Devi maahaaathmyam 6

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 different forms. She appeared as Brahmi (from Braham Devan) riding on white swans, as Maheswari (from Lord Shiva) riding on a huge bull, as Koumari  (from Lord Karthikeya) on peacock, as Vaishnavi (from Mahaavishnu) on Garuda, as Vaarahi in the form of a varaaha or wild boar, Naarasimhi in the form of Narasimha, the man-lion, as Indrani (from Devendra) holding the Vajraayaudha, and as Ishaana with all the combined power of all other Devaas. She also appeared there in the most frightening form as Chandika and Kaali with thousands of hungry jackals howling around Her. Ishaana Devi told Sumbha and Nisumbha either to surrender and go peacefully to their abode of under world or face the consequences of fighting with Devi. They chose to fight.

Asuraas came forward to attack Devi and were defeated by all these manifestations and different powerful weapons in their hands. Seeing the Asuraas retreating, Rakthabeeja, the ferocious Asura came forward. This asura had a special power. His body when wounded and bled, there would arise another Rakthabeeja from each and every drop of blood that oozed out of his body. Knowing this, both Chandika and Kali came forward to fight with him. As Chandika Devi's weapons pierced Rakthabeeja's body, blood started oozing from his body. As soon as the drops of blood appeared, MahaakaaLi drank them by licking, with out giving a chance to emerge another Rakthabeeja from the blood drops. Mahaakaali drank every drop of blood that came out. The fight continued for a long time and with the result of loosing lot of blood, Rakthabeeja started fading and finally collapsed by the forceful blows from Chandika's mace

Devaas were delighted at the victory and screamed Glory to Jaganmaatha! Glory to Ambika! Glory to Durga!

When we read the story and follow the literal meaning, this whole Devi Maahathmyam is full of violence and destruction. But the moment we try to compare these fight with the confusion going on with in our mind filled with countless emotions, desires, positive  qualities and negative qualities, we can see that all these demons represent our negative tendencies and Devi represents our pure consciousness. 

Rakthabeeja symbolizes our attachment to result-oriented material actions or karmaas. Again red color of the blood represents Raajasic tendencies. Just like new demons arise from each drop of blood of Rakthabeeja, one desire and result oriented actions to achieve that desire leads to another desire, this leads to a few another desires and thus desires increase in geometric progression making us go round and round on the never ending wheel of birth and death .If we do not try to control these desires by invoking the Chaithanyam with in us, they will soon control us. 

Krodhavathi is the mother of Rakthabeeja and hence also the nephew of Sumbha and Nisumbha. This shows that anger or krodham is a dear sibling of Avivekam (lack of descrimination) and arrogance and she is the mother of this Rakthabeeja, desire prompted result-oriented actions. Kaali is the Thaamasic and Raajasic aspect of Devi and Chandika the saathvic aspect, delegates Kaali to destroy Rakthabeeja.  

All these are symbolic of the great unrest with in our mind and how the worship of the divine power wit in us brings peace and harmony to our mind.

Sree Mahaathripurasundaryai nama:

Samaasthaaparaadham kshamaswa