Lalitopakhyana [ The story of the Goddess Lalita ] 7

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Lalitopakhyana – I [see Message 11530]

Lalitopakhyana – II [see Message 11579]

Lalitopakhyana – III [see Message 11680]

Lalitopakhyana – IV [see Message 12221]

Lalitopakhyana – V [see Message 12279]

Lalitopakhyana – VI [see Message 12321]

 

Lalitopakhyana – VII

 

Devi vijaya yatra (Devi's victory procession)

222. Later Lalita devi, making the noise emanating from the four

oceans as the drums and accompanied with several other instruments

proceeded for the battle against Bhandasura.

 

223. From Lalitha devi's Ankusham (=spear), `Sampat

karidevi', came

out along with crores and crores of elephants and started following

Lalita devi (sampatkari samarudha sindhura vraja sevita ) .

 

224. Sampatkari Devi was sitting on the elephant

named `Ranakolahalam' (=battle bustle, battle uproar).

 

225. From Lalita devi's Pasham (=whip) arose Ashwaroodha devi

along

with a big army of horses and was moving in front of Lalita devi.

(ashwarudhadhishtishtaswa koti kotibhiravruta) .

 

226. The horse carrying Ashwaroodha devi was named

`Aparajitam'

(=one which cannot be defeated).

 

227. Later , commander of the army Dandanatha devi played the drums

to start marching.

 

228. As the march started Dandanatha devi got down from her chariot

and sat down on the lion. The lion is named `Vajraghosham'

(kirichakra ratha rudha damdanadha puraskruta)

 

229. All her soldiers started praising her by twelve different names.

(Panchami dandanatha cha sakjeta samayeshwari tatha samaya sakjeta

varahi potrini tatha vartali cha maha sena pyajna chakreshwari tatha

arighni cheti samproktam nama dwadasakam yune)

 

230. Later Mantrini devi played the drums of marching. Her soldiers

were mainly decorated sensuously. They were playing veenas and

singing.

 

231. Mantrini devi was moving in her Geyachakra ratha (circle of

army formed by singers) [geyachakra ratha rudha mantrini parisevita]

 

232. She was being praised by sixteen names.

Sangeeta yogini shyama shyamala mantra nayika

mantrini sachiveshani pradhaneshi shukapriya

vina vati vainiki cha mudrini priyakapriya

nipapriya kadambeshi kadamba vanavasini

sadamada cha namani shodashaitaini kumbhaja

One who recites this strotra can conquer all the three worlds.

 

233. Then, from the bird in the hands of Mantrini devi, appeared god

Dhanurveda with a spectacular bow in his hand and said "Mother!

this

bow is called chitrajeevam. This quiver is akshaya (=one which is

unlimited, fills up spontaneously).Please accept them for

demolishing the demons."

 

234. Now Lalita devi started moving with sugarcane, bow, arrows,

spear and whip in the `srichakraraja'chariot.

 

235. She is being praised with 25 names

simhasanesi lalitha maharajni varankusha

sundari chakranatha cha samrajni chakrini ratha

chakreshwari mahadevi kameshi parameshwari

kamaraja priyakamakotika chakravartini

mahavidya shivananga vallabha sarvapatala

kulanatha amnayanatha sarvamnaya nivasini

shringara nayika cheti pancha vimshati namabhih

One who recites this stotra attains ashtasiddhi (8 spiritual

accomplishments)

 

236. Bandasuravadhodyukta shaktisena samanvita in Lalita sahasranama

stotram means one who is ready with her army (shaktisena) to

annihilate Bhandasura.

 

Bhanda's war preparation :

237. While Lalita devi was proceeding for the war, many bad omens

were observed in Bhanda's `Shunyaka' town.

 

238. Bhandasura called upon an urgent meeting along with his

brothers Vishukra and Vishanga to assess and evaluate the situation.

 

239. In the meeting vishukra spoke thus

a.) All gods have burnt themselves by jumping into fire, out of

despair

b.) From that fire arose mother goddess, who rejuvenated all gods

c.) She is coming for a war with us, along with an army of women

d.) Those gods are trying to cut stones using tender leaves

e.) Even then we should not neglect that woman. We must send our army

immediately

 

240. Vishanga told

a.) Any work should only be done after properly thinking about it.

b.) First we must send spies and see how powerful their army is.

c.) We must not under estimate the enemies army.

d.) In the past Hiranyakashipa was killed by an animal.

e.) Sumbha and Nishumbha were killed by a woman.

f.) So, we must get more information about her

g.) Who is she ? Who is supporting or protecting her?

