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Durga Apaduddharaka Stotram (Siddheshwari Tantra)
The Durga Apaduddharaka Stotram (दुर्गापदुद्धारक स्तोत्रम्) — literally, "the hymn of Goddess Durga that rescues from calamities" — is one of the most beloved protective hymns of the Shakta tradition. It appears in the Siddheshwari Tantra, revealed in the sacred dialogue between Uma (Devi Parvati) and Maheshwara (Lord Shiva). Its very name captures its purpose: apada means danger or calamity, and uddharaka means the one who lifts out. When fear, illness, enmity or worldly suffering presses down on a devotee, this stotram is chanted as a direct appeal to the Divine Mother's sheltering grace.
About the Siddheshwari Tantra
The Siddheshwari Tantra is an Agama-style Shakta text built around the instruction of Devi Siddheshwari, a powerful aspect of the Goddess. Like the Umamaheshvara Samvada (dialogue of Uma and Maheshwara) texts of the Tantra and Purana traditions, it presents spiritual teaching through the loving conversation of Shiva and Parvati. The Durga Apaduddharaka Stotram forms the closing section of this teaching — the phala, or fruit, of the entire scripture being the liberation of the devotee from every danger.
Every verse of the hymn ends with the refrain:
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे — Namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе
"Salutations to You, O One who carries the world across the ocean of Samsara; O Durga, please protect me."
The Stotram — Verse by Verse
Verse 1
नमस्ते शरण्ये शिवे सानुकम्पे ।
नमस्ते जगद्व्यापिके विश्वरूपे ।
नमस्ते जगद्वन्द्यपादारविन्दे ।
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे ॥१॥
Namaste Śaraṇye Śive Sānukampe,
namaste Jagad-Vyāpike Viśva-Rūpe,
namaste Jagad-Vandya-Pāda-Aravinde,
namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе ||1||
Meaning: Salutations to You, O Giver of Refuge, O Consort of Shiva, O Compassionate One. Salutations to You, who pervade the whole universe as Conscious Shakti and whose form is the universe itself. Salutations to You, whose lotus feet the entire world adores. O Mother Durga, please protect me.
Verse 2
नमस्ते जगच्चिन्त्यमानस्वरूपे ।
नमस्ते महायोगिविज्ञानरूपे ।
नमस्ते नमस्ते सदानन्दरूपे ।
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे ॥२॥
Namaste Jagac-Cintyamāna-Svarūpe,
namaste Mahā-Yogi-Vijñāna-Rūpe,
namaste namaste Sadā-Ānanda-Rūpe,
namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе ||2||
Meaning: Salutations to You, whose essential nature the world meditates upon in search of liberation. Salutations to You, who reveal your divine nature as knowledge to the great yogis. Salutations, salutations to You, whose form is eternal bliss. O Mother Durga, please protect me.
Verse 3
अनाथस्य दीनस्य तृष्णातुरस्य ।
भयार्तस्य भीतस्य बद्धस्य जन्तोः ।
त्वमेका गतिर्देवि निस्तारकर्त्री ।
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे ॥३॥
Anāthasya Dīnasya Tṛṣṇā-Atturasya,
bhayārtasya bhītasya baddhasya jantoḥ,
tvam-ekā gatir-Devi niṣtāra-kartrī,
namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе ||3||
Meaning: For the one who has no refuge, for the afflicted, for the one tormented by the thirst of desire, for the one distressed by fear, for the frightened, and for the creature bound by worldly attachments — You alone, O Devi, are the refuge and the power of deliverance. O Mother Durga, please protect me.
Verse 4
अरण्ये रणे दारुणे शत्रुमध्ये ।
जले सङ्कटे राजगेहे प्रवाते ।
त्वमेका गतिर्देवि निस्तारहेतुः ।
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे ॥४॥
Araṇye Raṇe Dāruṇe Śatru-Madhye,
jale Saṅkaṭe Rāja-Gehe Pravāte,
tvam-ekā gatir-Devi niṣtāra-hetuḥ,
namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе ||4||
Meaning: In the deep forest, in the battlefield, amid terrible situations and in the midst of enemies; in the water, in danger, inside the king's palace and in the storm — You alone, O Devi, are the refuge and the cause of deliverance. O Mother Durga, please protect me.
