The Devi Stuti

When the most valiant and wicked Asura, ‘Mahishasura’, was destroyed along with his ferocious army by the Goddess, the joy of the Gods knew no bounds! The hosts of gods headed by Indra lauded her, bowed down to the Devi and sang the ‘Devi Stuti’, in her praise & astound jubilation!

The ‘Devi Stuti’ is the longest and most eloquent of the Devi Mahatmyam’s four hymns. It throws light on the concepts of good and evil, fate and free will & karma and divine grace. The hymn praises Durga as good fortune in the dwellings of the virtuous & misfortune in the abodes of the wicked. The ‘Devi Stuti’, implicitly points to an impersonal balancing principle at work in the universe - the law of karma. The hymn also says that the Mother’s intentions are most gracious even toward evildoers. Through her inconceivable race, even wrongdoers who have committed great evils get purified simply by being slain by the hands of the Devi. In destroying the demons the Goddess destroys the evil samskaras within us.

The Devi, the care-taker & supporter of the three worlds is praised and worshipped with celestial flowers, perfumes, unguents and heavenly incense by the devas. The Devi is pleased & benignly serene in countenance she grants the Gods a boon. The Gods, who were overwhelmed with gratitude after the defeat of Mahishasura, needed nothing for themselves and only asked for the Devi to appear again to protect them from direct calamities whenever they called upon her in the future. They also prayed to the Devi to be gracious towards any mortal who sings the divine ‘Devi Stuti’ in her praise, and bless him to be fortunate. Goddess Bhadrakali who was thus propitiated by the gods for their own sake and that of the world, said “So Be It” and disappeared from their sight.

Since time immemorial ‘The Devi Stuti’- of the Devi-Mahatmya in Markandeya-Purana, is recited during the nine days of Navratri, as a reminder of the Devi’s boon to the Gods. The Devi Stuti is also known as ‘Shakaradi Stuti’ (praise by Indra and the host of gods). Praising the Devi and seeking her blessings with this rendition is an essential part of the Navratri Puja.

The Slaying of Mahishasura

When the Devi destroyed the army of the King of Demons, Mahishasura; Chakshura, the mighty general from his army decided to fight the Devi himself. But very soon, after a fierce battle with Chakshura, the Devi slaughtered him into hundreds of pieces like she did with his spear. As soon as the valiant general of Mahisha, was slain, Chamara, the afflicter of the gods came forward mounted on an elephant to try his luck in the great battle. The Devi’s Lion pounced upon the Elephant and the two battled fiercely till the end. The lion then struck Chamara with his paw and killed him.

Seeing his army being destroyed brutally by the Devi and her Lion, Mahishasura took the form of a majestic & fierce Buffalo & terrified the troops of the Devi. Hitting some by muzzle, trampling some by the hooves, lashing at some with his tail, and tearing others with is horns. When he was done with the Devi’s army, Mahishasura rushed to slay the lion of the Devi Shakti. This enraged the Devi. Mahishasura, pounded the terrain with his hooves in rage, crushed the earth by his whirling speed & flooded the oceans. When the Devi saw Mahishasura advancing towards her in such rage, she was angered & flung her noose over the great asura and bound him. But Mahishasura soon relinquished his buffalo form & became a lion. When the Devi cut the head of his Lion form, he took human form. The Devi slayed the human for too immediately & then the evil Mahishasura took the form of a huge Elephant. When the Devi cut off his trunk with her sword, the asura resumed his buffalo form and shook the three worlds. The enraged Goddess & Mahishasura continued to battle ferociously, till the Devi jumped in the air and landed herself on the buffalo form of Mahishasura. She crushed his neck under her feet and struck him with her spear. Caught helplessly under her foot, Mahishasura tried to take human form again but could only manage to reveal himself till his waist. Soon he was beheaded by the Devi. The battle thus ended & the entire army of Mahishasura perished.

The gods along with the divine seers lauded the Goddess, the Gandharva chiefs sang and the bevies of apsaras danced in celebration of Mahishasura’s end.

