MAAGO !!!

[Guest guest]

Devi Mahatmyam is also called Durga Sapthasathi. MAA CHANDI is

considered to be the central figure in the epic. Chandi or Chandika

has been defined by the St. Petersburg dictionary as "the violent and

impetuous one". Chandika is a derivative from the adjective Chandi-

"fierce, passionate". This epithet is applied to the Goddess a total

of twenty-nine times (maximum for any epithet) in the Devi Mahatmyam.

Again this epithet is not used in the first Charithra dealing with

Madhu Kaitabha.

 

In light of this primacy of this designation of the Goddess, it is

striking that the word Chandika has virtually no earlier history in

Sanskrit. Neither the Vedas nor the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana

refer to MAA by this name.

 

In all the Devi Mahaatmyam books the mantra "Nava Avarna Mantra" is

given and the procedure for reciting the Mantra. This mantra is also

known as Navakshari or Chandi Navakshari as it contains nine

syllables. We call it just The CHANDI. During my travels all over

India, I have found that this is the best-known mantra. All over North

India you get photographs, calendars and Yantras with this Mantra

inscribed.

 

I remember the day (long back) when I first came across the Devi

Mandir site and downloaded the Navarna Mantra chanting by Sree MAA.

That was my introduction to Sree MAA. I read the Devi Mandir messages

on the Internet. I like it because evertime I open the site I see the

Mantra on top and read it.

 

MAA CHANDI is worshipped all over India. But in most of the places

there are three Murthis or Pindas representing MAHAA KALI, MAHAA

LAKSHMI, and MAHAA SARASWATHI. Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Mahaa

Lakshmi temple in Mumbai (Bombay) are representatives of this..

 

MAA CHANDI in my opinion was worshipped extensively long time back in

Tamil Nadu. The first time I heard the epithet was when my mother

called my rebellious sister Chandi. She also used epithets like Kaali

and Bhadra Kali. The term Chandi is used in Tamil to mean"

irrepressible ". This describes the quality of MAA CHANDI. So I think

that MAA CHANDI must have been well known in Tamil Nadu for the term

to come into the language. But now though there is no old temple for

Chandi, people perform Chandi Homam at the drop of a hat. Most of the

homams or havan are conducted by collecting donations from the public.

There are variations like Dasa Chandi and Sahashra Chandi. The homam

is done either with the recitation of Devi Mahatmyam and Navakshari

mantra (more common) or Moola mantra homam (only recitation of

Navakshari). A few Upasakas do it at home also.

 

I heard from my friends in Europe (internet friends) about Swamiji

performing Chandi Yagna. They were thrilled. My longing to see the

yagna was somewhat satisfied when I saw the CD.

 

Note: My postingsare meant to be only informative. I like to talk only

about MAA and Computers.

 

Jai MAA!!!

[Guest guest]

--- Sankar Viswanathan <sankarrukku wrote:

So I think that MAA CHANDI must have been well known in Tamil Nadu for the term

to come into the language. But now though there is no old temple for

Chandi, >

 

There is a Chamundeswari Temple in Mysore, Karnataka. Chamundeswari seems to be

the name/form more commonly referred to in some parts of South India. I assume

Chamundeswari is very associated with Chandi or Chandika. One refers to the

defeat of the demon "Chanda" and the other to the defeat of "Chanda" and

"Munda". Chanda and Munda when combined becomes Chamundi, and Chamundeswari

means the one who rules over Chanda and Munda. This Chamundeswari temple is one

of the 18 Maha Sakti Pithas in India. In the Ashtadasa Mahasakti Pitha Stotram,

it comes in the line "Chamunde Krauncha Pattane". I guess Krauncha Pattane is

an ancient term that refers to the area of Mysore. Mysore is actually derived

from Mahishasura. When said fast, I guess it sounds a bit like Mysore. So this

city is named after the form of Devi who defeated Mahishasura. Very powerful

energy there, I recommend a visit if possible!

 

Jai Chaamundeswari Maa!

Ekta

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> Chandi or Chandika

> has been defined by the St. Petersburg dictionary as "the violent and

> impetuous one". Chandika is a derivative from the adjective Chandi-

> "fierce, passionate". This epithet is applied to the Goddess a total

> of twenty-nine times (maximum for any epithet) in the Devi Mahatmyam.

 

 

Namaste Sankarji,

Again, thank you for keeping the bhava of the group focussed on Chandi

Maa during this Navaratri.

 

Thank you for the informative trivia - like the number of

times "Chandika" appears in the book. Another way to keep our

interests abide in Her.

 

I have a question though - What is the St.Petersburg dictionary? Thank

you for taking the time to answer my question.

 

The title "MAAGO" means - "Dear Mother" , one that I have heard

Swamiji call Shree Maa.

 

And the title reminds me of a beautiful song by Ramprasad "Maago

Anandamoyi maa" . It just tugs my heartstrings when I hear our

beloved Maa sing this song. This song is available in the "The Songs

of Ramprasad" CD in http://www.shreemaa.org/audio.htm

 

JAI CHANDI JAI JAI

Nanda