Discourse of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Chandi Saptashati – Day 5 Navaratri Celebrations – Mysore – October 20, 2012
Jaya Guru Datta
Bhajan: Jaya jaya bhagavati Mangala moorte
“Yesterday we learned about the death of Chanda and Munda.
Sage Medho continued –
Shumbha, when he heard of the killing of Chandasura and Mundasura and the destruction of the entire army, commanded the rest of the demons thus, “Let the 86,000 Udaayudhas, Kambas, Daityas, Kotiveeryas, and Dhoomravamshas proceed to war!” He himself went to the battlefield also.
Chandika pulled the string of her bow, seeing the great army approach. The sound that it produced made all the worlds tremble. The vehicle of Devi, the lion, also gave a mighty roar. Mother rang her bell vigorously at the same time. Its sound drowned the lion’s roar. Mother Kalika Devi thundered frightening slogans of victory. The demon army that heard these sounds pounced in anger upon Chandika Devi, Kalika Devi, and the lion.
Mother, at that instant was filled with the strength and the determination for accomplishing the mission of God. At once, from the bodies of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the other deities various different energies burst forth. They all assumed the forms of the various deities and surrounded Chandika as her attendants. Their forms, attires, decorations, and vehicles corresponded to their original forms.
Brahmaani, the consort and energy of Brahma appeared there on her vehicle, the swan, holding the rosary beads and the sacred water pot.
Maaheshwari, the energy of Shiva arrived riding the bull, wielding a trident, with her head decorated with the crescent moon, and adorned with serpents as her necklaces and bracelets.
Kaumaari came there riding the peacock, sporting the Shakti weapon, as the variant form of Kumara (Lord Subrahmanya).
Vaishnavi, the power of Vishnu reached there riding the Garuda, holding the conch, the wheel, mace, sword, and the bow famously known as Sharnga.
Vaaraahi assumed the form of Yajnavaraaha and made her presence there.
Naarasimha Shakti, the divine power of Lord Narasimha wore the form of half-man/half-lion. When she vigorously shook her lion’s mane, even the stars got displaced from their stations.
Aindree revealed herself with one thousand eyes, mounted on the Airavata, suffused with the powers of Indra.
When the Sapta Maatrkaas, the Seven Mothers surrounded Mother Parashakti thus, Shiva presented himself along with the celestials and requested her, “Please do me a favor and kill these demons quickly.”
Out of her body then was born a most cruel, and dreadful power. Even as it emerged, it made the most terribly frightening sound. Her matted locks were of a golden hue. She spoke to Shiva.
“O Maheshwara! You proceed to the presence of Shumbha and Nishumbha as my messenger. Say this to them, ‘O demons! Indra has to be restored the lordship of the three worlds. If you wish to remain alive, then at once disappear into the nether world. Instead, if you wish to fight the battle out of an arrogance born from your strength, then, my attendants will be most satisfied to drink your blood.’”
Because she sent Shiva Himself as her messenger, she became famous since that day, as Shivadooti.
The demons who heard Shiva convey Devi’s message in his own words, flew into a rage and jumped into combat. A terrible battle ensued between Parashakti, who was attended upon by the Seven Mothers, the Sapta Matrkaas, and the demons.
The army of the demons could not withstand the ferocity of Sivadooti, Chandika, and Kalika and began to run away. Seeing this, Raktabeeja, a mighty demon warrior jumped in, to fight. Each time a drop of his blood touched the ground, another demon who was his equal in strength was being born. That was the reason his name was Raktabeeja (seeds of blood).
He began to battle against the army of Indra Shakti. Indrani whacked him powerfully with her Vajra weapon. From the blood that spilled from his body thousands of Raktabeejas were born. The collective might of all the Seven Mothers proved insufficient against this. The countless Raktabeejas filled the entire universe. The celestials got frightened.
Noticing this, Parashakti said to Kalika, “O Kalika! I want you to extend your mouth and swallow up all the demons that are born by the injuries caused by my weapons. Extend your tongue across the entire battlefield and lick up all the blood before it touches the ground. Continue to do this until all the blood spilled from Raktabeeja is completely mopped up.”
Saying this, Parashakti pierced the demon with her trident. Kalika swallowed all the demons that were born from the drops of blood that fell. Raktabeeja began fighting with his mace. The fight continued like this, with Chandika causing him wounds, new demons springing up from the drops of blood, they getting swallowed, and the demon fighting again. Eventually all the blood from his body got exhausted. He was not left even with a drop of blood. When that happened, Parashakti killed him in an instant, using her trident, wheel, arrows, and sword.
With the death of Raktabeeja, all the celestials rejoiced. They praised the Mother Goddess.”
Bhajan: Vishaala lochane vishuddha bhaavane rataasi shobhane sadaa mamaavane
(Sri Swamiji gave a dramatized new most humorous twist acting out every word, to the inner meaning of this old favorite bhajan composed many years ago spontaneously during the Navaratri Pujas.)
Vishaala lochane=wide eyed beautiful woman; Vishuddha = pure (tender); bhaavane=thoughts and feelings; (Baava=beloved; ne=I am); Shobhane=auspicious (bride and bridegroom getting together for the first time after marriage, in intimacy); Sadaa=always; Maamaa=father-in-law; avane=he is;
The new bridegroom (baava) is crying to his beautiful bride expressing in song, his terrible frustration, saying, “my beautiful wide-eyed bride (Vishaala lochane), with pure and tender feelings for you (Vishuddha bhaavane),I am your beloved (baavane), but, during our rataasi Shobhane( the first private intimate time between the bride and the bridegroom, right after marriage), sadaa (always) maamaavane (father-in-law) is present between us not giving us any privacy, because it is not yet the stipulated auspicious time for us to be together alone.”
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Hira Duvvuri