Devi Mahatmyam: (Glory of The Divine Mother) (700 Mantras on Sri Durga) (Transliterated Text with Translation)

To call on God as Mother is a characteristic feature of Hinduism. Devi-mahatmyam or Durga-saptasati, also popularly known as Candi, is one of the sacred texts chanted during the worship of The Divine Mother.

We have much pleasure in presenting to our readers the English Edition of Candi. This will make the chanting possible for those who have no access to Sanskrit. The original text has been transliterated in English accompanied by a lucid English translation. Footnote have been added wherever necessary.

The Candi is divided into 13 chapters and consists of 700 mantras and hence it is called the Saptasati. Three aspects of the Divine Mother have been depicted in the book; they are (I) Mahakali (Chapter 1), (2) Mahalaksmi (Chapter II to IV) and (3) Mahasarasvati (Chapter V to XIII) and meditation on each of them has been added.

For the sake of Parayana (chanting the whole Mahatmya of the Devi) we have added Dhyana (meditation on Candika), Argala-Stotra, Kilaka-Stotra and Devi-Kavaca (all salutations to Candika) in the beginning and Aparadha - Ksamapana-Stotra (hymn for forgiveness for omissions and wrong reading) at the end.

This transliterated edition is made possible by the efforts of Swami Krishnarupananda, President and Minister-in-charge of Ramakrishna Mission, Mauritius.

We pray to the Divine Mother to shower Her blessings and make the chanting fruitful for those who read this.

Sri Ramakrishna Math
September, 2001