Devi Mahatmya - Great Story of the Goddess

By: Achala Sylwia Mihajlovic
  • Summary

  • Devī Māhātmya, a part of ancient Mārkaṇḍeya Pūraṇa, is the great story of the Goddess which is traditionally recited and contemplated upon during Navaratri — the nine nights of Divine Mother. It is also mentioned multiple times in Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra, the bible of Vedic Astrology, as a potent tool for initiating the process of inner and outer transformation — including transforming our karma dictated by the planets. The story, in short, describes a metaphoric battle between the Goddess, Śakti, representing the Divine spark within us, and various demons which disrupt our inner space. An attentive reader and a spiritual seeker will immediately notice that the whole story illustrates the struggles that we all encounter in our sadhana. The idea is that when we use our imagination to visualise this inner battle, we do not only become more capable of recognising those inner demons in the future, but also by mentally joining the Goddess in Her battle, we transform something within us in a very profound way. The very idea of going through this battle willingly, in our mind, is to resolve the conflicts within and avoid external battles of life before they even occur. The 13 Chapters of Devī Māhātmya are traditionally into 9 consecutive days, during which they are supposed to be recited in their prescribed sequence. Needless to say, the most auspicious time to contemplate on this spiritual epic is during the 9 nights of Navaratri - or first 9 lunar days of any bright fortnight. Read more about the mysteries of Devī Māhātmya here: https://medium.com/@discoveringyouniverse/devi%CC%84-ma%CC%84ha%CC%84tmya-a-metaphor-of-inner-battle-62bc396b5a77 …or take part in your own “Journey with the Goddess” for 9 days of Navaratri: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/journey-with-goddess-navaratri-workshop/
    © 2023 Created by Discovering Youniverse
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Episodes
  • Devi Mahatmya - Day 9: Chapter 13
    Oct 23 2023

    On the last day of Navaratri the 13th chapter of Devī Māhātmya is traditionally recited, which recounts the story of king Suratha and merchant Samadhi praying to the Great Goddess and having their boons fulfilled. The story is more than just a promise of Divine Mother to grant our wishes, whenever we contemplate on Her great stories - it is also a reminder to choose wisely what we pray for.

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    6 mins
  • Devi Mahatmya - Day 8: Chapter 12
    Oct 22 2023

    On the 8 day of Navaratri the 12th chapter of Devī Māhātmya is traditionally recited, in which the Goddess Herself explains about the great transformative of contemplating upon Devī Māhātmya. She says: “I shall without doubt destroy every misfortune of those who with collected mind will praise me always with these hymns.” She assures everyone that when one listens to this great story with love and devotion, even if without proper knowledge about it, She will still grant Her benedictions upon one and destroy one’s miseries. The Goddess is also saying in this chapter that apart from reciting Devī Māhātmya for nine consecutive days during the first nine days of any bright fortnight, it is also very auspicious to meditate upon those stories on Ashtami tithis (Mahakali), Navami tithis (Mahasarasvati) and Chaturdashi tithis (Mahalakshmi).

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    9 mins
  • Devi Mahatmya - Day 7: Chapter 11
    Oct 21 2023

    On the 7 day of Navaratri 11th chapter of Devī Māhātmya is recited and contemplated upon. In this chapter the gods celebrate the victory of the Goddess over evil and extol Her with the prayer known as Narayani Stuti - praising Her as Narayani, who assumes many forms, to guide us from within and direct the drama of cosmic creation. The Goddess also makes Her promise that whenever the evil arises again, She will appear - again and again, to uplift all and bring balance to the universe.

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    25 mins

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