Discourse of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Chandi Saptashati – Day 9 Navaratri Celebrations – Mysore – October 24, 2012
Jaya Guru Datta
“Yesterday we heard how Devi granted a great boon to all the gods. Today we will learn about what Mother Goddess said in the final chapters.
Chandi Devi said, “I am pleased by your praises. That human being, who chants this prayer with concentration will be freed by me, without any doubt, from all troubles. Whoever reads or listens to these episodes in my history on the eighth, ninth, and fourteenth lunar days, with true devotion about the killing of demons such as Madhu, Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Shumbha, and Nishumbha, will be free from sins and any dangers that occur because of sins. They will not suffer from poverty. They will not suffer separation from their near and dear ones. They will have no fear from enemies, thieves, or authorities. They will not be harmed by fire, water, or weapons.
Please listen to my glory at leisure. Read it slowly. This wonderful history of my greatness is very special. Even calamities caused by the greatest evil forces will get subdued by this. That home where this Saptashati is frequently and properly studied, that home is where I reside permanently. During times of worship, during homas and major festivals, this complete narration of my story should be read or listened to.
I will accept with satisfaction even a small offering made by men, knowingly or unknowingly, of this study during any worship, or any offering to the fire god with these mantras.
Whoever performs Devi worship during the nine day festival of Navaratri in the autumn season, whoever listens to my entire story as a part of the worship ritual, such people will be relieved of all troubles by my grace. They will prosper with wealth, plenty of food, children, and grandchildren. There is no doubt in it. Those who hear about my glory and the stories of my incarnation, will have no fears. Their enemies will get destroyed. They will enjoy all benefits. Those who hear of my greatness will enjoy bliss. Their families will flourish.
During rituals for appeasement of negative forces, or when there are bad dreams, and or when the planets are not favorable, if my great story is studied, benefit will occur.
By listening to this Saptashati, calamities and troubles caused by the planets will be decreased. Good dreams will occur. The negative energies of minor planets like Pootana, Daakini, and Shaakini will be dissipated. Enmity will turn into friendship. This story will remove the strength of the evil doers.
By the study of this Saptashati, demons, ghosts, and evil spirits get annihilated. Health will be restored. Victory in battle will be achieved.
O gods! Those who read this prayer that has been offered by you and the great sages, will receive all types of merit,” declared Mother Goddess and disappeared.
The celestials regained their individual powers by receiving the offerings made to them in the fire rituals,” said Sage Medho and continued further:
“O King! Mother Goddess, although she exists eternally, frequently she takes birth in this manner and keeps protecting the universe. She is the one who envelops this world in illusion. She is the Creator. To those who pray to her, she grants spiritual knowledge and prosperity. This entire cosmos is pervaded by her.
During the end of the world, she takes on the aspect of Maha Kali. During the time of Creation, she is of the aspect of Brahma. During the period of sustenance, she takes on the aspect of Sanatana. She resides in the homes of people in the form of Lakshmi, granting all types of wealth, power and prosperity. It is she, who also creates poverty in the form of Alakshmi. By worshiping her, along with all comforts, an interest in following Dharma will also occur. She grants liberation.
O King! I have narrated to you the supreme glory of Mother Goddess, known as Devi Maahaatmyam. It is this same Mother Goddess who is supporting this entire universe, who is making you and this merchant, and other intelligent persons fall under the influence of illusion. Therefore O King, to be free from this illusion, I suggest that you surrender at her feet.”
Suratha, the king, when he heard these words, offered his grateful prostrations to the sage and proceeded to perform penance. The merchant (Samadhi) did likewise.
The two of them prepared an image of Mother Goddess with clay, and on a river bank performed penance with complete focus and concentration, by chanting her name, and following restricted food intake and other austerities.
After three years, Mother Goddess appeared before them and said, “O Suratha! O Samadhi! I grant your wish for which you are performing this penance. I am pleased by your penance.” Then king Suratha asked, “In this lifetime, please grant me a kingdom with no enemies, and in my next lifetime, a kingdom with no divisions or boundaries.” Samadhi, the merchant asked, “I pray for spiritual knowledge where the illusion of ‘I’, ‘me’ and ‘mine’ are removed.”
Mother Goddess said, “O King! Very soon you will kill your enemies and will regain your kingdom. After this body is given up, you will be born as the son of Sun god, by the name, Surya Saavarni. You will become the Manu.” She said to the merchant, “O best of merchants! I grant you what you have prayed for. You will receive enlightenment.”
Having granted these boons, Mother Goddess disappeared. Before she vanished, they both offered her their devotional praises.
In this manner Suratha and Samadhi, both enjoyed the boons granted by Mother’s grace.
This concludes the Durga-Chandi-Saptashati. OM Peace Peace Peace.
What is it here that belongs to us? If it belongs to us, then we should be able to take it with us, right? Do we take anything along, when we leave this world? No.
All this is temporary. It is important to give up the false feeling caused by ignorance, of ‘me’ and ‘mine’.
On Vijaya Dashami, the day of victory of knowledge over ignorance, we should remember Lord Krishna, who removed the ignorance of Arjuna. Arjuna represents ignorance. Krishna stands for spiritual wisdom.
It is also important to remember the story on Virata Parva in the Maha Bharata. On Vijaya Dashami day the Pandavas completed their stipulated exile of 12 years in the forest plus the one year incognito, a total of 13 years. They hid their weapons during that last one year bundled up inside a corpse and placed on top of a Shami tree. They retrieved their weapons and prepared for the final war against evil, on this day. Mother Goddess Durga gave darshan to Arjuna on this day. The Shami tree should be worshiped and offered prayers for the removal of all our sins.
The Pandavas are five in number. Our fingers on each hand are also five. They represent the five elements. The thumb stands for the space element; the index finger for Air, the middle finger for Fire, the ring finger for Water, and the little finger for the Earth.
Sundara Kanda in the Ramayana should be remembered on this day when we celebrate victory of good over evil. This is the day when Mother Goddess gave darshan as Sita in Ashoka Vana to Hanuman. In Lanka, Hanuman showed Sita his Universal Form. He gave her solace and courage by assuring that Rama would come and kill Ravana. Sita and Hanuman were both instrumental in killing the demon Ravana in both his aspects as the ten headed Ravana in Lanka and the one hundred headed Ravana in the Sky. In the sky, when Rama fell unconscious during the battle, Sita as Maha Kali, showed her form to Hanuman as the Supreme Mother Goddess.”
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Hira Duvvuri