Sahasranama position 501 of the 1,072 names

Dhurna

धूर्णा

Dhūrṇā

What Dhurna means

Dhurna is name 501 in the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama, the 1,072-name devotional text to Maa Kali. The Remover of burdens, the One who carries the cosmic load.

Also spelled

  • Source transliteration: DHURNA

Sanskrit names travel into English in several romanizations. This page keeps the common spelling, the IAST form, and the source transliteration together so the same name is discoverable under each spelling readers use.

Meaning and elaboration

Meaning: The Remover of burdens, the One who carries the cosmic load.

Elaboration

The name Dhurna, derived from the Sanskrit root "dhṛ," meaning "to bear," "to hold," or "to support," reveals the Goddess as the ultimate bearer and support of creation. She carries the cosmic load and removes the burdens of her devotees.

Cosmic Support and Sustenance As Dhurna, Mahakali is the foundation and support of the entire universe. She is the underlying energy that holds together every plane of existence, from the subtlest realms to the grossest material world. Her unwavering support sustains the continuous movement of the cosmic order, like an unseen hand of divine nourishment.

Remover of Burdens On the spiritual and individual level, Dhurna is the aspect of Kali who takes upon herself the suffering, karma, and inward burdens of her devotees. When one surrenders to her, she clears the path, eases distress, and lifts the weight of past actions and present anxieties. This reveals her immense compassion and maternal care.

The Great Carrier of Karma This name also points to her role as the ultimate recipient and transformer of karmic impressions. She carries the collective and individual karmic load of sentient beings, not passively, but as an active force that purifies and resolves these burdens, leading souls toward liberation. She receives the accumulated results of action and transforms obstacles into openings for spiritual growth.

Text and sources

The name list follows the Adya Mahakali Sahasranama as compiled for this project. The English meaning and elaboration are interpretive notes for devotional study, not a translation of a single critical edition.

Read the editorial method and source notes →

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