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Kilaka Stotram

The Kilaka Stotram - a preliminary hymn (anga) that acts as the "key" (kilaka) unlocking the power of the Durga Saptashati.

ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै॥ मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥

ॐ विशुद्धज्ञानदेहाय त्रिवेदीदिव्यचक्षुषे।
श्रेयःप्राप्तिनिमित्ताय नमः सोमार्धधारिणे॥१॥

सर्वमेतद्विजानीयान्मन्त्राणामभिकीलकम्।
सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सततं जाप्यतत्परः॥२॥

सिद्ध्यन्त्युच्चाटनादीनि वस्तूनि सकलान्यपि।
एतेन स्तुवतां देवि स्तोत्रमात्रेण सिद्ध्यति॥३॥

न मन्त्रो नौषधं तत्र न किञ्चिदपि विद्यते।
विना जाप्येन सिद्ध्येत सर्वमुच्चाटनादिकम्॥४॥

समग्राण्यपि सिद्ध्यन्ति लोकशङ्कामिमां हरः।
कृत्वा निमन्त्रयामास सर्वमेवमिदं शुभम्॥५॥

स्तोत्रं वै चण्डिकायास्तु तच्च गुप्तं चकार सः।
समाप्तिर्न च पुण्यस्य तां यथावन्नियन्त्रणाम्॥६॥

सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सर्वमेव न संशयः।
कृष्णायां वा चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां वा समाहितः॥७॥

ददाति प्रतिगृह्णाति नान्यथैषा प्रसीदति।
इत्थं रूपेण कीलेन महादेवेन कीलितम्॥८॥

यो निष्कीलां विधायैनां नित्यं जपति संस्फुटम्।
स सिद्धः स गणः सोऽपि गन्धर्वो जायते नरः॥९॥

न चैवापाटवं तस्य भयं क्वापीह जायते।
नापमृत्युवशं याति मृतो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्॥१०॥

ज्ञात्वा प्रारभ्य कुर्वीत न कुर्वाणो विनश्यति।
ततो ज्ञात्वैव सम्पन्नमिदं प्रारभ्यते बुधैः॥११॥

सौभाग्यादि च यत्किञ्चिद् दृश्यते ललनाजने।
तत्सर्वं तत्प्रसादेन तेन जाप्यमिदं शुभम्॥१२॥

शनैस्तु जप्यमानेऽस्मिन् स्तोत्रे सम्पत्तिरुच्चकैः।
भवत्येव समग्रापि ततः प्रारभ्यमेव तत्॥१३॥

ऐश्वर्यं यत्प्रसादेन सौभाग्यारोग्यसम्पदः।
शत्रुहानिः परो मोक्षः स्तूयते सा न किं जनैः॥१४॥

om namashchandikayai॥ markandeya uvacha॥

om vishuddhajnanadehaya trivedidivyachakshushe।
shreyahpraptinimittaya namah somardhadharine॥1॥

sarvametadvijaniyanmantranamabhikilakam।
so'pi kshemamavapnoti satatam japyatatparah॥2॥

siddhyantyuchchatanadini vastuni sakalanyapi।
etena stuvatam devi stotramatrena siddhyati॥3॥

na mantro naushadham tatra na kinchidapi vidyate।
vina japyena siddhyeta sarvamuchchatanadikam॥4॥

samagranyapi siddhyanti lokashankamimam harah।
kritva nimantrayamasa sarvamevamidam shubham॥5॥

stotram vai chandikayastu tachcha guptam chakara sah।
samaptirna cha punyasya tam yathavanniyantranam॥6॥

so'pi kshemamavapnoti sarvameva na samshayah।
krishnayam va chaturdashyamashtamyam va samahitah॥7॥

dadati pratigrihnati nanyathaisha prasidati।
ittham rupena kilena mahadevena kilitam॥8॥

yo nishkilam vidhayainam nityam japati samsphutam।
sa siddhah sa ganah so'pi gandharvo jayate narah॥9॥

na chaivapatavam tasya bhayam kvapiha jayate।
napamrityuvasham yati mrito mokshamavapnuyat॥10॥

jnatva prarabhya kurvita na kurvano vinashyati।
tato jnatvaiva sampannamidam prarabhyate budhaih॥11॥

saubhagyadi cha yatkinchid drishyate lalanajane।
tatsarvam tatprasadena tena japyamidam shubham॥12॥

shanaistu japyamane'smin stotre sampattiruchchakaih।
bhavatyeva samagrapi tatah prarabhyameva tat॥13॥

aishvaryam yatprasadena saubhagyarogyasampadah।
shatruhanih paro mokshah stuyate sa na kim janaih॥14॥

Frequently asked questions about Kilaka Stotram

What is a kilaka?

A pin or nail. The Saptashati is described as locked, and the Kilaka Stotram is the hymn that draws the pin - which is why the tradition places it with the Kavacha and Argala before the recitation.

Why would a scripture be locked?

The imagery says that the text has a power that is not simply available on reading - it is approached through its own preliminaries. Whether one reads that ritually or as a lesson in preparation, the practice is the same.

Is it recited on its own?

It can be, and Devi upasakas recite the three limbs daily. But it is short and preparatory by design, so most people meet it as the third step before the Saptashati rather than as a hymn in itself.

When is it recited?

Through Navratri and at Durga Puja, immediately before the Saptashati chapters, and on Tuesdays and Fridays where a daily Devi recitation is kept.

In what order do the three limbs come?

Kavacha, then Argala, then Kilaka, then the Devi Suktam, then the chapters, with the Navarna mantra chanted between them. Priests vary in detail; follow the one guiding your path.

About the Kilaka Stotram

The Kilaka Stotram - a preliminary hymn (anga) that acts as the "key" (kilaka) unlocking the power of the Durga Saptashati.

Meaning

The hymn praises Shiva and the Goddess and reveals how reciting the Saptashati removes the "kilaka" (lock) so that the chant bears its full fruit.

Benefits

Recited together with Argala and Kavacha before the Chandi Path to ensure complete success, protection and blessings from the recitation.

The Kilaka Stotram above is given in both Devanagari (Sanskrit) and Roman transliteration so you can read it in whichever script you are comfortable with - switch between the two using the buttons above, share the link, or download a PDF.

A stotram is a longer Sanskrit hymn of praise, not a forty-verse chalisa and not the lamp-song of an aarti. Browse every stotra on the Stotram index. For japa of a short formula use a mantra. The steps of worship around the recitation are in Puja Vidhi.