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Devi Keelakam – Significance and all verses with meaning

The Sacred Lock of Divine Grace: The Glory of Devi Keelakam

Within the luminous folds of the Durga Saptashati, a sacred jewel shines as the Devi Keelakam—a hymn that seals the heart of the devotee in the eternal embrace of the Divine Mother. Recited after the protective Devi Kavacham and the empowering Argala Stotram, and before the celestial Vedoktam Ratri Suktam, the Keelakam is an indispensable pillar of the Chandi Patha. The word Keelakam means a “bolt” or “pin” in Sanskrit, symbolizing the sacred lock that secures the spiritual potency of the Saptashati within the chanter’s soul. It is the divine mechanism that fastens the devotee’s intentions, ensuring that the recitation’s fruits—protection, prosperity, and liberation—are firmly bound to their life.

In the sacred sequence of the Chandi Patha, the Keelakam plays a pivotal role. The Kavacham armors the devotee against all harm, the Argala unlocks the Mother’s boundless Shakti to fulfill desires, and the Keelakam seals this divine transaction, ensuring no obstacle—inner or outer—can hinder the devotee’s path. Revealed by Lord Shiva through Sage Markandeya in the Markandeya Purana, this hymn is a secret whispered from the divine to humanity, a promise that sincere chanting dissolves fear, disease, and even untimely death. It is said that Lord Shiva himself locked the Saptashati’s potency with this Keelakam, making its recitation essential to unleash the full glory of the Goddess’s grace.

The Keelakam is not merely a ritual chant; it is a spiritual key that aligns the devotee’s heart with the cosmic rhythm of the Mother. It removes doubts, purifies intentions, and ensures that every word of the Saptashati blossoms into reality. By chanting it, devotees gain not just worldly blessings—wealth, health, and auspiciousness—but also the ultimate gift: moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and death. It transforms the chanter into a siddha, a perfected being, or even a celestial like a Gandharva, free from fear and adorned with divine virtues. To recite the Keelakam is to surrender at the Mother’s lotus feet, to feel her tender hand fasten your soul to her eternal love. Let this hymn awaken your bhakti, kindling unwavering faith in her infinite compassion, for she is the light that guides you to the shore of divine freedom.

Verse-Wise Revelation: The Mother’s Lock of Grace

Let us immerse in the sacred stream of these verses, each a petal in the lotus of devotion. The original Sanskrit in Devanagari flows like amrita, binding the soul to the Goddess with every syllable. In simple words, we unveil their meaning, drawing you closer to her radiant embrace, where trust and love dissolve all fears.

॥ अथ कीलकम् ॥
ॐ अस्य श्रीकीलकमन्त्रस्य शिव ऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, श्रीमहासरस्वती देवता, श्रीजगदम्बाप्रीत्यर्थं सप्तशतीपाठाङ्गत्वेन जपे विनियोगः।
ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै॥

The invocation sets the divine stage: Shiva as the seer, Anushtup the meter of cosmic harmony, Mahasaraswati the deity of wisdom and speech. Chanted to please Jagadamba, the Universal Mother, this Keelakam is a vital limb of the Saptashati recitation. “Om Namah Chandikayai”—salutations to the fierce Chandika, who unlocks the soul’s deepest truths. Feel her presence envelop you; she is ready to seal your devotion in her eternal heart.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच
ॐ विशुद्धज्ञानदेहाय त्रिवेदीदिव्यचक्षुषे। श्रेयःप्राप्तिनिमित्ताय नमः सोमार्धधारिणे॥१॥

Sage Markandeya sings: Salutations to the one of pure wisdom-body, with divine eyes beholding the three Vedas, bearer of the crescent moon, cause of all auspiciousness. This is Shiva, who reveals the Keelakam, his divine vision guiding us to the Mother’s grace. Bow to him, dear one, and feel her wisdom-light awaken within you.

