NAVARATRI

Compiled by Pandit Sachin Singh

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Whats the Significance of Navratri?

During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of
God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as Durga, which literally means the
remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to
as Devi (goddess) or Shakti (energy or power).
It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with

the work of creation, preservation and destruction.

In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother
Durga, does everything. Truly speaking,
our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific
theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be
created or destroyed. It is always there.

AUM AIM HRING KLEENG CHAMUNDAYE VICHCHEY

Shree Natha Dham

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The chosen
goddess of
Vrindavan,
she is alluring in her
golden form.
She has four
arms and
three
eyes, she is
seated on a
lion.

The Nava Durgas

SHAILAPUTRI
The embodiment of the power of Brahma,
Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.
BRAHMACHARINI
She is the one who practices devout austerity. Filled with bliss and happiness, she
is the way to emancipation- Moksha.
CHANDRAGHANTA
She is the apostle of bravery; she rides a
lion, and has ten arms. She drives away all
evildoers and demoniac incarnation.
KUSUMANDA
Seated on a lion, she has a magnanimous
presence, and possesses eight arms. Her
abode is the Solar region.
SKANDAMATA
She is the Goddess of Fire. She has four
arms and three eyes. She rides a lion.
KATYAYANI

freedom from fear and

adversity.

KAALRATRI
This fourarmed form
rides an ass.
She dissipates darkness from
amidst her
devotees,
and bestows

MAHA GAURI
She is like an eight-year-old girl. She is
intelligent and peaceful, possesses three
eyes and four arms,
and uses the bull as her vehicle.
SIDDHIDATRI
The bestower of accomplishments, this
manifestation is worshipped as one
blessed with glory. Seated on a lotus, she
has four arms

Durga Puja
To gain the grace of Mother Divine and
receive Her blessings to remove ignorance,
provide protection from adversity and
eliminate suffering on an individual and
cosmic level. Durga Pujas can be of
various lengths, from two hours to six
hours or more, and may be performed on
a single day, or on consecutive days. The
recitation of selections from the Durga
Saptashati, a collection of beautiful

hymns to Mother Divine, is an especially

enjoyable part of this Puja.

Chandi Yagya

This is a more elaborate Yayga that is understood to have powerful effects on the
cosmic, global and individual levels. It is
traditionally performed to alleviate the adverse affects of the planets, liberate man
from all troubles, restore friendships, gain
blessings of wealth and beautiful children,
and to overcome enemies and evil planetary influences. Performance of the Chandi
Homa includes Puja two to three hours
long and a Homa (fire ceremony) that
lasts approximately fours hours. It includes
the recitation of all 700 verses of Durga
Saptashati, a collection of beautiful hymns
to Mother Divine.

How to fast for Navaratri?

Strict fast is observed in Navaratri only

Fruit and Liquids are allowed. No Grain
or Flour is allowed. One meal should be
taken. If for health reasons you are unable
to fast in the above manner than you can
have one meal but try to avoid grains.

Agarbatti Prasad (Fruit) all should be

done reciting the following mantra.
6. Conduct Aarti using wicks dipped in
Ghee

Jap Mantra
AUM AIM HRING KLEENG
CHAMUNDAYE VICHCHEY
This mantra should be recited 108 time to
gain the greatest Benefit from the Fast.

Mantra to offer Dhaar

Aun Jayanti Mangala Kali Badra Kali
Kapalini Durga Kshana Shiva Dhatri
Swaha Swadha Namostute
On the tenth day Vijay Dhashmi/ Day of
Victory Visarjan to mother Durga is done
and the fast is complete and salt can be
eaten.

Names of Mother Durga

Whoever will recite this garland of the

names of Durga the reliever of difficulties,
for me, will be freed from every type of
Puja
1. Commence worship and fast on the first fear without a doubt.
day of Navaratri (morning and
1. Durga
evening).
The Reliever of Difficulties
2. An Akanda deep should be kepted
burning all the time throught the whole 2. Durgatirsamini
Who puts difficulties at peace
Navaratri.
3. Durgapadvinivarin
3. Puja should be done as follows.
Dispeller of difficult adversities
Recite the following mantra:
4. Durgamacchedini
Who cuts down difficulty
Aum Namo Bhagvaty Maha 5. Durgasadhini
The performer of Discipline to expel
Durgaye Namha.
difficulties
(Puja to be done on a mutie or in front 6. Durganasini
The Destroyer of Difficulty
of a picture of Mother Durga.
7. Durgatoddharin
1. Offer water thrice.
Who holds the whip of difficulties
2. Offer pancha Amrit six times
8. Durgenihantri
3. Offer water twice
4. Cleanse murtie or sprinkle water on the Who sends difficulties to Ruin
9. Durgamapaha
picture
Who measures difficulties
5. Offer Kum Kum (red) rice and Flowers

