Devi Mahatmyam

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Dear Friends,

I have just completed my translation of Devi Mahatmyam and am

waiting to find a suitable web site where this can be put. Here is

the part of the Introduction, written by me.

Introduction

This book which relates the story of how the devi (mother

Goddess) killed Madhu and Kaidabha as Vishnu Maya (Thamasic-base),

killed Mahishasura as Lakshmi (Rajashic form-materialistic) and

killed Shumbha and Nishumbha in the form of Goddess Saraswathi

(Sathvic-spiritual) is known as Devi Mahatmya in South India, Chandi

in West Bengal and as Durga Sapthasathi in the northern parts of the

country including Varanasi. It consists of Chapters 74 to 86 (13

chapters) of the Markandeya Purana and has 700 stanzas. This Purana

is also authored by Veda Vyasa and is a medium sized Purana.

 

The stories of Devi Mahatmya are as told by Sage Markandeya to

Sage Baguri. He tells him that one king called Suradha, who was

driven out of his kingdom by his own people met one Vysya

(businessman) called Samadhi who was driven out of his home by his

wife and sons, in the forest. They discover that though their own

people have driven them out, they are both worried about the welfare

of their people. It appears to them that this is unnatural. So they

approach Sage Sumedhas who was also living in the forest. The sage

tells them that all this is the illusion created by the great

Goddess called Vishnu Maya. They became curious and want to know

about this great mother Goddess. He then relates to them the story

of Devi Mahatmya, which consists of three stories in all of which

the mother Goddess kills the enemies of Gods.

The first story is that of Madhu and Kaidabha. They take birth

from the earwax of Lord Vishnu while he was asleep and start

troubling Lord Brahma who was sitting on the lotus originating from

the belly of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma prays to the Goddess to help

him continue his work of creation. The goddess appears and takes the

form of Lord Vishnu and kills both Asuras after wrestling with them

for thousands of years. Since both these Asuras were of Thamasic

origin, she also had a thamasic form.

The second story is of how the mother Goddess helped the devas

by killing Mahishasura. This Asura who had the form of buffalo,

drove away the devas and Indra from their homes. They all go and

approach the holy trinity for the redressal of their grievances.

This made those three gods very angry and the innate power of the

Goddess in them came out and joined together. This goddess was

further strengthened by the powers of the various Gods. She was

equipped with arms by all devas. This goddess, mainly consisting of

the anger-generated power killed Mahishasura.

 

The third story is of how the Great Asura brothers Shumbha and

Nishumbha were killed by the goddess. This time the gods approach

Goddess Uma who was wandering in the Himalaya Mountains and told her

of her sufferings. Out of the body of the Goddess came Koushikhi or

Chandika. She was black in colour. She along with the powers

generated by various Gods killed Shumbha and Nishumbha.

 

Sage Markandeya then tells of how, The king Suradha and Vysya

Samadhi did penance on the goddess and got the boons that they

wanted.

 

In the twelfth chapter of this great book, the Goddess tells

that for one, who reads or hears, these three stories of her, there

is nothing impossible to obtain including salvation.

 

In my translation I am following the interpretation of this

great book by Brahmasri Kandiyur Mahadeva Sastrigal in malayalam,

which is based on the text given to him by Sri Hari Krishna Sharma

of Aurangabad , based on the commentaries on the book given in

explanatory guides of the book viz. Durga Pradeepa, Gupthavathi,

Chathurdhari, Santhanavi, Nagoji bhatti, Damsodharam and Jagat

chandra chandrika.

It is believed that just possession of this book has helped many

great people to fight evil spirits as well as getting the blessings

of the Goddess herself. Several such folk stories abound all over

India. One of those famous one in Kerala was how one great Manthrika

called Kalluru Namboodhiri was asked by a king called Shakthan

Thamburan, to enter the Kodungaloor Bhagawathi temple at night after

the festival and bring back his ring from the closed sanctum

sanctorum. He did this easily by taking with him a copy of Devi

Mahatmya. This book though it is a treasure house for all those

trying for super natural powers is also a book leading one to get

his wishes fulfilled and also attain salvation.

