Saptashati Nyasa: Viniyoga, Karanyasa, Hridayadi Nyasa & Durga Dhyana

Saptashati Nyasa is the last preparatory step before the Durga Saptashati is recited. It places the Saptashati itself on the body of the reciter: its Viniyoga names the Rishis, deities, metres, Shaktis, Bijas, Tattvas and Vedas of the three Charitras; six of the Saptashati's own protective verses are set on the hands and limbs through Karanyasa and Hridayadi Nyasa; and the Dhyana fixes the mind on three-eyed Durga seated on her lion.

On this page you will find each part in its traditional order, with the Sanskrit, the transliteration, the meaning and the point of the body to which each verse belongs.

Saptashati Nyasa

Viniyoga of the three Charitras.
Karanyasa – six protective verses placed on the thumbs, fingers, palms and backs of the hands.
Hridayadi Nyasa – the same six verses placed on the heart, head, shikha and body, on the eyes, and as the weapon.
Dhyanam – meditation on Goddess Durga.

After these, the Viniyoga and Dhyana of the Prathama Charitra are performed, and the recitation begins with "Markandeya Uvacha".

Place of Saptashati Nyasa in Durga Saptashati

In the sequence set out in the Sankalpa of the Path Vidhi, the Saptashati Nyasa follows the Navarna Vidhi and leads directly into the Saptashati:

… → Devi Atharvashirsha → Navarna Vidhi → Saptashati Nyasa and Dhyana → Prathama Charitra Viniyoga and Dhyana → Durga Saptashati (Markandeya Uvacha)

The order and the accompanying rituals can vary by tradition, lineage or method of recitation; devotees should follow the method prescribed by their Guru or family tradition. The complete procedure is given in the Shri Durga Saptashati Path Vidhi.

Saptashati Nyasa: Step by Step

॥ सप्तशतीन्यासः ॥

After the Navarna Vidhi, the Viniyoga, Nyasa and Dhyana of the Saptashati are performed as follows.

Viniyoga

॥ विनियोगः ॥

प्रथममध्यमोत्तरचरित्राणां ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रा ऋषयः, श्रीमहाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वत्यो देवताः, गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टुभश्छन्दांसि, नन्दाशाकम्भरीभीमाः शक्तयः, रक्तदन्तिकादुर्गाभ्रामर्यो बीजानि, अग्निवायुसूर्यास्तत्त्वानि, ऋग्यजुःसामवेदा ध्यानानि, सकलकामनासिद्धये श्रीमहाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वतीदेवताप्रीत्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः॥

Prathama-Madhyama-Uttara-Charitranam Brahma-Vishnu-Rudra Rishayah, Shri-Mahakali-Mahalakshmi-Mahasarasvatyo Devatah, Gayatry-Ushnig-Anushtubhash Chhandamsi, Nanda-Shakambhari-Bhimah Shaktayah, Raktadantika-Durga-Bhramaryo Bijani, Agni-Vayu-Suryas Tattvani, Rig-Yajuh-Samaveda Dhyanani, Sakala-Kamana-Siddhaye Shri-Mahakali-Mahalakshmi-Mahasarasvati-Devata-Prityarthe Jape Viniyogah ||

Meaning: Of the first, middle and last Charitras, the Rishis are Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra; the deities are Shri Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati; the metres are Gayatri, Ushnik and Anushtubh; the Shaktis are Nanda, Shakambhari and Bhima; the Bijas are Raktadantika, Durga and Bhramari; the Tattvas are Agni, Vayu and Surya; and the Dhyanas are the Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda. The recitation is employed for the fulfilment of every wish and for the pleasure of Shri Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati.

Each item in the Viniyoga belongs to one Charitra, in order:

Aspect	Prathama Charitra	Madhyama Charitra	Uttama Charitra
Rishi	Brahma	Vishnu	Rudra
Deity	Mahakali	Mahalakshmi	Mahasaraswati
Metre	Gayatri	Ushnik	Anushtubh
Shakti	Nanda	Shakambhari	Bhima
Bija	Raktadantika	Durga	Bhramari
Tattva	Agni	Vayu	Surya
Dhyana (Veda)	Rigveda	Yajurveda	Samaveda

Karanyasa

॥ करन्यासः ॥

Six protective verses of the Saptashati are placed on the hands. Each verse is recited in full, followed by its nyasa ending, while the named part of both hands is touched.

