caṇḍikāṣṭakam

Eight verses by Umapati Dvivedi, composed in a manner that turns as much on sound as on sense: the sixth is built almost wholly out of syllables on bha, and the eighth plays bhava, Bhavani and bhavanti against one another before ending at her lotus feet. Between them the Goddess is seen dwelling in a wide mountain cave, guardian of the three worlds, skull-bearing and yet lovely, mother of Ganesha and daughter of the mountain king, her dance so overwhelming that it schools even Ishvara. The phalashruti promises the fortune of lordship over Indra's city to whoever has the verses heard before her. A chronogram at the close fixes the year, and the day given is Ashvina shukla ashtami, a Thursday.