Mahishaasura represents the next step in our path to liberation (Mukti or Moksha). Mahishaasura who kept transforming from a buffalo, to a lion, to a man, to an elephant, and then back to a buffalo; represents the never ending chain of desires in us.  When one desire is fulfilled another springs and takes its place. There is a never ending transformation and multiplication of multifarious desires. This is called Vikshepa Shakti and it rooted in ‘RajoGuna’ or Rajas.  This conquest of Mahishasura is symbolic to winning over the ‘Rajasic’ tendencies in us.

The Manifestation of Mahalakshmi and the end of the Mahishasura Army

Devi Mahatmyam describes how Mahishasura gained lordship over the devas after a great battle which lasted for 100 years. The devas headed by Brahma, then went to the abode of Shiva and Vishnu to plead for help. The Devas narrated the story of their defeat wrought by Mahishasura in detail to the lords.

Devas: “Mahishasura himself has assumed the jurisdictions of Surya, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Chandra, Yama and Varuna and of other gods too. Thrown out from heaven by that evil-natured Mahisha, the hosts of devas wander on the earth like mortals. All that has been done by the enemy of the Devas, has been related to you both, we seek shelter under you both. May both of you be pleased to think out the means of his destruction”

Having heard the plea of the Devas & the tyranny of Mahishasura, Shiva & Vishnu were greatly angered. Out of this fierce wrath, a very great light sprang forth from the bodies of Indra, Shiva & other Devatas due to anger. From this heavenly light emerged the magnificent form the MahaLakshami. The loud laughter of the Devi’s enormous form struck terror in the cosmos. This sight brought about great joy to the Devas & they presented the Devi with their choicest weapons and ornaments.

Shiva presented a trident of his own to her while Vishnu brought forth a discus (chakra) out of his own discus & gave it to her. Varuna presented her a conch, Agni a spear; and Maruta gave a bow as well as two quivers full of arrows. Indra, lord of devas, brought a thunderbolt and a bell from that of his elephant Airavata, for the Devi. Yama gave a staff from his own staff of Death and Brahma, the lord of beings, gave a string of beads and a water-pot.

While the earth quaked and all the mountains rocked, the Devas rejoiced and wished victory to the Devi! The Sages bowed to her in devotion.  When the Asuras saw the Devi  in the three worlds they were wonder struck. Mahishasura got agitated & sent forth his massive army to fight the Devi. Then began a battle between that Devi and the enemies of the Devas, in which the quarters of the sky were illumined by the weapons and arms hurled diversely. The mighty generals of Mahishasura’s army battled her ferociously, but in vain. As fire consumes a huge heap of straw and wood, similarly the Devi destroyed that vast army of Asuras in no time.

The Wrath of Madhu Kaithabha & 5000 years long war

Once ‘Tamasi Devi’, withdrew from Vishnu’s consciousness, he stirred on his serpent-bed & in moments his form was again as splendid as a thousand suns. When Narayana opened his eyes and saw Brahma trembling with fear, he inquired what was bothering him & how could he help.

Vishnu: ‘Why have you abandoned your dhyana, Pitama? Why do you tremble?’

Brahma: ‘I am in terror of my life, Padmanabha. The Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha want to kill me.’ Vishnu: ‘Fear them no more; I will kill them for you.’

Lord Narayana saw Madhu – Kaitabha & roared like the thunder of the storm that could end the worlds. He challenged them for war to save Brahma from their wrath. The battle between Vishnu & the demons born from his ear wax was ferocious. Vishnu battled the sinister brothers without rest for five thousand years till he grew tired.  When he finally paused to rest & meditate he learnt of the Devi’s boon to the Asuras.  He learnt that Madhu-Kaithabh can die only when they themselves willed it. The Blue God was perturbed; for who wants to die, even in the direst circumstances? He realised how vain his battle with the wax-demons had been. Narayana folded his hands and called upon the Devi for help. 

Vishnu: ‘Mother! The Asuras have your boon are ready to kill me. I am helpless, Devi, save me.’

Devi: ‘Fight again without fear, Hari. I will appear in the most feminine form in front of the Asuras & distract them, so you can kill them.’ 

