Keelaka Stotram & Kshama Prayer - Sri Durga Saptashati

Keelaka Stotram 
Rishi Markandeya tells his disciples in sixteen shlokas the ways and means of removing obstacles faced by devotees while reading Sri Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam). Reading of Keelakam brings blessings of Devi, spiritual harmony, peace of mind and success in all pursuits. Before commencing the Durga Saptashati chanting and after Devi Kavacham & Agrala Strotam, Goddess’s devotees generally chant Keelakam.

Kshama Prayer is done after recitation od Durga Saptashati, each time to seek forgiveness for committing deficiencies or excesses.

Verse-wise, the essence of Keelakam has been given hereunder. The verses in Sanskrit are mentioned at the end of explanations. 

1. The devotee offers salutations to the one (Shiva), the essence of whose form is that of pure knowledge (of absolute consciousness) and whose three divine eyes form the three Vedas, to imbibe that auspiciousness of pure knowledge. The devotee continues to offer salutations to Shiva who bears the half-of-moon and Shakti (in her body as ardhanareeswara). The devotee meditates on Shiva and Shakti in their conscious blissful form.

Keelaka is pin or nail. The conscious form of Shakti is pinned to all the mantras of devi mahatmyam as the underlying principle through the keelaka stotram.

1. All these hymns of Keelaka stotram, one should know, are indeed the keelaka (pin or nail) by which the mantras (of devi mahatmyan are pinned) (i.e., by which the underlying principle of the conscious form of devi are pinned), he who devotes himself to continuously chant these hymns, indeed attains tranquility of mind (i.e., he who continuously meditates on the conscious form of devi in the heart indeed attains tranquility of mind.
2. He accomplishes the eradication of inner enemies to the very root, and all related (material & spiritual) accomplishments, by extolling the devi with devotional fervour with the collection of hymns of Sri Durga Saptashati.
3. Such devotees do not require any other mantra or medicine, or means to accomplish material, spiritual or other fruits. Reciting devi mahatmyam is not like chanting any mantra to obtain the fruits, but for meditation on the conscious form of devi and merging our ego in her.
4. People had this doubt, if everything can be attained by reciting the devi mahatmyam or any other mantra, then which is better. Lord Shiva explained to His devotees that recitation of devi mahatayam is better and most auspicious.
5. That stotra of devi Chandika (i.e., Keelaka stotra), lord Shiva indeed made it hidden (behind every mantra of devi mahatmyam) thus making the conscious form of devi as the object of meditation, one achieves everything by her auspiciousness, when she is invoked in the right manner by meditating on her eternal conscious form.
6. One indeed attains tranquility of mind and all other fruits, there is no doubt about it, he who meditates (on the devi) on Krishna paksha Chaturdashi or Ashtami of a month.
7. While meditating on the conscious form of devi during recitation of devi mahatmyam, he should give himself in surrender to her lotus feet, and receive in return her grace; Otherwise, she is not pleased (by mechanical recitation of devi mahatmyam bereft of devotion), in this manner, by the keela (pin of keelaka stotram) Mahadeva pinned the mantras of devi mahatmyam (making the meditation on the conscious form of devi the central theme).
8. He who after unpinning the keelaka makes her manifest (i.e., invokes her conscious form in the heart), and then recites the Chandi, by constantly dwelling (on her conscious form), he becomes a siddha (spiritually accomplished), he becomes a gana (an attendant of the devi), he becomes a gandharva (celestial singer who glorifies the devi), truly.
9. He indeed does not become handicapped (prematurely) with major diseases; fear does not rise in him anywhere (which leads to unnecessary anxiety), he does not become victim of premature death; and after death attains moksha (liberation).
10. Only after knowing (the keelakam), he should begin (reciting the devi mahatmyam); if not done in this manner, he is deprived (of the fruits of recitation), therefore only after knowing this fully (i.e. understanding the keelaka fully), the wise men begin reciting the devi mahatmyam.
11. Whatever good fortune, beauty, charm and the like are seen in women, all that is the result of your grace; Therefore women should chant this auspicious stotra and meditate on the auspicious form of the devi.
12. If this stotra is chanted gently (without haste) (meditating on its true import), one attains (spiritual) wealth of the highest kind, one indeed becomes the whole (i.e., fragmentation of the ego gradually melts and one feels the conscious form of devi behind everything); therefore, one should undertake the chanting of this keelaka.
13. By whose grace divine qualities are awakened; by whose presence good fortune, health (freedom from disease) and wealth are manifested, by whose mercy enemies are eradicated; (and) by whose special grace one finally attains the highest liberation (moksha); why should’nt she be praised by the people (who is all-merciful)?
14. The person who constantly remembers (the conscious form of) devi Chandika with devotion, attains his innermost longing; and devi always dwells in his heart.
15. First of all, the preventive measure of keelaka created by Mahadeva (i.e. the pin of keelaka) should be unpinned, and then after doing that one should recite (the devi mahatmyam) with concentration (meditating on the conscious form of the devi).