1. Thumbs – Angushthabhyam Namah

ॐ खड्गिनी शूलिनी घोरा गदिनी चक्रिणी तथा। शङ्खिनी चापिनी बाणभुशुण्डीपरिघायुधा॥ अङ्गुष्ठाभ्यां नमः॥

Om Khadgini Shulini Ghora Gadini Chakrini Tatha | Shankhini Chapini Bana-Bhushundi-Parighayudha || Angushthabhyam Namah ||

Meaning: You wield the sword and the trident; you are terrible to behold; you bear the mace, the discus, the conch and the bow; arrows, the bhushundi and the parigha are your weapons. Salutations – on the thumbs.

2. Index fingers – Tarjanibhyam Namah

ॐ शूलेन पाहि नो देवि पाहि खड्गेन चाम्बिके। घण्टास्वनेन नः पाहि चापज्यानिःस्वनेन च॥ तर्जनीभ्यां नमः॥

Om Shulena Pahi No Devi Pahi Khadgena Chambike | Ghanta-Svanena Nah Pahi Chapa-Jya-Nihsvanena Cha || Tarjanibhyam Namah ||

Meaning: O Goddess, protect us with your trident; O Ambika, protect us with your sword. Protect us with the sound of your bell and with the twang of your bowstring. Salutations – on the index fingers.

3. Middle fingers – Madhyamabhyam Namah

ॐ प्राच्यां रक्ष प्रतीच्यां च चण्डिके रक्ष दक्षिणे। भ्रामणेनात्मशूलस्य उत्तरस्यां तथेश्वरि॥ मध्यमाभ्यां नमः॥

Om Prachyam Raksha Pratichyam Cha Chandike Raksha Dakshine | Bhramanenatma-Shulasya Uttarasyam Tatheshvari || Madhyamabhyam Namah ||

Meaning: O Chandika, protect us in the east, in the west and in the south; and in the north too, O Ishvari, by the whirling of your trident. Salutations – on the middle fingers.

4. Ring fingers – Anamikabhyam Namah

ॐ सौम्यानि यानि रूपाणि त्रैलोक्ये विचरन्ति ते। यानि चात्यर्थघोराणि तै रक्षास्मांस्तथा भुवम्॥ अनामिकाभ्यां नमः॥

Om Saumyani Yani Rupani Trailokye Vicharanti Te | Yani Chatyartha-Ghorani Tai Rakshasmams Tatha Bhuvam || Anamikabhyam Namah ||

Meaning: With those gentle forms of yours that move through the three worlds, and with those that are exceedingly terrible, protect us and the earth. Salutations – on the ring fingers.

5. Little fingers – Kanishthikabhyam Namah

ॐ खड्गशूलगदादीनि यानि चास्त्राणि तेऽम्बिके। करपल्लवसङ्गीनि तैरस्मान् रक्ष सर्वतः॥ कनिष्ठिकाभ्यां नमः॥

Om Khadga-Shula-Gadadini Yani Chastrani Te'mbike | Karapallava-Sangini Tair Asman Raksha Sarvatah || Kanishthikabhyam Namah ||

Meaning: O Ambika, with the weapons that rest in your tender hands – the sword, the trident, the mace and the rest – protect us on every side. Salutations – on the little fingers.

6. Palms and backs of the hands – Karatala-Karaprishthabhyam Namah

ॐ सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते। भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते॥ करतलकरपृष्ठाभ्यां नमः॥

Om Sarvasvarupe Sarveshe Sarva-Shakti-Samanvite | Bhayebhyas Trahi No Devi Durge Devi Namo'stu Te || Karatala-Karaprishthabhyam Namah ||

Meaning: O Goddess who are the form of all, the ruler of all, endowed with every power – save us from fears. O Goddess Durga, salutations to you. Salutations – on the palms and the backs of the hands.

Hridayadi Nyasa

॥ हृदयादिन्यासः ॥

The same six verses are now placed on the body. The mark ॰ is an abbreviation: each verse is recited in full, as in the Karanyasa, and then its nyasa ending is added.