What does she want? All these queries should be answered

 

241.Listening to this Bhandasura shuddered the proposal with a

sarcastic grin. Even if all the gods are behind her, we have nothing

to fear. Do not entertain such useless thoughts and spoil your mind

 

242. Immediately Bhandasura ordered `Kutilaksha',

Commander-in-chief

of his army, to protect the fort

 

243. He ordered the priests and ministers to perform abhichara(black

magic) homa

 

244.He ordered Lalita to be dragged to him holding her hair

 

245.Now, the demons played the war drums. Kutilaksha sent the first

batch of army with demon Durmada as the commander

 

246.At Shunyapura Kutilaksha made arrangements for protection -

Eastern entry _ Tala jangha, Southern entry - Tala bhuja, Western

entry – Tala griva, Northern entry - Tala ketu were placed along

with 10 akshohini army each.

 

247.For each corner of the town another 10 akshohini was allocated

for protection

 

Shakti senas's uproar

248. Durmada was confronted by Sampatkaridevi and her army of

elephants (who arose from Lalita devi's spear)

 

249. Realising that his army was being defeated Durmada himself came

for the war seated on a camel

 

250. Sampatkari devi who was seated on `Ranakolahala' her

elephant,

faced him.

 

251. In the ferocious battle Durmada was able to destroy one gem

from the crown of Sampatkari devi.

 

252. Angry with this, Sampatkari devi killed Durmada with her arrows

which pierced his heart

 

253. With that the remaining demons fled back to their town out of

fear.

 

254. Listening to this Bhandasura was very angry and sent

Durmada's

elder brother Kurunda for battle. He is an expert in maya yuddha(war

using mystical powers)

255.Full of vengeance he attacked Sampatkari devi

 

256. In the meanwhile Ashwarudha devi who had taken birth from

Lalita devi's whip came forward and pleaded Sampatkari devi to

give

her a chance to fight with this demon.

 

257. Now Ashwarudha devi along with her army pounced upon Kurunda

 

258. Ashwarudha devi mounted on `Aparajita' was herself

leading the

army. In that battle she killed Kurunda by piercing his chest with

her spear. Remaining demons fled for their lives.

 

259. Bhanda became furious. He sent a huge army this time (100

akshohini) along with 5 commanders.

 

260. They materialised serpent gods by name `Ranashambari'

which

attacked

shaktisena. The demons had previously defeated gods using these

mystic powers.

 

261. Crores and crores of serpents, which arose from the serpent

gods, started torturing the shaktisena.

 

262. They were taking birth again and again even after being killed

a number of times.

 

263. Then Nakuli devi mounted on garuda came to the battlefield.

>From her mouth came out 32 crores of mongooses. These mongooses

started gobbling up all the newborn serpents immediately after birth.

 

264. Then Nakulidevi killed Ranashambari with Garudastram

 

265. All the five commanders now attacked Nakuli devi

 

266. Nakuli devi's mongoose army attacked them from the rear

 

267. In that ferocious battle Nakuli devi who was mounted on Garuda

was making aerial strikes on the demons who were not able to catch

her. She killed the five commanders by chopping of their heads

 

268. Bhanda after listening to this sent Valahaka and other seven

commanders along with 300 akshohini army.

 

269.These seven demons are sons of demoness named Kikasa.In the past

they obtained a boon from sun god that- at the time of war sun would

reside in their eyes.

 

270. As soon as these demons entered the battlefield the shaktisena

army started

becoming blindfolded and incapacitated unable to face the brilliance

of their eyes. Demons started becoming ferocious.

 

271. Immediately the bodyguard of Dandanatha devi –named

Tiraskarinika devi, entered the battle field mounted on an aeroplane

named `Tamoliptam'.

 

272.At the order of Damdanatha devi she discharged an arrow

named `Andhanastra', and the seven commanders were forced to

close

their eyes. Now shakti sena started pouncing back.

 

273. Keeping Tiraskarinika devi in the forefront, other gods killed

the seven

commanders.

 

274. With this blow Bhandasura lost his senses. He called upon his

two brothers for a discussion.

 

 

to be continued [ Extraction from English version of Lalitopakhyana

by Ganapati Sachchidananda ]