Jaya Jaya He Mahisaura Mardini !!!! The triumph of Good over EVil! !

[Guest guest]

On this Auspicious day of Vijayadashami, my humble prostrations to

all the Elders In this august forum including beloved Professorji for

Keeping the Flame of 'Knowledge' (jnana) and 'Bhakti' (Devotion)

burning in this Cyber temple Dedicated to the teachings of Srimad Adi

Shankara Bhagvadapada!

 

Adi Shankara has composed many verses glorifying the beauty and

Divinity of Sree Mata. The One composition that i adore most is the

famous ' Ayi Giri Nandini' Stotram'. When you listen to this song ong

in the melodious voice of Smt. M.S. Subbalaxmi , it is altogether a

heavenly experience.

 

Every Stanza in the song ends with this refrain 'Jaya jaya

he Mahisasura MAardini Ramyaka Vardini Shailasute .

 

Simply translated, this means "Be Victorious , Be victorious, Slayer

of demon Mahisa , Daughter of the Mountain , who makes the whole world

happy!!

 

What is this Great victory our beloved poet-saint Adi shankara is

referring to?

 

The battlefield is none other than our own Mind!

 

The asura ( mahisasura) is none other than the internal demons ever

present in our body - Kaama (Desire) , Krodha ( anger).

Lobha (Greed), Moha ( Lust ), Mada ( delusion or false pride) and

Matsarya ( jealousy) !

 

The Triumph of Good over evil!

 

The goddess Durga represents all that is pure, good and auspicious

(sattwic gunas) and Demon Mahisasur represents all that is impure,

evil and inauspicious. ( tamasic and Rajasic qualities)

 

Mahisasura Story in Durga Saptashati ( Devi Mahatmayam or Chandi Path

is a fascinating one.

 

Mahisasur was the powerful demon who had the features of a Buffalo

and the temperament of an Asura .His mother was a Buffalo and his

father was a Demon. Due to many austerities (tapas) performed

by his father, Mahisasur ( mahisa means buffalo and asur means demon)

had obtained a boon that he could never be slain by devas or men.

Naturally, like Ravana , Mahisasur became arrogant and was

invincible and became the undisputed King of all three worlds.He

created Havoc and destruction and was an object of terror and fear.

 

Since this demon could not be vanquished by any of the Gods because

of his boon, Sri Vishnu Bhagwan decided to creat a 'woman' of

Dazzling beauty and great valor (sakti) with the help of all the

Gods !

 

Here is the beautiful description of how Devi Durga was created in

the Saptashati.

 

Born out of the bodies of all the Gods,

that unique efflugence, combined into a mass of light,

took the form of a woman,

pervading the triple worlds with its lustre.

In that efflugence, the light of Shiva formed the face.

The Tresses were formed from the light of Yama and

the arms from the light of Vishnu Bhagwan

 

The two breasts were formed

from the moon's (Somanath's) light,

the waist from the light of Indra,

the legs and thighs from the light of Varun ,

and hips from the light of the Earth (Bhoodev)

 

The feet from the light of Brahma

and the toes from Surya's (sun) light,

the fingers of the hand

from the light of the Vasus(the children of Ganga)

and the nose from the light of Kuber .

 

The teeth were formed

from the light of Prajapati, the lord of beings;

likewise the Triad of her eyes was

born from the Light of Agni (fire)

The eyebrows from the

two Sandhyas (sunrise and sunset);

the ears from the light of the wind(Vayu).

>From the lights of other gods as well,

the auspicious goddess was born.

 

(reference - http://www.swordoftruth.com)

 

And , thus Devi Durga was created - The three eyed Goddess adorned

with the crescent moon with her eighteen arms each holding auspicious

weapons, emblems, jewels and other gifts offered by individual gods,

emerged.Dazzling , bright and Luminous and above all empowered AND

mounted on a Lion - Durga Devi stood in the battlefield ready for

a 'fight' !

 

What a powerful imagery - Muti - armed Durga - Each arm carrying -1)

The Rosary 2 ) Axe 3) club 4) Arrow 5) Thunderbolt 6)Lotus 7)BOW 8)

wATER 9) Staff 10) sword 11 ) Shield 12 ) Conch 13) Bell 14)spear 15)

Discus 16) Mace etc etc....

 

The weapons in Durga's hands are not really weapons of destruction -

Each weapon has to be interpreted 'metaphorically'

 

Take the Sword for instance ! Is THE DEVI'S SWORD IS USED FOR SLaying

someone? No, the Sword is the destroyer of 'GREAT E-GO' ( AHAMKARA)

in all of us.

 

It will take another post to explain the full significance of Durga's

weapons but the weapons have great symbolic meaning.

 

Now, back to our story ....

 

Mahisasur was totally captivated by Durga's dazzling beauty and asked

Durga to marry him. Devi challenged him to a fight and she would

marry Mahisa only if he defeated her in the battle.

 

For nine days a fierce battle was fought. Mahisa changed forms many

times from Buffalo to Lion to man to elephant every time putting up

stiff resistance. But Durga's infinite power (shakti) was finally

able to pin down Mahisa 's buffalo form beneath her foot and she

thrusts her spear into his heart and her mighty sword cuts his head

into two while her mount lion (tiger) attacks mahisa's groins!

 

This is how Durga Devi is represented in all BengalleE Durga Puja

pandals !

 

This imagery is very powerful as well as very symbolic - the triumph

of Good over evil.

