Discourse of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Chandi Saptashati – Day 3 Navaratri Celebrations – Mysore – October 18, 2012
“Today we commence the third, final, most important section of Saptashati. For this section, Rudra is the rishi, the presiding priest or sage; Anushtup is the meter; Sri Maha Saraswati is the presiding deity; Bheema is the energy; Bhraamaree is the seed; Surya, the Sun God is the principle; and the Sama Veda is its form. This important section should be studied, chanted, and listened to for obtaining the grace of Mother Goddess Sri Maha Saraswati.
Sage Medho continued: Kashyapa’s wife was Danu. Three sons were born to her, namely Shumbha, Nishumbha, and Namuchi. Their strength equaled that of Indra.
They performed a severe penance addressed to Brahma and won the boon that they would not be killed either by the celestials, the demi-gods, or by human beings. They also asked for the boon that they should be killed only by a woman that is born from another woman, and not in the normal procedure of child birth, and not through any man being instrumental in her conception. She would have to be most valiant, and upon their invitation should engage in a fight against them.
Brahma granted their wish.
That is it. They swelled with arrogance and tore apart the worlds. They obstructed all virtuous deeds. They took over the lordship of all the directions (their power became all-pervasive). The celestials simply could not withstand their onslaught. They thought, ‘Mother Goddess Parashakti had given us a boon at the time she killed Mahishasura, that anytime we are in trouble, that it was enough if we just remembered her, and she would rush to our rescue. Hence, let us all meditate upon her.’
They all proceeded to the Himalayas and began praising the Mother Goddess thus:
Namō dēvyai mahādēvyai śivāyai satataṁ namaḥ
namaḥ prakr̥tyai bhadrāyai niyatāḥ praṇatāḥ sma tāṁ
We offer salutations to Mother Goddess who is the inspiration for acts of Creation and such by Brahma and the other gods. We bow down to the Mother Goddess who is of an auspicious form, who is the primordial energy behind Creation, and who is of the form of Brahma.
Durgāyai durgapārāyai sārāyai sarvakāriṇyai
khyātyai tathaiva kr̥ṣṇāyai dhūmrāyai satataṁ namaḥ
We prostrate to Mother Goddess who can only be approached through the practice of intense control of the sense organs and the mind, who removes all difficulties, who is the essence of all, who is the root cause of everything, who is of the form of fame and reputation, who is the daughter of Daksha, and who assumes a dark complexion as Kali and certain other deities.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu viṣṇumāyēti śabditā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We offer repeated prayers to the Mother Goddess whose power of consciousness expresses itself as “Vishnu Maya” (the illusory power of Vishnu) in all living beings.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu cētanētyabhidhīyatē
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We worship repeatedly that Mother Goddess whose form is the light of consciousness in all creatures.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu buddhi rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We bow down repeatedly to Mother Goddess who resides in all creatures as their mental and intellectual apparatus, the thinking, reasoning, remembering and analyzing power.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu nidrā rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We bow down repeatedly to Mother Goddess who resides in all living beings in the form of sleep and laziness. Madhu and Kaitabha, the two demons killed in the first section, represent the power of Mother Goddess as Sleep. Only when the sleep exited from Lord Vishnu by the grace of Mother, as a result of the prayer by Brahma, Vishnu could destroy the demons.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu kṣudhā rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We offer humble worship repeatedly to Mother Goddess who reveals herself as hunger in all beings. When you see someone expressing hunger, you should recognize that it is Mother Goddess revealing her presence as hunger. Hunger is experienced by all living beings.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu cchāyā rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
Our reverential prayer we offer repeatedly to Mother Goddess who exists in all as a reflection. Some persons appear divine; a beautiful girl reminds one of Goddess Lakshmi; a radiant man appears like Lord Vishnu. The Mother Goddess is being reflected in them thus. It also means that like a shadow that never leaves a person or an object, Mother Goddess reveals her presence in everything permanently. When a person moves, you see the shadow of the person moving; but the shadow cannot move by itself. Only the person controls the movement of the shadow. That power is Mother Goddess.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu śakti rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
Our reverential prayer we offer repeatedly to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of energy.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu tr̥ṣṇā rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
Our reverential prayer we offer repeatedly to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of desire.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu kṣānti rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
Our reverential prayer we offer repeatedly to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of patience and tolerance.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu jāti rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
Our reverential prayer we offer repeatedly to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of different races and castes. The different species, such as male, female, man, beast, bird, animal, insect, reptile, plant, and so on are all forms of Mother Goddess.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu lajjā rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
Our reverential prayer we offer repeatedly to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of shame and shyness as we perform forbidden actions. Mother Goddess expresses herself as remorse and guilt also whenever an undesirable thought, speech or action occurs.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu śānti rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
Our reverential prayer we offer repeatedly to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of a controlled mind that is at peace.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu śraddhā rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of faith in the words of the Guru and the Vedas.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu kānti rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of beautiful radiance.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu Lakṣmī rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of wealth, riches, and prosperity.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu vr̥tti rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of a livelihood, a skill or talent used as a means for living.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu smr̥ti rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of thoughts, ideas, memories, or anticipation related to the past, present, and the future.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu dayā rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of compassion to remove sorrow. It is Mother Goddess who comforts when you are in grief by giving words of encouragement, and by making you forget your troubles with humor and laughter.