ॐ खड्गिनी शूलिनी घोरा॰ हृदयाय नमः॥ ॐ शूलेन पाहि नो देवि॰ शिरसे स्वाहा॥ ॐ प्राच्यां रक्ष प्रतीच्यां च॰ शिखायै वषट्॥ ॐ सौम्यानि यानि रूपाणि॰ कवचाय हुम्॥ ॐ खड्गशूलगदादीनि॰ नेत्रत्रयाय वौषट्॥ ॐ सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे॰ अस्त्राय फट्॥

Om Khadgini Shulini Ghora… Hridayaya Namah || Om Shulena Pahi No Devi… Shirase Svaha || Om Prachyam Raksha Pratichyam Cha… Shikhayai Vashat || Om Saumyani Yani Rupani… Kavachaya Hum || Om Khadga-Shula-Gadadini… Netratrayaya Vaushat || Om Sarvasvarupe Sarveshe… Astraya Phat ||

Touch points, in order, with the right hand: the heart – the head – the shikha – the shoulders, with the arms crossed (the kavacha, or armour) – the two eyes and the centre of the brow (the three eyes). For the astra mantra the right hand is carried around the head and the left palm is struck with the index and middle fingers.

Dhyanam

॥ ध्यानम् ॥ ॐ विद्युद्दामसमप्रभां मृगपतिस्कन्धस्थितां भीषणां कन्याभिः करवालखेटविलसद्धस्ताभिरासेविताम्। हस्तैश्चक्रगदासिखेटविशिखांश्चापं गुणं तर्जनीं बिभ्राणामनलात्मिकां शशिधरां दुर्गां त्रिनेत्रां भजे॥

Om Vidyud-Dama-Samaprabham Mrigapati-Skandha-Sthitam Bhishanam Kanyabhih Karavala-Kheta-Vilasad-Hastabhir Asevitam | Hastaish Chakra-Gada-Asi-Kheta-Vishikhamsh Chapam Gunam Tarjanim Bibhranam Analatmikam Shashidharam Durgam Trinetram Bhaje ||

Meaning: I worship three-eyed Durga – radiant as a garland of lightning, seated on the shoulder of the lion, fearsome to behold, attended by maidens whose hands flash with swords and shields; who holds in her hands the discus, the mace, the sword, the shield, arrows, the bow, the bowstring and the raised finger of warning (tarjani); who is of the nature of fire and bears the crescent moon.

Significance of Saptashati Nyasa

The Saptashati Nyasa arms the reciter with the Saptashati's own words. The six verses placed on the hands and body are not borrowed from elsewhere: five are the gods' prayer for protection to Narayani in the eleventh chapter, and "Khadgini Shulini" is from Brahma's hymn in the first. The Viniyoga binds the three Charitras to their Rishis, deities, metres, Shaktis, Bijas, Tattvas and Vedas – the same correspondences that open each Charitra when it is recited.

Nyasa and Dhyana together make the body the seat of the text and fix the mind on its deity, so that the first word of the Path is spoken by a reciter already clothed in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do the six protective verses of the Karanyasa come from?

From the Durga Saptashati itself. Five – "Shulena pahi no Devi", "Prachyam raksha", "Saumyani yani rupani", "Khadga-shula-gadadini" and "Sarvasvarupe sarveshe" – are from the gods' hymn to Narayani in Chapter 11. "Khadgini Shulini Ghora" is from Brahma's hymn to Yoganidra in Chapter 1, recited earlier in the sequence as Verse 9 of the Tantrokta Ratri Suktam.

How is Saptashati Nyasa different from the Nyasa in the Navarna Vidhi?

The Navarna Vidhi places the nine-syllable Navarna mantra on the body; the Saptashati Nyasa places the Saptashati itself – its Viniyoga and six of its own verses. The Navarna Vidhi has six kinds of Nyasa and three Dhyanas; the Saptashati Nyasa has Karanyasa and Hridayadi Nyasa and one Dhyana, of Durga.

In the Hridayadi Nyasa, is the whole verse recited or only its first words?

The whole verse. The text abbreviates each line with the mark ॰ because the verses have just been recited in full in the Karanyasa; in practice the full verse is said and then the nyasa ending – Hridayaya Namah, Shirase Svaha and so on.

Is Saptashati Nyasa compulsory before reciting the Durga Saptashati?

In the full Path Vidhi it is: the Sankalpa itself undertakes the Path "with the Saptashati Nyasa and Dhyana, and the Viniyoga, Nyasa and Dhyana of the Charitras". Simpler forms of parayana may leave out some of the preliminaries, so devotees should follow the method of their Guru or family tradition.

Conclusion

Saptashati Nyasa closes the preparation for the Path: the three Charitras are named with their Rishis, deities and powers, the Saptashati's own protective verses are placed on the hands and body, and three-eyed Durga on her lion is held in the mind. From here the reciter passes to the Viniyoga and Dhyana of the Prathama Charitra, and the Durga Saptashati begins with "Markandeya Uvacha".