Vijayadashami 2026 Mantras and Puja Vidhi: Aparajita Puja, Shami Puja, Rama Mantras and Vijay Muhurat (Tuesday 20 October)

Quick answer: the main Vijayadashami 2026 mantras for Tuesday 20 October 2026 (India, Drik Panchang) are the Aparajita naam mantra "Om Aparajitayai Namah" with the stuti "Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu shakti-rupena samsthita", the Shami shloka "Shami shamayate papam", the Rama mantra "Ramaya Ramabhadraya" and "Shri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram". For Durga visarjan, families recite Sarva Mangala Mangalye and Jayanti Mangala. The Vijay Muhurat is in the early afternoon, for example 1:59–2:45 PM in New Delhi; see the state-capital table below.

After nine nights with the Mother, Vijayadashami is the day of victory. As commonly told, it marks Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and the Goddess's victory over Mahishasura, and it has long been seen as a blessed day to begin new learning, new work and new journeys. This guide brings together the traditional prayers for the day, exactly as they are recited, with simple meanings and a home puja you can follow in any apartment.

Vijayadashami 2026 at a glance

Outside India, Drik Panchang lists Durga Ashtami on 18 October and Maha Navami on 19 October in the USA, Canada and the UK, with Dussehra on 20 October. For US city muhurats, see Dussehra 2026 USA: Vijayadashami muhurat and Ravana Dahan timings.

Vijayadashami 2026 mantras with meaning

Each text below is given exactly as traditionally recited, followed by a plain-English meaning. If Sanskrit is new to you, a single mantra said slowly and with love is enough. For more prayers for strength, see Dussehra mantras: chant for inner strength and protection.

Aparajita puja mantras

Aparajita, "the unconquered", is the Goddess worshipped on Vijayadashami for victory over every obstacle, outer and inner. As commonly practised, the Aparajita puja is done in the afternoon, before setting out for Shami puja or Seemollanghan.

Aparajita naam mantra

ॐ अपराजितायै नमः॥

Om Aparajitayai Namah

Meaning: Om, salutations to Aparajita, the unconquered Goddess.

How to chant: 108 times on a mala after lighting the lamp, or 11 or 21 times.

Stuti: Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shakti-rupena

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Ya Devi sarvabhuteshu shakti-rupena samsthita, namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah.

Meaning: To the Goddess who abides in all beings as power (Shakti): salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. This verse comes from the Aparajita Stuti of the Devi Mahatmya, which is why it is so fitting today.

How to chant: 3, 11 or 21 times with folded hands.

Shami (Jammi) puja shloka

As commonly told, the Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree during their year in disguise and recovered them on Vijayadashami, and Lord Rama is said to have worshipped the Shami before setting out for Lanka. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh the leaves, called Jammi, are exchanged with elders and friends; see Jammi (Shami) leaf exchange on Dussehra.

Shami shloka

शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी। अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी॥

Shami shamayate papam shami shatru-vinashini, arjunasya dhanurdhari ramasya priyadarshini.

Meaning: The Shami quiets wrongdoing; the Shami destroys enemies. She held Arjuna's bow, and she was dear to Rama's sight.

How to chant: recite three times while offering water and kumkum to the tree, then walk around it.

Rama mantras

Ramaya Ramabhadraya

रामाय रामभद्राय रामचन्द्राय वेधसे। रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीतायाः पतये नमः॥

Ramaya ramabhadraya ramachandraya vedhase, raghunathaya nathaya sitayah pataye namah.

Meaning: Salutations to Rama, to Ramabhadra, to Ramachandra, to the wise Creator, to the Lord of the Raghus, to the Protector, to the husband of Sita.

How to chant: 11 or 108 times, especially before watching Ramlila or Ravan Dahan.

Shri Ram Jaya Ram

श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम॥

Shri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram

Meaning: Glory to Shri Rama, victory to Rama, victory, victory to Rama.

How to chant: sing it together as a family kirtan; children pick it up quickly.

Durga visarjan prayers

When the kalash, the Navratri sprouts or the Goddess's image is bid farewell, families recite these two verses, asking the Mother to come again next year.

Sarva Mangala Mangalye

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके। शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Sarva-mangala-mangalye shive sarvartha-sadhike, sharanye tryambake gauri narayani namostu te.