 
Kshama Prayer

1. Oh, great goddess, I commit thousands of offences routinely, so please think me as your slave and please pardon me.
2. I do not how to invoke you, nor do I know how to send you away, and I also do not know how to worship you, and please pardon me.
3. I do not know chants or holy action or devotion, Oh God of the devas, and so whatever worship I do, please make it complete.
4. If one calls you, Mother of the universe and commits hundred mistakes, still you look after his salvation, and this cannot be done by Brahma and other devas.
5. Oh, mother of the universe, having committed several mistakes I seek your refuge, and worthy of mercy, please decide on the fate according to your wishes.
6. Oh, great goddess I have done whatever deficiency or excess, is all due to ignorance and wayward thoughts, and so excuse them all and be pleased with me.
7. Oh, Goddess of love, oh, mother of the world, oh source of eternal happiness, please accept my worship and with love become pleased with me.
8. Oh, goddess who is secret of secrets, please accept the chanting done by me, and make me powerful, through your grace, Oh Goddess of the devas.

 
॥ अथ कीलकस्तोत्रम् ॥
ॐ अस्य श्रीकीलकमन्त्रस्य शिवऋषिः, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः, श्रीमहासरस्वती देवता, श्रीजगदम्बाप्रीत्यर्थं
सप्तशतीपाठाङ्गत्वेन जपे विनियोगः । ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै ।
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
ॐ विशुद्धज्ञानदेहाय त्रिवेदीदिव्यचक्षुषे । श्रेयःप्राप्तिनिमित्ताय नमः सोमार्धधारिणे ॥ १॥
सर्वमेतद्विजानीयान्मन्त्राणामपि कीलकम् । सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सततं जप्यतत्परः ॥ २॥
सिद्ध्यन्त्युच्चाटनादीनि कर्माणि सकलान्यपि । एतेन स्तुवतां देवीं स्तोत्रवृन्देन भक्तितः ॥ ३॥
न मन्त्रो नौषधं तस्य न किञ्चिदपि विद्यते । विना जप्येन सिद्ध्येत्तु सर्वमुच्चाटनादिकम् ॥ ४॥
समग्राण्यपि सेत्स्यन्ति लोकशङ्कामिमां हरः । कृत्वा निमन्त्रयामास सर्वमेवमिदं शुभम् ॥ ५॥
स्तोत्रं वै चण्डिकायास्तु तच्च गुह्यं चकार सः । समाप्नोति स पुण्येन तां यथावन्निमन्त्रणाम् ॥ 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 चण्डीं जपति नित्यशः । स सिद्धः स गणः सोऽथ गन्धर्वो जायते ध्रुवम् ॥ ९॥
न चैवापाटवं तस्य भयं क्वापि न जायते । नापमृत्युवशं याति मृते च मोक्षमाप्नुयात् ॥ १०॥
ज्ञात्वा प्रारभ्य कुर्वीत ह्यकुर्वाणो विनश्यति । ततो ज्ञात्वैव सम्पूर्णमिदं प्रारभ्यते बुधैः ॥ ११॥
सौभाग्यादि च यत्किञ्चिद् दृश्यते ललनाजने । तत्सर्वं तत्प्रसादेन तेन जप्यमिदं शुभम् ॥ १२॥
शनैस्तु जप्यमानेऽस्मिन् स्तोत्रे सम्पत्तिरुच्चकैः । भवत्येव समग्रापि ततः प्रारभ्यमेव तत् ॥ १३॥
ऐश्वर्यं तत्प्रसादेन सौभाग्यारोग्यमेव च । शत्रुहानिः परो मोक्षः स्तूयते सा न किं जनैः ॥ १४॥
चण्डिकां हृदयेनापि यः स्मरेत् सततं नरः । हृद्यं काममवाप्नोति हृदि देवी सदा वसेत् ॥ १५॥
अग्रतोऽमुं महादेवकृतं कीलकवारणम् । निष्कीलञ्च तथा कृत्वा पठितव्यं समाहितैः ॥ १६॥
         ॥ इति श्रीभगवत्याः कीलकस्तोत्रं समाप्तम् ॥
 
क्षमा प्रार्थना
अपराधसहस्त्राणि क्रियन्तेऽहर्निशं मया। दासोऽयमिति मां मत्वा क्षमस्व परमेश्वारि॥१॥
आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि विसर्जनम्। पूजां चैव न जानामि क्षम्यतां परमेश्वारि॥२॥
मन्त्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं सुरेश्वरि। यत्पूजितं मया देवि परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे॥३॥
अपराधशतं कृत्वा जगदम्बेति चोच्चरेत्। यां गतिं समवाप्नोति न तां ब्रह्मादयः सुराः॥४॥
सापराधोऽस्मि शरणं प्राप्तस्त्वां जगदम्बिके। इदानीमनुकम्प्योऽहं यथेच्छसि तथा कुरू॥५॥
अज्ञानाद्विस्मृतेर्भ्रान्त्या यन्न्यूनमधिकं कृतम्। तत्सर्वं क्षम्यतां देवि प्रसीद परमेश्वरि॥६॥
कामेश्वंरि जगन्मातः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहे। गृहाणार्चामिमां प्रीत्या प्रसीद परमेश्वरि॥७॥
गुह्यातिगुह्यगोप्त्री त्वं गुहाणास्मत्कृतं जपम्। सिद्धिर्भवतु मे देवि त्वत्प्रसादात्सुरेश्वरि॥८॥
श्रीदुर्गार्पणमस्तु।