Ath Keelakam (Keelaka Stotram): Sanskrit Text, Meaning & Benefits
Ath Keelakam (Keelaka Stotram) - Sanskrit Text
॥ अथ कीलकम् ॥
ॐ अस्य श्रीकीलकमन्त्रस्य शिव ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः,
श्रीमहासरस्वती देवता, श्रीजगदम्बाप्रीत्यर्थं सप्तशतीपाठाङ्गत्वेन जपे विनियोगः ।
ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै ॥
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
ॐ विशुद्धज्ञानदेहाय त्रिवेदीदिव्यचक्षुषे ।
श्रेयःप्राप्तिनिमित्ताय नमः सोमार्धधारिणे ॥1॥
सर्वमेतद्विजानीयान्मन्त्राणामभिकीलकम् ।
सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सततं जाप्यतत्परः ॥2॥
सिद्ध्यन्त्युच्चाटनादीनि वस्तूनि सकलान्यपि ।
एतेन स्तुवतां देवीं स्तोत्रमात्रेण सिद्ध्यति ॥3॥
न मन्त्रो नौषधं तत्र न किञ्चिदपि विद्यते ।
विना जाप्येन सिद्ध्येत सर्वमुच्चाटनादिकम् ॥4॥
समग्राण्यपि सिद्ध्यन्ति लोकशङ्कामिमां हरः ।
कृत्वा निमन्त्रयामास सर्वमेवमिदं शुभम् ॥5॥
स्तोत्रं वै चण्डिकायास्तु तच्च गुप्तं चकार सः ।
समाप्तिर्न च पुण्यस्य तां यथावन्नियन्त्रणाम् ॥6॥
सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सर्वमेवं न संशयः ।
कृष्णायां वा चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां वा समाहितः ॥7॥
ददाति प्रतिगृह्णाति नान्यथैषा प्रसीदति ।
इत्थंरूपेण कीलेन महादेवेन कीलितम् ॥8॥
यो निष्कीलां विधायैनां नित्यं जपति संस्फुटम् ।
स सिद्धः स गणः सोऽपि गन्धर्वो जायते नरः ॥9॥
न चैवाप्यटतस्तस्य भयं क्वापीह जायते ।
नापमृत्युवशं याति मृतो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् ॥10॥
ज्ञात्वा प्रारभ्य कुर्वीत न कुर्वाणो विनश्यति ।
ततो ज्ञात्वैव सम्पन्नमिदं प्रारभ्यते बुधैः ॥11॥
सौभाग्यादि च यत्किञ्चिद् दृश्यते ललनाजने ।
तत्सर्वं तत्प्रसादेन तेन जाप्यमिदं शुभम् ॥12॥
शनैस्तु जप्यमानेऽस्मिन् स्तोत्रे सम्पत्तिरुच्चकैः ।
भवत्येव समग्रापि ततः प्रारभ्यमेव तत् ॥13॥
ऐश्वर्यं यत्प्रसादेन सौभाग्यारोग्यसम्पदः ।
शत्रुहानिः परो मोक्षः स्तूयते सा न किं जनैः ॥14॥
॥ इति देव्याः कीलकस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
oṃ asya śrī-kīlaka-mantrasya śiva ṛṣiḥ, anuṣṭup chandaḥ,
śrī-mahāsarasvatī devatā, śrī-jagadambā-prītyarthaṃ saptaśatī-pāṭhāṅgatvena jape viniyogaḥ |
oṃ viśuddha-jñāna-dehāya trivedī-divya-cakṣuṣe |
śreyaḥ-prāpti-nimittāya namaḥ somārdha-dhāriṇe ||1||
jñātvā prārabhya kurvīta na kurvāṇo vinaśyati |
tato jñātvaiva sampannam idaṃ prārabhyate budhaiḥ ||11||
Meaning
The Keelaka (“the pin” or “the bolt”) is a short hymn that unlocks the full power of the Durga Saptashati. The viniyoga names Shiva as its sage and Mahasarasvati as its deity. After saluting the Lord “whose body is pure knowledge, whose divine eyes are the three Vedas, who bears the half-moon,” the text explains that this Keelaka is the hidden “bolt” fastened upon all the mantras of the Saptashati by Mahadeva himself. One who, knowing this, recites the Saptashati with proper understanding “un-bolts” its power and obtains all attainments - prosperity, good fortune, health, removal of enemies, and finally liberation (moksha). The hymn stresses that the merit is gained through devoted, regular recitation alone, without need of separate rites.
