Devi-Dhyanam

The verses on this page are powerful mantras known as dhyānam. Often translated from Sanskrit as “meditation,” in this context dhyānam refers to the mental visualization of a deity’s various physical attributes.

A dhyānam verse extols a deity and describes her features, such as her posture, garments, and hands gestures, as well as the symbolic objects she carries. These attributes reflect the deity’s spiritual powers.

Spiritual seekers recite a dhyānam to visualize the deities whom they worship. This internal worship (mānasa-pūjā) is often accompanied by ritual worship to an outer form of the deity, such as a mūrti (statue).

The four dhyānam mantras on this page are from a renowned Sanskrit text called Devī-māhātmya—“Glory of the Goddess.” They extol four embodiments of the Devī: Mahākālī, Mahādurga, Mahāsarasvatī and Mahālakṣmī. The sacred sounds of these verses are said to contain the whole text of the Devī-māhātmya and the presence and power of the Goddess.

The mantras are sung by Santosh Mudgal, a Brahmin priest from Vajreshwari, India. You may listen to the recording or recite the mantras along with him.

Each embodiment of the Devī has a distinctive role in the universe and in sādhanā. At the same time, every form is one with Paraśakti, the Supreme Energy, which permeates the whole universe. As we honor these aspects of the Shakti, we connect with her presence and honor our own nature as the Supreme Self.