10. Durgamajanada
Who makes difficulties unconscious
11. Durgadaityalokadavanala
Who destroys the world of difficult
thoughts
12. Durgama
The mother of difficulties
13. Durgamaloka The perception of
difficulties
14. Durgamatmasvarupin
The Intrinsic Nature of the soul of
difficulties
15. Durgamargaprada
Who searches through the difficulties
16. Durgamavidya
The knowledge of difficulties
17. Durgamasrita
The Extrication from difficulties
18. Durgamajanasamsthana
The continued existence of difficulties
19. Durgamadhyanabhasini
Whose meditation remains brilliant
when in difficulties
20. Durgamoha
Who deludes difficulties
21. Durgamaga

Who resolves difficulties

22. Durgamarthasvarupin
Who is the intrinsic nature of the
object of difficulties
23. Durgamasurasanhantri
The annihilator of the egotism of
difficulties
24. Durgamayudhadharin
Bearer of the weapon against
difficulties
25. Durgamangi
The refinery of difficulties
26. Durgamata
Who is beyond difficulties
27. Durgamya
This present difficulty
28. Durgamesvari
The empress of difficulties
29. Durgabhima
Who is terrible to difficulties
30. Durgabhama
The lady to difficulties
31. Durgabha
The illuminator of difficulties
32. Durgadarin
Who cuts off difficulties

The
Symbolism
of Kali

The love between the Divine Mother and

her human children is a unique relationship.
Kali, the Dark Mother is one such
deity with whom devotees have a very
loving and intimate bond, in spite of her
fearful appearance. In this relationship,
the worshipper becomes a child and Kali
assumes the form of the ever-caring
mother.

The Symbolism of Kali

Kali is so called because She devours Kala

(time) and then resumes Her own dark
formlessness. She is the embodiment of
three gunas (qualities of nature): She
creates with Her sattva guna (quality of
goodness and purity), preserves with rajas
(passion and activity), and destroys with
tamas (ignorance and inertia).

fulfills their desires.

Two left arms:
She holds a sword with the upper left arm
and a severed head with the lower. She
can cut human bondage with the sword of
knowledge, and She imparts wisdom to the
head, the receptacle of supreme wisdom.
Naked form:
She is called digambari, clad in space. She
is infinite, so no finite dress can cover Her.

Waist:
Kalis waist is encircled with a girdle of
severed human arms that represent action.
Shiva is under Her feet: Shiva and Shakti are
always together. He is the changeless aspect
of the Supreme, and She the apparently
changing aspect of the same. Shiva is pure
cosmic consciousness, and Kali is cosmic
Complexion:
energy. No creation is possible without
Her complexion is deep blue/ Black, like the
their union. Siva cannot manifest without
sky. As the sky is limitless, so is She. From a
the power of Kali, and Kali cannot function
distance one sees the ocean water as blue,
without the consciousness of Shiva.
but it is colourless and transparent when
examined closely.
Please note that Maha Kali is not a Blood
Thirsty Goddess she is a loving mother to
Tongue:
the whole universe. She is misunderstood by
Kalis white teeth symbolize sattva or
her appearance. I hope that the above article
serenity; Her red tongue, rajas, or activity;
clears up some of your misunderstandings
and Her drunkenness: tamas or inertia. The
about the Divine Mother Kaki.
meaning: tamas can be conquered by rajas,
and rajas by sattva.

Devi Mahatmyam or Durga

Saptashati or Chandi Path

Terrible form:
She is the mother of the universe as well as
the destroyer. When a mother spanks her
Chapter 1 to Chapter 3
child, it does not mean that she is cruel; she
The Devi Mahatmyam is a collection of
disciplines her child for its own good.
700 Slokas on Sri Durga from Markandeya
Purana
Necklace:
It consist of fifty skulls that represent the
CHAPTER 1:
fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, the
The slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha:
origin of sound. She is Shabda Brahman
(God in the form of Sound-Brahman),
Meditation of Mahakali
I resort to Mahakali, who has ten faces, ten
Two right arms:
legs and holds in her hands the sword, disc,
The upper right arm grants fearlessness,
mace, arrows, bow, club, spear, missile,
and the lower right arm offers boons. She
human head and conch, who is three-eyed,
protects Her children from danger, and She
adorned with ornaments on all her limbs,