Verse 5
अपारे महदुस्तरेऽत्यन्तघोरे ।
विपत्सागरे मज्जतां देहभाजाम् ।
त्वमेका गतिर्देवि निस्तारनौका ।
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे ॥५॥
Apāre Mahā-Dustare-Atyanta-Ghore,
vipat-Sāgare Majjatāṁ Deha-Bhājām,
tvam-ekā gatir-Devi niṣtāra-Naukā,
namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе ||5||
Meaning: In this shoreless ocean of Samsara, so difficult to cross and so terrifying, into which embodied beings sink ever deeper — You alone, O Devi, are the boat of deliverance. O Mother Durga, please protect me.
Verse 6
नमश्चण्डिके चण्डोर्दण्डलीला ।
समुत्खण्डिता खण्डलाशेषशत्रोः ।
त्वमेका गतिर्विघ्नसन्दोहहर्त्री ।
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे ॥६॥
Namaś-Caṇḍike Caṇḍor-Daṇḍa-Līlā,
samut-Khaṇḍitā Khaṇḍala-Aśeṣa-Śatroḥ,
tvam-ekā gatir-Vighna-Sandoha-Hartrī,
namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе ||6||
Meaning: Salutations to You, O Chandika, whose terrible sport of punishment cut down and scattered the demon Chanda and the endless hosts of enemies. You alone are the refuge, O Devi, the remover of whole multitudes of obstacles. O Mother Durga, please protect me.
Verse 7
त्वमेका सदाराधिता सत्यवादी ।
न्यनेकाखिलाऽक्रोधना क्रोधनिष्ठा ।
इडा पिङ्गला त्वं सुषुम्ना च नाडी ।
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे ॥७॥
Tvam-ekā Sadā-Ārādhitā Satya-Vādī,
ni-Aneka-Akhilā-Akrodhanā Krodha-Niṣṭhā,
Iḍā Piṅgalā Tvaṁ Suṣumnā Ca Nāḍī,
namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе ||7||
Meaning: You alone are ever worshipped as the proclaimer of truth, raising Dharma without and awakening awareness within. Taking countless forms, You are never truly angry, yet You wage war upon anger and stubbornness. You are the Iḍā, the Piṅgalā and the Suṣumnā nāḍīs — the awakening of Kundalini itself. O Mother Durga, please protect me.
Verse 8
नमो देवि दुर्गे शिवे भीमनादे ।
सदासर्वसिद्धिप्रदातृस्वरूपे ।
विभूतिः सतां कालरात्रिस्वरूपे ।
नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे ॥८॥
Namo Devi Durgе Śive Bhīma-Nāde,
sadā-Sarva-Siddhi-Pradātṛ-Svarūpe,
vibhūtiḥ Satāṁ Kālarātri-Svarūpe,
namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе ||8||
Meaning: Salutations to You, O Devi Durga, consort of Shiva, who meet the enemies with a mighty roar. Your very nature bestows all siddhis upon devotees. You are the splendor of the virtuous and the form of Kālarātrī, the night of destruction that consumes ego and adharma. O Mother Durga, please protect me.
Verse 9
शरणमसि सुराणां सिद्धविद्याधराणाम् ।
मुनिमनुजपशूनां दस्युभिस्त्रासितानाम् ।
नृपतिगृहगतानां व्याधिभिः पीडितानाम् ।
त्वमसि शरणमेका देवि दुर्गे प्रसीद ॥९॥
Śaraṇam-asi Surāṇāṁ Siddha-Vidyādharāṇām,
muni-Manuja-Paśūnāṁ Dasyubhis-Trāsitānām,
nṛpati-Gṛha-Gatānāṁ Vyādhibhiḥ Pīḍitānām,
tvam-asi Śaraṇam-Ekā Devi Durgе Prasīda ||9||
Meaning: You are the refuge of the gods, of the siddhas and vidyādharas, of sages, humans and animals, of those terrorized by robbers, of those unjustly imprisoned in the palaces of kings, and of those tormented by disease. You alone are the true refuge, O Devi Durga; please be gracious to us.
Verse 10
इदं स्तोत्रं मया प्रोक्तमापदुद्धारहेतुकम् ।
त्रिसन्ध्यमेकसन्ध्यं वा पठनाद्घोरसङ्कटात् ॥१०॥
Idaṁ Stotram Mayā Proktam-Āpad-Uddhāra-Hetukam,
Tri-Sandhyam-Eka-Sandhyam Vā Paṭhanād-Ghora-Saṅkaṭāt ||10||
Meaning: (Maheshwara declares:) This stotram has been proclaimed by me for the purpose of rescuing from calamities. By reciting it at the three sandhyas of the day — morning, noon and evening — or even at a single sandhya, one is released from the most terrible dangers.
