॥ श्रीदुर्गाष्टोत्तरशतनामावलिः ॥
The 108 names are chanted in worship, traditionally with ॐ before and नमः after each name (e.g. ॐ सत्यै नमः). The verified names are listed below.
सती साध्वी भवप्रीता भवानी भवमोचनी आर्या
दुर्गा जया आद्य त्रिनेत्र शूलधारिणी पिनाकधारिणी
चित्रा चण्डघण्टा महातपा मन बुद्धि अहंकारा
चित्तरूपा चिता चिति सर्वमन्त्रमयी सत्ता सत्यानन्दस्वरूपिणी
अनन्ता भाविनी भाव्या भव्या अभव्या सदागति
शाम्भवी देवमाता चिन्ता रत्नप्रिया सर्वविद्या दक्षकन्या
दक्षयज्ञविनाशिनी अपर्णा अनेकवर्णा पाटला पाटलावती पट्टाम्बरपरीधाना
कलामंजीरारंजिनी अमेय विक्रमा क्रूरा सुन्दरी सुरसुन्दरी
वनदुर्गा मातंगी मातंगमुनिपूजिता ब्राह्मी माहेश्वरी इंद्री
कौमारी वैष्णवी चामुण्डा वाराही लक्ष्मी पुरुषाकृति
विमिलौत्त्कार्शिनी ज्ञाना क्रिया नित्या बुद्धिदा बहुला
बहुलप्रेमा सर्ववाहनवाहना निशुम्भशुम्भहननी महिषासुरमर्दिनि मधुकैटभहंत्री चण्डमुण्ड विनाशिनि
सर्वासुरविनाशा सर्वदानवघातिनी सर्वशास्त्रमयी सत्या सर्वास्त्रधारिणी अनेकशस्त्रहस्ता
अनेकास्त्रधारिणी कुमारी एककन्या कैशोरी युवती यति
अप्रौढा प्रौढा वृद्धमाता बलप्रदा महोदरी मुक्तकेशी
घोररूपा महाबला अग्निज्वाला रौद्रमुखी कालरात्रि तपस्विनी
नारायणी भद्रकाली विष्णुमाया जलोदरी शिवदूती करली
अनन्ता परमेश्वरी कात्यायनी सावित्री प्रत्यक्षा ब्रह्मवादिनी
Satī Sādhvī Bhavaprītā Bhavānī Bhavamocanī Āryā
Durgā Jayā Ādyā Trinetrā Śūladhāriṇī Pinākadhāriṇī
Citrā Caṇḍaghaṇṭā Mahātapā Manaḥ Buddhi Ahaṅkārā
Cittarūpā Citā Citi Sarvamantramayī Sattā Satyānandasvarūpiṇī
Anantā Bhāvinī Bhāvyā Bhavyā Abhavyā Sadāgati
Śāmbhavī Devamātā Cintā Ratnapriyā Sarvavidyā Dakṣakanyā
Dakṣayajñavināśinī Aparṇā Anekavarṇā Pāṭalā Pāṭalāvatī Paṭṭāmbaraparidhānā
Kalāmañjīrarañjinī Ameyā Vikramā Krūrā Sundarī Surasundarī
Vanadurgā Mātaṅgī Mataṅgamunipūjitā Brāhmī Māheśvarī Aindrī
Kaumārī Vaiṣṇavī Cāmuṇḍā Vārāhī Lakṣmī Puruṣākṛti
Vimalottkarṣiṇī Jñānā Kriyā Nityā Buddhidā Bahulā
Bahulapremā Sarvavāhanavāhanā Niśumbhaśumbhahananī Mahiṣāsuramardinī Madhukaiṭabhahantrī Caṇḍamuṇḍavināśinī
Sarvāsuravināśā Sarvadānavaghātinī Sarvaśāstramayī Satyā Sarvāstradhāriṇī Anekaśastrahastā
Anekāstradhāriṇī Kumārī Ekakanyā Kaiśorī Yuvatī Yati
Aprauḍhā Prauḍhā Vṛddhamātā Balapradā Mahodarī Muktakeśī
Ghorarūpā Mahābalā Agnijvālā Raudramukhī Kālarātri Tapasvinī
Nārāyaṇī Bhadrakālī Viṣṇumāyā Jalodarī Śivadūtī Karālī
Anantā Parameśvarī Kātyāyanī Sāvitrī Pratyakṣā Brahmavādinī
These 108 names reveal the Divine Mother in all her aspects. She is Sati and Sadhvi, Bhavani the consort of Shiva and Bhavamochani who frees us from worldly bondage; Durga the invincible and Jaya the victorious; Trinetra the three-eyed and Shuladharini who wields the trident. She is Manas, Buddhi and Chittarupa — the very faculties of mind and intellect; Sarvamantramayi, the essence of all mantras; Mahishasuramardini, slayer of the buffalo-demon; Madhukaitabhahantri and Chandamundavinashini, destroyer of demons; Brahmi, Maheshwari, Vaishnavi, Chamunda and Varahi, the seven Matrikas; Lakshmi the bestower of fortune; Kalaratri and Bhadrakali in her fierce forms; and Katyayani, Savitri and Brahmavadini in her serene, all-pervading glory. Together the names span her roles as creator, protector, destroyer of evil, and the inmost consciousness of every being.
