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[1]. The "Durga Dwatrimsha Namamala" (32 Names of Durga) mantra is from chapter 88 of the Markandeya Purana.
For 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.
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-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 |