ruling over the whole world in the period

of Svarocisa. He protected his subjects duly
like his own children. At that time the kings,
who were the destroyers of the c, became
his enemies.
6-7. He, the wielder of powerful weapons,
fought a battle with the destroyers of Kolas,
but was defeated by them though they
were a small force. Then he returned to his
own city, and ruled over his won country.
Then that illustrious king was attacked by
those powerful enemies.
8-9. Even in his own city, the king, (now)
bereft of strength, was robbed of his treasury
and army by his own powerful, vicious
and evil-disposed ministers. Thereafter,
deprived of this sovereignty, the king left
alone on horse-back for a dense forest,
under the pretext of hunting.
and luminous like a blue jewel, and whom
Brahma extolled in order to destroy Madhu 10-11. He saw there the hermitage of
and Kaitabha, when Vishnu was in (mystic) Medhas- the supreme among the twiceborn - inhabited by wild animals which
sleep.
were peaceful, and graced by the disciples
Markandeya said ( to his disciple Krasustuki of the sage. Entertained by the sage,
Suratha spent some time moving about in
Bhaguri):
the hermitage of the great sage.
1-3. Savarni, {Savarni was so called because
he was the son of Savarna, Suryas wife. 12-16. There then overcome with
He became King Suratha in the second attachment, he fell into the thought, I do
(Svarocisa) manvantara.} son of Surya, not know whether the capital (which was)
is called the eighth Manu. Listen , while well guarded by my ancestors and recently
I describe in detail about his birth, how deserted by me is being guarded righteously
Savarni, illustrious son of Surya, became or not by my servants of evil conduct. I
the lord of the (eighth)Manvantara {One do not know what enjoyments my chief
cycle of creation is divided into fourteen elephant, heroic and always elated, and now
manvantaras. The period ruled over by fallen into the hands of my foes, will get.
one Manu is called a Manvantara. There Those who were my constant followers and
are, therefore, fourteen Manus as follows: received favor, riches and food from me,
Svayambhuva, Svarocisa, Uttama, Tamasa, now certainly pay homage to other kings.
Raivata, Caksusa, Vaivasvata, Savarni, The treasure which I gathered with great
Daksha-savarni, Brahma-savarni, Dharma- care will be squandered by those constant
savarni, Rudra-savarni, Deva-savarni, and spendthrifts, who are addicted to improper
Indra-savarni. } by the grace of Mahamaya expenditures.
{One of the names of the Divine Mother.
17-19. The king was continually thinking of
}.
these and other things. Near the hermitage
4-5. In former times there was a king of the Brahamana he saw a merchant, and
named Suratha, born of the Chitra dynasty, asked him: Ho! Who are you? What is the

reason for your coming here? Wherefore

do you appear as if afflicted with grief and
depressed in mind? Hearing this speech
of the king, uttered in a friendly spirit, the
merchant bowed respectfully and replied
to the king. The merchant said:
20-25. I am a merchant named Samadhi,
born in a wealthy family. I have been cast
out by my sons and wife, who are wicked
through greed of wealth. My wife and
sons have misappropriated my riches, and
made me devoid of wealth. Cast out by my
trusted kinsmen, I have come to the forest
grief-stricken. Dwelling here, I do not know
anything as regards good of bad of my sons,
kinsmen and wife. At present is welfare or
ill-luck theirs at home? How are they? Are
my sons living good or evil lives? The king
said:

an ignorant man- though I know it- I have an

attachment to all the paraphernalia of my
kingdom. How is this, O best of sages? And
this merchant has been disowned by this
children, wife and servants, and forsaken
by his own people; still he is inordinately
affectionate towards them. Thus both he
and I, drawn by attachment towards objects
whose defects we do know, are exceedingly
unhappy. How this happens, then, sir, that
though we are aware of it, this delusion
comes? This delusion besets me as well
as him, blinded as we are in respect of
discrimination. The Rishi said:

46-49. Sir, every being has the knowledge

of objects perceivable by the senses. And
object of sense reaches it in various ways.
Some beings are blind by day, and others
are blind by night; some beings have equal
sight both by day and night. Human beings
26-28. Why is your mind affectionately are certainly endowed with knowledge,
attached to those covetous folk, your sons, but they are not the only beings ( to be so
wife and others, who have deprived you of endowed), for cattle, birds, animals and
your wealth? The merchant said:
other creatures also cognize (objects of
29-34. This very thought has occurred to senses).
me, just as you have uttered it. What can
I do? My mind does not become hard; it
bears deep affection to those very persons
who have driven me out in their greed for
wealth, abandoning love for a father and
attachment to ones master and kinsmen. I
do not comprehend although, I know it. O
noble hearted king, how it is that the mind
is prone to love even towards worthless
kinsmen. On account of them I heave heavy
sighs and feel dejected. What can I do since
my mind does not become hard towards
those unloving ones? Markandeya said:
35-38. Then O Brahmana, the merchant
Samadhi and the noble king together
approached the sage (Medhas); and after
observing the etiquette worthy of him and
as was proper, they sat down and conversed
(with him ) on some topics. The king said:
39-45. Sir, I wish to ask you one thing. Be
pleased to reply to it. Without the control
of my intellect, my mind is afflicted with
sorrow. Though I have lost the kingdom, like

59-62. Venerable sir, who is that Devi

whom you call Mahamaya? How did she
come into being, and what is her sphere of
action, O Brahmana? What constitutes her
nature? What is her form? Wherefrom did
she originate? All that I wish to hear from
you, O you supreme among the knowers of
Brahman. The Rishi said:

50-58. The knowledge that men have, birds

and beasts too have; and what they have
men also possess; and the rest (like eating
and sleeping) is common to both of them.
Look at these birds, which though they
possess knowledge, and are themselves
distressed by hunger are yet, because of
the delusion, engaged in dropping grains
into the beaks of their young ones. Human
beings are, O tiger among men, attached to
their children because of greed for return
help. Do you not see this? Even so men are
hurled into the whirlpool of attachment,
the pit of delusion, through the power of
Mahamaya ( the Great Illusion), who makes
the existence of the world possible. Marvel
not at this. this Mahamaya is the Yoganidra,
of Vishnu, the Lord of the world. It is by
her the world is deluded. Verily she, the
Bhagavati, the Mahamaya forcibly drawing
the minds of even the wise, throws them into
delusion. She creates this entire universe,
both moving and unmoving. It is she who,
when propitious, becomes a boon-giver to
human beings for their final liberation. She
is the supreme knowledge, the cause of final
liberation, and eternal; she is the cause of
the bondage of transmigration and the
sovereign over all lords. The king said:

