Lalitopakhyana [ The story of the Goddess Lalita ] 8

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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 – VII [see message 12406 ]

 

Lalitopakhyana [ The story of the Goddess Lalita ] 8

 

275. In that meeting it was decided that Vishanga would attack

devi's army from its rear side in a treacherous way (This is called

Parshti grahamu). This decision was taken because they got

information from their spies that Lalita devi was having less army

and protection at her rear end and it was easier for them to

approach Lalita devi directly and attack her, if they approached

from the rear.

 

276. After the first day's war, at dusk, Vishanga with a small army

proceeded to the rear of Lalita devi's army noiselessly without any

drums

 

277. By then Lalita devi's army was moving westward. Vishanga along

with his army moved north wards and then turned to reach eastern side

 

278. He was able to see Srichakraraja chariot very near to him.

Lalita devi was looking forward observing the movement of the army.

She was not having much army close to her

 

279. Taking this opportunity Vishanga attacked devi's chariot from

the rear, all of a sudden.

 

280 Anima and other gods who were present there were taken back at

this sudden attack but quickly recovered themselves and prepared for

a counter fight.

 

281. Exactly at the same time Kutilaksha along with ten akshohini

army attacked from the front side

 

282. Seeing attack from both ends Lalita devi was a little angry. In

the mean while, struck by an arrow from Vishanga, the fan present in

Lalita devi's hand fell down and broke

 

283. Seeing this Tithidevatas got very angry. They went and

requested Lalita devi that Vahnivasini and Jwalamalini nitya devas

have property and capacity of self illumination. If they glow then

the demons who are in the dark will all become visible.

 

284. With the permission of Lalita devi, Vahnivasini and Jwalamalini

devis started glowing like fireballs. All the demons who were hiding

in darkness now became visible.

 

285. Now the 16 nitya devi's became outrageous and attacked

Vishanga's army. All the commanders in the demons army died.

 

286. Wounded all over the body Vishanga fled for his life

shamelessly. Even

Kutilaksha who attacked from the front also fled. (In Lalita

sahasranama - nityaparakrama topa nirikshana samatsuka =seeing the

valour of nityadevatas,Lalita devi was very pleased)

 

287. Mantrini devi and Dandanatha devi felt unhappy about this

unprecedented attack in the night They felt very sorry that their

arrangements of protection were not up to the mark.

 

Agni prakara (compound wall made of fire)

288. Both of them went to Lalita devi, expressed sorry for what had

happened and made arrangements for protection.

 

289. At the instance of Lalita devi,Jwalamalini devi made a compound

wall of fire around the devi's army The fire wall is 100 yojana wide

and 30 yojana tall. (1 yojana is approximately 8 miles).

 

290.At the southern end of fire wall is a 1 yojana long entry, to

enable devi's army go out and fight because Shunyapuram is facing

this end.(L.S.N—jwalamalini kashipta vahniprakaramadhyaga)

 

291. Stambhini devi a member of Dandanatha devi family along with 20

akshohini senas was protecting this entry point. She is also called

Vighna devi.

 

292. By then it was dawn.

 

293. Knowing all this news Bhandasura was in despair and started

thinking what to do.

 

294. This time he sent all his 30 sons for the war

295. After listening to this news Lalita devi's daughter Baladevi

wanted to fight these demons herself.

 

296. Baladevi is the only daughter of Lalita devi .She resembles

Lalita devi very much but is always only 9 years old .She stays

permanently with her mother only.

 

297. Baladevi approached her mother and requested for permission to

fight in the battlefield

 

298. At the outset Lalita devi denied but looking at the courage and

will power exhibited by Bala devi she ultimately gave permission.

 

299. Seeing Bala devi coming for the war Mantrini and Dandanayaka

were

astonished , they stood as her body guards.

 

300.Now Baladevi started ferocious fighting with Bhanda's sons.

Every one was surprised at her valour

 

301.Whole of the second day Baladevi fought. That evening she shot

30 arrows at a time and killed 30 sons of Bhanda.

