AstrologgerKatyayani Mantra
Katyayani is the sixth of the Navadurga, the nine forms of Durga honoured across Navratri's nine nights — the form she is said to have taken in the household of the sage Katyayana. She is approached specifically for marriage, where it is delayed or facing obstacles, which is why one verse addressed to her is searched far more than any other on this page. As with the other deity mantras here, there is no single one — the family below serves different occasions.
The 4 Katyayani Mantras
"Katyayani Mantra" is not a single verse. These are the forms in traditional use, each with its own purpose and count.
| Form | Opening | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Katyayani Beej Mantra | ॐ ह्रीं कात्यायन्यै स्वाहा | 11 malas daily for a fixed term, or 108 daily |
| Katyayani Moola Mantra | ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः | 108 daily |
| Katyayani Mantra for Marriage | कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि। | 11 malas daily for 11 to 21 days, a term tradition prescribes specifically for this verse |
| Katyayani Dhyana Shloka | वन्दे वाञ्छितमनोरथार्थ चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम | — |
Katyayani Beej Mantra
ॐ ह्रीं कात्यायन्यै स्वाहा
Om Hrīṁ Kātyāyanyai Svāhā
"Hrīṁ" is a seed syllable of auspiciousness, and the mantra closes on svāhā, the offering-syllable. This is the one kept for a fuller, more formal sadhana.
Count: 11 malas daily for a fixed term, or 108 daily
Katyayani Moola Mantra
ॐ देवी कात्यायन्यै नमः
Om Devī Kātyāyanyai Namaḥ
A bare salutation with no seed syllable attached. This is the one usually given to someone beginning the practice.
Count: 108 daily
Katyayani Mantra for Marriage
कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि। नन्द गोपसुतं देवि पतिं मे कुरु ते नमः॥
Kātyāyani Mahāmāye Mahāyoginyadhīśvari, Nanda Gopasutaṁ Devi Patiṁ Me Kuru Te Namaḥ.
The verse almost everyone searching for Katyayani actually means — a direct, specific request rather than a general salutation. It names her the great illusion and sovereign of the great yoginis, then asks plainly that she make the son of Nanda's cowherd household — Krishna, taken here as the ideal — her devotee's husband. In practice the request is read as being for a suitable match, not literally for Krishna.
Count: 11 malas daily for 11 to 21 days, a term tradition prescribes specifically for this verse
Katyayani Dhyana Shloka
वन्दे वाञ्छितमनोरथार्थ चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्। सिंहारूढा चतुर्भुजा कात्यायनी यशस्विनीम्॥
Vande Vāñchitamanorathārtha Chandrārdhakṛtaśekharām, Siṁhārūḍhā Chaturbhujā Kātyāyanī Yaśasvinīm.
The standard Navadurga dhyana verse for her form, held before worship: I bow to the glorious Katyayani, giver of desired aims, crowned with a half-moon, mounted on a lion, four-armed.
When and how to chant
Day: The sixth night of Navratri (Shashthi) above all
- The sixth day of Navratri, Shashthi, is her principal day; evening is the time usually kept.
- Face east in the morning and west in the evening — godhuli vela, dusk, is held to be the best time of day for her specifically. Yellow or red flowers and a lamp of ghee are customary.
- A rudraksha mala is traditional; the marriage mantra is specifically counted in 11 malas a day, for 11 to 21 days.
- Brahmacharya (celibacy) and a simple diet are traditionally observed for the length of a dedicated practice.
What tradition holds
Katyayani is approached specifically for marriage — where it is delayed, facing obstacles, or simply sought — more than for any other single purpose, which sets her apart from most other deity mantras in this cluster. She is also honoured generally as the sixth Navadurga, alongside the other eight forms across Navratri's nine nights. These are the reasons tradition gives for keeping these mantras; they are not claims about what any chant guarantees for a specific marriage.
Watch and chant along
Related mantras
Frequently asked questions
What is the mantra of Katyayani's husband?
Kātyāyani Mahāmāye Mahāyoginyadhīśvari, Nanda Gopasutaṁ Devi Patiṁ Me Kuru Te Namaḥ — the marriage mantra set out above, which asks her directly for a devotee's marriage to be granted. "Nanda Gopasuta" names Krishna as the ideal in the verse itself; in practice the request is read as being for a suitable match.
In how many days does the Katyayani mantra work?
Tradition prescribes 11 malas daily for 11 to 21 days as the length of a dedicated practice specifically for the marriage mantra — a term tradition gives for the sadhana, not a guarantee of an outcome in that time.
What is the mantra for the sixth day of Navratri?
Katyayani's mantras are the ones kept on Shashthi, the sixth night — the marriage mantra above is the one most specifically associated with this day, alongside her moola mantra and dhyana verse.
How is the nyasa-viniyoga of the Katyayani mantra done?
Nyasa and viniyoga are the formal preparatory steps — assigning the verse's sage, metre and deity, and placing syllables on the body — that precede a full tantric recitation. These are traditionally transmitted by a guru rather than practiced from a general description, so this page gives the mantra itself rather than a generic procedure for this part.