 

And along with Durga Mata we are also saluting the Demon Mahisasur

under her feet. Yes, when slain by the great goddess Durga,

Mahisasur attained Moksha or salvation at her Lotus feet ! .

 

Bhukti-mukti Pradayini - Durga devi ! Giver of material enjoyment and

salvation ! her two hands ---One has Varada Mudra ( Boon giving

gesture ) and the other Abhaya Mudra ( do not fear - i protect my

devotees)- Bhaya Bavatarini!

 

What does Mahisasur stand for - a real demon? or demonic tendency? .

The head is the 'ego' in a man/woman. Ahamkar- refusal to bow down to

anyone - superior wisdom.

 

Have you ever seen a buffalo in India - it is very stubborn - once it

sits down, it refuses to get up . Such is a man/woman's Ego.

 

Also, when someone is ignorant, we say 'kala akshar bhains barabar'

that is all black letters are represntative of a buffalo-that is

he/she is an ignorant fool.

 

Ignorance and arrogance - a no win win situation!

 

Mahisa had all thse tamasic qualities- arrogance, ahamkar (false

pride), ignorance , . lust (Moha for the beautiful form of Durga)

and uncontollable anger ... and he was might destructive too!

 

Mahishasura's anger is described very well in the Saptashati ... He A

mighty form trampled the earth , his Heavy breaths tossed the

mountains, into the air, his lashing tail causes the oceans to

overflow, and above all his sharp horns tore the gently floating

clouds to shreds.

 

In fact, MahiSAsur was nothing short of a major Tsunami, in modern

parlance.

 

Thus ends the story of Mahisasura!

 

The victory of Durga is the victory of the all that is Good over all

that is evil !!!

 

But , the story does not Really end .... we face MAHISASURA every

day in our life at every step .... These are the internal demons -

Kama, Krodha , Moha , Lobha , Mada, Matsarya .... and Devi helps us

to conquer all these demons ...

 

She is pure Consciousness!! ( as our Madathil Nairji is fond of

saying) ! 'CHAITANYA'

 

Jai Ambe Durge Bhavani Uma Maheshwari Chandike Chid Rupini!!

[Guest guest]

Dear AdiMa,

 

What a coincidence! I was about to play the song 'Ayi Giri Nandini'

on my player and I see your mail! The song I'm playing is sung my

Brahmananda of Chinmaya Mission.

 

Warm regards,

Chittaranjan

 

 

advaitin, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16>

wrote:

>

> On this Auspicious day of Vijayadashami, my humble prostrations

> to all the Elders In this august forum including beloved

> Professorji for Keeping the Flame of 'Knowledge' (jnana)

> and 'Bhakti' (Devotion) burning in this Cyber temple Dedicated

> to the teachings of Srimad Adi Shankara Bhagvadapada!

>

> Adi Shankara has composed many verses glorifying the beauty and

> Divinity of Sree Mata. The One composition that i adore most is

> the famous ' Ayi Giri Nandini' Stotram'. When you listen to this

> song in the melodious voice of Smt. M.S. Subbalaxmi , it is

> altogether a heavenly experience.

>

> Every Stanza in the song ends with this refrain 'Jaya jaya

> he Mahisasura MAardini Ramyaka Vardini Shailasute .

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16>

wrote:

>

> On this Auspicious day of Vijayadashami, my humble prostrations to

> all the Elders In this august forum including beloved Professorji >

> Adi Shankara has composed many verses glorifying the beauty and

> Divinity of Sree Mata. The One composition that i adore most is the

> famous ' Ayi Giri Nandini' Stotram'. When you listen to this song

ong

> in the melodious voice of Smt. M.S. Subbalaxmi , it is altogether a

> heavenly experience.

>

 

Namaste Adi Shakti - ji

 

It is good that you reminded us of the Mahishasura Mardini stotram on

this auspicious day. It is certainly a wondereful stotra that can

elevate you to spiritual heights.

 

One doubt. Did Adi Shankara compose this stotra? Is there a reference?

I am not aware of one. I would like to know if there is one.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

propfvk

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk> wrote:

> One doubt. Did Adi Shankara compose this stotra? Is there a reference?

> I am not aware of one. I would like to know if there is one.

 

 

Namaste,

 

It was composed by Ramakrishna Kavi:

 

http://sanskrit.gde.to/doc_devii/mahisha_mean.itx

 

 

http://sanskrit.gde.to/doc_devii/mahisha.itx

 

Text title : bhagavatIpadyapuShpA.njalIstotra which includes Shri

Mahishasuramardini Stotra

 

Author : raamakR^iShNa kavii

 

Description/comments : Mahadevan Swaminathan <mahadevans

mentioned the author of bhagavatIpadyapuShpA.njalIstotra

Transliterated by : A.Hudli also by G. Ramkumar ramkumar

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

[Guest guest]

There always has been a speculation about who is the actual Author of the

Mahishasura Mardini Stotra. Most of the times it is attributed to Adi

Shankaracharya. If we search on google we will get ample evidence of the

same. Sometimes it is said that it might have been written my Ramakrishna

Kavi.

Does it really matter???

Enjoy the pure nectar in the stotra. Enjoy the Beauty of Divine Mother.

Enjoy the lyrics. Get Drowned in Her Love. May it be written by

Shankaracharya, Ramakrishna Kavi or may be Shukracharya...it is ultimately

the work of God.

|| Jai Jai Jai Mahishasura Mardini Ramya-Kapardini Shailasute ||

 

 

 

[kalinga]

I am intrested in knowing the word to word meaning of the song mahisasura mardini, and what does it implies and the significance.

 

ty.