Read the previous part here… Seeing Chanda and Munda vanquished, the remaining asura army panicked and fled in all directions. And Kāli, holding the heads of Chanda and Munda in her hands, approached Chandika and said, “In this sacrifice of battle, here I have brought you the heads of Chanda and Munda.” The mighty Śumba burned …
Read the previous part here… The Devi smiled again. “Yes, it is true. They are very strong. But what can I do since I took that ill-considered vow, even though it was long ago? Go back and tell them what I said, and let them do what they think is proper in this situation.” Hearing the …
Read the previous part here… Well, we have understood how to overcome tamas, and rajas. Next is sattva. But wait – sattva is a good guna, so why should we work on overcoming sattva? What form does Devi take in the next (and final) carita? Who does she fight with? Mala has been removed, Vikshepa has …
Read the previous part here… Seeing Mahishasura fall, the entire legions of the asura armies perished. The devas celebrated and showered flowers on Devi Chandika, and sang praises in her name. The Devi, the mother of the worlds, had brought an end to the tyranny of the all-powerful leader of the asuras. The Devi Mahatmyam is …
Read the previous part here… The armies of the devas were mesmerised. They chanted in unison as their spirits rose after witnessing this huge spectacle. From his palace, Mahishasura wondered what was happening, and walked up to his window only to see nothing but a dazzling light. This was the glory of Devi Durga, and Mahishasura …
But when you get rid of kāma, krodha and lobhā, that is just the first step. A celebration is not in order. There are more challenges on the way – challenges that will involve the Devi fighting with Mahishasura and Raktabija. How does she win? What is the inner meaning? Mahishasura is probably the first …
Read the previous part here… “This is because of the boon that Devi granted these asuras”, thought Sri Vishnu as he continued to battle them. “Only she can show me a way to get the better of them.” And so, Sri Vishnu prayed to Devi Mahāmayā, who appeared before him, and said… “Sri Vishnu, you have …
Read the previous part here… Suratha said “Oh revered Rishi! we are grieving. I lost my kingdom, yet I feel attached to everything that is associated with it. My elephant, my people, my treasury…And this is Samādhi. He was disowned by his family, and yet he feels affectionate towards them. He still thinks about their welfare. …
Sri Durga Saptashloki ॐ अस्य श्रीदुर्गासप्तश्लोकीस्तोत्रमहामन्त्रस्य नारायण ऋषिः । अनुष्टुपादीनि छन्दांसि । श्रीमहाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वत्यो देवताः । श्री जगदम्बाप्रीत्यर्थ पाठे विनियोगः ॥ Om Asya Shrii-Durgaa-Sapta-Shlokii-Stotra-Mahaa-MantrasyaNaaraayanna Rssih | Anussttupa-[A]adiini Chanda-Amsi |Shrii-Mahaakaalii-Mahaalakssmii-Mahaasarasvatyo Devataah |Shrii Jagad-Ambaa-Priity[i]-Artha Paatthe Viniyogah || ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवि भगवती हि सा ।बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति ॥१॥ दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोःस्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि ।दारिद्रयदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्यासर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्र चित्ता ॥२॥ सर्वमंगलमांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥३॥ शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे ।सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥४॥ सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते ।भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवी नमोऽस्तु ते ॥५॥ रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् ।त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां त्वामाश्रिता ह्याश्रयतां प्रयान्ति ॥६॥ सर्वाबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि ।एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरि विनाशनम् ॥७॥ Let me tell you a story… Two people met at an ashram in a forest. The first was named Suratha. A virtuous king, Suratha had lost a …
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति शब्दिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥ yā devī sarvabhūteṣu viṣṇumāyeti śabditā ।namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ॥ The number nine holds special significance in our lives. In fact, we begin our journey with the number nine – that is the number of months we spend in our mother’s wombs. Yog shastras …
