Unstoppable Updates (16) Wishing you a blessed NAVRATRI

Hi,

As we are going through the festival of Navratri now, I would like to share with you 3 tales from Devi Mahatyam depicting the power of the Goddess, Durga.

According to puranas, at the end of Kalpa when the entire universe was in a deep relaxation Lord Vishnu was lying on 'adi seshu' the bed of serpent in the state of Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep, deep slumber). At this time, two demons namely Madhu and Kaitabha stole Lord Brahma's vedas and attacked him. He went to seek Vishnu's help who was in a deep sleep. Brahma, knowing that it was due to influence of the great goddess who lives in the eyes of Lord Vishnu as Yoga Nidra, prayed to the goddess, who withdrew from Vishnu. As a result, Vishnu woke up and killed the demons. While Vishnu did the slaying, Devi enabled him. She is thus revered and worshipped not only for being an agent of restoration of the universe and the cosmic order but also helping the god in killing the demons. When the sleep of ignorance is awakened, the demons of ego could be overcome.

Another revelation comes from the narration of Goddess Durga slaying the most evil demon Mahishasura. Astride a lion, she fought with Mahishasura in a fierce battle, where he changed his form every time she was about to kill him. He took many different forms including that of a buffalo, but eventually, goddess Durga vanquished him and brought peace to the world. It is important to be persistent in the fight with the slippery-natured ego to be able to overcome it and win over the many manifestations of ignorance. 

The 3rd story of Devi Mahatyam reveals the enormous powers of the goddess. Once she encountered a demon called Raktabija who was empowered with a boon that every drop of blood he would shed would transform into another demon as it touched the earth. A unique strategy had to be devised to vanquish him. A fiery burst of energy emerging from Devi's third eye took the dark skeletal form of goddess Kali. With her huge mouth and enormous tongue she ferociously laps up Raktabija's blood, thus preventing the uprising of further demons and killing him eventually. Such a power of Kali is gained by her ability to convert the negative impulses of anger, vengeance, and violence into a positive force of balance and harmony. 

With love and regards,

Siva

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