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Siddha Kunjika Stotram — Word-by-Word Meaning

सिद्ध कुञ्जिका स्तोत्रम्

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

Word-by-Word Breakdown

सिद्ध
Siddha
Perfected, accomplished — grants instant results
कुञ्जिका
Kunjika
Key — the master key to Durga Saptashati
ऐं
Aim
Bija mantra of Saraswati (knowledge/speech)
ह्रीं
Hreem
Bija mantra of Maya/Shakti (cosmic energy)
क्लीं
Kleem
Bija mantra of Kamadeva (attraction/desire)
चामुण्डायै
Chamundayai
To Chamunda (fierce form of Durga)
विच्चे
Vichche
Sacred seed syllable completing the mantra
ज्वालय
Jvalaya
Blaze! Burn! (command to ignite divine fire)
प्रज्वल
Prajvala
Blaze forth intensely!
फट्
Phat
Tantric syllable of destruction/breaking
स्वाहा
Svaha
Sacred offering (conclusion of mantras)
दुर्गापाठफलं
Durgapaathphalam
The fruit/result of reading the entire Durga Saptashati
अति गुह्यतरं
Ati Guhyataram
Extremely secret
गोपनीयं
Gopaneeyam
To be kept hidden/secret
रुद्ररूपिण्यै
Rudraroopinyai
She who has the form of Rudra (fierce Shiva)
मधुमर्दिनि
Madhumardini
Crusher of the demon Madhu
कैटभनाशिन्यै
Kaitabhanashinyai
Destroyer of the demon Kaitabha
महिषार्दिनि
Mahishardini
Crusher of Mahishasura
शुम्भहन्त्र्यै
Shumbhahantryai
Slayer of Shumbha
बीजरूपे
Beejaroope
She whose form is the seed mantras
कालिका
Kalika
Kali — the dark fierce goddess
भैरवी
Bhairavi
The terrifying feminine form
भवानी
Bhavani
Goddess of existence (Parvati)

Complete Translation

Om Aim Hreem Kleem — salutations to Chamunda! Om Glaum Hum Kleem Joom Sah — Blaze, blaze, burn, burn, blaze forth intensely! Aim Hreem Kleem to Chamunda — Blaze! Ham Sam Lam Ksham Phat Svaha! Lord Shiva said: Listen, O Devi, I shall reveal the supreme Kunjika Stotra. By the power of this mantra, the recitation of Chandi (Durga Saptashati) becomes auspicious. Neither the Kavach (armor), nor the Argala Stotra, nor the Keelakam, nor the Rahasyam, nor the Suktam, nor meditation, nor nyasa, nor worship is needed. By merely reading the Kunjika, one obtains the full fruit of reciting the entire Durga Saptashati. This is the most secret of secrets, O Devi — rare even for the gods. It should be kept as secret as one's own womb, O Parvati. Destruction, attraction, subjugation, paralysis, and expulsion — all are accomplished merely by reading this supreme Kunjika Stotra. Om Aim Hreem Kleem to Chamunda! Om Glaum Hum Kleem Joom Sah — Blaze forth! Aim Hreem Kleem to Chamunda — Blaze! Ham Sam Lam Ksham Phat Svaha! Salutations to you in the form of Rudra. Salutations to the crusher of Madhu. Salutations to the destroyer of Kaitabha. Salutations to the crusher of Mahishasura. Salutations to the slayer of Shumbha and the destroyer of Nishumbha. Awaken, O Great Goddess, and make my chanting perfect and fruitful! Aim is your creative form, Hreem is your preserving form, Kleem is your form of desire. Salutations to you in the form of seed mantras. Chamunda, the fierce slayer, the giver of boons. Vichche, the eternal giver of fearlessness. Salutations to you, the embodiment of mantras. Dham Dhim Dhoom — O wife of Shiva! Vam Vim Voom — O goddess of speech! Kram Krim Kroom — O Kali Devi! Sham Shim Shoom — grant me auspiciousness! Hum Hum Hum — O goddess in the form of Humkara! Jam Jam Jam — O thundering one! Bhram Bhrim Bhroom — O fierce Bhairavi, O auspicious Bhavani — salutations to you again and again! Thus ends the complete Siddha Kunjika Stotram.

Origin & History

Source: Revealed by Lord Shiva to Parvati (part of Durga Saptashati tradition)

Author: Lord Shiva (as narrator)

Period: Ancient (Markandeya Purana tradition)

The Siddha Kunjika Stotram is presented as a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Parvati asks Shiva about the easiest way to obtain the full fruit of the Durga Saptashati (700 verses of Devi Mahatmyam from the Markandeya Purana). Shiva reveals this 'secret key' — a concentrated essence of all the power of the Saptashati in a single stotra. He emphasizes its secrecy, saying it should be guarded as carefully as one's own deepest secret, and that even the gods find it rare.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Siddha Kunjika mean?
'Siddha' means perfected/accomplished. 'Kunjika' means key. Together: 'The Perfected Key' — it is the master key that unlocks the complete power of the Durga Saptashati without any other rituals or preparations.
Why is it called a 'key'?
Lord Shiva tells Parvati that normally, to recite the Durga Saptashati properly, one needs the Kavach (armor), Argala (bolt), Keelakam (pin), meditation, nyasa, and worship. But the Kunjika Stotra is the 'key' that bypasses ALL of these — one simple reading gives the complete result.
Is it really that powerful?
Lord Shiva himself declares in the stotra: 'Kunjikapaathamatrena Durgaapaathphalam Labhet' — merely by reading the Kunjika, one obtains the fruit of the entire Durga path. He also calls it 'Ati Guhyataram' (most secret) and 'Devaanamapi Durlabham' (rare even for the gods).
When should I chant it during Navratri?
Chant it once before each reading of the Durga Saptashati during Navratri. If you cannot read the full 700-verse Saptashati, chanting just the Kunjika Stotra is said to give equivalent results. This makes it the most important Navratri prayer for those short on time.
What are the bija mantras in it?
Aim (Saraswati/knowledge), Hreem (Shakti/cosmic energy), Kleem (desire/attraction), Glaum (Ganesha/obstacle removal), Hum (Shiva/protection), Phat (destruction of negativity), Svaha (offering). Together they invoke the complete spectrum of divine feminine power.

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