Vishnu went back to fight and they began to strike one another again, with blows beyond description. Very soon, the Devi manifested amidst them. She was enticement personified! The enchanted Asuras had eyes only for the Devi now. They stood gazing at her, aroused past endurance and not knowing what to do. Taking advantage of the situation, Vishnu praised them for their bravery and granted them a wish.  

The arrogant Asuras wanted to impress the Devi & s0 replied haughtily, ‘Who are you to grant us a boon? On the other hand, you ask us for a boon, Vishnu, and we shall grant it in our munificence.’

Vishnu: ‘If you are so pleased with me, Asuras, grant me that I kill you both.’

At once, the Devi vanished, and the Demons realised they had been tricked. To save themselves from being killed, they granted the boon to Vishnu with a condition that, Vishnu would kill them, but it must be on solid ground where there isn’t a drop of water! And of course, they believed they could survive since there was no dry place in primordial sea.

Until instantly, Vishnu expanded his own thighs, so they were a bright, dry island floating upon the unfathomable sea &  Madhu and Kaitabha had no choice but to lay their heads on Vishnu’s thighs as on an executioner’s block, and, with his Sudarshana Chakra the Narayan struck their heads off & thus saved Brahma’s life. 

Madhu and Kaitabha represent craving and aversion born out of inertia and Vishnu (Narayana) represents the ever-blissful Consciousness pervading the entire Creation. This story tells us that when consciousness returns to the source & turns inwards for knowledge, then it is able to overcome all distortions and once again merge into Love.

Tamasi Devi – The Devi of Inertia

Once upon a time, when the universe lay dissolved in the single, primordial sea, Lord Vishnu lay asleep on his serpent-bed, upon the interminable coils of ‘Anantasesha’. While the lord was in deep slumber, two Asuras (demons) were born from the wax in his ears, and they were dreadful to behold. Madhu and Kaitabha grew to manhood swiftly, and were soon as immense as they were powerful and hideous.

One day curiosity struck them & they wondered about their existence, the source & the end of the universe & the unfathomable sea, but they could find no answers. Eventually, on inscrutable intuition, the presence & essence of the Devi dawned on Kaitabha and he said to Madhu, ‘Brother, the Devi is the cause of this sea and of us as well.’ And soon they heard the celestial announcement of a ‘mantra’, which the demons began to chant. The Asuras chanted on, and were one in spirit with the Devi for a thousand years, till the mother divine was pleased with them & granted them a wish!

Devi: ‘I am pleased with you, Danavas, ask me for whatever you want.’

Madhu & Kaitabha: ‘Devi, grant that we will only die when we will it ourselves.’

Devi: ‘So be it!’

And thus the Devi granted them their boon!

Till one day, Madhu and Kaitabha saw an immense golden lotus in the sky, and sitting in it, steeped in dhyana, a four-faced and white-bearded, lustrous Brahma, the sire of everything. The excited Demons challenged Brahma to either fight them or relinquish his palace & flee. When Brahma flickered all his eyes open and saw the Asuras, he was taken aback & scared of their massive forms. He decided to rouse Narayana from his sleep and let him kill them. Brahma plunged down the stalk of the golden lotus, and besought Vishnu anxiously, calling him by him many and august names, begging him to quell the arrogant Demons. But nothing stirred Vishnu, who was in deep rest, in ‘Yoga Nidra’, the trance of the Devi. Brahma then prayed to the Adi Shakti, the mother divine & urged her to withdraw her inert form from Narayana and wake him up. Terror gripped his soul & he cried for help till the Devi, in her inert form of sleep, withdrew from Narayana, leaving in turn his eyes, mouth, nose, heart and finally his whole body.  And thus, ‘Tamasi Devi’, the devi of inertia took form. 

The Devi in her inert form was called ‘Tamasi Devi’. Madhu & Kaitabha; the demons where born out of the wax in the ear of Lord Vishnu during his inert state. They hence represent ‘Aversion’ & ‘Cravings’. So the birth of the demons from the ear of Lord Vishnu represents how distortions arise due to craving and aversions; which are mostly a result of what we hear (or see / touch / taste / smell) through our senses during our ‘Tamasic’ (Inert) state.