63-71. She is eternal, embodied as the

universe. By her all this is pervaded.
Nevertheless she incarnates in manifold
ways; hear it from me. When she manifests
herself in order to accomplish the purposes
of the devas, she is said to be born in the
world, though she is eternal. At the end of a
kalpa when the universe was one ocean( with
the waters of the deluge) and the adorable
Lord Vishnu stretched out on Sesa and took
the mystic slumber, tow terrible asuras, the
well-known Madhu and Kaitabha, sprung
into being from the dirt of Vishnus ears,
sought to slay Brahma; Brahma, the father
of beings, was sitting in the lotus( that came
out) from Vishnus navel. Seeing these two
fierce asuras and Janardhana asleep, and
with a view to awakening Hari, (Brahma)
with concentrated mind extolled Yoganidra,
dwelling in Haris eyes. The resplendent Lord
Brahma extolled the incomparable Goddess
of Vishnu, Yoganidra, the queen of cosmos,
the supporter of the worlds, the cause of the
sustentation and dissolution alike (of the
universe).
72-74. Brahma said: You are Svaha and
Svadha. You are verily the Vasatkara and
embodiment of Svara. You are the nectar.
O eternal and imperishable One, you are
the embodiment of the threefold mantra.
You are half a matra, though eternal. You
are verily that which cannot be uttered
specifically. You are Savitri and the supreme
Mother of the devas.
75-77. By you this universe is borne, by you
this world is created. By you it is protected,
O Devi and you always consume it at the
end. O you who are (always) of the form
of the whole world, at the time of creation

you are of the form of the creative force,

at the time of sustentation you are of the
form of the protective power, and at the
time of the dissolution of the world, you
are of the form of the destructive power.
You are the supreme knowledge as well as
the great nescience, the great intellect and
contemplation, as also the great delusion,
the great devi as also the great asuri.

of inscrutable birth. Janardana, Lord of the

universe, quitted by her, rose up from His
couch on the universal ocean, and saw those
two evil(asuras), Madhu and Kaitabha, of
exceeding heroism and power, with eyes red
in anger, endeavoring to devour Brahma.
Thereupon the all-pervading Bhagavan
Vishnu got up and fought with the asuras
for five thousand years, using his own arms
as weapons. And they, frenzied with their
78-81. You are the primordial cause of exceeding power, and deluded by Mahamaya,
everything, bringing into force the three exclaimed to Vishnu, Ask a boon from us.
qualities. You are the dark night of periodic Bhagavan(Vishnu) said:
dissolution. You are the great night of final
dissolution, and the terrible night of delusion. 96-98. If you are satisfied with me, you must
You are the goddess of good fortune, the both be slain by me now. What need is there
ruler, modesty, intelligence characterized of any other boon here? My choice is this
by knowledge, bashfulness, nourishment, much indeed. The Rishi said:
contentment, tranquility and forbearance.
Armed with sword, spear, club, discus,
conch , bow, arrows, slings and iron mace,
you are terrible( and at the same time) you
are pleasing, yea more pleasing than all the
pleasing things and exceedingly beautiful.
You are indeed the supreme Isvari, beyond
the high and low.
82-87. And whatever of wherever a thing
exists, conscient( real) or non-conscient
(unreal), whatever power all that possesses
is yourself. O you who are the soul of
everything, how can I extol you (more than
this)? By you, even he who creates, sustains
and devours the world, is put to sleep. Who
is here capable of extolling you? Who is
capable of praising you, who have made
all of us- Vishnu, myself and Shiva- take
our embodied forms? O Devi, being lauded
thus, bewitch these two unassailable asuras
Madhu and Kaitabha with your superior
powers. Let Vishnu, the Master of the world,
be quickly awakened from sleep and rouse
up his nature to slay these two great asuras.
The Rishi said:
88-95. There, the Devi of delusion extolled
thus by Brahma, the creator, in order to
awaken Vishnu for the destruction of
Madhu and Kaitabha, drew herself out from
His eyes, mouth, nostrils, arms, heart and
breast, and appeared in the sight of Brahma

99-101. Those two(asuras), thus bewitched

(by Mahamaya), gazing then at the entire
world turned into water, told Bhagavan, the
lotus eyed One, Slay us at the spot where
the earth is not flooded with water. The
Rishi said:
102-104. Saying Be it so, Bhagavan(Vishnu),
the great wielder of conch, discus and mace,
took them on His loins and there severed their
heads with His discus. Thus she (Mahamaya)
herself appeared when praised by Brahma.
Now listen again the glory of this Devi. I
tell you. Here ends the first chapter called
The slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha of Devi
mahatmya in Markandeya purana, during
the period of Savarni, the Manu.

