Rajarajeswari Polali DT Nt pg 8 - Page 2

---------------Triumph Of Devi Over Mahishasur's Army -------------------

Seve Sairibha mardinimiha mahalakshmim Saroja sthitam.

I meditate on lotus-seated Mahalakshmi, the killer of demon Mahisasura, of the color of coral, holding in her eighteen hands rosary, axe, mace, arrow, thunderbolt, lotus, bow, pitcher, staff, Sakti, sword, shield, conch, bell, wine cup, trident, noose, and the Sudarsana discus.

The battle between the Suras and Asuras escalated into a full-blown war for a hundred years, Indra being the chief of the former and Mahisasura, the latter. The Asuras easily defeated the Suras and captured the heaven, displaced Indra and installed Mahisasura as the chief of heaven.

The defeated gods and the creator Brahma went to Siva and Vishnu and gave them a report of what happened at the battle and the coronation of Mahisasura as the Lord of heaven.

" Mahisasura made Surya, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Chandra, Yama and Varuna subordinate to him and ejected the other Devas out of heaven. Those Devas wandered on earth like mortal men. Now that you know all that happened, we seek refuge with you both. Please work out a solution to bring destruction to Mahisasura and the Asuras. "

Saranam vah Prapannah smo vadhastasya vichintyatam.

Vishnu and Siva, heard the tales of the troubles of Devas .They became angry and looked fierce.

A great Light emanated from the faces of Vishnu, Siva, and Brahma and from the bodies of Indra and other Devas. The Light from all United , appeared like a blazing mountain emitting flames in all directions,.

Yadabhut Sambhavam tejastenajayata tanmukham

Yamyenachabhavan Kesah bahavo Vishnu tejasa

That light took a female form. Siva's Tejas became the face, Yama's her hair, Vishnu's her arms, Chandra's her twin breasts, Indra's her waist, earth's her hips, Varuna's her thighs and lower legs, Brahma's her feet, Surya's her toes, Vasu's her fingers, Kubera's her nose, Prajapati's her teeth, Agni's her three eyes, the Sandhyas' her eyebrows, Vayu's her ears, and the light from other Devas her auspicious qualities.

The oppressed Devas looking at the devine Light became very emotional with delight.

Siva gave a trident emerging from His own Trident, Vishnu a discus that emerged from His Discus, Varuna a conch, Agni a spear, MAruta a bow and two quivers of arrows, Indra a thunderbolt emerging from His own Thunderbolt and a bell emerging from the bell of Airavata elephant, Yama a staff emerging from His own Staff, the Lord of water a noose, Brahma a necklace of beads and water container,

Sulam suladvinishkrishya dadau tasyai piata dhrik.

Chakram cha dattavan Krishnah samutpadyat swa chakratah

Surya his own radiant rays on all the pores of her skin, , KAla a sword and a shield, the milk ocean a necklace, a pair of earrings, bracelets, a half-moon tiara, bangles, anklets, rings for her fingers, Visvakarman a shiny axe, weapons, body armor, the oceans fade-free lotuses, Himavat a lion to ride on, Kubera a goblet always full of wine, and Sesa a serpent necklace.

Himavan vahan am sim ham Ratnani vividhani cha

Thus Devi received weapons,lustre and vehicle from gods. She then let out a loud roar and defiant peels of laughter.

Sammanita nanadochaih sattahasam muhurmuhuh

Tasya nadena ghorena kritsnamapuritam nabhah

The earth shook, the oceans agitated , the sky was cloudy the air reverberated, and the mountains trembled.

The Rishis started praising her divine excellence.

The tumult and thunderous laughter reached the enemies of the gods, whose armies came together with raised weapons. Mahisasura's ears were ringing with the thunderous laughter. He ran towards the source with lots of Asuras and saw a radiant Devi lighting up the three worlds, causing deep tremours of the earth under footsteps, and covering the sky with her crown

. Sa dadarsa tato Devim Vyapta Loka trayan tvisha

The Netherworlds trembled, as she plucked the bowstrings. She stretched her thousand arms she pervaded all ten quarters. The battle between the Suras and Asuras began .the glistening weapons lit up the sky.

Mahisasura's generals Chikshura led a fierce attack on gods with cavalry, chariots, elephants and foot-soldiers.

Asuras like Udagra, Mahahanu parivarita brought many thousands of elephants and horses and ten million chariots to the battlefield to fight the Suras.

Mahisasura looked around and saw millions of horses, elephants, and chariots. The Asuras used all kinds of weapons against Devi including axes, clubs, javelins, maces... They were no match Devi's valor.

She sent a downpour of weapons to the Asuras killing them; the celestials, gods and sages poured showers of eulogies on Her. The lion, Her mount, shook its mane terrorizing the Asuras and moved like forest fire among them. Every heave and breath of Devi became many battalions of fighting Matrikas whose every strike, stab, blow, slash, smash brought death to millions of Asuras.

Ta Eva sadyah sambhutah Ganah sata sahasrasah.

Yuyudhuste Parasurchindhi...

It was a festival of death with blowing conches, beating drums,and sounding louder.The tridents and spears crushed the asuras.The flying nooses of Devi bound and dragged the Asuras. Her merciless sword cut them into two halves and in every which way one can imagine.

The smashing mace crushed their skulls the killer hammer sprang streams of blood from wayward Asuras. The piercing arrows Struck the asuras and made them into heaps of ashes. Her trident flawlessly pierced the hearts of asuras .

Devi's weapons seemed to have a life of their own and never failed to extinguish its object. The gory of battle laid there in its stark spectacle: broken necks, rolling heads, dismembered arms and legs, limbless and headless trunks, one-eyed heads...the river of blood started drenching the battlefield

Sonitaghau mahanadyah sadyastatra prasusruvuh.

Mountains of dead elephants and horses, heaps of dead Asuras, piles of broken chariots marked the battlefield. Rivers of blood were flowing amidst this debris of war.

The Lion with its quivering mane, thundering roar, and death-defying gait went straight at extinguishing the life-breath of Asuras.

Yathaisham tutushurdevah Pushpa Vrishti mucho divi.

The gods celebrated the triumph of Devi over the army of asuras by showering flowers and singing hymns in her praise.

End of second chapter the triumph of Devi over Mahishasur's army.

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Lakshmi rupena Sansthita

Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah.

Lakshmi