Bhakthadasi

Devi Maahaathmyam 9 Chapter twelve is about  Devi 's reassurance to all devotees about the positive effect of reading  Devi  Maahathmyam with bhakthi or sincere devotion. The story of the destruction of Madhu, Kaitabha, Chanda, Munda, Dhoomralochana, Rakthabeeja, Sumbha and Nisumbha are very auspicious and should be remembered every day with utmost devotion. If a devotee is not able to chant by himself/herself due to illness, inconvenience or lack of knowledge, he/she should try to listen to another devotee chanting or telling the great stories of  Devi . The power of these stories will protect all devotees from all material as well as spiritual ailments and lead them to salvation. Also this story of  Devi  removes all unwanted fears in our mind. Even when we are lost in a forest, or trapped in forest fire or in the company of bad people, or chased by wild animals or elephant, or travelling in a sinking boat or put in a jail waiting for execution or trapped in any unfavorabl

Eleventh chapter is considered to be one of the most auspicious chapters of all thirteen chapters and it is often known as - Friday sthuthi or Velliyaazcha sthuthi. The most popular manthra of  Devi   ''सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गल्ये   शिवे   सर्वा र्थसाधिके शरण्ये   त्र्यम्बके   गौरि   नारायणि   नमोऽस्तु   ते   Sarva-Manggala-Manggalye Shive Sarvaartha-Saadhike  Sharannye Trya mbake Gauri Naaraayanni Namo sthu The  Oh! Salutations to you  Devi  Naaraayani!! who is personification of all auspiciousness and who is giver of refuge, one who has three eyes, very fair and beautiful.'' comes in this chapter. Also many other slokaas are very popular and lot of devotees chant this chapter every day. It is said  that the positive vibrations emanated by chanting the slokaas from this chapter and all verses of  Devi  Maahaathmyam will remove all negativity from our mind as well as our homes and surroundings. It is very auspicious to chant these slokaas when we move in to a

Chapters nine and ten describes how both Sumbha and Nisumbha were destroyed by Devi. Both King Suratha and Samaadhi were very curious to know how Sumbha and Nisumbha reacted to the death of their mighty assistant Rakthabeeja and what happened next. So Sage Sumedhas continued the story. Sumbha and Nisumbha were very upset, angry and afraid to learn about the death of Rakthabeeja. First Nisumbha advanced forward along with a huge army of Asuraas to face Devi. Nisumbha and Asuraas looked like moths flying into a raging fire, to be consumed by the flames. Nisumbha showered a variety of arrows on Her and in the fierce battle Nisumbha became unconscious for a while. When Sumbha saw his brother lying unconscious, he charged forward and fought with all his might and to his surprise and to all Devaa's delight, Devi killed all his assistants and concentrated on making him weak. After some time he was tired and retreated. By this time Nisumbha got up and took this opportunity to r

Devi maahaathmyam 6 Chapter eight describes the story of a ferocious demon called Rakthabeeja, the most powerful assistant of Sumbha and Nissumbha. In his attempt to glorify the greatness of Devi, Sage Sumedhas continued his narration to King Suratha and Samaadhi .  Sumbha and Nisumbha were very upset and angry to know about the death of the valorous Chanda and Munda. They ordered the rest of the Asuras, Diti's sons, Kambu's sons, Kottavi's sons, all the members of the Dhoomra's, Kaalaka's, Douhrudaa's, Mouryaa's, Kaalakeyaa's  families (that comes to several crores of soldiers) to get ready for the war against Devi. Sumbha himself led the army. They ignored bad omens and advanced towards Devi, who was all alone to face them!! Devi decided to assume many forms to destroy all types of demons. All the Devaas including Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara and several incarnations of Vishnu Bhagavan gave their power to Devi to manifest in differe

Devi maahaathmyam -5 (Chapters six and seven) Sixth chapter describes the elimination of Dhoomralochana, one of the important assistants of Sumbha and Nisumbha. Sumbha Nisumbha decided to send their powerful assistant, the red eyed Dhoomralochana to defeat Her, along with a big army of Asuraas. But Devi effortlessly killed him with an exhalation sound Huum or Huumkaaram. Her lion frightened the army of Asuraas, some were killed and the rest of them ran for their life. When Sumbha and Nisumbha heard about the death of Dhoomralochana, Sumbha became very angry and ordered Chanda  and Munda to go and fight with Her. Sumbha told them:  "Even though She is a woman, She is showing extraordinary arrogance and courage. Please do not hesitate to kill her thinking that She is a woman. Just defeat her with the help of our mighty army, grab Her by Her hair, drag Her here. She deserves no compassion !!."  Sixth chapter ends there. Chapter seven explains how