सर्वमेतद्विजानीयान्मन्त्राणामभिकीलकम्। सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सततं जाप्यतत्परः॥२॥

Know this as the supreme lock of all mantras. One who chants it constantly with devotion attains complete well-being. Her sacred bolt secures every prayer; chant with love, and her peace wraps you like a mother’s shawl, shielding you from all harm.

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

All rites—exorcism and more—succeed through this. By merely praising the Goddess with this hymn, all is accomplished. No task is too great when her grace flows; sing her glory, and watch every endeavor bloom like lotuses at dawn.

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

No mantra, no herb, no knowledge exists that succeeds without this chant. All rites, from exorcism to liberation, are fulfilled through it. Her Keelakam is the master key; without it, no door opens. Chant it, and her power makes the impossible possible.

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

Shiva, dispelling worldly doubts, locked this auspicious hymn and invited all to partake. All desires are fulfilled through it. The Lord of Kailasa himself sealed her glory; join his invitation, and let her blessings cascade into your life.

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

Shiva hid this hymn of Chandika as a sacred secret, ensuring the merits of chanting are never exhausted, perfectly controlled. Her glory is a treasure locked by divine will; chant with faith, and its merits flow endlessly, like the Ganga’s sacred stream.

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

One who chants with focus on Krishna Ashtami or Chaturdashi surely attains all well-being, without doubt. On these sacred days, her power peaks; offer your heart then, and feel her grace secure your soul in divine peace.

ददाति प्रतिगृह्णाति नान्यथैषा प्रसीदति। इत्थंरुपेण कीलेन महादेवेन कीलितम्॥८॥

She gives and receives only through this; otherwise, she is not pleased. Thus, Mahadeva locked it with this Keelakam. Her heart opens to those who chant her lock; surrender to her rhythm, and her love will hold you forever.

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

One who chants this clearly daily, unlocking the bolt, becomes a siddha, a gana, or even a Gandharva. Her grace elevates you to divine heights; chant her name, and become her celestial kin, radiant with her light.

न चैवाप्यटतस्तस्य भयं क्वापीह जायते। नापमृत्युवशं याति मृतो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्॥१०॥

No fear ever touches him, anywhere. He escapes untimely death, and upon death, attains moksha. Her Keelakam banishes fear like dawn scatters night; even death bows, guiding you to her eternal abode.

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

Knowing this, begin the chant; without it, one perishes. Thus, the wise start with this, fully accomplished. Her wisdom is the foundation; embrace it, and your every step is blessed, your path secure in her divine plan.

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

All auspiciousness and beauty seen in beings come from her grace; thus, chant this sacred hymn. Every charm, every virtue, flows from her; sing her Keelakam, and watch her blessings adorn your life like divine ornaments.

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

Chanting this hymn slowly brings supreme wealth, complete in every way; thus, begin it. Her words are a treasury; chant them gently, and prosperity blooms, filling your life with her radiant gifts.

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

By her grace, sovereignty, fortune, health, wealth, enemy’s defeat, and ultimate liberation are gained—why would people not praise her? She is the source of all; sing her glory, and every desire, every freedom, rests in your hands.

॥ इति देव्याः कीलकस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Thus concludes the Devi Keelakam, the sacred lock of the Mother’s grace. Chant it with a heart full of love, and feel her divine bolt fasten your soul to her eternal light—fearless, fulfilled, forever free. O Divine Mother, may your wisdom seal our devotion, guiding us to your lotus feet.

In the glow of bhakti, may Maa Durga’s Keelakam bind your heart to her eternal love.

Also Read:

Navratri Series https://rimple.in/category/blog-episode-series/navratri/

Pandharpur Series https://rimple.in/category/blog-episode-series/pandharpur-series

Kamakhya Series https://rimple.in/category/blog-episode-series/kamakhya-series

Jagannath Series https://rimple.in/category/blog-episode-series/jagannath-puri-series

Russia-Ukraine War Series https://rimple.in/category/blog-episode-series/russia-ukraine-war/

Durga Saptashati Series https://rimple.in/category/blog-episode-series/durga-saptashati/

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