषार्दिनि
Namaste rudrarupayai namaste madhumardini
Namaste kaitabhanashinyai namaste mahishardini
MeaningBow to you, who have the form of Rudra. Bow to you, crusher of Madhu. Bow to you, destroyer of Kaitabha. Bow to you, slayer of Mahishasura.
नमस्ते शुम्भहन्त्र्यै च निशुम्भासुरसूदिनि
नमस्ते जाग्रते देवि जपे सिद्धिं कुरुष्व मे
Namaste shumbhahantryai cha nishumbhasurasudini
Namaste jagrate devi jape siddhim kurushva me
MeaningBow to you, killer of Shumbha and destroyer of the demon Nishumbha. Bow to you, who are awake, goddess: grant me success in the recitation.
ऐंकारी सृष्टिरूपिण्यै ह्रींकारी प्रतिपालिका
क्लीं काली कालरूपिण्यै बीजरूपे नमोऽस्तु ते
Ainkari srishtirupinyai hrinkari pratipalika
Klim kali kalarupinyai bijarupe namo'stu te
MeaningYou who are the sound aim, in the form of creation, you who are the sound hrim, the keeper, you who are the sound klim, Kali in the form of time: bow to you, who have the form of the seed syllables.
चामुण्डा चण्डरूपा च यैङ्कारी वरदायिनी
विच्चे त्वभयदा नित्यं नमस्ते मन्त्ररूपिणि
Chamunda chandarupa cha yainkari varadayini
Vichche tvabhayada nityam namaste mantrarupini
MeaningYou are Chamunda, of fierce form, and the sound yaim, giver of boons. You give fearlessness always through the syllable vichche. Bow to you, who have the form of a mantra.
धां धीं धूं धूर्जटेः पत्नी वां वीं वागीश्वरी तथा
क्रां क्रीं क्रूं कुञ्जिकादेवि शां शीं शुं मे शुभं कुरु
Dham dhim dhum dhurjateh patni vam vim vagishvari tatha
Kram krim krum kunjikadevi sham shim shum me shubham kuru
MeaningWith the sounds dham, dhim and dhum, you are the wife of Dhurjati (Shiva). With vam and vim you are the goddess of speech. With kram, krim and krum, goddess of the Kunjika, with sham, shim and shum, make good things for me.
हूं हूं हूंकाररूपायै जां जीं जूं भालनादिनी
भ्रां भ्रीं भ्रूं भैरवी भद्रे भवान्यै ते नमो नमः
Hum hum hunkararupayai jam jim jum bhalanadini
Bhram bhrim bhrum bhairavi bhadre bhavanyai te namo namah
MeaningBow to you, in the form of the sound hum, and with jam, jim and jum you who sound at the brow. With bhram, bhrim and bhrum, you are Bhairavi, kind one, Bhavani. Bow to you again and again.
ॐ अं कं चं टं तं पं सां विदुरां विदुरां विमर्दय विमर्दय ह्रीं क्षां क्षीं स्त्रीं जीवय जीवय त्रोटय त्रोटय जम्भय जम्भय दीपय दीपय मोचय मोचय हूं फट् जां वौषट् ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं रञ्जय रञ्जय सञ्जय सञ्जय गुञ्जय गुञ्जय बन्धय बन्धय भ्रां भ्रीं भ्रूं भैरवी भद्रे सङ्कुच सङ्कुच सञ्चल सञ्चल त्रोटय त्रोटय म्लीं स्वाहा
Om am kam cham tam tam pam sam viduram viduram vimardaya vimardaya hrim ksham kshim strim jivaya jivaya trotaya trotaya jambhaya jambhaya dipaya dipaya mochaya mochaya hum phat jam vaushat aim hrim klim ranjaya ranjaya sanjaya sanjaya gunjaya gunjaya bandhaya bandhaya bhram bhrim bhrum bhairavi bhadre sankucha sankucha sanchala sanchala trotaya trotaya mlim svaha
MeaningThe longest string of seed syllables. It begins with the letter a and the first consonants of five groups of the alphabet (ka, cha, ta, ta and pa) and then has a run of verbs in pairs: crush, bring to life, break, open wide, light up, release, colour, gather, resound, bind, contract, move. Svaha closes it. As with the others, we give the sounds and do not translate them.
