Devi maahaathmyam -2

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 Shiva and Lord Brahma  also joined and enhanced the lustre  of the form. As flashes of illumination from all other Devas joined, a brilliant form a woman appeared before their eyes. Her brilliance brightened all the fourteen worlds.

All of them were happy and each one of them presented her with their powerful weapons. Bhagavan gave Sudarshana chakram, Shiva gave the trident, Varuna gave conch, Devendra gave Vajraayudham, Himavaan gave Lion etc etc. She roared loudly agitating all the worlds. Sages praised Devi with Bhajans.

Mahishaasura also heard the loudest and terrifying noise Devi made and the sound made by her weapons. He ordered his army to go and fight with her and fight between Devas and Asuras started again. Asuraas started attacking Devi and it was only a leela or game for Her. Fighting  continued for a long time and Devi effortlessly killed most of the soldiers of Mahishaasura and the rest of Asuraas ran for their life. Devaas were very pleased and showered Her with auspicious flowers. Here ends the second chapter.

Mahishaasuraa's close assistants like Chikshura, Chamara, Udagra , Bashkala, Tamra, Andhaka etc also were killed by Devi. She killed the prominent Asuraas Durdhara and Durmukha also with Her trident and sword. Now Mahishaasura appeared as a huge buffalo and joined the fight. He killed lot of Devaas with his nonparallel power and charged towards Devi's lion. Devi bound him with Varuna paasham or rope of Varuna, then he changed his buffalo form and took the form of a lion, then became a soldier, became an elephant and finally became his original buffalo form again. He killed more and more Devaas and Devi was extremely angry and with her trident severed his throat and cut off his head with Her powerful sword. That was the end of the powerful Mahishasura. 

All the celestial beings were happy and praised Devi Mahishasuramardini profusely and showered with very fragrant flowers. 

Destruction of Mahishaasura and his army symbolizes the removal of the subtler Raajasic negative qualities with in our mind. Gross materialism and action and movements only to achieve the transient material pleasures are the result of Raajasic tendencies. When mind is full of the above tendencies , it is considered as taken over by Mahishaasura. Mahishasura with in us makes us turn against our divine tendencies. Mahishasura's changing forms symbolizes the wavering and restlessness of the mind. Assistants of Mahishaasura are the negative qualities like greed, vanity, jealousy etc. When Mahsishaasura takes over our mind, our divinity will be covered by the thick veil of ignorance. But when we turn to Devi, She comes as Mahalskhmi to save us from that predicament and leads us to Moksham. 

Next chapter is extolling the greatness of Devi by Devaas.

Shree Mahathripurasundaryai Nama:

Samashtaaparaadham kshamaswa