Devi maahaathmyam --4 Fifth chapter of Devi Maahathmyam describes how Koushiki Devi, another manifestation of Aadi Parashakthi meets with the messengers of  two more demons called Sumbha and Nisumbha. Sumbha and Nisumbha represents the most subtle enemies of our mind creating a transparent barrier between the saathvic state and Ultimate Truth. Sumbha and Nisumbha did severe penance to please Brahma Devan and received the precious boon that they would be able fulfill all their desires. With this new acquired boon, they became very powerful. They were intoxicated and blinded by their power and terrorized the Devaas. Devaas were banished from heaven and they roamed around aimlessly  on earth. By Devi’s grace, Devaas remembered about Devi’s promise to them that if they worshiped Her during any time of distress and danger, She would come and help them. So they all invoked  Devi by extolling Her glories using the most meaningful and beautiful words, for a very long time. They

Devi maahaayhmyam 3 Next is chapter four in which Devaas, delighted over the destruction of Mahishaasura by the manifestation of Mahaamaaya as Mahaalakshmi, praises Devi profusely. All the verses of the Shtuthi are very auspicious for devotees to recite during Navaratri and every day The second sloka extols Devi as the combined power of all Devaas and salutes her as the mother of the whole Universe. Each sloka glorifies her greatness and says how She blesses and helps devotees in all circumstances. She is the Goddess who removes the enemies in our material world as well as the enemies of our mind. She is the one who can alleviate our suffering due to lack of resources, lack of mental and physical strength. A few slokaas given below are the prayers requesting Devi to protect us from all dangers and often chanted daily by several devotees. But all the slokaas in Devi Maahathmya are auspicious and divine. Shoolena paahino devi, paahi ghadgena chaambike, Ghandaswanena

Devimaahaathmyam -2 (Chapter two and three) Chapter two describes how the army of Mahishaasura, another Asura representing Raajasic qualities like  wavering of mind with ever changing ideas, were defeated and the third chapter deals with the destruction of Mahaishaasura himself.  Sumedhas continued the story to King Suratha and the businessman Samaadhi. Once there was a battle between Devas, led by Indra and Asuras, led by Mahishasura. That battle went on for 100 years and finally Mahishasura defeated Devendra and took over heaven. Also he delegated his assistants to replace  and do the dutiess of Devaas like Agni, Varuna etc. Devas were helpless and homeless and approached Brahma Devan. Along with Brahma Devan and Lord Shiva, Devas went to to the bank of the milky ocean to seek the help of Ananthashaayi Mahavishnu. When Mahavishnu heard this complaint from Devas, his eyebrows were twisted and a bright form emanated from his body. Bright flashes of light from Lord S

Devimaahathmyam 1 Today Navaratri starts and we will see how Devi in the form of Durga Bhagavathi wins over the demons Madhu and Kaitabha who are the personification of all Thaamasic qualities like anger, never-ending desires and greed. Our Manvanthara is Vaivaswatha Manvanthara. This story that we are going to explore happened in Saavarnika Manvanthara. A long, long time ago, there lived a king called Suratha. He was a righteous king who ruled and expanded his kingdom and made his people happy by his good actions. But once there was a dispute over some yajnaas and rituals and king ended up having some enemies. Those protested kept on disturbing all yajnaas and caused unrest in the once peaceful kingdom. Slowly they acquired more power and took over almost everything. Seeing his kingdom crumbling down, disappointed, frustrated and  disillusioned, but still loving and worrying about his kingdom, his people and family went to the forest near by. Presence of great sages broug

Devi Maahaathmyam- Introduction Navarathri of this year begins on Saturday October 1 st  or for some on Sunday october 2nd. I thought it will be auspicious to go through Devi Maahaathmyam during Navarathri and hence my humble attempt to rememember Mahaamaaya's stories as given in Devi Maahaathmyam. Devi Maahaathmyam is contained in Vedavyaasa Muni's Maarkandeya Purana. This has thirteen chapters and toal number of slokaas are seven hundred. Because it has seven hundred slokaas, it is also known as Sapthasathi. We have heard about Purusha and Prakruthi. Purusha is the cause of all causes, beginningness, endless, seat of eternal bliss and remaining only as a witness. Prakruthi is the cause of the manifested world or drushya prapancham. So Devi or Prakruthi is the divine power gifted by Purusha that made possible the creation of the whole Universe that we see and live in. Before proceeding further, let us do a namaskaaram to Purusha or Paramaathma Chaithanyam or Brahma