Jai Devi
Hymn to Goddess Durga, the Remover of Obstacles
A heartfelt Marathi hymn to Goddess Durga, slayer of Mahishasura, pleading with her to end the cycle of birth and death and lift the burdens of daily life.
Verses
O Goddess Durga, without You this world is burdened with insurmountable difficulties. O Mother, You are the protector of the helpless — extend Your compassion. I beg You, turn away my births and deaths, and remove this crisis I have fallen into.
Verse 1
Victory to the Goddess, victory to the Goddess, victory to the slayer of Mahishasura! Bestower of boons to the lords of the celestials, O Savior and Life-giver.
Verse 2
In all the three worlds, when I look, there is none like You. The four-faced Brahma labored in vain, but could not utter a word. Even those who engaged in disputes were swept away in the current. But You swiftly protect Your devotees.
Verse 3
With a gracious countenance, You become pleased with Your own servants. You release them from afflictions and cut the bonds of worldly existence. O Mother, without You who fulfills hopes? Narhari has become absorbed in the dust of Your lotus feet.
Verse 4
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 is written in Marathi, the language of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, and belongs to the bhakti (devotional) tradition of Hinduism, which emphasizes personal, loving surrender to God or the Goddess. It is the kind of prayer sung during Navaratri, the nine-night festival dedicated to Durga, as well as in daily home worship. The final verse names a devotee, Narahari, a common signature practice in devotional poetry; the hymn is traditionally attributed to him, though historical details are not firmly established. The Goddess's victory over the buffalo-demon Mahishasura that the refrain celebrates is narrated in the Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati) of the Markandeya Purana, chapters 2-3, the scriptural source of the Mahishasura Mardini episode.
Did You Know?
Author
The closing verse names its own author, Narahari — "Narahari tallina jhala padapankaja-lesha" (Narahari became absorbed in the dust of your lotus feet). Tradition identifies him with Narahari Sonar, a Marathi saint-poet, though as with much oral bhakti poetry the historical details are not fully certain.
Language and form
This is a Marathi aarti, a simple and repetitive devotional form meant for congregational singing. The refrain (dhruvapada) praises the Goddess as the slayer of the buffalo-demon Mahishasura, a central episode of the Devi Mahatmya.
Meaning of the refrain
The Goddess is called 'Mahishasura Mardini' (slayer of Mahishasura) and 'Tarak Sanjivani' — the one who grants liberation (taraka) and revives or gives life (sanjivani). The refrain sets the tone of urgent, loving surrender to the Divine Mother.
Core theme
The hymn expresses total dependence on the Goddess as the only refuge for the helpless. The first verse calls her the 'Nath' (lord/protector) of the orphaned, and the singer pleads to be saved from the endless cycle of birth and death (samsara).
A search through the three worlds
The second verse says that, looking through all the three worlds (tribhuvana), nothing is found equal to the Goddess. Even the four Vedas grow weary without finding words for her, and the six systems of philosophy are swept away in endless debate, yet she quickly comes to the aid of her devotee.
The final verse's promise
The hymn ends with a vision of the Goddess's compassionate face. It states that she alone fulfills the hopes of her devotees, and the poet declares himself absorbed in the 'dust of her lotus feet' — a classic image of total surrender and devotion (bhakti).
Devi
More from Hinduism
See allConnected Teachings
The same teaching, echoed across traditions