Devi Mahatmyam

DEVI MAHATMYAM

DEVI KAVACHAM
(Armour of the Goddess)

1. Markandeya Uvacha: -
Yath guhyam paramam loke sarva rakshakaram nrunam,
Yanna kasya Chidagyatham, thanme bruhi pithamaha.

Oh Lord Brahma (Grand father of all) Please teach me that which is secret to all the world, which is great, which gives complete protection, and which has not been told to any one.

2. Brahmo Uvacha:-
Asthi guhya thamam vipra, Sarva bhoothopakaarakam,
Devyasthu kavacham punyam tachrunushwa maha mune.

Hey great sage, There is a very secret Devi Kavacha (Armour of Goddess, which is useful to all animals and which has not been told to any one.

3. Pradhamam Sailaputhreethi, dwitheeyam Brahma Charini,
Treetheeyam Chadra Gandethi Koosmandethi Chathurthakam.

4. Panchamam Skanda Matheti shashtam Kathyayaneethi cha.
Sapthamam Kala Rathreethi Maha Goureethi Chasthamam.

5. Navamam Sidhitha proktha Nava Durga prakeerthitha,
Ukthanyethani naamani Brahmanaiva Maahaathmana.

I have with extreme happiness sung the fame of the nine mothers, Sailaputhri (The daughter of Himalayas), Brahmacharini (She who leads you to salvation), Chandra Ganda (she who hangs the crescent in her bell), Kooshmanda (She who eats away the earth with its pain and sorrow), Skandamatha (Mother of Lord Subrahmanya), Kathyayani (She who was born in the hermitage of Sage Kathyayana), Kala Rathri (She who is the end of God of death), Mahagouri (The pure white Goddess) and Sidhitha (She who gives Salvation). The great God has told these in the Vedas.

(to be contd…..)

DEVI MAHATMYAM

DEVI MAHATMYAM

The three - Kavacha, Argala and Keelakam are considered integral part of the Chandipaath or Devi Mahatmyam. This is because the sadhana is designed along the guidelines of ShaktA tradition.

The core 700 verses of the main text can awaken Shakti in a very furious and volatile manner which can be too overwhelming or at times dangerous or raw for a seeker to handle. Hence the need for Kavacha - in order to protect against any disturbance. Another thing that every sincere seeker will face are interaction with various forces whose only aim of existence - their own peculiar dharma - is to break the sadhana at any cost. They can use weaknesses within and without the seeker to serve their own ends.

Then the Argala - bolt - asking for a particular form of intervention of that Shakti in the seeker's life. Remember that our scriptures talk not only of Moksha but also Dharma, Artha and Kama. The untempered Shakti of the Chandipaath can be too daunting unless one has gone beyond ALL desires. But since most are yet to reach that stage, hence the Argala is a process of asking that Powerful and Divine Shakti to work in a specific manner to help the seeker. Shakti - uncontrolled - is like a sword that can cut through anything and everything, good or bad. Dharma/adharma makes little difference. Hence the best Shaktiman is one who is in perfect detachment, at all times, unwavering steadiness of mind and chitta.

Then comes the Keelakam. This is a crucial part of the Tantric process. The seeker is trying to fix the energy of the mantras into a specific areas instead of letting it scatter. All these are necessary at the initial stages of awakening Shakti. Unless the Shakti is tied to a place, it will take a huge amount of time to build up to a reasonable strength. So that is why these three were/are considered crucial part of the Chandipaath.

(to be contd.....)

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

Sankalpam
(Announcing as to what is being done and why?)

1.    Shuklam baradaram vishnum sasi varnam Chaturbhujam,
Prasanna vadanam dyayeth sarva vignopa santhaye

Dressed in white you are,
Oh, all pervading one,
And glowing with the colour of moon.
With four arms, you are, the all knowing one
I meditate on your ever-smiling face,
And pray, “ Remove all obstacles on my way”.

2.    Do pranayamam.

3.    Mamopartha samastha duritha kshaya dwara, sri parameshwara preethyartham, asmakam sarvesham sakutumbanam, kshema, sthirya, veerya, vijaya arogyartham, samastha mangala vyapthyartham,
       ………………… nakshathre ……………. Rasou jathasya, --------------------sarmana mama (asya yajamanasya), Sri jagadamba prasadena, sarvath apan nivruthyartham, sarvabheeshta phala vyapthyartham, dharma Kama moksha chathurvidha phala purushartha sidhyartham, sri Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswathi prasada sidhyartham, tryanga parayana poorvagam, sri devi mahatmya parayanam karishye.

