वामपादोल्लसल्लोहलताकण्टकभूषणा। वर्धन्मूर्धध्वजा कृष्णा कालरात्रिर्भयङ्करी॥
vāmapādollasallohalatākaṇṭakabhūṣaṇā । vardhanmūrdhadhvajā kṛṣṇā kālarātrirbhayaṅkarī ॥
PM's MessageSalutations to Maa Kalaratri! May everyone’s life be enriched with courage, determination, and success by her blessings.
Meaning of Vāmapādollasallohalatākaṇṭakabhūṣaṇā
Salutations to you, O Mother Kalaratri, whose left foot is adorned with sharp iron spikes. You who bear a glorious divine flag upon your head. You who are dark in complexion, the destroyer of Kaala (Time/Death), and who assumes a most fierce form - my salutations to you.
Word by word
- वामपादोल्लसल्लोहलताकण्टकभूषणाvāmapādollasallohalatākaṇṭakabhūṣaṇā
adorned with an iron thorn-creeper gleaming at her left foot
वाम + पाद + उद् + √लस् + लोह + लता + कण्टक + भूषण
- वर्धन्मूर्धध्वजाvardhanmūrdhadhvajā
with a rising banner on her head
√वृध् + मूर्धन् + ध्वज
- कृष्णाkṛṣṇā
dark
√कृष्
- कालरात्रिःkālarātriḥ
Kalaratri
काल + रात्रि
- भयङ्करीbhayaṅkarī
terrifying
√भी + √कृ
Commentary
Maa Kalaratri is the seventh form of Goddess Durga, worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri. Her name is derived from 'Kaala' (time/death) and 'Ratri' (night/darkness), symbolizing her power as the destroyer of ignorance and the darkness of existence. This verse vividly describes her fierce appearance, which, despite being terrifying to evildoers, is a source of protection (Shubhankari) for her devotees. Her dark complexion represents the vastness of the universe, and her 'Vamapada' (left foot) adornment reflects her readiness to trample obstacles and negativity. Kalaratri is a name rather than a description, formed from kāla and rātri, and the verse makes no attempt to soften it — kṛṣṇā, bhayaṅkarī, the iron thorn at the left foot. What is notable is that the stotra's closing formula does not change for her. The fierce forms and the gentle ones are addressed within the same frame and asked for the same thing, so terror is treated as one of the mother's aspects and not as a departure from her.
Original Post
More from Navadurga Stotram
View source pageसिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि। सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥
siddhagandharvayakṣādyairasurairamarairapi । sevyamānā sadā bhūyāt siddhidā siddhidāyinī ॥
A prayer to Goddess Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Navadurga, who bestows all spiritual powers and perfections.
श्वेते वृषे समारूढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः। महागौरी शुभं दद्यान्महादेवप्रमोददा॥
śvete vṛṣe samārūḍhā śvetāmbaradharā śuciḥ । mahāgaurī śubhaṁ dadyān mahādevapramodadā ॥
A prayer to Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth form of Navadurga, who embodies purity and serenity.
चन्द्रहासोज्ज्वलकरा शार्दूलवरवाहना। कात्यायनी शुभं दद्याद् देवी दानवघातिनी॥
candrahāsojjvalakarā śārdūlavaravāhanā । kātyāyanī śubhaṁ dadyād devī dānavaghātinī ॥
A prayer to Goddess Katyayani, who shines with the divine sword Chandrahāsa, seeking her blessings for auspiciousness and victory over obstacles.
More subhashitams on Devotion
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
उद्यमः साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः। षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र दैवं सहायकृत्॥
udyamaḥ sāhasaṃ dhairyaṃ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ । ṣaḍete yatra vartante tatra daivaṃ sahāyakṛt ॥
Effort, courage, patience, intelligence, strength, and valor prepare a person to receive the help of providence.
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.