In Hinduism, Saraswathi is the Goddess of Learning and Knowledge. She is the wife of the Creator Brahma and is often picturised dressed in white symbolising purity of knowledge.

She is also often picturised with four arms which represent the four vedas (rig, yajur, sama and atharvana). In her four arms, she is show carrying the following:

The veena, a musical instrument that represents that she is also the Goddess of all arts and sciences.
A book representing the Vedas and knowledge.
A mālā / garland with crystal beads, representing the power of meditation and spirituality.
A pot of sacred water, representing creative and purification powers.

It is believed that praying to the Goddess Saraswathi will provide her blessings for excellence in academics, arts and sciences.

The 9th day of Navarathri is celebrated to pray to Goddess Saraswathi. In the South of India, on this day, people place books, musical instruments etc at altar after praying to the Goddess. These are covered by cloth and the custom is to not read anything after the prayers are done. Again on the Vijayadasami day, the Goddess is worshipped again and propitiated and then the books are removed and each person in the household refreshes their knowledge of various subjects. It is also an auspicious day to start learning a new art or craft or have very young children start school. It is also a sacred day for teaching children to write for the first time.

Sarasvati Namastubhyam Varade Kaamarupini
Vidyarambam Karishyami Siddhir Bhavatu Me Sadaa

Oh Goddess Sarasvati, I Salute you, please grant me all boons as your very form represents fulfilment of wishes. I would like to start my learning today. Please let me be successful in all such ventures.

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – Sanskrit

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – Tamil

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – Malayalam

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – Telugu

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – English

The Lalitha Sahasranama is about the divine mother Parvati. It is said to have been a conversation between sage Agastya and Hayagriva and occurs in the 36th Chapter of the Brahmanda Purana.

Here we provide a Learn to Chant version from the internet as well as links to the English, Sanskrit and Tamil texts.

The entire text and a lot of details are provided in this Link
Lalitha Sahasranama in English

Here is the Sahasranama in Sanskrit

Click Here for the Tamil Version

Varalakshmi Puja or Vrata is a ceremony performed by women on the Friday before the full moon in the month of Sravana (July/August) and this year it falls on Friday, the 20th. It is commonly performed in the South Indian states of Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The puja is performed to take blessings of the Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth and auspiciousness. As per legend, this vratam was recommended by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati to gain wealth and prosperity. He tells her the story of a lady Charumati who was asked by the goddess Varalakshmi, in her dream, to do the vratam in order to fulfill her wishes. She performed the vratam along with other ladies in her village with great devotion. They offered the deity lots of delicacies and once the vratam was completed, they were amazed to find their bodies decked with expensive jewels and their homes full of riches. From then on, women started performing this vratam every year seeking wealth and prosperity in their families.
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The Abirami Anthathi is a divine, lyrical song on Goddess Abirami which has 100 verses. The term “Anthaathi” refers to the particular style of composition wherein each new stanza begins with the same word that was used to end the previous stanza.

The beauty of this Anthathi is the story behind it and that it was composed ad hoc by Abirami Pattar (Subramaniya Iyer) on the spur of the moment and with intense devotion.
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Our Satsanghi Jayashree Vaitheeshwaran has kindly provided us with the Sri Mookambikai Ashtottaram in English. This was originally transliterated from grandhakshra to Tamil language by Vaitheeji’s father in 1979 after which it started getting published in many Tamil Ashtotra books.

Jayashreeji has now transcribed the same to English, for the sake of our readers.
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The following Devi Stuti is from the 5th chapter of Durga Saptashati. The shlokas glorify the all-pervading nature of the Divine Mother, who is present in every being, every action and every emotion.

The text of the stuti is given below in devanagari, tamil scripts and diacritic transliteration.

नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः |
नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम् || ९||
रौद्रायै नमो नित्यायै गौर्यै धात्र्यै नमो नमः |
ज्योत्स्नायै चेन्दुरूपिण्यै सुखायै सततं नमः || १०||
कल्याण्यै प्रणता वृद्ध्यै सिद्ध्यै कुर्मो नमो नमः |
नैरृत्यै भूभृतां लक्ष्म्यै शर्वाण्यै ते नमो नमः || ११||
दुर्गायै दुर्गपारायै सारायै सर्वकारिण्यै |
ख्यात्यै तथैव कृष्णायै धूम्रायै सततं नमः || १२||
अतिसौम्यातिरौद्रायै नतास्तस्यै नमो नमः |
नमो जगत्प्रतिष्ठायै देव्यै कृत्यै नमो नमः || १३||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति शब्दिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || १४-१६||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु चेतनेत्यभिधीयते |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || १७-१९||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || २०-२२||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु निद्रारूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || २३-२५||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षुधारूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || २६-२८||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु छायारूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || २९-३१||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ३२-३४||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तृष्णारूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ३५-३७||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ३८-४०||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु जातिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ४१-४३||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लज्जारूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ४४-४६||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ४७-४९||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु श्रद्धारूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ५०-५२||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु कान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ५३-५५||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ५६-५८||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु वृत्तिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ५९-६१||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु स्मृतिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ६२-६४||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु दयारूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ६५-६७||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तुष्टिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ६८-७०||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ७१-७३||
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु भ्रान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ७४-७६||
इन्द्रियाणामधिष्ठात्री भूतानां चाखिलेषु या |
भूतेषु सततं तस्यै व्याप्त्यै देव्यै नमो नमः || ७७||
चितिरूपेण या कृत्स्नमेतद् व्याप्य स्थिता जगत् |
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ७८-८०||

___________________________________________

நமோ தே³வ்யை மஹாதே³வ்யை ஶிவாயை ஸததம் நம: |
நம: ப்ரக்ருத்யை ப⁴த்³ராயை நியதா: ப்ரணதா: ஸ்ம தாம் || 9||
ரௌத்³ராயை நமோ நித்யாயை கௌ³ர்யை தா⁴த்ர்யை நமோ நம: |
ஜ்யோத்ஸ்நாயை செந்து³ரூபிண்யை ஸுகா²யை ஸததம் நம: || 10||
கல்யாண்யை ப்ரணதா வ்ருத்³த்⁴யை ஸித்³த்⁴யை குர்மோ நமோ நம: |
நைர்ருத்யை பூ⁴ப்⁴ருதாம் லக்ஷ்ம்யை ஶர்வாண்யை தே நமோ நம: || 11||
து³ர்கா³யை து³ர்க³பாராயை ஸாராயை ஸர்வகாரிண்யை |
க்2யாத்யை ததை²வ க்ருஷ்ணாயை தூ⁴ம்ராயை ஸததம் நம: || 12||
அதிஸௌம்யாதிரௌத்³ராயை நதாஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: |
நமோ ஜக³த்ப்ரதிஷ்டா²யை தே³வ்யை க்ருத்யை நமோ நம: || 13||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு விஷ்ணுமாயேதி ஶப்³தி³தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 14-16||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு சேதனேத்யபி⁴தீ⁴யதே |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 17-19||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு பு³த்³தி⁴ரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 20-22||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு நித்³ராரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 23-25||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு க்ஷுதா⁴ரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 26-28||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு சா²யாரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 29-31||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு ஶக்திரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 32-34||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு த்ருஷ்ணாரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 35-37||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு க்ஷாந்திரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 38-40||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு ஜாதிரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 41-43||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு லஜ்ஜாரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 44-46||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு ஶாந்திரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 47-49||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு ஶ்ரத்³தா⁴ரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 50-52||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு காந்திரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 53-55||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு லக்ஷ்மீரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 56-58||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு வ்ருத்திரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 59-61||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு ஸ்ம்ருதிரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 62-64||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு த³யாரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 65-67||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு துஷ்டிரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 68-70||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு மாத்ருரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 71-73||
யா தே³வீ ஸர்வபூ⁴தேஷு ப்⁴ராந்திரூபேண ஸந்ஸ்தி²தா |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 74-76||
இந்த்³ரியாணாமதி⁴ஷ்டா²த்ரீ பூ⁴தானான் சாகி²லேஷு யா |
பூ⁴தேஷு ஸததம் தஸ்யை வ்யாப்த்யை தே³வ்யை நமோ நம: || 77||
சிதிரூபேண யா க்ருத்ஸ்நமேதத்³ வ்யாப்ய ஸ்தி²தா ஜக³த் |
நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமஸ்தஸ்யை நமோ நம: || 78-80||