For removing all my problems and for making Lord Parameshwara happy, for getting happiness stability, valour, victory, health and all good things to me and all people in my family, I(or to my master),…………………born in ………………… star, which is in ………………. Rasi, to get the blessings of the universal mother,
To remove all the dangers, to get fulfilled all my desires, to get good materialistic life and salvation, and to get the blessings of Maha Lakshmi, Maha Kali and Maha Saraswathi am reading the Devi Mahatmya along with the three angas (branches).

(to be contd.....)

Benefits of drinking water from a copper vessel

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

Trayaswa swamin ithi tri bhuvana janani,
Prarthana twayya partha,
Palyanth abhyarthanayam bhagawathi sisava,
Kinnvananya jananya,
Tathubhyam syannamasyethya vanatha vibhdha,
Ahladhi veeksha visargam,
Durgam devim prapadhye saranamaha asesha apath unmoolanya.

“There is no need to request thee Oh Durga,
To protect and save us,
For does the mother on whom they solely depend,
Ever need such a request,
And So our salutations to thee”
So pray the Gods to thee,
And so I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great.

Etham santha padanthu sthavam akhila vipa,
Jjala thoolana labham,
Hrinmoha dwantha bhanu prathima makhilam,
Sankalpa kalpa dru kalpam,
Dowrgam dowargathya goratha pathu hina kara,
Prakhya mam ho gajendra,
Sroni panchasya desyam Vipula bhayadha
Kaalahitha tharkshya prabhavam.

Let this prayer to the Goddess Durga,
Which is like a wind for cotton bundle of sins,
Like a sun for pitch dark mind,
Like the divine tree granting all wishes,
Like the cool moon for the sweltering heat of poverty,
Like a lion before the elephant herd of sins,
And like the fearsome eagle before the king cobra,
Save us from all dangers,
And let all the devoted chant it always.

(to be contd.....)

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

Tri giunyaanam gunaanaam anusarana kala
Keeli naanavatharai,
Tri lokya trana seelaam dhanuja kula vanee,
Vahnee leela saleelaam,
Deveem sachinma mayeem tham vitharitha vinamath,
Sathree vargaaapavargaam,
Durgam devim prapadye sarana maha masesha apath unmoolanaya.

You are all the three Gunaas rolled in to one,
You play thine divine game in several forms,
You take care of all the three worlds,
As a child’s play thou decimate the asuras,
Like the fury of cyclone in the forest,
You are the personification of all that is good,
To those who bow at your feet in humility,
Thou grantest all that they want here in and after,
And so I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great.

Simharoodam trinethraam kara thala vilasath,
Sankha chakrasi ramyam,
Bhakthabeeshta pradathreem ripu madana kareem,
Sarva lokaika vandhyam,
Nana alankara yuktham sasi yutha makutam,
Syamalangeem krusangeem,
Durgam devim prapadhye saranamaha asesha apath unmoolanya.

She who rides on a lion,
She who has three eyes,
She who carries the conch and the wheel in pretty grace,
She who fulfills requests of her devotees,
She who kills her enemies,
She who is venerated by all the worlds,
She who is dressed in perfection,
She who keeps the moon on her crown,
She who is black in colour,
And She who is tiny,
I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great.

(to be contd.....)

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

Brahmesa skanda Narayana kiti,
Narasimhendra Shakthi swa bruthya,
Kruthwa hathwa nisumbam jitha vibutha ganam,
Trasitha sesha lokam,
Eki bhooyada shumbham rana sirasi niha
Tyasithamatha Gadgaam,
Durgam devim prapadye sarana maha maseshapadan moolanaya.

Killed Thou Shumbha,
Who ruled over all devas,
Making the Shakthi* of Brahma,
Skanda, Narayana, Narasimha,
Varaha and Indra as thine assistants,
And then merged all of them within you,
And killed Nishumbha in an awesome war,
And so I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great.

Uthpanna nandajethi swayam avani thale,
Shumbamanyam Nishumbham,
Bramaryakya Arunakhyam punarapi janani,
Durgamakhyam nihanthum,
Bheema, Sakambareethi, truti tharipu Gata,
Raktha danthethi Jaa thaam,
Durgam devim prapadye saranamaha,
Maseshapadan moolanaya,

You were born as daughter to King Nanda,
In this holy earth,
To kill the Rakshasas of Shumbha and Nishumba,
And also born as a bee to kill the Asura called Aruna,
And again born as the Holy Durga,
To kill the asura called Durgama,
You were famous as Bheema when you ate away asuras in fury,
You were Known as Sakabhari when you grew food from your body,
To the starving millions during a great famine,
And also known as Raktha dantha,
Because you ate the asuras Vipra Chitha,
And so I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great.