6-8. He(Mahisasura) himself has assumed

the jurisdictions of Surya, Indra, Agni,
Vayu, Candra, Yama and Varuna and other
Meditation of Mahalakshmi I resort to (devas). Thrown out from heaven by that
Mahalakshmi, the destroyer of Mahisasura, evil-natured Mahisa, the hosts of devas
who is seated on the lotus, is of the wander on the earth like mortals. All that
complexion of coral and who holds in her has been done by the enemy of the devas,
(eighteen ) hands rosary, axe, mace, arrow, has been related to you both, and we have
thunderbolt, lotus, bow, pitcher, rod, sakti, sought shelter under you both. May both of
sword, shield, conch, bell, wine-cup, trident, you be pleased to think out the means of his
noose and the discus Sudarsana. The Rishi destruction.
said:
9. Having thus heard the words of the devas,
1-3. Of yore when Mahisasura was the lord Vishnu was angry and also Siva, and their
of asuras and Indra the lord of devas, there faces became fierce with frowns.
was a war between the devas and asuras for
a full hundred years. In that the army of the 10-11. The issued forth a great light from the
devas was vanquished by the valorous asuras. face of Vishnu who was full of intense anger,
After conquering all the devas, Mahisasura and from that of Brahma and Siva too. From
the bodies of Indra and other devas also
became the lord of heaven( Indra).
sprang forth a very great light. And (all) this
4-5. Then the vanquished devas headed by light united together.
Brahma, the lord of beings, went to the
place where Siva and Vishnu were. The 12-13. The devas saw there a concentration
devas described to them in detail, as it had of light like a mountain blazing excessively,
happened, the story of their defeat wrought pervading all the quarters with its flames.
Then that unique light, produced from the
by Mahisasura.
bodies of all the devas, pervading the three
worlds with its lustre, combined into one
and became a female form.
CHAPTER 2
Slaughter of the armies of Mahisasura

14-15. By that which was Sivas light, her face

came into being; by Yamas (light) her hair,
by Vishnus light her arms; and by Candras
(light) her two breasts. By Indras light her
waist, by Varunas (light) her shanks and
thighs and by earths light her hips.
16-18. By Brahmas light her feet came into
being; by Suryas light her toes, by Vasus
(light) her fingers, by Kuberas (light) her
nose; by Prajapatis light her teeth came
into being and similarly by Agnis light her
three eyes were formed. The light of the
two sandhyas became her eye-brows, the
light of Vayu her ears; the manifestation of
the lights of other devas too (contributed to
the being of the ) auspicious Devi.
19. Then looking at her, who had come into
being from the assembled lights of all the

devas, the immortals who were oppressed rocked. Victory to you, exclaimed the devas
by Mahisasura experienced joy.
in joy to her, the lion-rider. the sages, who
bowed their bodies in devotion, extolled her.
20-21. The bearer of Pinaka (Siva) drawing Seeing the three worlds agitated the foes of
forth a trident from his own trident presented devas, mobilized all their armies and rose up
it to her; and Vishnu bringing forth a discus together with uplifted weapons. Mahisasura,
out of his own discus gave her. Varuna gave exclaiming in wrath, Ha! What is this?
her a conch, Agni a spear; and Maruta gave
a bow as well as two quivers full of arrows.
22-23. Indra, lord of devas, bringing forth a
thunderbolt out of (his own) thunderbolt
and a bell from that of his elephant Airavata,
gave her. Yama gave a staff from his own staff
of Death and Varuna, the lord of waters, a
noose; and Brahma, the lord of beings, gave
a string of beads and a water-pot.
24. Surya bestowed his own rays on al the
pores of her skin and Kala (Time) gave a
spotless sword and a shield.
25-29. The milk-ocean gave a pure necklace,
a pair of un-decaying garments, a divine
crest-jewel, a pair of ear-rings, bracelets, a
brilliant half-moon(ornament), armlets on
all arms, a pair of shining anklets, a unique
necklace and excellent rings on all the
fingers. Visvakarman gave her a very brilliant
axe, weapons of various forms and also an
impenetrable armour. The ocean gave her
a garland of unfading lotuses for her head
and another for her breast, besides a very
beautiful lotus in her hand. The (mountain)
Himavat gave her a lion to ride on a various
jewels.
30-33. The lord of wealth (Kubera) gave her
a drinking cup, ever full of wine. Sesa, the
lord of all serpents, who supports this earth,
gave her a serpent-necklace bedecked with
best jewels. Honoured likewise by other
devas also with ornaments and weapons,
she (the Devi) gave out a loud roar with
a decrying laugh again and again. By her
unending, exceedingly great, terrible roar
the entire sky was filled, and there was
great reverberation. All worlds shook, the
seas trembled.
34-46. The earth quaked and all the mountains

rushed towards that roar, surrounded by

innumerable asuras. Then he saw the Devi
pervading the three worlds with her lustre.
Making the earth bend with her footstep,
scraping the sky with her diadem, shaking
the nether worlds with the twang of the
bowstring, and standing there pervading
all the quarters around with her thousand
arms. Then began a battle between that
Devi and the enemies of the devas, in which
the quarters of the sky were illumined by
the weapons and arms hurled diversely.
Mahisasuras general, a great asura named
Ciksura and Camara, attended by forces
comprising four parts, and other (asuras)
fought. A great asura named Udagra with
sixty thousand chariots, and Mahahanu
with ten millions (of chariots) gave battle.
Asiloman, another great asura, with fifteen
millions (of chariots), and Baskala with six
millions fought in that battle. Privarita with
many thousands of elephants and horses,
and surrounded by ten millions of chariots,
fought in that battle. An asura named Bidala
fought in that battle surrounded with five
hundred crores of chariots. And other great
asuras, thousands in number, surrounded
with chariots, elephants and horses fought
with the Devi in that battle.