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namo devyai mahādevyai śhivāyai satataṃ namaḥ .
namaḥ prakṛtyai bhadrāyai niyatāḥ praṇatāḥ sma tām .. 9..
raudrāyai namo nityāyai gauryai dhātryai namo namaḥ .
jyotsnāyai chendurūpiṇyai sukhāyai satataṃ namaḥ .. 10..
kalyāṇyai praṇatā vṛddhyai siddhyai kurmo namo namaḥ .
nairṛtyai bhūbhṛtāṃ lakṣhmyai śharvāṇyai te namo namaḥ .. 11..
durgāyai durgapārāyai sārāyai sarvakāriṇyai .
khyātyai tathaiva kṛṣhṇāyai dhūmrāyai satataṃ namaḥ .. 12..
atisaumyātiraudrāyai natāstasyai namo namaḥ .
namo jagatpratiṣhṭhāyai devyai kṛtyai namo namaḥ .. 13..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu viṣhṇumāyeti śhabditā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 14-16..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu chetanetyabhidhīyate .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 17-19..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu buddhirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 20-22..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu nidrārūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 23-25..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu kṣhudhārūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 26-28..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu chhāyārūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 29-31..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu śhaktirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 32-34..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu tṛṣhṇārūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 35-37..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu kṣhāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 38-40..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu jātirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 41-43..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu lajjārūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 44-46..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu śhāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 47-49..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu śhraddhārūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 50-52..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu kāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 53-55..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu lakṣhmīrūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 56-58..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu vṛttirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 59-61..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu smṛtirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 62-64..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu dayārūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 65-67..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu tuṣhṭirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 68-70..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu mātṛrūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 71-73..
yā devī sarvabhūteṣhu bhrāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 74-76..
indriyāṇāmadhiṣhṭhātrī bhūtānāṃ chākhileṣhu yā .
bhūteṣhu satataṃ tasyai vyāptyai devyai namo namaḥ .. 77..
chitirūpeṇa yā kṛtsnametad vyāpya sthitā jagat .
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ .. 78-80..

The following octet is called the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam. This is a prayer to Goddess Maha Lakshmi who is also called “Shree” and represents wealth as well as auspiciousness. Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam originally appeared in Padmapuranam (Padma Purana). It is considered to have been chanted by Indra, the Lord of the Devas to propitiate Goddess Mahalakshmi.

This sing along version has text in Sanskrit, English and Tamil and meanings in English

The Sanskrit text and meanings are available here in a downloadable format

This is the fourth post on Devi Mahatmyam. These were short summaries given at our UAE Satsangh.

Thanks to Chitraji for providing the material for sharing with all of us.
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CHAPTERS 8, 9 AND 10 – THE SLAYING OF RAKTHABHIJA, NISHUMBHA AND SHUMBHA.

