Aghanashaka Gayatri Stotram
The Aghanashaka Gayatri Stotram from the Devi Bhagavata Purana praises Gayatri as Sandhya, the mother who removes sins and pervades the worlds.
Verses
Narada said: O All-knowing, merciful to devotees, You have revealed the secret (Hridayam) of Gayatri that destroys sins. Therefore, please now recite the Gayatri Stotram.
Verse 1
O Primeval Energy (Adishakti), Mother of the Universe, who bestows grace upon devotees, all-pervading, infinite, O Sri Sandhya, salutations to You.
Verse 2
You alone are Sandhya, Gayatri, Savitri, and Saraswati. You alone are Brahmi, Vaishnavi, and Raudri; You are red, white, and dark in complexion.
Verse 3
She is always meditated upon by sages: seen on earth by ascetics in the morning as a young girl mounted on a swan reciting the Rigveda, in the afternoon as a maiden mounted on Garuda, and in the evening as an elderly Goddess mounted on a bull.
Verse 4
Reciting the Yajurveda, She shines in the intermediate space, and singing the Samaveda, She wanders across the entire earth.
Verse 5
You go to Rudraloka, reside in Vishnuloka, and in Brahmaloka You bestow Your grace upon the immortals (gods).
Verse 6
You are Maya, who delights the Seven Sages and bestows various boons, born from the hands and eyes of Shiva and Parvati, and manifested from tears and sweat.
Verse 7
You are Durga, the giver of bliss, who is recited in ten forms: Varenya (the Supreme), Varada (the Giver of Boons), Varishtha (the Most Excellent), and Varavarnini (the Fair-complexioned One)...
Verse 8
...Garishtha, Vararha, seventh Vararoha, Nilaganga, and Sandhya, who eternally grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation.
Verse 9
You are Bhagirathi in the mortal realm, Bhogavati in the netherworld, the Goddess who flows in all three worlds and resides in all three realms.
Verse 10
In Bhurloka You sustain the world as the Earth Goddess, in Bhuvarloka You are the power of the wind, and in Svarloka You are the repository of divine radiance.
Verse 11
In Maharloka You are Mahasiddhi, in Janaloka You are 'Jana', in Tapoloka You are Tapaswini, and in Satyaloka You are Satyabhashini (truthful speech).
Verse 12
In Vishnuloka You are Kamala (Lakshmi), in Brahmaloka You are Gayatri (bestower of Brahmaloka), and in Rudraloka You are Gauri residing in half of Lord Shiva's body.
Verse 13
You are praised as the Prakriti of Ahankara and Mahat-tattva. You are the state of equilibrium and the embodiment of Shabala Brahman.
Verse 14
Furthermore, You are praised as Parapara Shakti and Parama Shakti. You are Ichha-shakti, Kriya-shakti, and Jnana-shakti, and You bestow these three powers.
Verse 15
You are the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Vipasha (Beas), Saraswati, Sarayu, Devika, Sindhu, Narmada, and Iravati (Ravi).
Verse 16
Godavari, Shatadru (Sutlej), Kaveri, Devalokaga (Mandakini/Ganga), Kaushiki (Koshi), Chandrabhaga (Chenab), Vitasta (Jhelum), and Saraswati.
Verse 17
Gandaki, Tapini (Tapti), Toya, Gomati, Vetravati; and among the channels, Ida, Pingala, and the third, Sushumna.
Verse 18
Gandhari, Hastijihva, Pusha, Yashaswini, Alambusha, Kuhu, Shankhini, and the life-force carrying channels (Pranavahini nadis).
Verse 19
Ancient scholars praise You as these subtle channels present in the body. You are the life-force residing in the lotus of the heart and the mistress of dreams dwelling in the throat.
Verse 20
You are Sadadhara residing in the palate, Bindumalini residing in the Bindu, Kundalini power in the Muladhara, and Vyapini power pervading up to the roots of the hair.
Verse 21
You reside in the center of the crown (shikha) and are Manonmani at the tip of the shikha. What need is there to say more? Whatever exists in the three worlds...
Verse 22
...all of that is You alone, O Mahadevi, O auspicious Sandhya! Salutations to You! Thus, this highly auspicious stotra to be chanted during dusk is described.
Verse 23
This hymn destroys great sins and bestows supreme perfection. Whosoever recites this hymn during the twilight hour with a single-minded devotion...
Verse 24
...the childless obtains offspring, the seeker of wealth gains wealth, and one attains the fruits of bathing in all sacred holy places, penance, charity, sacrifices, and yoga.
Verse 25
After enjoying worldly pleasures for a long time, one ultimately attains liberation. Whosoever recites this hymn composed by ascetics at the time of taking a bath...
Verse 26
...in whichever water body he dips, he obtains the fruit equivalent to bathing during the sacred twilight hours; there is no doubt in this; O Narada, this is the truth.
Verse 27
Whoever listens to this with devotion is also freed from sin. These words spoken by Sandhya and narrated by Narada are like nectar.
Verse 28
Thus ends the Sri Aghanashaka Gayatri Stotram occurring in the fifth chapter of the twelfth Skandha of Sri Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana.
Verse 29
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)
Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)
Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering
- Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home
Background
This hymn, also called the Aghanashaka Gayatri Stotra, is part of the wider Devi Bhagavata Purana tradition, which is dedicated to the divine feminine. It is traditionally recited during the twilight periods (sandhya) — dawn and dusk — often while bathing or meditating. Devotees chant this stotra to seek purification from sins, fulfillment of desires, and ultimately liberation (moksha). The verses describe the goddess as manifesting in various cosmic realms, sacred rivers, and even as the inner energy (kundalini) within the body, emphasizing her all-pervasive nature.
Did You Know?
Source and context
This stotra appears in the Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana (Skandha 12, Chapter 5), a major Shakta scripture. It opens with Sage Narada asking for a hymn to Gayatri that destroys sin, and then praises the Goddess Sandhya, the twilight, as compassionate, all-knowing and the destroyer of sins.
Identifications
The hymn equates the goddess with multiple major deities: Gayatri, Savitri, Saraswati, and Durga, as well as with Lakshmi (Kamala) and Gauri. It also identifies her as the primordial creative force (Prakriti) and as the threefold power of will (Iccha), action (Kriya), and knowledge (Jnana).
Cosmic and Physical Presence
The goddess is said to pervade all seven realms (lokas) from earth (Bhurloka) to the realm of truth (Satyaloka). She is also identified with sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, and with the three principal subtle energy channels (Ida, Pingala, Sushumna) in the human body.
Benefits of recitation
The concluding phalashruti (verses 24 to 29) promises that reciting this stotra at twilight (sandhya) gives sons, wealth and liberation (moksha). It says the merit equals that of all pilgrimages, austerities and yoga, and that it removes great sins.
Title and structure
The hymn is also called the Agha Nashaka Gayatri Stotra (the Gayatri hymn that destroys sins), as the colophon notes. It has 29 numbered verses, and the refrain "Shri Sandhye te namo'stu te" (salutations to you, O Sandhya) opens the praise in verse 2 and closes it in verse 23.