I am writing this post on the ashtami tithi (eighth day) of the Gupta Navaratri – a time considered most auspicious for spiritual aspirants to perform sadhana of Maa Durga to seek the divine mother’s blessings.
Whenever we talk about devotion to Maa Durga, it is incomplete without mentioning Devi Mahatmya, the text which is considered most significant in Shakta Tradition to pray to divine mother.
Hinduism has various margas or ways for spiritual progress including meditation, mantra chanting, undertaking severe austerities, bhakti or devotion and many others, but the followers of shakta marg consider recitation of Devi Mahatmya or Durga Saptashati as the most potent method to pray to the divine mother.
It provides the devotee protection from any kind of fear and injury, fulfills his or her dharmic or righteous wishes, makes one victorious in all their endeavors and makes one progress spiritually and ultimately grants them moksha or liberation from the cycle of re-birth and death.
Devi Mahatmya consists of 700 verses in Sanskrit describing the victory of divine mother over demon Mahishasura and his army.
It is actually a story told to a King, who loses his kingdom in an attack by his enemy and wanders in the jungle, and a rich merchant whose family takes his wealth and evict him from his house who is also wandering in the same jungle, by a rishi or sage named Markanday telling both of them the stories of victory of Maa Durga over demons.
Markanday Rishi first tells them how Devatas or Gods were troubled by mighty Asuras or Demons, whom Devatas were unable to conquer and so they prayed to the divine mother to save them from the tyranny of the asuras.
The ever loving divine mother takes the form of Durga riding a fierce Lion and holding weapons – trishula or trident and khadaga or sword in her hands – and puts an end to the tyranny of asuras by defeating and killing them.
The mighty asuras who themselves had performed severe penance to Brahma or Shiva in the past and became powerful and almost invincible and were terrorizing the devatas and the whole of universe as a result were defeated by the Divine Mother in her Durga and then subsequently in her fierce Kali roopa or form.
I have always lacked confidence and battled with mild depression in my youth but since I began chanting Durga Saptashati in Sanskrit beginning this Gupta Navaratri, I am feeling quite optimistic and have great energy. Delighted by the positive results, I am thinking of continuing to recite Devi Mahatmya one chapter a day.
If you also feel lost or overwhelmed in life just like the King who lost his kingdom to his enemies and the rich merchant who lost his wealth and was abandoned by his family in the beginning of Devi Mahatmya, I would also humbly suggest you to read Devi Mahatmya, if not in Sanskrit but in English or any other language you like.
The King after knowing the glory of the Divine Mother prays to her and regains his strength to defeat his enemies and get his kingdom back. The rich merchant also prays to the divine mother and gets his wealth and family back and finally gets moksha or spiritual liberation.
May the Divine Mother protect you and your loved ones and blesses you with good health, happiness and abundance. Glory to the Divine Mother!