47-48. Mahisasura was surrounded in that

battle with thousands of crores of horses,
elephants and chariots. Others (asuras)
fought in the battle against the Devi with
iron maces and javelins, with spears and
clubs, with swords, axes and halberds. Some
hurled spears and others nooses.

and one-legged were again clove in twain

by the Devi. And others, though rendered
headless, fell and rose again.

59-61. Pierced in the breast by her trident,

some fell on the ground. Pierced all over
by her arrows and resembling porcupines,
some of the enemies of devas gave up their
lives on that field of battle. Some had their
arms cut off, some, their necks broken the
heads of others rolled down; some others
were torn asunder in the middle of their
trunks, and some great asuras fell on the
ground with their legs severed.

CHAPTER 3
The Slaying of Mahisasura

63. Headless trunks fought with the Devi

with best weapons in their hands. Some
of these headless trunks danced there in
the battle to the rhythm of the musical
49-58. They began to strike her with swords instruments.
in order to kill her. Showering her own
weapons and arms, that Devi Chandika 64-65. The trunks of some other great
very easily cut into pieces all those weapons asuras, with their swords, spears and lances
and arms. Without any strain on her face, still in their hands, shouted at the Devi
and with gods and sages extolling her, with their just severed heads, Stop, stop.
the Isvari threw her weapons and arms That part of earth where the battle was
at the bodies of the asuras. And the lion fought became impassable with the asuras,
also which carried the Devi, shaking its elephants and horses and chariots that had
mane in rage, stalked among the hosts of been felled.
the asuras like a conflagration amidst the
forests. The sighs which Ambika, engaged 66-67. The profuse blood from the asuras,
in the battle, heaved became at once her elephants and horses flowed immediately
battalions by hundreds and thousands. like large rivers amidst that army of the
Energized by the power of the Devi, these asuras. As fire consumes a huge heap of
(battalions) fought with axes, javelins, straw and wood, so did Ambika destroy
swords, halberds, and destroyed the asuras. that vast army of asuras in no time.
Of these battalions, some beat drums,
some blew conches and others played on 68-69. And her carrier-lion, thundering
tabors in that great martial festival. Then aloud with quivering mane, prowled about
the Devi killed hundreds of asuras with her in the battlefield, appearing to search
trident, club, showers of spears, swords out the vital breaths from the bodies of
and the like, and threw down others who the enemies of devas. In that battlefield
were stupefied by the noise of her bell; and the battalions of the Devi fought in such
binding others with her noose, she dragged a manner with the asuras that the devas
them on the ground. Some were split into in heaven, showering flowers, extolled
two by the sharp slashes of her sword, and them. Here ends the second chapter called
others, smashed by the blows of her mace, Slaughter of the armies of Mahisasura of
lay down on the ground; and some severely Devi-mahatmya in Markandeya-purana,
hammered by club vomited forth blood.
during the period of Savarni, the Manu.

The Rishi said:

1-2. Then Ciksura, the great asura general,
seeing that army being slain(by the Devi),
advanced in anger to fight with Ambika.

3. That asura rained showers of arrows

on the Devi in the battle, even as a cloud
(showers) rain on the summit of Mount
62. Some rendered one-armed, one-eyed, Meru.

4. Then the Devi, easily cutting asunder the with his sharp-edged sword and struck the
masses of his arrows, killed his horses and Devi also on her left arm.
their controller with her arrows.
8. O king, his sword broke into pieces as it
5. Forthwith she split his bow and lofty touched her arm. Thereon his eyes turning
banner, and with her arrows pierced the red with anger, he grasped his pike.
body of that(asura) whose bow had been
cut.
9. Then the great asura flung at Bhandrakali
the pike, blazing with lustre, as if he was
6. His bow shattered, his chariot broken, hurling the very sun from the skies.
his horses killed and his charioteer slain, the
asura armed with sword and shield rushed 10. Seeing that pike coming upon her, the
at the Devi.
Devi hurled her pike that shattered his pike
into a hundred fragments and the great
7. Swiftly he smote the lion on the head asura himself.

the Devi with stones, trees and the like, and

Karala also stricken down by her teeth and
fists and slaps.
18. Enraged, the Devi ground Uddhata to
powder with the blows of her club, and killed
Baskala with a dart and destroyed Tamra and
Andhaka with arrows.
19. The three-eyed Supreme Isvari killed
Ugrasya and Ugravirya and Mahahanu also
with her trident.
20. With her sword she struck down Bidalas
head from his body, and dispatched both
Durdhara and Durmudha to the abode of
Death with her arrows.
21. As his army was thus being destroyed,
Mahisasura terrified the troops of the Devi
with his own buffalo form.
22. Some ( he laid low) by a blow of his
muzzle, some by stamping with his hooves,
11. Mahisasuras very valiant general having some by the lashes of his tail, and others by
been killed, Camara, the afflictor of devas, the pokes of his horns.
mounted on an elephant, advanced.
23. Some he laid low on the face of the
12. He also hurled his spear at the Devi. earth by his impetuous speed, some by his
Ambika quickly assailed it with a whoop, bellowing and wheeling movement, and
others by the blast of his breath.
made it lustreless and fall to the ground.
13. Seeing his spear broken and fallen, Camara,
full of rage, flung a pike, and she split that
also with her arrows.

