The glorification of the Great Goddess[

Devi-Mahatmya]

Truth is one  Sages call it by various name - Rigveda 164/46

 

  Source: CHANDI[ The Markandeya Mahapuranam]

 

 Mother Goddess is portrayed as the Universal Power[ SAKTI]. The Mother Goddess is the Power of the Supreme Being[BRAHMAN]and this Power is SAKTI,the creating, sustaining and preserving female power of the Universe.[ Ref: Rig-Veda Book 10,sukta 125].

 

                   The story begins with the problem of

King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi. King Suratha lost his kingdom

due to the betrayal of his own people and merchant Samadhi lost his

business because of the conspiracy of his family. They came to the

Rishi Medha and expressed their agony and worry for their families and

seeks his advice in this matter.

 

                     Rishi Medha told them that this

Universe is the divine play of the Mother Goddess and if anyone

surrenders to Her and pray to Her,all the problems will be solved.Thus

Rishi Medha in eleven chapter of the CHANDI narrated the THREE stories

related to the divine play of the Mother Goddess.

 

                                    1. At the beginning of the

creation, the Creator Brahma originates from the naval cord of Visnu

and at the same time two demons Madhu and Kaitabha came out from the

ear of Visnu. Madhu and Kaitabha prayed to the Divine Mother and got

the boon that they will die only when they wish to die.These demons

try to kill the Creator Brahma and Brahma prayed to the Mother Goddess

to raise Visnu from the slumber to fight with these demons. Visnu

started to fight but could not kill them and then Visnu prayed and

secured the   help of the Mother Goddess . Visnu then told Madhu and

Kaitabha that he is pleased with their war-skill and ready to bestow

any boon to them.Madhu and Kaitabha told Visnu that he is defeated by

them and thus promise Visnu to give him the boon of his choice. Then

Visnu asked for the death of Madhu and Kaitabha as the boon and thus

the demons were elliminated .EGO is the downfall of the demons.

 

                                    2. The second story of Rishi

Medha is related to the origin of the Mother Goddess Durga. The demon

Mahisashur got the boon from the Mother Goddess that no one can defeat

him in the battle and thus he conquered the heaven. The defeated gods

prayed help to the trinity creator Brahma,preserver Vishnu and

destroyer Mahadeva and with ALL the united forces produce DURGA to

fight the demon Mahisashura.Durga symbolizes the united power of all

the divine beings and thus SHE is the symbol of total victory over the

evil. Durga also represent the Mother Nature Herself ,covering all the

TEN directions and one feet on the Lion's back and another feet on the

heart of the Mahisashura.This icon of Durga shows the good power

subdued the evil power.For the spiritual development ,one has to get

control over the ten sense organs and then one could subdue both the

animal instinct and evil thoughts.The divine Mothers grace is

absolutely necessary to fight the battle of life. Sri Ramachandra

worshiped the Mother Durga before killing demon Ravana. Arjun

worshiped the Mother Durga ,before the battle of Mahabharata.Anyone

chants twice DURGA,DURGA,all the calamities vanish . The worship of

the Mother Goddess Durga begins from the first new moon[ Mahalayala]

night after the autumnal equinox.

 

                                      3. The final episode is the the

battle between Kali and all the demons Sumbha-Nishumbha and his

followers. Here Mother Kali symbolizes Goddess of TIME and within Her

body, creation -preservation and destruction cycle is going on and on

. Kali stands on the corpse like body  of Siva. Siva is the

transcendental aspect and His Power [Sakti] Kali is the immanent

aspect of the pure consciousness. With right hands Mother Kali gives

and with left hands She takes it away.She is the only one who could

take away our desire[ like raktabij] with her protruding tongue and

also liberate from the cycle of birth-rebirth,if prayed for it.The

worship of the Mother Goddess Kali are being held on the succeeding

new moon[Deepabali]night.

 

                                 King Suratha worshipped Mother Durga

and got back his kingdom. Merchant Samadhi prayed for the liberation

and achieved it due to the grace of Mother Kali.

Story of Mother Kali