There are some people, who, instead of listening to your troubles and showing sympathy, dump their troubles also on you. They thus multiply your worries, anxieties and make you lose hope. It should not be like that. You should keep your troubles to yourself and give hope to the person in distress. The way a mother comforts a child, you should give solace to those who are feeling hopeless.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu tuṣṭi rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of happiness born from contentment. The joy, the bliss that you see in the faces of some, is a reflection of Mother Goddess. Some people are there, who are always smiling, regardless of their situation and circumstance. They never express their sorrow. But the majority of people, my devotees, are always crying and talking about their problems. Do not dwell on thoughts of difficulties. Keep smiling always. Then the difficulties will admit defeat and will run away. They will not trouble you anymore.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu mātr̥ rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of a mother.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu bhrānti rūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of illusion caused by Maya. Gossip and rumors are all fabricated; they are lies; those who listen to them and act upon them are demons. Such talk spoils your mind with delusion. False things are imagined and believed to be true. Actions based upon gossip and rumors cause untold harm. Only pretend to listen to gossip. Never allow it to influence your mind and judgment.
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu śānti ūpēṇa saṁsthitā
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō namaḥ
We repeatedly offer our reverential prayer to Mother Goddess who exists in all in the form of a self-restraint of the mind. When the mind is under one’s control, it remains at peace. It is not disturbed.
In this manner in different ways the celestials offered their praises to the Mother Goddess praying for protection from danger. They described all Her qualities, both the favorable and the unfavorable, as they are expressed in everything that exists. We should pray to imbibe only the good qualities and pray for protection from the less desirable qualities.
The three brothers, in the Ramayana, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibheeshana, performed penance. When it was their turn to ask for boons, Kumbhakarna, who all along wanted to ask for the position of Indra (lordship of heaven), by mistake asked for Nidra (sleep). Hence, when his wish was granted, he slept for six months in a year. Ravana asked to be as powerful as Indra. He received the boon and became arrogant and dug his own grave. Only Vibheeshana asked for the gift of devotion to Lord Hari. He became a good devotee and later became the king of Lanka.
As the celestials were all praying thus, singing the praises of Mother Goddess, at that time, Parvati Devi, who was going for her bath in the river Ganga in the Himalayas approached them and asked, “Whom are you praising?”
Even as she was posing the question, another goddess emerged out of her body and declared, “It is you, whom these celestials, who got defeated by the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, are praising.”
Because this Shivaa Devi emerged out of a part of Parvati Devi’s body, the celestials began addressing her as Kaushiki Devi from then on.
After the birth of Kaushiki Devi, Parvati Devi turned black. Since then her name became Kalika Devi. She began residing in the Himalayas.
Chanda and Munda, the servants of Shumbha and Nishumbha saw the beauty of Kaushiki Devi as she moved about freely in the Himalayan region. They went to Shumbha and said, “O great king! There is a ravishing female beauty living in the Himalayas. Please marry her. You are in possession of all the precious gems. It will be nice for you to have this gem of a woman also with you.”
Shumbha, who heard these words, sent a messenger by the name of Sugreeva to Kaushiki Devi. This Sugreeva is different from the Sugreeva of the Ramayana. This demon messenger was ugly. His head was somewhere at the bottom of his body. His features were all distorted. His voice came from somewhere below his body.
The messenger went to Kaushiki Devi spoke these words to Parashakti: ‘O Devi! Shumbha, the king of the demons is ruling the three worlds. I am his messenger. Please listen to his message.’ “O Devi! All the three worlds are under my control. I receive all oblations that are offered in fire rituals. I possess all the precious gems. Now I desire to obtain you, who are a gem amongst women. Therefore, woo either me or my brother Nishumbha. You will then lack nothing.”
Mother, who heard the message, laughed and said, “What you say is true. Shumbha and Nishumbha are both great, certainly. Actually I have also fallen in love with them. But I had already taken a vow. I will tell you what it is. ‘I decided that only that man who defeats me in war is eligible to be my husband.’ Hence, let either Shumbha or Nishumbha come and fight against me here and win me as a bride.” She sent her reply message thus.
The messenger exclaimed, “O Devi! You are full of arrogance. It is not appropriate for you to speak like this. No man can stand before Shumbha and Nishumbha who have conquered all the three worlds. You are after all a woman. What is your capacity? How can you fight against them? You are not even fit to face their army in battle. You are alone. Even Indra and the gods cannot face them. Therefore, please listen to me. Willingly walk along with me to go to Shumbha and Nishumbha. If you do not cooperate, I will grab you by your hair and will drag you there. That will ruin your reputation totally.
Mother said, “O messenger! As you have spoken, Shumbha and Nishumbha are definitely every valiant. They are highly desirable. But what can I do? Foolishly I have taken that vow. I cannot go back on it. Therefore, you go to Shumbha and convey my message to him word to word. He will consider my words and will act accordingly.”
This concludes the first chapter in the final and concluding third part of the story. The following episode will be told tomorrow.
Here we must recognize Mother Goddess’s adherence to Truth.”
Courtesy: Hira Duvvuri