About this Stotra
Ath Keelakam is one of the three preliminary “anga” hymns recited before the Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmya), alongside the Kavacham and the Argala Stotram. The word keelaka means a pin or bolt: traditionally the full fruit of the Saptashati was “locked” by Shiva, and the Keelaka is the key that releases it for the sincere devotee. Composed of fourteen verses and spoken by the sage Markandeya, it is recited so that the Saptashati recitation that follows yields its complete blessing.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
The Keelaka is essential for anyone undertaking a full Durga Saptashati path. Reciting it “unbolts” the latent power of the Saptashati, ensuring the recitation bears its promised results - wealth (aishvarya), good fortune (saubhagya), health (arogya), victory over enemies, and ultimately moksha. Even on its own, the hymn is praised as auspicious: the text says all the auspiciousness seen in noble people flows from the grace it invokes. It instils the understanding that devotion and steady japa, more than elaborate ritual, unlock the Goddess’s blessings.
Astrological Relevance
As a key component of Devi worship, the Keelaka shares the Saptashati’s astrological reach. Durga and her forms are connected with the Moon (mind and Mother), Mars (courage and the warrior-shakti), and the Sun (the slaying of darkness), while Mahasarasvati - the deity of this hymn - links to Mercury and the intellect. The Keelaka, recited to complete Devi worship, is therefore used in remedies for an afflicted Moon (emotional security), for protection during malefic Mars, Rahu, Ketu or Saturn periods, and as a general graha-shanti to remove enemies, obstacles and inauspiciousness from the chart.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
The Keelaka is recited at the beginning of a Durga Saptashati path, typically after the Kavacham and Argala Stotram and before the Saptashati chapters. Bathe, sit facing east or north before an image of Durga, light a lamp, make a sankalpa, and recite the viniyoga followed by the fourteen verses with devotion and clear pronunciation. It may also be recited on its own as part of daily Devi worship. Conclude with salutation to the Goddess.
Best Day & Time
The Keelaka is especially recited during Navratri and on Ashtami, Navami and the Krishna-paksha Chaturdashi mentioned in the text. Fridays and Tuesdays, and the dawn or dusk sandhya, are favoured for Devi worship. Daily recitation within a Saptashati practice is highly meritorious.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Keelaka” mean?
Keelaka means a pin or bolt. The hymn is the “key” that unlocks the full power of the Durga Saptashati, which was traditionally said to be sealed by Lord Shiva.
When is the Keelaka recited?
It is recited as one of the three preliminary hymns before the Durga Saptashati - after the Kavacham and Argala Stotram - so that the main recitation yields its complete blessing. It may also be chanted in daily Devi worship.
Who is the sage and deity of this hymn?
According to its viniyoga, the sage (rishi) is Shiva, the metre is Anushtup, and the presiding deity is Mahasarasvati. It is spoken by the sage Markandeya.
Unlocking the Saptashati: the Keelaka Stotram as a key to Devi's grace
Within the elaborate preparatory framework of the Durga Saptashati, the Ath Keelakam occupies a position of peculiar importance. The word keela means a pin or bolt, and the tradition understands this stotram as the text that literally unbolts the full spiritual potency of the Chandi Path - without it, the larger recitation is traditionally considered to remain sealed. This is a striking metaphor: it acknowledges that sacred texts carry layers of protective energy and that approaching such power requires conscious intention and preparation. The Keelaka Stotram is thus a ritual act of readiness, a declaration to the Goddess that the devotee comes with purified intent and an open heart.
Pandits and serious Devi upasaks recite the Ath Keelakam as part of the prescribed sequence of preliminary stotras - alongside the Kavacha and the Argala - before beginning the Saptashati chapters, most intensively during Navratri and on auspicious Fridays associated with Devi worship. In the Jyotish tradition, the Durga Saptashati and its ancillary texts are widely recommended as traditional remedies for afflictions of Rahu and Mars, planets associated with obstacles, adversaries, and sudden disruption; the Keelaka Stotram, as the key that opens this protective body of text, is considered especially valuable in this context. Devotees believe that approaching the Saptashati with due preparation through these preliminary hymns deepens the receptivity of the practitioner and strengthens the protective field the text is traditionally said to generate.