Verse 11
मुच्यते नात्र सन्देहो भुवि स्वर्गे रसातले ।
सर्वं वा श्लोकमेकं वा यः पठेद्भक्तिमान् सदा ॥११॥
Mucyate Nātra Sandeho Bhuvi Svarge Rasātale,
sarvaṁ Vā Ślokam-Ekaṁ Vā Yaḥ Paṭhed-Bhaktimān Sadā ||11||
Meaning: Whether one dwells on earth, in heaven or in the nether regions, deliverance comes — there is no doubt of this. Whoever recites the whole stotram, or even a single shloka of it, with constant devotion, is set free.
Verse 12
स सर्वं दुष्कृतं त्यक्त्वा प्राप्नोति परमं पदम् ।
पठनादस्य देवेशि किं न सिद्ध्यति भूतले ॥१२॥
Sa Sarvaṁ Duṣkṛtaṁ Tyaktvā Prāpnoti Paramam Padam,
paṭhanād-Asya Deveśi Kiṁ Na Siddhyati Bhūtale ||12||
Meaning: Having given up all sinful tendencies, the devotee attains the highest abode of the Goddess. O Devi, is there anything at all that cannot be accomplished on this earth by the recitation of this hymn?
Verse 13
स्तवराजमिदं देवि संक्षेपात्कथितं मया ॥१३॥
Stava-Rājam-Idaṁ Devi Saṅkṣepāt-Kathitam Mayā ||13||
Meaning: This hymn of eulogy — the very king of stotras — has been narrated by me in brief, O Devi, and it brings the greatest blessings to the lives of devotees.
Colophon
॥ इति श्रीसिद्धेश्वरीतन्त्रे उमामहेश्वरसंवादे श्रीदुर्गापदुद्धारस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Iti Śrī-Siddheśvarī-Tantre Umā-Maheśvara-Saṁvāde Śrī-Durgāpad-Uddhāra-Stotram Saṁpūrṇam
Thus concludes the Sri Durga Apaduddharaka Stotram of the Sri Siddheshwari Tantra, revealed during the dialogue of Uma and Maheshwara.
Key Attributes of Goddess Durga
- Deity: Goddess Durga (दुर्गा), also invoked here as Chandika and Kālarātrī
- Consort: Lord Shiva (addressed as Shive, the consort of Shiva)
- Nature: Apaduddharaka — the rescuer from all calamities; the boat (nishtāra-naukā) across the ocean of Samsara
- Mantra / Refrain: "नमस्ते जगत्तारिणि त्राहि दुर्गे" — Namaste Jagat-Tāriṇi Trāhi Durgе
- Symbol: The sacred nāḍīs — Iḍā, Piṅgalā and Suṣumnā — representing the awakening of Kundalini Shakti
- Scripture: Siddheshwari Tantra (Umā-Maheśvara Saṁvāda)
Practical / Modern Context
In a world filled with anxiety, uncertainty, illness and pressure, the Durga Apaduddharaka Stotram offers a daily practice of surrender and inner strength. Its prescription is simple and profoundly relevant: chant at the three sandhyas — sunrise, noon and sunset — or at least once a day, and the mind slowly learns to hand its fears over to the Divine Mother.
For modern practitioners, the stotram can be woven into a morning prayer routine, recited before travel, examinations, surgeries, court appearances or any moment of high anxiety. Even a single shloka, chanted with faith, is said to calm the heart. Psychologically, its verses mirror a healthy reframing: recognizing that we are not alone in the "forest" or "battlefield" of life, and that an all-compassionate, all-powerful presence is our refuge.
Common Misconceptions
- "It is only for emergencies." In fact, the scripture prescribes it as a daily practice — at all three sandhyas or at least one — precisely so that devotees do not wait for a crisis before seeking the Mother's shelter.
- "You must chant all thirteen verses." Verse 11 is explicit: even a single shloka of the stotram, recited with steady devotion, brings deliverance. Consistency and faith matter more than quantity.
- "Recitation alone works mechanically." The hymn repeatedly emphasizes bhaktimān — the devoted one. Chanting without sincerity is not the teaching; the fruit ripens through genuine surrender and a heart that turns away from wrongdoing.
Conclusion
The Durga Apaduddharaka Stotram is a gift of the Siddheshwari Tantra to every seeker who has ever felt lost, frightened or overwhelmed. In thirteen compact verses it gathers the whole Shakta vision — a Goddess who is at once the refuge of the orphaned, the terror of the demons, the knowledge of the yogis and the awakening of the inner serpent power. Whether recited in a temple, beside a hospital bed, or alone at dawn, its refrain echoes the eternal promise of the Divine Mother: Trāhi Durgе — "O Durga, protect me."
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