पां पीं पूं पार्वती पूर्णा खां खीं खूं खेचरी तथा
म्लीं म्लां म्लूं मूलविस्तीर्णा कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रहेतवे
Pam pim pum parvati purna kham khim khum khechari tatha
Mlim mlam mlum mulavistirna kunjikastotrahetave
MeaningWith pam, pim and pum you are Parvati, the full one. With kham, khim and khum you are Khechari, she who moves in the sky. With mlim, mlam and mlum you are the one who is spread through the root. All this is for the sake of the Kunjika Stotra.
अभक्ताय न दातव्यं गोपितं रक्ष पार्वति
विहीना कुञ्जिकादेव्या यस्तु सप्तशतीं पठेत् । न तस्य जायते सिद्धिररण्ये रुदितं यथा
Abhaktaya na datavyam gopitam raksha parvati
Vihina kunjikadevya yastu saptashatim pathet, na tasya jayate siddhiraranye ruditam yatha
MeaningIt is not to be given to one who has no devotion. Keep it hidden, Parvati. The one who reads the Saptashati without the goddess of the Kunjika gets no success from it, as crying in a forest brings none.
श्रीडामरतन्त्रे ईश्वरपार्वतीसंवादे कुञ्जिकास्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम्
Shridamaratantre ishvaraparvatisamvade kunjikastotram sampurnam
MeaningThe print's colophon: here ends the Kunjika Stotra, in the Damara Tantra, a talk between Ishvara (Shiva) and Parvati.
Summary
The Siddha Kunjika Stotra opens with Shiva’s claim that it makes the Chandi recitation fruitful by itself, goes on through strings of seed syllables and salutations to the goddess in her forms, and ends with a rule of secrecy. It is a text of the tantric tradition, added to the Saptashati in some printed books, and not part of the Devi Mahatmya.
Where the print differs from other texts
The Kunjika circulates in several forms, and the wording of the seed syllables in particular differs among books. Verse 4 and the salutations are close to the common form. Some lines in this print differ from forms found online: for example the print has shum where many books have shoom (sham, shim, shum), and it has kali kalarupinyai where many have kamarupinyai after klimkari. We give the print’s reading. We have read this one print only, and we have not listed variants from other books, because we have not checked another witness word by word.
Source of the text on this page. The Sanskrit is the text of the Nirnaya Sagar Press edition of the Saptashati with the Kunjika Stotra and other texts, edited by Narayan Ram Acharya 'Kavyatirtha' and published by Lakshmibai Narayan Chaudhari at the Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay (Mumbai), Shaka 1879, 1958 CE (archive.org identifier durga-saptashathi-nirnayasagar-1958), printed pages 283 and 284 (pages 148 and 149 of the archive.org PDF), read from the page images. This text is not in the Nirnaya Sagar Saptashati of 1917 that the thirteen chapter pages follow, so it comes from this second Nirnaya Sagar print, which is dated 1958 in its own colophon. We follow the print's readings, put spaces between words and write the nasals in the usual style of this site. The transliteration is a simple guide to sound and the meanings are our own wording. See the Devi Mahatmya hub for the note on the 1917 print.
Related pages
- The Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati): the thirteen chapters and the traditional order of recitation
- Devi Kavacha, Argala Stotra and Kilaka Stotra: the three opening texts the Kunjika says it can stand in for
- Devi Aparadha Kshamapana Stotram: the prayer for pardon said after the recitation
- Sharad Navratri: the nine nights
- All mantras, stotras and sacred texts