After the daityas Chanda and Munda and many of the battalions were destroyed, the lord of the asuras, with mind overcome by anger went forth attended by many thousands of big forces. Seeing that most terrible army approaching, Chandika filled into space between the earth and the sky with the twang of her bow-string. On hearing the roar of the Devi, the enraged asura battalions surrounded the lion, the Devi Chandika and Kaali on all the four sides.
At this moment in order to annihilate the enemies of the Devas, the great strength from the bodies of Brahma, Shiva, Guha, Vishnu and Indra along with the form of those Devas went to Chandika. Whatever was the form of each Deva, and whatever his ornaments and vehicle, in that very form his shakti advanced to fight with the asuras.
In a heavenly chariot drawn by swans advanced Brahma’s shakti carrying rosary and a Kamandalu. She is called Brahmaani.
Maaheshwari arrived, seated on a bull, holding a fine trident, wearing bracelets of great snakes and adorned with a digit of the moon.
Ambika Koumaari, in the form of Guha, holding a spear in hand riding on a fine peacock, advanced to attack the asuras.
Likewise, the shakthi of Vishnu came, seated upon Garuda, holding conch, club, bow and sword in hand.
The shakthi of Hari, who assumed the incomparable form of a sacrificial boar, also advanced there in a boar-like form.
Naarasimhi arrived there, assuming a body like that of a Narasimha, bringing down the constellations by the toss of her mane.
Likewise, the thousand eyed Aindri, holding a thunderbolt in hand and riding on the lord of elephants arrived just like Indra.
Then Shiva, surrounded by those shakthis of the Devas , said to Chandika, “ let the asuras be killed forthwith by you for my gratification”.
Thereupon from the body of Devi issued forth the Sakthi of Chandika and she told Shiva,” Go, my Lord, as an ambassador to the presence of Shumbha and Nishumbha. Ask them to give the three worlds to the Devas back, if they wish to live. But if through pride of strength, they are ready for a battle, let them come to me. Let my jackals be satiated with their flesh”.
Because that Devi appointed Shiva himself as Dhoota, she was known as Shiva-dhuti.
Hearing the words of Devi through Shiva, the king of asuras rushed to the place where Kaatyaayini stood. The terrible war began with numerous weapons. Seeing the asuras harassed by the band of Maatras, the great asura Rakthabhija strode forward to fight in wrath.
Whenever from his body there fell to the ground a drop of blood, at that very moment rose up from the earth asura of his stature. As many drops of blood fell from his body, so many persons came into being, with his courage, strength and valour. The world was pervaded by thousands of great asuras who were like Rakthabhija.
The Devas got intensely alarmed at this. Seeing the devas dejected, Chandika laughed and said to Kaali,” O, Chamunda, open out your mouth wide; with this mouth quickly take in the drops of blood generated by the blow of my weapon and the great asuras born of the drops of blood of Rakthabhija. Let this great asura, with his blood emptied perish”.
The Devi smote Rakthabhija with her various weapons, as and when Chamunda went on drinking his blood. Stricken with various weapons and bloodless, the great asura Rakthabhija fell lifeless on the ground.

After Rakthabhija was slain and other asuras were killed in the fight, the asura Shumbha and Nishumbha gave way to unbounded wrath. Supported by the great army, the two great asuras went for the fight. Then commenced a severe combat between the Devi on one side and the two asuras like two thunder-clouds on the other.
The Devi assailed the heroic Danava, Nishumbha who was advancing with battle-axe in hand, and laid him low on the ground. When his brother Nishumbha of terrific prowess fell to the ground, Shumbha got infuriated in the extreme and strode forward to slay Ambika.
The sound of the bell, bow-string, loud roars filled all the worlds which started destroying the strength of the asuras. The Devi split the arrows shot by Shumbha and Shumbha also split the arrows discharged by her. Then Chandika became angry and smote him with a trident. Wounded therewith, he fainted and fell to the ground.
Meanwhile, Nishumbha, regaining the consciousness, seized his bow and struck the arrows on the Devi, the Kali and the lion. As Nishumbha was advancing with the dart in hand, Chandika pierced him in the heart with a swiftly hurled dart. Thus Nishumbha and the other asuras were destroyed by Devi.