(to be contd.....)
 

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

Viswothpathi pranasa sthithi vihruthi pare,
Devi Gora marari,
Thrasath thratham kulam na punarapi cha maha
Sankadeshwi diseshu,
Avirbhooya purasthadithi chararana namath,
Sarva geervana vargam,
Durgam deveem prapadye sarana maha masesha apadan unmoolnaya.

Hey Goddess Durga, Who is engrossed in,
Creation, upkeep and destruction of the universe,
Hey Goddess, who is personification of light,
The Gods and Devas appealed to you,
“You have saved us mother, from the danger posed,
By Great Rakshasas now by this war,
And we pray that you should save
Our progenies in future same as now”
And thou acceded to their request,
And so I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great.

Hanthum Shumbham Nishumbam tridasa gana nutham,
Hemadolam himadri,
Aarudaam vyuda darpan yudhi nihatha vathim,
Dhoomra drik chanda mundane,
Chamundakhyamdhadanam upasamitha maha,
Raktha beejopasargam,
Durgam devim prapadye saranamaha,
Masesha apadan unmulanaya.

Acceding to the prayer of Gods,
Thou came to the snowy mountains,
In a golden swing,
And killed the proud Asuras of Shumbha and Nishumba,
After killing Dhoomraksha, Chanda and Munda,
Thou were called and praised as Chamunda,
And thou also killed the great scourge called Raktha Bheeja,
And so I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great.

( to be contd.....)

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

DEVI MAHATMYA STOTHRA ASHTAKAM

Among the sthothras addressed to the mother Goddess Durga, the greatest is perhaps the Devi Mahatmya which is also known as Chandi. This book recounts the story of Durga in her several incarnations. First she came to kill the Asuras Madhu and Kaidabha at the request of Brahma, Then she came to kill the terrible Mahishasura as a result of prayers of all devas and again came to Kill the Rakshasas Shumbha and Nishumbha along with their armies. Since reading Devi mahatmya daily needs a lot of time, this sthothra summarizes the stories recounted in Devi Mahatmya in the form of an octet. It is believed reading this sthothra daily will give on the devotee the same effect as reading Devi Mahatmya itself.

Lakshmeese yoga nidhram prabhajathi bhujaga
Deesa thalpe sadad pad
Vuthpannaou dhanavou thachra vana mala mayangaou
Madhum kaidabham cha
Drustwa bheethasya dhathu stuthibira binutham,
Masu thou nasayantheem
Durgam deveem prabadye sarana maha masesha apadun unmulanaya

In times of yore,
When the Lord of Lakshmi.
Was immersed in the sleep of yoga,
On the awesome bed of the serpent,
And the primeval giants Madhu and Kaidabha,
Came out of his ear wax,
And made Brahma the creator of all tremble,
Oh Durga, thou heard his prayers,
And killed them both,
And so I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great

Yudhe nirjithya daithya stribhuvanamakilam,
Yastha deeyeshu dishnyai,
Shwasthapya swan vidheyan swayamagama Abhasou,
Sakratham vikramena,
Tham saamapthyaptha mithram mahisha mapi niha
Thyasya moordhathi roodam,
Durgam devim prapadhye sarana maha masesha apadan unmoolanya

When the great Giant Mahisha,
Who defeated in war Indra the Lord of all Devas,
And By his prowess made all the three worlds, his slave,
And appointed his servants to rule over them,
You Durga, killed him along with his army, ministers and friends,
And so I am falling at your feet,
For solving all my problems great.

(to be contd.....)

Guidelines for reading the Devi Mahatmyam

Guidelines for reading the Devi Mahatmyam

Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path) is a powerful text dedicated to Goddess Shakti. The reading procedure of Devi Saptashati is given here in detail version.

There are two methods to start reading Devi Mahatmyam – Trayangam and Navangam.Trayangam is a method in which we need to chant three prayers – Devi Kavacham, Argala Stotram and Devi Keelakam followed by Navakshari Mantram. Navangam is a method for which nine prayers are recited prior of starting reading the book. Navangam stotrams are: Devi Nyasa, Devi Avahana, Devi Namani, Argala Stotram, Keelaka Stotram, Devi Hrudaya, Dhala, Devi Dhyana and Devi Kavacha. As per the prescribed methods in ancient scriptures, Devi Mahatmyam should be read in one sitting. After finishing the recital of Devi Mahatmyam, one should chant the Devi Suktam (slokas 7 to 36 of Chapter 8).

