Salutations to Goddess Durga

Today is the first day of Nine nights of Durga Puja

O' divine mother,
You're my tutelary deity
I need be no pilgrim in search of piety

Thou art, the very breath of my life
I cease to exist without thee, safe.

Thou art, the earth I tread upon
Though the entire cosmos is thy dominion.

I've jettisoned pride, vanity and ego,
Bared my soul before thee long ago.

To seek benediction, thy love
Happy frame of mind, you give

Thou with eight arms holding mudras and. Weapons
Embellished in jewels, donned in red drapes

With a string of human skulls deck your neck
Eyes are sun, moon and fire that speak.

Thy image of riding a puissant Lion
For the virtuous, it's a boon,

Instill fear in whose deeds iniquitous
For thy presence is ubiquitous.

Thou assumed thy terrible Form
To exterminate cruel demons who harm.

O' Tripura sundari, (beauty of 3 worlds)
Even Brahma (creator) conceded defeat
In extolling thy beauty and feat.

Thou art is inimitable
Teeny me find it ineffable.

My spirits are exalted during Navaratri days
I quaff the nectar of thy love in many ways.

O' divine mother,
Bind me to thy feet as your ward
To trammel me from going wayward.

The little freedom I enjoy, let be
To do oblations and obeisance to thee.

When I feel bereft, where else can I turn to?
But chanting thy glory of mantras hither to.

O' mother, protect me from all maladies
Let me sing thy grandeur in melodies.