Devi Prayer
Craig Pruess and Ananda Lyrics

The lyrics to Craig Pruess's song Devi Prayer are a hymn to the divine feminine energy, addressed in various aspects and forms. The first stanza honors Ma Amba Lalitha Devi, who is described as Parashakti Sundari, the beautiful supreme energy. The repetition of the phrase "Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah" means "I bow to you, I honor you, I adore you, I salute you." The next stanza addresses Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Mahamaye Mangale, the auspicious great illusion. The term Mahamaya refers to the cosmic power of illusion, which creates and maintains the world of appearances. The third stanza salutes Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Mahakali Bhairavi, the fierce and terrifying goddess who destroys ignorance and ego. The term Bhairavi means "one who causes terror," and Kali is usually depicted with a garland of skulls and a sword, symbolizing the destruction of limited identity and the liberation of pure consciousness. The fourth stanza honors Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Mahalakshmi Vaishnavi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, who is also associated with the Vishnu aspect of the divine. The fifth stanza addresses Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Ma Sarasvati Brahmi, the goddess of knowledge, music, and creativity, who is also associated with the Brahma aspect of the divine. The sixth stanza salutes Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Durga Devi Shankari, the invincible warrior goddess who defends the righteous and slays the demons. The term Shankari refers to her association with Shiva, the masculine aspect of the divine. The seventh stanza honors Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Uma Parvati Shive, the consort of Shiva, who represents the unity of masculine and feminine energies. The eighth stanza addresses Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Ma Bhavani Ambike, the mother of all beings and the source of divine grace. The term Ambike means "gracious mother," and Bhavani is one of the names of Parvati. The ninth stanza salutes Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Annapurna Lakshmi Ma, the goddess of food and sustenance, who is also associated with the Lakshmi aspect of the divine. The tenth and final stanza honors Ma Amba Lalitha Devi as Kamala Katyayani and Tvam Tripura Sundari. Kamala is another name for Lakshmi, and Katyayani is one of the forms of Durga. Tripura Sundari is the goddess of beauty and harmony, who represents the integration of all aspects of the divine.

This hymn reflects the Hindu tradition of honoring the divine feminine as the source and sustenance of all creation. Each name and form of the goddess represents a different aspect of her power and grace, and the repetition of the phrase "Namastasyai" emphasizes the attitude of humility, gratitude, and devotion. This hymn can be sung as a mantra, a meditation, or a prayer to connect with the divine mother and awaken her presence within oneself.