108 Names of Draupadi – Know More About Draupadi Astottara Shatanamavali

Draupadi of Mahabharata is the daughter of King Drupada of Panchala and the wife of the five Pandava brothers of Hastinapura. She is one of the Panchakanya (five virgins) and one of the Pancha Maha Pativrata (five chaste and most virtuous women) from Hinduism. Draupadi also has ashtottara shatanamavali, (108 names of Draupadi to be chanted in the same order and at once without interruptions) recited during her worship. 

The name Draupadi literally means daughter of Drupada. If anyone asks you what is the meaning of Draupadi in Hindi or simply Draupadi Hindi, then you should say it means, “Daughter of Drupada.”

She has many other names such as: 

• Panchali (daughter of Panchala kingdom)
• Yagnaseni (born from holy fire)
• Parshati (grandgauther of King Parshata)
• Panchami (the one with five husbands)
• Sairandhri (her year-long disguise during the Pandavas’ exile), etc. 

Let’s find out more about Draupadi’s 108 names and her story as a goddess. 

Draupadi Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 Names) 

Draupadi astottara shatanamavali is a compilation of 108 names for Devi Draupadi. Almost every god in Hinduism has their own astottara shatanamavali meant for religious rituals. 108 is a significant number in Hinduism and denotes that there are 108 ways to reach your deity. Also, 108 adds to 9 (1+0+8=9), which is another sacred number in many ancient cultures. 

The astottara shatanamavalis are written and chanted by sages, purohits, and devotees to please the god and appeal for their blessings. These can be found in Puranas and epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

Generally speaking, the 108 names listed in astottara shatanamavali describe and praise the god in different ways. The names refer to their physical attributes, characteristics, merits, symbols, good deeds, etc. 

For example, the first of the 108 names of Draupadi in the astottara shatanamavali is Om Draupadyai Namah. It refers to her name. Similarly, the second name is Om Krishna-varnaa-yai Namah. Here, Krishna varnaa refers to her skin colour. Draupadi is dark-skinned, just like Krishna. In fact, Krishnaa is one of her alternate names. 

Another example is Om Dharma Patnyai Namah. Here, Dharma refers to Dharmaraja or Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandava brothers. Patni means wife. This Draupadi’s name in Hindi translates to the wife of Dharmaraja. 

In Om Yaadava Sohdaryai Namah, Draupadi is referred to as the sister (Sohdari) of Yadavas. The Yadava clan and the Pandavas are related, which makes Draupadi their sister in relation. In Om Graama Rakshinyai Namah, we see a hint at Draupadi’s character and role as a protector. She is addressed as the protector of a village/ kingdom. 

All 108 names can be analyzed in the same manner. 

108 Names of Draupadi (Ashtottara Shatanamavali)

1. Om Draupadyai Namah
2. Om Krishna-varnaa-yai Namah
3. Om Krishna Sahotharyai Namah
4. Om Krishna Vamshyai Namah
5. Om Karna Soh-thara Jaayayaayai Namah
6. Om Chandira Vamsh Shmuth-pavaayai Namah
7. Om Gaja Vahanaayai Namah
8. Om Gajaa Roo-thaayai Namah
9. Om Chandira Vamshyai Namah
10. Om Shanta Vaath-ya Priyaayai Namah
11. Om Shandana-alangaara Taraayai Namah
12. Om Kanda Maalya Vipu-Sitaayai Namah
13. Om Kanda Tilaka Taraayai Namah
14. Om Varaa Roh-haayai Namah
15. Om Raaj-jiyai Namah
16. Om Raajya Vamshyai Namah
17. Om Ratna Simhaa-sanaayai Namah
18. Om Ratna Kuntala Taraayai Namah
19. Om Rakta Maalaya Choh-pitaayai Namah
20. Om Rakta Vastira Taraayai Namah
21. Om Ratna Kirlta Taraayai Namah
22. Om Ratnaa-alangaara Taraayai Namah
23. Om Dharma Patnyai Namah
24. Om Dharma Priyaayai Namah
25. Om Dharma Vaacinyai Namah
26. Om Dharma Jaayaa-yai Namah
27. Om Dharma Chilaayai Namah
28. Om Dharma Sahitaayai Namah
29. Om Soustanaayai Namah
30. Om Souyauvanaayai Namah
31. Om Shundarya-sareeraayai Namah
32. Om Bakthi Kamyaayai Namah
33. Om Bakthi Vach-yaayai Namah
34. Om Bakthi Priyaayai Namah
35. Om Agni Shamud-bhavaayai Namah
36. Om Tavana Shamba-vaayai Namah
37. Om Yaadava Sohdaryai Namah
38. Om Naleena Taraayai Namah
39. Om Padma Hastaayai Namah
40. Om Hastinaa-purapath-tha Mahishyai Namah
41. Om Vishlakshyai Namah
42. Om Harini-roopaayai Namah
43. Om Vishla Nethraayai Namah
44. Om Vijaya Jayaayai Namah
45. Om Ratna-saaras-sana Taraayai Namah
46. Om Muraari Smaranaayai Namah
47. Om Suvaktraayai Namah
48. Om Sooloshanaayai Namah
49. Om Sundaryai Namah
50. Om Matuvaatinyai Namah
51. Om Mangala Prataayai Namah
52. Om Mayura Priyaayai Namah
53. Om Bheema Jayaayai Namah
54. Om Bheema Priyaayai Namah
55. Om Bheema Paryaayai Namah
56. Om Achyutha Bakinyai Namah
57. Om Arjuna Sahitaayai Namah
58. Om Abhimanyu Maatharey Namah
59. Om Krishna Bakthaayai Namah
60. Om Krishna Smaranaayai Namah
61. Om Sukaapja Karaayai Namah
62. Om Kaurava Kula Nasinyai Namah
63. Om Dhuryodhana Nasinyai Namah
64. Om Sooka Hastaayai Namah
65. Om Kamala Taarinyai Namah
66. Om Pangkajaasana Sam-stitaayai Namah
67. Om Soorohja Haara Taarinyai Namah
68. Om Nakula Cha Vaasinyai Namah
69. Om Vilaasinyai Namah
70. Om Nakula Priyaayai Namah
71. Om Kamala Hastaayai Namah
72. Om Sahadeva Paaryaayai Namah
73. Om Sahadeva Tayitaayai Namah
74. Om Sahadeva Patnyai Namah
75. Om Dushta Tvimana Sahotaryai Namah
76. Om Ampuja-loh-shnaayai Namah
77. Om Gandaryai Namah
78. Om Vishlaakshyai Namah
79. Om Chandira Bimbaangavanaayai Namah
80. Om Rati Roopa Taarinyai Namah
81. Om Uturaaja Bimbaangavanaayai Namah
82. Om Rakta Vastira Taraayai Namah
83. Om Shundaryai Namah
84. Om Raaja Jaayai Namah
85. Om Homaa-paranna Pushitaayai Namah
86. Om Hema-vapushey Namah
87. Om Swarna Maalya Alangara-thaayai Namah
88. Om Rakta Rakshinyai Namah
89. Om Bakta Priyaayai Namah
90. Om Graama Nivaasinyai Namah
91. Om Graama Rakshinyai Namah
92. Om Atulaayai Namah
93. Om Baktaanaam Seh-vitaayai Namah
94. Om Krishna Kehshyai Namah
95. Om Manaklehsh Haarinyai Namah
96. Om Sarva Dukka Vinaasinyai Namah
97. Om Agni Putriyai Namah
98. Om Kumutha Priyaayai Namah
99. Om Draupadaambikaayai Namah
100. Om Mallika Priyaayai Namah
101. Om Jnaana Prataayinyai Namah
102. Om Vairaakya Taatriyai Namah
103. Om Moksha Kaarinyai Namah
104. Om Pativrataayai Namah
105. Om Panchaaliyai Namah
106. Om Drupada-kanyaayai Namah
107. Om Yajna-seniyaayai Namah
108. Om Shri Draupadyai Namah

