कालिकाष्टकम्
Kalika Ashtakam
Eight verses contemplating Kali as primordial power, consciousness, Yogamaya and a reality beyond complete description.
समर्पितमाँ कालीviranychyaadidevaastrayaste gunaastreen samaaraadhya kaaleen pradhaanaa babhoovuh.anaadin suraadin makhaadin bhavaadin svaroopn tvadeeyn na vindanti devaah (1)
jaganmohineeyn tu vaagvaadineeyn suhritposhinee shatrusnhaaraneeyam.vachastambhaneeyn kimuchchaataneeyn svaroopn tvadeeyn na vindanti devaah (2)
iyn svargadaatree punh kalpavallee manojaastu kaamaan yathaarthn prakuryaat.tathaa te kritaarthaa bhavanteeti nityn svaroopn tvadeeyn na vindanti devaah (3)
suraapaanamattaa subhaktaanuraktaa lasatpootachitte sadaavirbhavatte.japadhyaanapoojaasudhaadhautapangkaa svaroopn tvadeeyn na vindanti devaah (4)
chidaanandakandn hasanmandamandn sharachchandrakotiprabhaapunyjabimbam.muneenaan kaveenaan hridi dyotayantn svaroopn tvadeeyn na vindanti devaah (5)
mahaameghakaalee suraktaapi shubhraa kadaachidvichitraakritiryogamaayaa.na baalaa na vriddhaa na kaamaaturaapi svaroopn tvadeeyn na vindanti devaah (6)
kshamasvaaparaadhn mahaaguptabhaavn mayaa lokamadhye prakaasheekritn yat.tava dhyaanapootena chaapalyabhaavaat svaroopn tvadeeyn na vindanti devaah (7)
yadi dhyaanayuktn pathedyo manushyastadaa sarvaloke vishaalo bhavechcha.grihe chaashtasiddhirmrite chaapi muktih svaroopn tvadeeyn na vindanti devaah (8)
Source: Traditional Kalika Ashtakam — independently prepared public-domain text ↗
Edition, rights and editorial notes
Attributed author: Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
Traditional Shakta stotra
Traditional public-domain hymn; linked transcription used only for textual comparison
The eight stuti verses are included without the three preliminary visualization verses. Attribution is traditional; benefit language is not presented as a factual promise.
How BhajanDhara prepares texts and meanings · Suggest a correction
कालिकाष्टकम् का अर्थ
The repeated refrain says that even the gods do not fully know Kali's true form. The hymn moves through fierce, nourishing, luminous and timeless imagery; its closing promises belong to traditional devotional poetry rather than measurable guarantees.