 

302. Lalita devi was very happy and she embraced her daughter (L.S.N-

-- Bhandaputravadhodyukta bala vikrama nandita)

 

303. Bhanda was grief stricken. Desperately he himself started off

for the war

 

304. Vishukra and Vishanga pacified Bandasura

 

Vighnayentra nashnam (Destruction of the mystic symbol of obstacles)

 

305. Now Bhanda sent Vishukra to the warfront.

 

306. In the darkness Vishukra approached the Vahniprakara

(firewall) –on a flat stone he drew a mystic symbol and performed

some black magic.

 

307. He then threw that mystic symbol forcefully. It fell in the

firewall at some point.

 

308. With the affect of that yantra (mystic symbol) laziness crept

into the minds of the devi's army

(a.) Some started arguing that war itself was wrong.

(b.) Some said, "Why should we fight on behalf of the gods".

(c.) Some said, "Who is this Lalita devi? Who has given her superior

ship over us?"

(d.) Some said, "If all of us together decline not to fight what can

Lalita devi do?"

(e.) All of them fell into sleep of ignorance.

 

309. After midnight Vishukra along with 30 akshohini sena surrounded

the fire barrier.

 

310. Even then none of the members of shaktisena moved under the

influence of the ignorance caused by the Vighna yentra

 

311. However, Vighnayentra was not able to affect Mantrini and

Dandanatha. But they were both very sad worried seeing the state of

their army.

 

312. Not knowing what to do they went and enquired Lalita devi.

 

313.Then Lalita devi looked at the Kameshwara's face and passed a

gentle smile.

 

314. From her smile Ganapathi took birth.

 

315. He immediately searched in the firewall and noticed

the `vighnayentra shila' at one place. He broke the shila into

pieces and powder with his tooth.

(kameshwaramukhaloka kalpita sri ganeshwara Mahaganesha nirbhinna

vighnayentra praharsita)

 

316. With that shaktisena's ignorance and sleep was dispelled, they

immediately got ready for the war.

 

317. Now Vighneswara along with this army came out of the fire

barrier and started fighting with Vishukra.

 

318. Vishukra sent Gajasura to attack him but soon Gajasura was

slayed. Seeing this Vishukra ran away.

 

Annihilation of Vishukra and Vishanga

319.After discussing with Bhandasura, Vishukra came back to war,

along with his brother Vishanga and son- in –law. With this the

third day war had started.

 

320. Mantrini and Dandanatha both started to fight simultaneously

 

321. In the front was Dandanatha devi mounted on her kirichakra

ratha with her plough weapon (halayudha) swirling it rapidly.

 

322.Behind her was Mantrini devi mounted on Geyachakra ratha as an

archer with bow and arrows

 

323.Dandanatha devi attacked Vishunga.

 

324. Mantrini devi confronted Vishukra.

 

325. Ashwarudha, Sampatkari and others attacked the son- in-law of

the demons who had come .

 

326.The army of the demons started slackening. Noticing this

Vishukra discharged Trushastram(weapon which produces thirst).

Shaktisena's army started to experience intense thirst.

 

327.Then Dandanatha devi invited `Madyasamudra'(=ocean of liquor)

devata from her kirichakra and quenched their thirst.

 

328. Madyasamudra deva showered liquor rains. With that the army

quenched their thirst and rejuvenated.

329. By sunset most of the demons including Bhanda's son-in-law had

died.

 

330. Then Shyamala devi (Mantrini) fought with Vishukra and killed

him with

`Brahmashironamakastra' (a powerful weapon named brahmashira)

 

331. Dandanatha devi (Potrini) killed Vishanga with her plough

weapon and pestle. However in Lalita sahasranama it is mentioned

that Vishukra was killed by Varahi and Vishanga was killed by

Mantrini— Mantrinyamba virachita vishanga vadhatoshita

Vishukra prana harana varahiveryanandita

 

332. By then it was past midnight.

 

 

to be continued

[ Extraction from English Translated version of Lalitopakhyana

by Ganapati Sachchidananda ]