24. Having laid low her army, Mahisasura

rushed to slay the lion of the Mahadevi. This
enraged Ambika.

14. Then the lion, leaping up and seating itself

at the centre of the elephants forehead,
engaged itself in a hand to hand fight with
that foe of the devas.

25. Mahisasura, great in valour, pounded the

surface of the earth with his hooves in rage,
tossed up the high mountains with his horns,
and bellowed terribly.

15. Fighting, the two then came down to the

earth from the back of the elephant, and
fought very impetuously, dealing the most
terrible blows at each other.

26. Crushed by the velocity of his wheeling,

the earth disintegrated, and lashed by his
tail, the sea overflowed all around.

17. And Udagra was killed in the battle by

28. Seeing the great asura swollen with

27. Pierced by his swaying horns, the clouds

16. Then the lion, springing up quickly to the went into fragments. Cast up by the blast of
sky, and descending, severed Camaras head his breath, mountains fell down from the sky
in hundreds.
with a blow from its paw.

rage and advancing

towards her, Chandika
displayed her wrath in
order to slay him.
29. She flung her noose
over him and bound
the great asura. Thus
bound in the great
battle, he quitted his
buffalo form.
30. Then he became a
lion suddenly. While
Ambika cut off the
head (of his lion form),
he took the appearance
of a man with sword in
hand.
31. Immediately then
the Devi with her
arrows chopped off
the man together with
his sword and shield.
Then he became a big
elephant.
32. (The elephant)
tugged at her great
lion with his trunk and
roared loudly, but as
he was dragging, the
Devi cut off his trunk
with her sword.
33. The great asura
to him in flurried words, the colour of her
then resumed his buffalo shape and shook face accentuated with the intoxication of
the three worlds with their movable and the divine drink. The Devi said:
immovable objects.
37-38. Roar, roar, O fool, for a moment while
34. Enraged threat, Chandika, the Mother of I drink this wine. When you sill be slain by
the worlds, quaffed a divine drink again and me, the devas will soon roar in this very
again, and laughed, her eyes becoming red.
place. The Rishi said:
35, And the asura, also roared intoxicated 39-40. Having exclaimed thus, she jumped
with his strength and valour, and hurled and landed herself on that great asura,
mountains against Chandika with his horns. pressed him on the neck with her foot and
struck him with her spear.
36. And she with showers of arrows pulverized
( those mountains) hurled at her, and spoke 41. And thereupon, caught up under her

If you have firm resolve, if you are

committed to being a good human being,
there is no excuse for not to practising and
living a virtuous life. There is no reason then
for the mind to say I cant do this. When
you seek to find faults with other it is a sign
of your own weakness. It shows your lack of
faith in yourself and in God, and your lack of
commitment towards
living your life virtuously
Situations and circumstances will occur in life
which will cause you to act and react. Some
will be favourable and others unfavourable.
So how do you remain firm in your resolve
and your practice? Each of us has a comfort
zone where we feel very safe and protected.
If youre determined to remain in that comfort
zone, then it will never be possible for you to
bring those practices into your life which will
foot. Mahisasura half issued forth ( in his help you to live your life virtuously.
real form) from his own (buffalo) mouth,
being completely overcome by the valour of Any virtue or practice that brings about a
the Devi.
positive, and perhaps in some cases, a radical
transformation, requires that we come out
42. Fighting thus with his half-revealed form, of our comfort zone. This is not always easy
the great asura was laid by the Devi who and requires purushaartha. Purushaartha
struck off his head with her great sword.
here means that we need to be completely
dedicated, determined and exert great self
43. Then, crying in consternation, the whole control and effort to bring about the changes
asura army perished; and all the hosts of we desire in our lives.
deva were in exultation. 44. With the great
sages of heaven, the devas praised the Devi. When Ram had to cross the ocean, to fight
The Gandharva chiefs sang and the bevies of Ravana and his army, he prayed to God to
apsaras danced.
show him the way. Laxman got a impatient
and said, Deva deva aalasi pukaara, meaning
Here ends the third chapter called The only lazy people call out to God, (This means
Slaying of Mahisasura of Devi-mahatmya that there are some people in the word that
in Markandeya-purana during the period of will do nothing for themselves and expect god
Savarni, the Manu.
to do everything for them). If you have the
power, if you have the strength and courage,
if you have the determination and will to
Next year i will add more Chapters
succeed, pick up your weapons now and go
forth without fear or hesitation. Display
Live Your Life Meaningfully
your purushaartha, and you will emerge
As human beings, we tend to become become victorious. This same principle applies to our
slaves of the situations and circumstances lives.
that engulf us. An individual who pursues his
lifes goal with conviction and determination We are lazy and this results in our getting
will be victorious and overcome all obstacles stuck in our own special comfort zones. We
in his path.

and able to give completely, free of all

expectations.

