32 Names of Durga
The 32 Names of Durga (Sanskrit: Durgādvātriḿśatnāmamālā) is a mantra from the Vedas that may be chanted as part of a yoga practice and also is used in celebration of some Hindu religious festivals. "Durga Dwatrimsha Namamala" (32 Names of Durga) is found in Chapter 8 of the "Durga Saptashati" (700 Verses), a Hindu religious text written in Sanskrit, which is also known as "Devi Mahatmya" and "Chandi Path"[1].
A ritualistic reading of Durga Saptashati is part of the Navratri celebrations in India in the honor of the Goddess Durga.
For mantras, the Vedas provide not just the words and syllables to be chanted, but also a recommended intonation pattern. 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).
Some recordings of this mantra are on the External Links tab.
| 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-nee | 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-nee | 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 | speak | who imparts knowledge of the spiritual path |
| 16 | Durgamavidyā | speak | who is knowledge personified |
| 17 | Durgamāśritā | speak | who is sought as refuge |
| 18 | Durgamajñānasaḿsthānā | speak | meaning |
| 19 | Durgamadhyānabhāsinī | speak | meaning |
| 20 | Durgamohā | speak | meaning |
| 21 | Durgamagā | speak | meaning |
| 22 | Durgamārthasvarūpiṇī | speak | meaning |
| 23 | Durgamāsurasanhantrī | speak | meaning |
| 24 | Durgamāyudhadhāriṇī | speak | meaning |
| 25 | Durgamāńgī | speak | meaning |
| 26 | Durgamatā | speak | meaning |
| 27 | Durgamyā | speak | meaning |
| 28 | Durgameśvarī | speak | meaning |
| 29 | Durgabhīmā | speak | meaning |
| 30 | Durgabhāmā | speak | meaning |
| 31 | Durgabhā | speak | meaning |
| 32 | Durgadāriṇī | speak | meaning |
- ↑ How a centuries old epic shaped the spiritual backbone of Navratri, on Firstpost.com, an online media website in Mumbai; last access 12/29/2022