Shri Devi (Parvati) Ji Ki Stuti

"Jai Jai Jagjanani Devi" is a hymn to the Divine Mother by Goswami Tulsidas, commonly given as a pad from the Vinay Patrika, where he places petitions before many deities before turning to Ram. It is a Hindi hymn in the Brajbhasha-Sanskrit mixed style of Tulsidas, and it is not a Vedic text. The Goddess is addressed by several names (Kalika, Mahesh-bhamini, Himshail-balika), which tradition treats as forms of the one Shakti: Kali, Parvati and Durga.

Verse 1: the world mother. "Jai jai jagajanani devi" hails the mother of the world, served by gods (sura), humans (nara), sages (muni) and demons (asura), which shows that she is the refuge of all. She gives enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation (mukti), and as Kalika she removes fear (bhayaharani).

Verse 2: light against darkness. She is the home of auspiciousness (mangal), joy (mud) and success (siddhi). Her face is like the full moon (parva-sharvarish-vadani), and for the darkness of suffering (taap-timir) she is like a garland of the rays of the rising sun. The image is of a gentle, bright face and a power that dispels darkness.

Verse 3: the warrior form. In her hands are armour, shield, sword, trident, spear, bow and arrows. She supports the world (dharani), crushes the armies of demons (dalani danava-dal) and is fearsome in battle (ran-karalika). This is the form recalled in the Devi Mahatmya.

Verse 4: the fears. The verse names Putana, pishach, pret, dakini, shakini, bhoot, graha (afflicting forces) and betal. These are spirit-beings in traditional belief, and in a devotional reading also stand for fears and dangers of every kind. It says she is like a net (jalika) that traps them as a net traps birds and deer. Please read this as a poetic picture of her power, and not as a reason for fear.

Verse 5: her many names. "Jai Mahesh-bhamini" hails the consort of Mahesh (Shiva), with many forms and names (aneka-roop-naamini), queen of all worlds (samast-lok-swamini) and the daughter of the Himalaya (Himshail-balika), i.e. Parvati. See the Parvati Chalisa and Shiv Chalisa.

Verse 6: Tulsidas''s own prayer. This is the heart of the hymn. "Raghupati-pad param prem, Tulsi yah achal nem" says: my firm vow is supreme love for the feet of Ram. "Dehu vhai prasann, pahi pranat-palika" asks the Goddess to be pleased, to give this, and to protect, as the cherisher of those who bow to her. He does not ask for wealth or victory, but for steady devotion, with the Goddess as the one who grants it. This is also why the hymn sits comfortably among Ram devotion (see the Ram Chalisa).

The wider message. The hymn moves from power over the world and over fear, to her beauty and her role in the family of Shiva, and ends with the humble request that matters most to the poet. Benefits mentioned in tradition, such as protection and peace, are matters of faith and a devotional focus. Reading can bring calm, but it is not a treatment for illness or anxiety, so please take proper help alongside prayer. See also the Durga Chalisa and Kali Chalisa.