Meaning: O auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, O gracious one who fulfils every good aim, O refuge of all, three-eyed Gauri, O Narayani, salutations to you. (Narayani Stuti, Devi Mahatmya.)

How to chant: three times while offering the final flowers.

Jayanti Mangala

जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी। दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते॥

Jayanti mangala kali bhadrakali kapalini, durga kshama shiva dhatri svaha svadha namostu te.

Meaning: Salutations to you who are Jayanti (the victorious), Mangala (the auspicious), Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini, Durga, Kshama (forbearance), Shiva (the gracious), Dhatri (the sustainer), Svaha and Svadha. (Opening verse of the Argala Stotram.)

How to chant: three times, then gently move the kalash as a sign of farewell.

Simple Vijayadashami puja vidhi at home

• Morning: bathe, wear clean or new clothes and light the lamp at the Navratri altar. Offer flowers and thank the Mother for the nine days.
• Ayudha and vahana puja (general): clean your tools, books, laptop, musical instruments and vehicle, place a tilak of kumkum and turmeric on them and offer a flower. Many South Indian families did Ayudha Puja on Navami (19 October) and take the items back into use today. See Ayudha Puja, Vahana Puja and Shami Puja.
• Saraswati visarjan (general): families who placed books before Saraswati take them back today with a short prayer, and many children begin new learning (Vidyarambham). See Saraswati Puja and Vidyarambham.
• Aparajita puja: in the afternoon, draw a simple lotus or eight-petal design with rice flour or kumkum, invoke Aparajita with her naam mantra and the Ya Devi stuti, and offer flowers and akshata.
• Shami puja: at a Shami tree or potted Shami plant, offer water, kumkum, turmeric and a lamp, recite the Shami shloka three times and walk around it. Take a few leaves home.
• Exchange of leaves: as commonly practised in Maharashtra, apta leaves are exchanged as symbolic gold (sone) with elders and friends; in Telangana, Jammi leaves. Touch elders' feet and receive their blessings.
• Rama remembrance: chant Ramaya Ramabhadraya or Shri Ram Jaya Ram, and if you attend Ravan Dahan, keep a safe distance.
• Visarjan: recite Sarva Mangala Mangalye and Jayanti Mangala, move the kalash, and immerse the sprouts respectfully, or plant them in a garden or pot rather than a public waterway.

For the full festival background, read our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 guide and the Rama-Ravana and Durga-Mahishasura legends.

Vijay Muhurat on Vijayadashami 2026: state capitals

Vijay Muhurat is the short window in the afternoon that tradition considers especially auspicious for beginning new work and for Aparajita and Shami puja. Times below are for Tuesday 20 October 2026, local Indian time, from our state-by-state dataset. Gujarat (Gandhinagar) and Andhra Pradesh (Amaravati) are not listed because our dataset does not include those capitals; nearby Ahmedabad is 2:19–3:05 PM and Vijayawada 1:49–2:36 PM. For any other place, check Drik Panchang.

These are India times for Indian cities only. Do not convert them to other countries; muhurats are calculated from local sunrise and sunset. For state-specific traditions, see, for example, Dussehra 2026 in Maharashtra and Durga Puja and Bijoya Dashami in West Bengal.

NRI tips for Vijayadashami

• Tuesday 20 October is a working day abroad. Do the morning lamp and visarjan before work, and the Aparajita and Shami prayers in the evening if the afternoon is not possible.
• A small potted Shami plant from an Indian nursery or a friend's garden can stay with you year after year.
• Exchange of leaves can become a family custom by video call: show the leaves to grandparents and seek their blessings.
• Many temples abroad hold Ravan Dahan or Vijayadashami events on the nearest weekend; check your temple's website.

Previous and next

• Previous: Navratri 2026 Day 9: Maa Siddhidatri
• Next: Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 (pillar guide)

More Navratri and Dussehra 2026 guides

• Dussehra 2026 for women: Shakti, puja and new beginnings
• Ayudha Puja 2026 (Mon 19 Oct): tools, vehicles, books and laptops

Share the Vijayadashami 2026 blessing

After nine nights with the Mother, Vijayadashami arrives as the day of victory. As commonly told, Maa Durga overcame Mahishasura and Lord Rama overcame Ravana, so that dharma and light could shine again. Sharing a blessing today is a small way of carrying that light into the homes of those we love. Pick a message below, add your own warm words, and send it to your family and elders with a prayer.