!! Shri Devi Sooktam !!

dont want to push hard enough to move

out of that cocoon because it may cause
us discomfort and so we prefer to remain
in the same place. If you observe closely,
you will see that whenever you try to bring
some kind of discipline or positive change
into your life, your self that identifies with
your weaknesses will rebel. For example, if
you are addicted to smoking you will think,
Oh God, I cant quit smoking, I cant live
without cigarettes! You begin to identify
yourself with the addiction you have, it is as
if the addiction gives you your self identity.
So, the moment you think of it, the act itself
becomes the shackles on your feet. We have
all been through this experience of feeling
that we have become slaves to a particular
situation in our lives. When you are able
to move ahead without remaining stuck,
irrespective of any and all obstacles in your
path, real and imaginary, that is when you
are exercising your Purushaartha This is
what makes you a saadhak a practioner, a
yogi.
You have to get out of your comfort zone
to make others feel good and to fully
experience the Bliss of God. You have to
completely sincere in your practice, in your
determination to be a good human being.
You have to become someone who is willing

Namoh Devyai Mahadevyai Sivayei Satatam

Namah !
Namah Prakrityai Bhadrayai Niyatah
Pramatah Ma Tam !!
Raudrai Namo Nityayai Gauryei Dhatrayei
Namo Namah !
Jyotsnayei Chenduroopinyei Sukhayei
Satatam Namah !!
Kalyanyei Pranatam Vridhayei Siddhayei
Kurmo Namo Namah !
Nairtyei Bhoobhritam Lakshmye Sharvanyei
Te Namo Namah !!
Durgayei Durgparayei Sarayei Sarvakarinye
!
Khyatyei Tatheva Krishnayei Dhoomrayei
Satatam Namo Namah !!
Atisaumyatiraudraye Natastsyei Namo
Namah !
Namo Jagatpratishthaye Devyei Krityei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Vishnumayeti
Shabdita !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu
Chetanetyabhideeyate !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Budhiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Nidraroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Kshudharoopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Chayaroopen

Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Shaktiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Trishnaroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Kshantiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Jatiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Lajjaroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Shantiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Shraddharoopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Kantiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Lakshimiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Vrittiroopen
Sanstitha !

Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei

Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Smritiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Dayaroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Tushtiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Matriroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Ya Devi Sarvabhooteshu Bhrantiroopen
Sanstitha !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Indriyanamdhishthatri Bhootanam
Chakhileshu Ya !
Bhooteshu Satatam Tasyei Vyaptidevyei
Namo Namah !!
Chitiroopen Ya Kritsnametadvyapya Sthita
Jagat !
Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei
Namo Namah !!
Stuta Sureih Poorvabheeshthasamsraya,
Tatha Surendrena Dineshu Sevita !
Karotum Sa Nah
Shubhahetureeshwari,Shubhani
Bhadranyabhihantu Chapadah !!
Ya Sampratam Choddhatadaityetapitai,
Rasmabhireesha Cha Surernamasyate !
Ya Cha Smrita Takshanameva Hanti Nah,
Sarvapado Bhaktivinamrammortibhih !!

Navaratri Program for the Shree Durga Mandir 2009

DATE
DAY
19 Sep 09
SAT,

Discourse & Bhajans / Chalisa Garba at 17h00-19h00

POOJA
Pooja begins at 16h00
Installation of Mother Durga

20 SEP 09
SUN
Recital / Discourse on & Bhajans / Chalisa Garba at 17h00-19h00
21 Sep 09
MON
Recital / Discourse & Bhajans / Chalisa at 19h00-20h00, Garba from 20h30-21h30pm
22 Sep 09
TUE
Recital / Discourse & Bhajans / Chalisa at 19h00-20h00, Garba from 20h30-21h30pm
23 Sep 09
WED
Recital / Discourse & Bhajans / Chalisa at 19h00-20h00, Garba from 20h30-21h30pm
24 Sep 09
THURS
Soubhavati Puja For All Married Women To take part in the puja please contact any of the
members
Discourse & Bhajans / Chalisa at 18h30-20h00 Garba from 20h30-21h30
25 Sep 09
FRI
19h15 Saraswathi Pooja (students) To take part in the puja please contact any of the members below
Discourse & Bhajans / Chalisa 18h30-20h00 Garba from 20h30-21h30
26 Sep 09
SAT
Durga Pooja Chandi Maha Yagna commencing at 7.00am Sharp
(All Welcome and Lunch will be served)
27 Sep 09
SUN
Kanya Pooja (girls under 10 years) 17h30-19h00 To take part in the puja please contact any
of the members Recital / Discourse & Bhajans / Chalisa Garba
28 Sep 09
MON
Vijay Dashmi, Farewell Ceremony commencing at the Mandir at 19h15

Have a blessed Navaratri and may the Divine Mother Guide throught you life.