Kali Ashtakam

काली अष्टकम् • काल्यष्टकम्

ashtakam Maa Kali

About

Kali Ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, praising Goddess Kali, the fierce form of Divine Mother Shakti. Kali represents the power of time, destruction of ego, and liberation. Despite her fearsome appearance with her dark form, garland of skulls, and blood-dripping tongue, she is the loving mother who destroys evil, ignorance, and all obstacles that stand between devotees and liberation. This ashtakam is powerful for protection, removal of negative energies, and spiritual transformation.

Quick Reference

Author
Adi Shankaracharya
Language
Sanskrit
Verse Count
9
Source
Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

Benefits

  • Protection from evil forces and black magic
  • Destruction of enemies and obstacles
  • Removal of fear and anxiety
  • Spiritual transformation and awakening
  • Liberation from worldly bondage
  • Victory in all endeavors
  • Removal of negative energies
  • Courage and fearlessness

When to Recite

Days Tuesday, Saturday, Amavasya
Times Night, Midnight, During Kali Puja
Occasions Kali Puja, Navratri, Diwali (Bengal), Tuesdays and Saturdays
Recommended Count 1, 8, or 11 times

Verses

shloka 1

गले मुण्डमाला महाकालकाली कपालं करे संदधाना कराली। विमुक्तालकाली करालास्यलीला नमामि त्वमादिप्रकृतिं सुनीलाम्॥

Gale muṇḍa-mālā mahākāla-kālī Kapālaṁ kare saṁdadhānā karālī Vimuktālakālī karālāsya-līlā Namāmi tvam-ādi-prakṛtiṁ sunīlām

shloka 2

चतुर्भुजविस्तीर्णदिग्भागगात्रं शवाकारमालं महालोकमातम्। कृपाम्भोधिगम्भीरनेत्रं सुनेत्रं नमामि त्वमादिप्रकृतिं सुनीलाम्॥

Catur-bhuja-vistīrṇa-digbhāga-gātraṁ Śavākāra-mālaṁ mahā-loka-mātam Kṛpāmbhodhi-gambhīra-netraṁ su-netraṁ Namāmi tvam-ādi-prakṛtiṁ sunīlām

shloka 3

रणे शत्रुसंहारकारी कराली गृहे पुत्रदा पुत्रिका चैव बाली। वृषे जाये सा गोकुलेऽभीष्टदात्री नमामि त्वमादिप्रकृतिं सुनीलाम्॥

Raṇe śatru-saṁhāra-kārī karālī Gṛhe putra-dā putrikā caiva bālī Vṛṣe jāye sā gokule'bhīṣṭa-dātrī Namāmi tvam-ādi-prakṛtiṁ sunīlām

shloka 4

वने व्याघ्रसिंहादिभीमे सुघोरे भयं नास्ति तस्मिन् यदा स्मर्यते त्वम्। हृदम्भोजमध्ये निवासं करोषि नमामि त्वमादिप्रकृतिं सुनीलाम्॥

Vane vyāghra-siṁhādi-bhīme sughoре Bhayaṁ nāsti tasmin yadā smaryate tvam Hṛdambhoja-madhye nivāsaṁ karoṣi Namāmi tvam-ādi-prakṛtiṁ sunīlām

shloka 5

त्वमेका सदा देवदेवैर्निषेव्या त्वमेका जगद्धात्रि विश्वस्य मातः। त्वमेका प्रसिद्धा शिवाभिन्नरूपा नमामि त्वमादिप्रकृतिं सुनीलाम्॥

Tvam-ekā sadā deva-devair-niṣevyā Tvam-ekā jagad-dhātri viśvasya mātaḥ Tvam-ekā prasiddhā śivābhinna-rūpā Namāmi tvam-ādi-prakṛtiṁ sunīlām

shloka 6

महादेवमाया महाकालकाली महाभैरवी पञ्चविंशत्तिमाली। महाशक्तिरूपा महाकालरूपा नमामि त्वमादिप्रकृतिं सुनीलाम्॥

Mahādeva-māyā mahākāla-kālī Mahābhairavī pañcaviṁśatti-mālī Mahā-śakti-rūpā mahākāla-rūpā Namāmi tvam-ādi-prakṛtiṁ sunīlām

shloka 7

त्वदीयं पदाम्भोजमारण्यकानां सुरेशादिभिः सम्यगभ्यर्च्यमानम्। कदा द्रक्ष्यते मे त्वदीयं मुखाब्जं नमामि त्वमादिप्रकृतिं सुनीलाम्॥

Tvadīyaṁ padāmbhojam-āraṇyakānāṁ Sureśādibhiḥ samyag-abhyarcyamānam Kadā drakṣyate me tvadīyaṁ mukhābjaṁ Namāmi tvam-ādi-prakṛtiṁ sunīlām

shloka 8

विशुद्धं परात्पारतत्त्वं च तत्त्वं त्वमाद्या सदानन्दरूपा शिवाख्या। त्वमेवाहमस्मीति बुद्धौ स्फुरन्ती नमामि त्वमादिप्रकृतिं सुनीलाम्॥

Viśuddhaṁ parātpāra-tattvaṁ ca tattvaṁ Tvam-ādyā sadānanda-rūpā śivākhyā Tvam-evāham-asmīti buddhau sphurantī Namāmi tvam-ādi-prakṛtiṁ sunīlām

phala-shruti 9 Benefits of recitation

काल्यष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेद्भक्तिसंयुतः। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः काली लोकं स गच्छति॥ शत्रुनाशं भवेत्तस्य सर्वसिद्धिप्रदायकम्॥

Kāly-aṣṭakam-idaṁ puṇyaṁ yaḥ paṭhed-bhakti-saṁyutaḥ Sarva-pāpa-vinirmuktaḥ kālī lokaṁ sa gacchati Śatru-nāśaṁ bhavet-tasya sarva-siddhi-pradāyakam