32 Names of Durga

The 32 Names of Durga (Sanskrit: Durgādvātriḿśatnāmamālā) is a mantra that may be chanted as part of a yoga practice and also is used in celebration of some Hindu religious festivals, especially Navratri. The "Durga Dwatrimsha Namamala" (32 Names of Durga) mantra is from chapter 88 of the Markandeya Purana.

For many mantras, the Hindu religious tradition provides the words and syllables to be chanted and also a recommended intonation pattern. The intonation has been passed down by oral tradition from swami to swami, and in some cases it may also have been recorded in the ancient literature.

Durga is something of a central concept in Hinduism, sometimes personified as a Goddess, and suggesting a secret, hard-to-reach, inner strength.

This mantra uses a central tone, a lower tone about one musical step down (shown in bold), and a higher tone about a half step up (show in capitals).

When regarded merely as a "free verse" poem, the mantra has a pleasing rhythm and melodic flow. When used in a yoga practice, this mantra (and really, any mantra) can potentially provide an enhancement to health by inducing relaxation and quietening turbulent thoughts. The meanings of each name as translated from the Sanskrit can be used as visualizations of desirable spiritual capabilities. The name Durga comes from a word meaning "fort", that is, something which cannot be easily accessed. One possible result of engaging in the visualizations along with the mantra would be to invoke and reinforce a person's ability to endure unpleasantness, overcome temptation, and retain or regain vitality in the face of hardships.

A link to a recording of this mantra is on the External Links tab.

In the table below, capitalized syllables are the higher tone, and italicized lower-case syllables are the lower tone. Lower-case (non-italic) syllables are the central tone.

No.	Name	Intonation (Vedic)	Meaning
1	Durgā	om DUR-gaa	she who is difficult to approach
2	Durgatirśaminī	dur-gaar-ti-sha-MA-nee	who is tranquil even in painful circumstances
3	Durgāpadvinivāriṇī	dur-gaa-pad-vi-ni-vaa-RI-ņee	who wards off unfavorable events
4	Durgamacchedinī	dur-ga-mach-chhe-DI-nee	who is indivisible
5	Durgasādhinī	dur-ga-saa-DHI-nee	who is accomplished, perfected
6	Durganāśinī	dur-ga-naa-SHI-nee	who destroyed a demon
7	Durgatoddhāriṇī	dur-ga-TOD-dhaa-RI-ņee	who creates the universe
8	Durgenihantrī	dur-ga-ni-HAN-tree	the destroyer
9	Durgamāpahā	dur-ga-maa-PA-haa	the one who destroys
10	Durgamajñānadā	dur-ga-ma-gyaa-NA-daa	who imparts knowledge
11	Durgadaityalokadavānalā	dur-ga-dai-tya-LO-KA-da-vaa-NA-laa	who burns the abode of demons
12	Durgamā	dur-ga-MAA	who is the Mother Durga
13	Durgamālokā	dur-ga-MAA-LO-kaa	Who is full of slpendor, luster
14	Durgamātmasvarūpiṇī	dur-ga-maat-MA-sva-roo-PI-ņee	who is the spirit's own form
15	Durgamārgapradā	dur-ga-maar-ga-PRA-daa	who imparts knowledge of the spiritual path
16	Durgamavidyā	dur-ga-ma-VI-dyaa	who is knowledge personified
17	Durgamāśritā	dur-ga-maa-SHRI-taa	who is sought as refuge
18	Durgamajñānasaḿsthānā	DUR-GA-MA-GYAA-NA-sam-sthaa-naa	who is the abode of knowledge
19	Durgamadhyānabhāsinī	dur-ga-ma-dhyaa-na-BHAA-si-nee	who is the brilliant light of meditation
20	Durgamohā	dur-ga-mo-haa	who is the deluder of the mind
21	Durgamagā	dur-ga-MA-gaa	who is difficult to read
22	Durgamārthasvarūpiṇī	dur-ga-maar-THA-sva-roo-PI-ṇee	who is the very form of wealth or meaning
23	Durgamāsurasanhantrī	dur-ga-maa-SU-ra-sam-HAN-tree	who is the destroyer of demons (asuras)
24	Durgamāyudhadhāriṇī	dur-ga-maa-YU-dha-dhaa-RI-ṇee	who possesses powerful weapons
25	Durgamāńgī	DUR-ga_MAAṄ-gee	who has powerful limbs
26	Durgamatā	dur-ga-MA-taa	who is the state of unattainability
27	Durgamyā	dur-gam-yaa	who is unattainable, inaccessible
28	Durgameśvarī	DUR-ga-me-SHVA-ree	who is the divine ruler
29	Durgabhīmā	DUR-ga-BHEE-MAA	who is formidable
30	Durgabhāmā	dur-ga-bhaa-maa	who is very angry
31	Durgabhā	dur-ga-bhaa	who shines brilliantly
32	Durgadāriṇī	DUR-ga-daa-RI-ṇee	who tears away the veil of ignorance