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Sankata Devi namashtakam
(The eight names of Sankata Devi)
Sankata Devi is known in Kashi as one of the most powerful
deities in the entire city. Sankata Ji as she is called, is
located high above the Sankata Ghat in the labyrinthine lanes of
the city. Sankata Devi means "Goddess of Dangers", for she is
the one who vanquishes dangers for her devotees. Sankata Devi
was originally a Matrika, one of the mothers. In Puranic Stories
she is called Vikat Matrika, the "Fierce Mother". Sankata Devi
is a self-manifested goddess and has ten hands. She is believed
to have the power to protect faraway husbands and to ensure
their safe return and so her temple in Banaras became an
important pilgrimage site during the peak period of colonial
migration.
Ananda kanane devi, Sankata nama vishrutha,
Veereswothare bhage poorvam chandreswarasya cha. 1
To the north of Veereswara and to the east of
Chandreswara,
In the forest of joy* , exists the very famous Goddess Sankata
* The city of Benares
Srunu namashtakam thasya sarva sidhikaram
nrunam,
Sankata prathamam namam, dwitheeyam vijayasthadha,
Thritheeyam Kamada proktham, chahurtham Dukha harini,
Sarvani panchamam nama shashtam karthyayani thadha,
Sapthamam Bheema nayana Sarva rogaharshtamam,
Nama ashtakamidham punyam trisandhyam sradhayanvitha,
Ya padethpadeyedwapi naro muchyathe sankatath. 2-4
Hear those eight names of her , who fulfills
all desires,
Remover of dangers is her first name,
Victorious Goddess is her second name,
Fulfiller of all desires is her third name,
Destroyer of sorrows is her fourth name,
She who is everything is her fifth name,
Daughter of Kathyayana is her sixth name,
Goddess with very large eyes is her seventh name,
She who cures all diseases is her eighth name.
He who reads these holy names with faith,
At the times of dawn. Noon and dusk ,
Or he who gets them read would never suffer dangers.
Translated by P.R.Ramachander
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