Seeing his brother Nishumbha slain, who was dear to him as his life, Shumbha angrily said to Devi” O Durga, you are puffed up with the pride of strength, don’t show your pride here. Though you are exceedingly haughty, you, resorting to the strength of others fight”
The Devi said:”I am all alone in the world here. These goddesses are but my own powers, entering into my own self!”
Then all those, Braahmani and others, were absorbed in the body of the Devi. Ambika alone remained.
The Devi said, “the numerous forms which I projected by my power here – those have been withdrawn by me, and now I stand alone. Be steadfast in the fight”
Then began a dreadful fight between them both on the earth and in the sky, while all Devas and asuras looked on. Various weapons were released by the asura and all were broken down by the power of Devi. The Devi pierced Shumbha’s chest with a dart, and threw him down on the earth. Pierced by the pointed dart, he fell lifeless on the ground, shaking the entire earth with its seas, islands and mountains.
The Devas became happy. The sun became very brilliant and tranquil became the strange sounds that had risen in different quarters. Praises were sung on the great Kaatyayini by the Devas .
Here ends the story of the slaying of Shumbha and Nishumbha of Devi Mahatmyam.

This is the third post on Devi Mahatmyam. These were short summaries given at our UAE Satsangh.

Thanks to Chitraji for providing the material for sharing with all of us.
———————————————————————————————————
Chapters 5, 6 & 7 – The Slaying of Doomralochana, Chanda & Munda

Indra’s sovereignty over the three worlds and his portion of the sacrifices were taken by the Asuras Shumbah and Nishumbha by force of their pride and strength. They took the powers of all the Devas and deprived them of their Lordships. The Devas thought about the invincible Devi as their solution, remembering the boon granted by Devi who had said, “whenever in calamities you think of me, that very moment I will put an end to all your worst calamities”.

All the Devas resolving thus, went to Himavat, the Lord of the mountains and praised the Devi with hymns. When Devas were praising, Parvati came there to bathe in the waters of Ganga. She asked the Devas, “Who is praised by you here?” An auspicious goddess sprung forth from her physical shape and gave the reply that the hymns were addressed to herself, the Ambika. Because Ambika came out of Parvati’s physical sheath or Kosha she is glorified as Kaushiki.

Another dark form came out of Parvati and she was called Kaalika. Then Chanda and Munda, the two servants of Shumbha and Nishumbha saw that Ambika having a charming form. They thought in their mind that she will be a great gift to their kings. They told Shumbha, “When you can have all the gems of the world, why not this beautiful lady jewel? On hearing the words, Shumbha sent the great asura Sugreeva as a messenger to the Devi.

The message was conveyed to Devi. But, Devi said, “He who conquers me in battle, removes my pride and is my match in strength in the world shall be my husband. So, let Shumbha come here or Nishumbha the great asura. Vanquishing me here, let him soon take my hand in marriage.”

Hearing the words of the messenger, the asura kings got enraged. They ordered Doomralocana to go with his army and fetch Devi by force or even drag her by her hair. Whoever comes to save her be he a god, a yaksha or a gandharva be slayed. Doomralocana commanded thus by Shumbha, went forth quickly accompanied by 60 thousand asuras. The asuras showered on Ambika, sharp arrows, javelins and axes.

The asura Doomralocana rushed towards Devi and thereupon Ambika reduced him to ashes with a mere heave of the sound,”HUMMM”. On hearing that Doomralocana was slain by Devi and all his army was destroyed by the lion of Devi, Shumbha, with great anger, commanded the 2 mighty asuras, Chanda and Munda to bring Devi to his presence. The asuras fully armed and with Chanda and Munda as their heads, marched in four fold array. They saw the Devi smiling gently, seated upon the lion on a huge golden peak of the great mountain. They had a great fight with various weapons. The Devi, mounting upon her great lion rushed at Chanda and seizing him by his hair, severed his head with her sword. Seeing Chanda laid low, Munda also rushed at her and met with the same fate. The remaining army became panicky and fled in all directions. Kaali, holding the heads of Chanda and Munda in her hands approached Chandika. The auspicious Chandika said to Kaali, “Because you have brought me both Chanda and Munda you shall be famed in the world by the name Chaamunda”.

HERE ENDS THE SLAYING OF DOOMRALOCHANA, CHANDA AND MUNDA OF DEVI MAHATMYAM!

Shri Devi Gaytri audio is in the voice of my mother-in-law Mrs. K. V. Lalitha.