Mantra: Invoke Your Fierceness

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No one is exempt from feeling fear at some point or another. No one is exempt from needing support. No one is exempt from the need for healthy, firm boundaries in their life. Yet all too often when fear or the need for help arises, we feel all alone and don’t know where to turn.

All too often, healthy boundaries are not modeled to us, so we grow up not knowing how to exercise them.

Then as adults we don’t have the confidence or consciousness around how to hold the energy of firm boundaries, therefore we are constantly vulnerable to “attack”.

Meaning, we’re easily taken advantage of, maybe feeling like people’s “doormat”, we are susceptible to unhealthy relationships & circumstances – which in fact are all opportunities to heal, yet, they hurt us and can leave us feeling weak, unworthy, afraid, and lacking self-confidence. However, even if we didn’t learn to connect with our inner fierceness as a child, it is never too late, and this sacred mantra can help us do it. Because it’s absolutely in there.

Goddess Durga

Durga’s teachings • Image via India Currents²

Durga (Dhoor-gah) is the Goddess of Strength & Justice who brings compassion, peace, and order to the chaos, destruction, and conflict in any situation. She appears on a Tiger (or Lion), looking completely serene and composed, dressed in a red silk Sari, carrying various weapons and tools in her eight arms that represent her teachings.

Durga is the Divine Goddess who presides over the seasons of life, death, and birth. She is the Great Mother who helps us remove the limitations, and emotional & mental obscurities that prevent us from shining the Divine Light we all carry within our hearts. To many, Durga is simply Devi, which means ‘Goddess’ and comes from the Sanskrit ‘Deva’, which means ‘to shine’.¹

The ancient myth of Durga dates back to the 5th century CE, and is called the Devi Mahatmyam (Triumph of the Goddess). It is an epic tale of the triumph of wisdom over ignorance, and the corresponding chant of the same name is still recited all over India, and the world, today. The story tells of Her limitless power, making the chant one that calls on the Great Feminine to appear when we need her protection.

(Listen to one of my favorite versions by my teacher here!)

In its verses, Durga appears in many forms, helping us when we need strength in all different areas of our life. She appears as Buddhi (Intelligence), Nidra (Sleep), Kshudhi (Hunger), Shakti (Power), Kshanti (Forgiveness), Shanti (Peace), Daya (Compassion)… and many more.

In his book, Shakti Mantras, Thomas Ashley-Ferrand says, “The variety of attributes this hymn consigns to Durga conveys what the celestials understood about the extent of Her power.”

Mural of Durga at Pashupathninath in Nepal (photo by Laura Amazzone)

So we can understand here then that Durga is much more than a “warrior goddess”. She is the Infinite Power behind our awakening, the Inner Force that unleashes life within the human body, in the form of Prana.

Durga ignites our spiritual fire.

Ashley-Ferrand shares that Mantras recited to Durga produce two profound results: “The first is a kind of vibrational protective armor that shrugs off attempts to enter our lives and world through intrigue or actual opposition to us. The other result is much more subtle. It is as if a field of proactive intelligence guards us from negative persons or circumstances.”

Therefore in essence, Durga is a Guardian. And who doesn’t need to call on a Guardian Angel every now and then?

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The simple Mantra Om Dum Durgayei Namaha calls on the Divine support, fearless strength, and fierce protection of Mother Durga. We acknowledge Her power, and humbly offer our reverence to Her for bestowing such immense grace and fortitude upon us. This Sanskrit Mantra translates as:

Om and salutations to Durga Ma, the bestower of compassion, fearlessness and patience. May you bless me with your protection and love.

Here is a general breakdown of this translation:

Om (Aum): The Divine Word and primordial origin of Sound
Dum: The bija for Durga*
Durgayei: A formal name for Durga (literally “The Fort”)
Namaha: I bow to you

Sanskrit: ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः

This Mantra creates a direct connection to Shakti energy – the personification of Divine Feminine power, the force of all creation.

*A “bija” (bee-juh), or seed mantra, is a one-syllable word or sound repeated aloud or silently for its vibrational powers. As the seed mantra of Durga, “dum” is the sound that provides protective energy. It is pronounced almost like a cross between the words “doom” and “dumb”, with the vowel sounding like the English word “book”.

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¹From Science & Nonduality – full article here. ²From India Currents – full article here. (I highly recommend both of these reads to learn more about Durga!)

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What is Sanskrit?

Sanskrit is an ancient language of India. Poems, prayers, and scriptures of India and the Yoga tradition are commonly written in Sanskrit. These Mantras can be chanted, or spoken (silently or aloud) during meditation.

Sanskrit Mantras are sound formulas, packed with energy & intention, that have a profound effect on the body-mind. When these sound waves (Mantras) are combined with thought waves (intentions), they become powerful tools for insight, healing, creativity and spiritual growth… Learn more and grab your FREE download →

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