44 - The Story of Mangalachandi

Narayana said—О son of Brahma, you have heard the story of goddess Sasthi as prescribed in the Vedas. I am now going to tell you the story of goddess Mangalachandi. Whatever I had heard from the mouth of Dharma and other intellectuals about the story of Mangalachandi. I am going to speak out the same. 

The word chandi is used in the sense of rage. That is why the goddess chandi remains among the enemies and being well-versed in the performing of welfare deeds, she is called Mangalachandi. The word chandi is also used for Durga and Mangala is known as the son of the earth goddess. Therefore, the process who bestowed success on Mangala is called Mangalachandi. 

Mangala is born in the race of Manu and happened to be the lord of all the seven continents of the earth. The goddess who was adored by him and the one who granted success to him, was given the name of Mangalachandi. 

She is also known as Durga, dhisvari, MulaPrakruthi and the great goddess of the ladies. Taking to the compassionate form she always appears before them. 

О Brahman, in the earlier times when Tripurasura was to be killed then at the instance of lord Vishnu, lord Shiva first adored this goddess. 

Thereafter finding his own fort in danger, the demon Tripurasura getting enraged threw away the chariot of Shiva from space. Thereafter at the advice of Brahma and Vishnu, lord Shiva adored Durga. She therefore appeared in the form of Mangalachandi.

Standing before Shiva, she then asked him, О lord, now you need not be afraid because the bull who is the lord of all has come to serve you as your vehicle. 

О Vrushadhvaja, at the command of the lord, I shall take to the form of the force of battle. О lord, thus with my efforts and the help of the lord, you better kill the terrific demon. Thus, speaking the goddess disappeared and she became the strength of lord Shiva. О best of the sages, thereafter lord Mahadeva, the husband of Uma, destroyed the demon with the weapons provided to him by lord Vishnu. 

Then after the death of the demon all the gods and sages adored Shiva with devotion bowing their heads. At the same time a shower of flowers started falling over the head of Shiva. Both Brahma and Vishnu feeling extremely satisfied, blessed Shiva variously. At the advice of Brahma and Vishnu, Shiva took a bath properly and getting purified, he worshipped the goddess Mangalachandi who possessed the great force, offering padya, arghya, sipping water and various types of offerings including flowers, sandal-paste and naivedyas of different types. О sage, similarly goats, sheep, buffaloes, rhinos, magicians, clothes, ornaments, garland, payasam, fried sweets, honey, nectar and various types of ripe fruits were offered. All the gods in ecstasy danced together with lord Krishna accompanied by divine music and singing. They also started reciting the mulamantra as prescribed by the Madhyandini-shakha. О Narada, then they recited twenty-one letter mantra which is Om Hreem Shreem Kleem Sarva Pujye Devi Mangachandike Aim Ktrum Fat Swaha This is the great twenty-one letters mantra. 

This is adorable for the devotees and makes all the desires successful like a kalpataru. By reciting ten lakhs of this mantra a person achieves success. And the one who achieves the Mantrasiddhi, becomes lord Vishnu the bestower of all the success. О Brahmana, now listen to the stotra of the goddess which is well known in the Vedas. 

I am adoring the goddess of sixteen years who is quite beautiful, is quite youthful, possesses all the qualities, has tender and beautiful limbs. 

She has the complexion resembling the white campaka flower, has the glory and the lustre of crores of moons, pure like fire, clad in the sanctified garments and adorned with the gem 

studded ornaments. She is having beautiful hair. Her hair is adorned with flowers, her lips are like the ripe wood-apple fruit. She possesses a beautiful line of teeth. She has a pure complexion and her face resembles the lotus flower of the winter season. She wears a serene smile own her face. Her eyes resemble the blue lotus flower. She is the base of the universe and is the bestower of all the riches and carries the people across the terrific ocean of the universe. 

О sage, this is the dhyanam of the goddess; now you listen to her stuti, reciting which lord Shiva had adored her at the time of danger. 

Shiva said—О goddess Mangalachandi you are the mother of the universe, you protect us, you are the destroyer of misfortune and provide pleasure and welfare to the people. 

You are well-versed in providing pleasure and welfare and are the form of welfare. You provide pleasant welfare; that is why you are called Mangalachandi. 

You are full of welfare, the form of welfare and are the welfare for all the welfares. О goddess, you provide welfare to the noble people, you happen to be the treasure of welfare. 

You are adored on Tuesdays. You are the great goddess of the welfare and are immensely adorable by the king Mangala. О great goddess of welfare you are the welfare for all the welfare. You are the base of all the welfare and also provide the welfare in salvation. 

You are the essence of all, the base of welfare, beyond all the deeds and are adorable by the welfare and provide welfare to all.

By reciting this stotra, lord Shiva worshipped Mangalachandika and adoring her on Tuesday went for war. 

Whosoever recites the welfare stotra of the goddess Mangalachandi, always meets with welfare arid never has to face misery.

Thus, the goddess Mangala was adored by lord Shiva on Tuesday. On the next Tuesday the planet Mangala adored her. On the third Tuesday the goddess Bhadra was worshipped by the king Mangala and on the fourth Tuesday all the damsels adored her. On the fifth Tuesday all the people adored the goddess with the desire of achieving welfare. Thus, all the gods adored her at all the times. О save, the gods, the ascetics, the mendicants and the humans also adore her and thereafter she was adored at all the places by the people. Whosoever recites or listens to the Mangala-stotra of the goddess, always meets with welfare and misfortune never approaches him. He always has increase in his sons and grandsons.