The Durga Ashtottara Shatanamavali — the garland of 108 names of Goddess Durga — is recited during archana (offering one flower, bilva leaf or kumkum per name) and as a daily and Navaratri devotional. Aṣṭottara-śata, one hundred and eight, is the auspicious number of completeness. Each name is a doorway into a facet of the Mother's infinite nature, making the namavali both a hymn of praise and a meditation on Shakti.
Chanting the 108 names of Durga is believed to grant protection from enemies, fears and negative forces, to remove obstacles and disease, and to bestow courage, prosperity and inner strength. The Mother as Mahishasura-mardini conquers the 'demons' of ego and adversity, while as Lakshmi and Buddhida she grants fortune and wisdom. Regular recitation, especially during Navaratri, is held to fulfil sincere wishes and to surround the devotee with the Mother's grace.
Durga is the supreme form of Shakti and is strongly linked to Mars (Mangal), the planet of energy, courage and protection, and to the Moon as the Mother principle. Her worship is a powerful remedy for an afflicted Mars, for victory over enemies and litigation (6th house), and for removing fear and negativity. As Lakshmi-aspect she supports wealth (2nd and 11th houses), and as Buddhida she strengthens Mercury and the intellect. The namavali is especially potent during Navaratri and on Ashtami.
After bathing, sit before an image of Durga and light a lamp. Offer red flowers (hibiscus is dear to her), kumkum, and sweets. Recite each name with ॐ before and नमः after it, offering a flower or pinch of kumkum at each name (puṣpārchana). Complete all 108 in one sitting if possible. Conclude with the Durga aarti and prasad.
The nine nights of Navaratri are the most powerful occasion, especially Ashtami and Navami. Tuesdays and Fridays are sacred to the Goddess, and the early morning or evening sandhya is ideal. Durga Ashtami of each month is also auspicious.
They are chanted as an archana, offering a flower, bilva leaf or pinch of kumkum at each name. This focuses the mind and is considered a complete act of devotion to the Goddess.
Navaratri — especially Ashtami and Navami — is the most auspicious, along with Tuesdays and Fridays. Early morning or evening are the preferred times.
Devotees chant for protection, courage, victory over enemies and obstacles, prosperity, health and the fulfilment of sincere wishes through the grace of the Divine Mother.
Get guidance tailored to your kundli on chat or call.
Consult now →No comments yet - be the first.
One hundred and eight facets of the Mother's infinite nature
The Durga Ashtottara Shatanamavali — the garland of 108 sacred names of Goddess Durga — is far more than a list. Each name is understood in the Shakta tradition as a distinct window into an aspect of the Mother's inexhaustible nature: her fierce protectiveness (Mahishasuramardini), her abundance (Lakshmi), her primal power (Sati), her universal compassion (Bhavani), and scores of other qualities that together begin to map the totality of the divine feminine. The practice of reciting the 108 names with awareness — whether with a mala, offering a flower with each name, or simply in seated meditation — is designed to cultivate a deepening intimacy with the Goddess through the gradual absorption of her many-faceted nature. The number 108 itself carries sacred significance across Indian traditions, representing the fullness of cosmic order.
In the Jyotish tradition, the Durga Ashtottara Shatanamavali is particularly recommended for propitiating a challenging Mars (Mangal) or for periods of Rahu transit, when devotees may feel vulnerable to external threats, sudden reversals, or internal fears. The Goddess Durga is understood to be the shakti — the active power — of the cosmic order itself, and her names collectively invoke that protective force. The ideal days for this recitation are Tuesdays, Fridays, and all nine days of both Navratri seasons, and devotees traditionally begin after a bath, light a lamp, and offer red flowers or hibiscus, believing that each name received with attention is a step deeper into the Mother's grace.