Devi Saptashati Parayana in 3 days & 7 days

Apart from one sitting recital, devotees read Devi mahatmyam for three consecutive days: Prathama Charitra or 1st Chapter on first day, Madhyama Charitra (2, 3, 4 chapters) on 2nd day, and Uttama Charitra (5-13 chapters) on third day. Some devotees also read Devi Mahatmyam in 7 days. They chant 1st Chapter on first day, 2-3 chapters on 2nd day, 4th chapter on 3rd day, 5-8 chapters on 4th day, 9-10 chapters on 5th day, 11th chapter on 6th day and 12-13 chapters on 7th day. Each chapter should be read in single sitting. Due to any reason, Parayana is stopped in between a chapter; the whole chapter should be read again.The order of reciting Durga Saptashati Parayana daily is: Trayanga Mantra, Devi Mahatmyam text followed by Devi Suktam. Many devotees read Durga Saptashati during Navratri Durga Puja 9/10 days.. Here is the procedure to read Devi Mahatmyam during Navratri
How to read Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam) during Navratri festival

1st day: Chapter 1 (Madhu kaitabha samhaaram)
2nd day: Chapter 2, 3 and 4 (Mahishhasura samhaara)
3rd day: Chapter 5 and 6 (Dhuumralochana vadha)
4th day: Chapter 7 (Chanda Munda vadha)
5th day: Chapter 8 (Rakta biija samhaara)
6th day: Chapter 9 and 10 (Shumbha Nishumbha vadha)
7th day: Chapter 11 (Praise of Narayani)
8th day: Chapter 12 (Phalastuti – reciting merits or benefits)
9th day: Chapter 13 (Blessings to Suratha and the Merchant)
10th day: Chapter 14 (Aparadha Kshamaprarthana) on 10th day

You can also complete the recital on 9th day by chanting Devi Aparadha Kshama Prarthana Stotram on 9th day itself. The Siddha Kunjika Stotram should be read after completing the recital of every chapter.

The benefits of reciting Devi Mahatmyam

The benefits of reciting Devi Mahatmyam

The greatness of the Devi Mahatmyam is extensively explained in several texts such as Rudra Yamala, Marichikalpa, Meru Tantra, Kataka Tantra, Chidambara Rahasya etc. The Devi Mahatmyam has the ability to grant the fruits as per the upasana. A sakama upasaka (one who does sadhana with a specific desire or goal in mind) achieves whatever he aspires for while a nishkama upasaka (one who does sadhana without any expectation or desire) achieves moksha, as revealed in the story. Suratha the king was bestowed with unmixed prosperity whereas the merchant Samadhi was conferred with divine knowledge according to their own aspirations. If Sri Candi is pleased, she confers on her devotees both earthly prosperity as well as supreme knowledge. Matsya Purana prescribes recitation of Candi three times for cure from physical ailments, five times for relief from malefic planets; seven times for relief from impending disaster; nine times for ensuring peace; eleven times for winning royal favours; twelve times for overpowering foes; twenty five times for release from prison; thirty times for cure from cancer; a hundred times for relief from great dishonour; one thousand times to mitigate loss of wealth and for steady prosperity etc.

Contents of the Devi Mahatmyam

Contents of the Devi Mahatmyam

The Devī Māhātmyam consists of chapters 81-93 of the Mārkandeya Purana, one of the early Sanskrit Puranas, which is a set of stories being related by the sage Markandeya to Jaimini and his students (who are in the form of birds). The thirteen chapters of Devi Māhātmyam are divided into three charitas or episodes. At the beginning of each episode a different presiding goddess is invoked, none of whom is mentioned in the text itself.

The framing narrative of Devi Mahatmyam presents a dispossessed king, a merchant betrayed by his family, and a sage whose teachings lead them both beyond existential suffering. The sage instructs by recounting three different epic battles between the Devi and various demonic adversaries (the three tales being governed by, respectively, Mahakali (Chapter 1), Mahalakshmi (Chapters 2-4) and Mahasaraswati (Chapters 5-13). Most famous is the story of Mahishasura Mardini – Devi as "Slayer of the Buffalo Demon.