It is believed that reading of the book during Sharad and

Vasantha Navarathris is auspicious. In Appendix 1, summary of talk

given by Swami Krishnanada on "Esoteric significance of Devi

Mahatmya " is given and Appendix 2 gives the great Sthothra with

meaning which summaries the story of Devi Mahatmya.

 

Parayana Krama or prescribed methods

of reading

 

Devi Mahatmya is a story but each of its slokas is

considered as mantras. There are two methods of how to start

reading Devi Mahatmya. The first one is called Tryangam and consists

of reading three prayers viz Devi Kavacham, Devi argalam and Devi

keelakam followed by meditation and chanting of the Navakshari

manthra given by

Om Iym hreem kleem Chamandayai , viche nama.

 

This manthra is of very great power and should not be chanted

unless, it is taught by a Guru.

The other is Navangam, where nine prayers are recited before

starting reading of the book. They are chanting of 1.Nyasa 2.Avahana

3,Namani 4. Argala 5.Keelaga 6.Hrudhaya 7.Dhala 8.Dhyana and

9.Kavacha.

It is recommended that the entire Devi Mahatmya should be read

in one sitting. After completion of the reading it is necessary to

chant the Devi Suktham consisting of the slokas seven to 36 of

chapter 8, is to be chanted. If the Guru has taught the navakshari

manthra, then it should also be meditated up on.

People who cannot do this should read the Pradhama charithra

consisting of the first chapter on the first day, the Madhyama

Charithra consisting of the next three chapters on the next day and

the remaining Uthama Charitha consisting of the next 9 chapters on

the third day.

Another method of completing the full reading by seven days viz one

chapter on the first day, next two chapters on the second day, next

one chapter on the third day, next four chapters on the fourth day,

next two chapters on the fifth day, next one chapter on the sixth

day and last two chapters on the seventh day.

It is important to know that daily the parayana should start

with the trayanga manthras, text of Devi Mahatmya followed by the

chanting of Devi Suktham. It is also essential not to stop in

between while reading a chapter. If for some reason, it is stopped,

the entire chapter should be read again.

It has also been told that

"Geethi, seegri, sirakhambhi, hyakurvano vinasyathi,

Thatho jnathwaiva sampannamidham prabhyathe budhai,"

Those who sing it, those who read it fast, those who read with

shaking of their head, those who read from the text in their own

handwriting , those who read without understanding the import and

those who read in a very feeble tone, do not get the benefit of

reading a work. It has also been told that any book, which has less

than one thousand slokas should be recited from memory to get full

benefit. Those who cannot should keep the book on a stand and read

it without touching it.

The benefit of reading Devi Mahatmya several times is given

below:-

Three times-to get rid of black magic

Five times-to get rid of difficulties caused by planets

Seven times- to get rid of great fear.

Nine times –Peace,

Eleven times - to get over fear of death, attraction of

the king

Twelve times -getting desires fulfilled and destruction

of enemies

Fourteen times-to attract women as well as enemies

Fifteen times-Pleasant life and getting of wealth

Sixteen times-to get sons and grand sons

Seventeen times-to get rid of fear of the King

Eighteen times-to get occult powers

Twenty times-For war to end

Twenty-five times-To come out of prison

Hundred times –to get rid of great sorrow, banishment

from caste, Loss of life, salvation

Hundred and eight times – Fulfilling any wanted desire

One thousand times-Goddess Mahalakshmi will visit him

and he will get all wealth and

 

The kathyayani thanthra mentions various other methods of reading

Devi Mahatmya. Some of them are: -

1. Chant before and after every sloka, the Navakshari manthra. This

would make your magical chants effective.

2. Chant Om Bhoor Buva swaha before every sloka and then chant Suva,

bhuva, bhoo Om after every sloka. Chanting one hundred times would

get you occult powers.

3. Add "Jatha Vedase" before every sloka and chant. This would lead

to fulfillment of all desires.

4. After every manthra chant thr tryambaka manthra viz.

"Tryambakam yajamahe

Sugandhim pushtivardhanam

Urvarurkamiva bhandhanam

Mrityor mukshiya ma -mrtat."

This would prevent untimely death.

5.Chant Tryambaka manthra one hundred times before and after reading

Devi Mahatmya and this will lead to avoidance of early death.

 

Raja