Shami shloka for Vijayadashami

शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी। अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी॥

Shami shamayate papam shami shatru-vinashini, arjunasya dhanurdhari ramasya priyadarshini.

Meaning: The Shami tree takes away sin and destroys enemies; it held Arjuna's bow and is dear to Lord Rama. Many families recite this while offering Shami (Jammi) leaves on Vijayadashami.

Rama mantra to chant on Dussehra

रामाय रामभद्राय रामचन्द्राय वेधसे। रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीतायाः पतये नमः॥

Ramaya ramabhadraya ramachandraya vedhase, raghunathaya nathaya sitayah pataye namah.

Meaning: Salutations to Rama, to Ramabhadra, to Ramachandra the creator, to the lord of the Raghu clan, to the husband of Sita.

Vijayadashami 2026 messages to share

Happy Vijayadashami to our whole family 🪔 May the Mother's blessings that we received over nine nights stay in our home as peace, health and harmony. Share on WhatsApp

Dear Amma, Nanna and all our elders, I seek your blessings on this sacred Vijayadashami. Your love has always been my protection. Happy Dussehra 🙏 Share on WhatsApp

Happy Dussehra, dear friend! May this day of victory help you begin something new with courage, and may every step ahead be filled with light. ✨ Share on WhatsApp

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Vijayadashami. May every good beginning you make today grow into lasting success and happiness. Share on WhatsApp

May Maa Aparajita, the unconquered Goddess, stand beside you in every struggle and turn every fear into strength. Jai Mata Di! Happy Vijayadashami 🌺 Share on WhatsApp

May Lord Rama's name be on your lips and his patience in your heart. May he bless your family with truth, kindness and peace. Jai Shri Ram! 🙏 Share on WhatsApp

A short Vijayadashami prayer

Maa Durga, unconquered Mother, I bow to you on this day of victory. Thank you for staying with my family through these nine nights. Lord Rama, I bow to you as well. Please give me the strength to stand for what is right, the courage to begin again, and the wisdom to act with kindness. Keep my family free of fear, anger and negativity, and let us always walk together on the path of dharma.

Use the share buttons on this page to send these blessings to your family and friends.

Frequently asked questions

Which mantras are chanted on Vijayadashami 2026?

The main mantras are the Aparajita naam mantra Om Aparajitayai Namah, the Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu stuti, the Shami shloka, Ramaya Ramabhadraya and Shri Ram Jaya Ram. For Durga visarjan, families recite Sarva Mangala Mangalye and Jayanti Mangala.

When is the Vijay Muhurat on Vijayadashami 2026?

Vijayadashami is Tuesday 20 October 2026 in India, and the Vijay Muhurat falls in the early afternoon, for example 1:59 to 2:45 PM in New Delhi. Times vary by city, so check your local panchang for your place.

How is Aparajita Puja done on Vijayadashami?

In the afternoon, draw a simple lotus or eight-petal design with rice flour or kumkum, invoke Aparajita with Om Aparajitayai Namah and the Ya Devi stuti, and offer flowers and akshata. The naam mantra can be chanted 11, 21 or 108 times.

How do you perform Shami Puja?

At a Shami tree or potted Shami plant, offer water, kumkum, turmeric and a lamp, recite the Shami shloka three times and walk around the tree. Many families take a few leaves home and share them with elders.

What does the Shami shloka mean?

It says the Shami quiets wrongdoing and destroys enemies, that she held Arjuna's bow, and that she was dear to Rama's sight. As commonly told, the Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree and recovered them on Vijayadashami.

Which prayers are recited for Durga visarjan?

Families recite Sarva Mangala Mangalye and Jayanti Mangala three times each while offering the final flowers, then gently move the kalash as a sign of farewell, asking the Mother to come again next year.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address. India dates and the Dashami tithi are from Drik Panchang; the Vijay Muhurat times come from our state-by-state dataset for 20 October 2026. The mantras are traditional texts as commonly recited, given without additions. Customs vary between families and regions; please follow your family priest or temple.

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• Dussehra mantras for inner strength and protection
• Dussehra 2026 USA: muhurat and Ravana Dahan timings
• Navratri 2026 colours: 9 days list
• Navratri day-wise mantras and their significance
• Navratri 2026 complete guide for NRIs