Ithi Shri Draupadi Devi Ashtottara Shatanamavali Samaaptham

Each name is prefixed with Om and suffixed with Namah. The ashtottara shatanamavali will always end with a concluding sentence, mentioning the end of the chant. Here, the last line roughly translates to – ‘Draupadi devi ashtottara shatanamavali (recitation of 108 names of Draupadi) ends here’. 

Why Recite 108 Names of Draupadi

Chanting or reciting Draupadi ashtottara shatanamavali with complete devotion can help you achieve your dreams (if you work hard and put in the necessary efforts from your side) and lead a happy life. Some people chant 108 names of Draupadi for confidence, courage, beauty, career success, marriage, kids, etc. However, any prayer with pure intentions will give you peace of mind and clarity to make the right decisions. Consider it a form of meditation rather than a transaction with the god. 

Draupadi as the Goddess 

While Draupadi is commonly known as one of the central characters in Mahabharata, she is also worshipped as a goddess in some South Indian temples. You can find around 800 such temples in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The Pallava dynasty worshipped Draupadi Amman as one of their deities. 

Even today, we can find around 32 village communities celebrating a yearly festival in May (Chaitra Maasam). The Draupadi Amman temple in Velachery (Tamil Nadu) has gained popularity after its restoration by devotees in the 1990s. There’s a Sri Dharmaraja-Draupadi temple in Bengaluru (Karnataka).

The 108 names of Draupadi (ashtottara shatanamavali) are chanted in these temples as a part of the daily pooja (prayer) rituals. Draupadi Amman temples are smaller in size and located in remote places. Quite a few villages have Draupadi Amman as their village deity (grama devata). 

The Backstory of How Draupadi Became a Goddess 

There are many stories about Draupadi’s previous birth and how she came to have five husbands. Needless to say, many people indulge in Draupadi’s character analysis (some of which are mere speculations and modern-day theories). However, there have some ancient stories too. 

One story says she was the daughter of a sage who performed penance and asked for a boon, from Shiva for a husband five times, resulting in having five husbands in her next birth. Another says she was a princess cursed by a woman with five husbands for laughing at her. 

However, the great Vyasa muni tells a divine story to Drapuada when convincing him to agree to Draupadi’s marriage with the Pandava brothers. 

Moreover, Draupadi is none other than an incarnation of Adi Para Shakti (also called Sri) born on the earth to guide five celestial beings cursed to be born as humans. Their combined role was to re-establish dharma at the cusp of Dwapara yuga and KaliYuga.

The celestial beings – Vishwabhuk, Bhutadhaman, Sivi, Santi, and Tejaswin were cursed by Shiva to be born as humans for being excessively arrogant in their abilities. Shiva then asked Adi Para Shakti to also take birth in human form and guide the men in their roles. However, Adi Para Shaki is not to be confused with Shiva’s consort. She is an amalgamation of various goddesses and the supreme central force of the universe. 

When the time arrived, Devi Para Shakti was born through the scared yagna fire in a ceremony performed by King Draupada. Her marriage to the Pandava brothers, the subsequent events, and the Kurukshetra war were destined to happen. Draupadi’s story was fated eons before it actually took place. 

To Sum Up

So we can conclude that praying to Draupadi Amman is the same as praying to the Adi Para Shakti, albeit in a different avatar. Chanting the 108 names of Draupadi is a beautiful way to worship the goddess. Do it whenever possible to seek her blessings.