[2][3] Mahiṣāsuramardinī is an epithet of Durga, literally meaning, "the slayer of the demon Mahisha",[4] and a stotra is a eulogistic work.

[5] The hymn is based on the text Devi Mahatmya,[6] referencing a number of legends of the goddess Durga such as slaying Mahishasura, Raktabija, as well as Chanda and Munda, as well as generally praising her attributes.

[7] According to the Devi Mahatmya, in the legend called the Mahishasura Vadha,[8] furious about the asuras under Mahishasura expelling the devas and overrunning Svarga, the Trimurti (supreme trinity) of the deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva combined their energies, which assumed the form of a goddess called Durga.

Armed with the weapons and attributes of the deities, Durga slew the shape-shifting Mahishashura, who assumed the forms of a lion, elephant, and a buffalo, and finally a man.

[9][10] The first hymn of the mantra describes the attributes of Durga:[11] aigiri nandini nanditamēdini viśvavinōdini nandinutēgirivaravindhyaśirōdhinivāsini viṣṇuvilāsinijiṣṇunutēbhagavati hē śitikaṇṭhakuṭumbini bhūrikuṭumbini bhūrikṛtējaya jaya hē mahiṣāsuramardini ramyakapardini śailasutēO auspicious daughter of the mountain, who delights all of creation, who rejoices with the universe, who is praised by Nandiwho resides on the peak of Vindhyas, who dwells on Vishnu, who is praised by Indra,O goddess,who is the consort of the blue-throated one, who has a universal family, who created abundanceVictory to you, victory to you, O slayer of Mahishasura, who has beautifully braided hair, who is the daughter of the mountain