Discourse of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Chandi Saptashati – Day 7 Navaratri Celebrations – Mysore – October 22, 2012
Jaya Guru Datta
“Today we are going to talk about the death of Shumbha. This is a very important episode in Devi Mahatmyam. Mother Goddess, who killed Shumbha, is highly praised in the third and concluding section.
‘Ghantaa shoola halaani .. daityaardineem.”
She held in her lotus-like tender hands the bell, spear, plough, conch shell, pounding stone, wheel, bow, and arrows. Her radiance was like that of the moon that shines at the edge of clouds. She emerged from the body of Gowri. She supports all the three worlds. I extol Goddess Maha Saraswati who killed the demons such as Shumbha.
Many people have the question as to why they describe in detail every step of the battle, the different weapons, the different forms, the different gestures used, words spoken and so on. Why not simply say that Mother Goddess killed the demons and finish the story.
Everything in Creation follows a system, a pattern, a procedure, a sequence, a uniqueness. We must learn and understand it. We must follow step by step. We cannot simply jump to the end. Then we will not understand the workings of Mother Goddess, how she destroys the evil tendencies that exist in our bodies and minds.
Each weapon that is mentioned here has a particular name, which signifies its inner meaning. Each form, that the Mother Goddess takes on, has a special purpose in achieving her mission.
The human body is structured in a very wonderful manner, with a stereo effect, with two eyes, two ears, and so on. Each organ and limb is made to measure and placed in its position for a definite specific purpose. The human body will not be the same if one leg is short and another is very long; if one arm is short, and the other extends all the way to the bus stand; if one is in the front and the other eye is in the back; or to have two mouths, one in the front and another in the back, one for eating and the other for speaking; or for the nose to be a mile long or be absolutely flat and invisible; and so on. Each organ and limb is carefully designed with a definite purpose. Everything is measured and follows a rhythm. Our breathing, our heartbeat, our walk, our talk, everything follows a set pattern. Nothing in Creation is random or haphazard.
There is a particular pattern by which our spiritual progress occurs. The different weapons represent our different qualities, positive and negative. Some have to be beaten, some shattered, some crushed to powder, some broken to bits, some spun around and flung to the ground, and so on. Hence, it is very important to listen to each and every detail of the description of the different battles, and the vivid description of the different demons and the deities. The battle between Rama and Ravana also has a similar significance. We cannot skip over the details or neglect studying the descriptions.
Sage Medho continued:
“O King! When his brother, Nishumbha, who was as dear to him as his own life, got killed, Shumbha blamed Mother Goddess in these angry words, “O evil woman! Durga! Don’t swell with pride that you are very strong. You are depending on the strength of others to fight this war.
Mother replied, “O wicked fellow! In this world I alone am resplendent. None else exists. No one else exists. Look properly. Everyone enters into me.” (Mother Goddess is revealing her extraordinary principle. Here Mother Goddess is making clear that all the Maatrkaas were born out of her).
As she spoke these words, Braahmee and other energies merged back into her. Parashakti alone remained. She spoke thus: “Hey! Shumbha! It is my glory that allows me to appear in different forms. Now I have withdrawn all those forms and am standing alone in the battlefield. Keep your mind steady.”
As the celestials and the demons watched, a fierce battle took place between Chandi Devi and Shumbhasura. All the worlds began to tremble because of this war.
Shumbha broke the celestial weapons employed by Mother Goddess. Mother powdered the weapons that he used. Chandi Devi broke Shumbhasura’s bow to pieces. He then picked up his weapon, Shakti. Mother Goddess shattered it to pieces with her wheel. Shumbha picked up his sword called Shatachandram and got down to fight against Chandi. Mother snapped it with her arrows.
Besides, she chopped up his chariot, his horses and his charioteer. Then Shumbha picked up a hammer-like weapon, a club and leapt onto Devi. Parashakti broke his club to splinters with her arrows. Shumbha made a fist and punched Parashakti on her chest. She returned the punch on his chest. With that Shumbha fell to the ground. However, at once he flew up into the sky and stood there. Chandi Devi also fought against him in the sky weapon-less. This combat surprised even the celestials and the sages. After fighting thus for a long time, Parashakti held Shumbha, spun him around in the air and flung him to the ground.
Shumbha got up again and jumped onto Chandi Devi to kill her. Then Mother Goddess pierced his heart with her spear and threw him on the ground. He fell down limp and died.
At that time the earth, along with its oceans, islands, and mountains, shook with great tremors.
Everyone rejoiced at the death of the evil demon. The world found happiness again. The sky cleared. All the inauspicious signs that existed during Shumbha’s lifetime disappeared. The rivers flowed peacefully. The celestials felt very joyous.
The singers from heaven sang melodiously. Some played musical instruments. The celestial dancers performed their dances. Cool breezes were blowing everywhere. The Sun shone brightly. The homa fire pits, whose fires were getting extinguished, began to glow again. In all the directions, the chant, “Peace, peace, peace,” gently reverberated.”
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Hira Duvvuri