28 - Origin of the Goddess Durga

Prajapala said:

1. How was the auspicious Durga, who is Katyayani and Maya, born with a separate body out of the primordial subtle state.

Mahatapas said:

2. Once there was a valiant king named Sindhudvipa, a manifestation of Varuna. He was performing severe penance in the forest with a view to be getting son who would kill Indra.

3. With this determination he stood fast in constant penance emaciating his body.

Prajapala said:

4. How was he offended by Indra that he wished to get a son to kill him?

Mahatapas said:

5. In his former birth, he was the son of Tvashta and being immune against the attack of any weapon, he was killed with foam.

6-7. Killed by foam, he was dissolved in it. Then he was born in Brahma’s line as the valiant Sindhudvipa, and he performed penance always thinking of his enmity to Indra.

8. After a long time, the auspicious river Vetravati assumed a beautiful human form and went to the place where the king was engaged in his austerities.

9. Seeing her in that beautiful form the king’s mind was disturbed and he asked her who she was.

The river said:

10. “I am the wife of Varuna, the lord of waters and my name is Vetravati. I came here loving you.

11. He who rejects a woman who approaches him with intense desire, although she belongs to another, brings upon himself a sin like the one on killing a Brahmin. Knowing this, accept me”.

12. Said thus, the king enjoyed her heartily.

13. In Vetravati was born immediately a son named Vetrasura who was resplendent like the dozen suns, mighty and brilliant, and he became the king of Pragjyotisha.

14-15. In due course he became a powerful and courageous youth, much lucky, and he conquered the whole world consisting of seven islands and then, going up the Meru mountain, conquered Indra, then Agni and then Yama.

16. Indra, when vanquished, went to Agni, Agni when vanquished went to Yama, Yama when vanquished went to Nirruti, and Nirruti when vanquished went to Varuna.

17. Varunaa with Indra and others went to Vayu, and Vayu went to Kubera with them.

18. Kubera went to his friend Shiva. The Asura was chasing them all with his club, and so he too came to Shivaloka.

19. Shiva, knowing that he could not be easily killed, took the gods to Brahma worshipped by Siddhas and others.

20-21. There Brahma, having created the world, was engaged in meditating on Gayatri, the Maya of the Supreme Being, within the water which was flowing from Vishnu’s feet.

At this Devas cried aloud:

22. “O Brahma, protect all of us Devas and sages, who have now come to you being harassed by the demon (Vrutra)”.

23. Prayed thus, Brahma looked at Devas and contemplated on Maya by whose prowess there will be no Asuras or Rakshasas (left to harass them).

24-26. Then appeared there out of the water the great Goddess, a maiden wearing garlands and crown, clad in white. cloth, with eight hands each holding a divine weapon, disc, conch, mace, rope, sword, bell, bow (and arrow) and with a quiver, riding on a lion.

27. She fought with the Asuras with great agility for a thousand divine years and with various divine weapons.

28. Finally the demon Vetrasura was killed by her in battle and there was then a great shout of joy in the ranks of Devas.

29. When the Vetrasura was thus killed, the gods bowed in reverence. Shiva uttered praise.

Maheshvara said:

30. “Hail goddess Gayatri, Mahamaya, the great Devi, the highly auspicious.

31. I bow to you O Maheshvari, mother of Vedas, with celestial sandal smeared over the body adorned with celestial garlands and necklace, and remaining in letters.

32. (I bow to) you who remain in all the three worlds, in the three Tattvas, in the three fires, hold the trident, have three eyes and are fierce in face and eyes.

33-34. I bow to you Sarasvati, the daughter of Brahma, Mahamaya, lotus-eyed, shedding ambrosia, omnipresent, the lord of all beings, Svaha, Svadha,¹ O Mother.

1. ‘shvaha’ and ‘svadha’ are expressions uttered when offering oblations in fire respectively to Devas and Pitris.

35. (I bow to you) who arose from Bhava, the Perfect, resembling the moon in lustre, with resplendent body, the great knowledge, capable of being known only by the great, the destroyer of mighty demons.

36. O you goddess who rose from the great Intellect, free from sorrow, the goddess of the hunters, you are justice, you are fortune, you are speech, you are the cow, you are the everlasting.

37. I bow to you, O great goddess; you are intelligence, you are opulence, you are the Pranava, you are the Tattvas. You do good to all beings.”

38-39. When she was thus extolled by the great Rudra and hailed by the gods, Brahma came out of the water and saw her fully gratified.

40. Seeing her and knowing that the purpose of Devas had been accomplished, he spoke to them thinking of the future.

Brahma said:

41. “Let this beautiful goddess go to the mountain Himavan and all of you go there and offer her worship.

42. She should be worshipped with all concentration of mind on Navami tithi. She will then certainly give boons to the whole world.

43. On the Navami day if a man or woman fasts taking only some flour, he or she gets all desires accomplished.

44. He who recites the above stotra by you every morning, will get all boons from you and the goddess, and will also surmount all calamities.”

45. Having said thus to Shiva, Brahma spoke to the goddess:

46. “O goddess, you have to render us another great service in future by killing the demon Mahishasura”.

47. Then, O king, Devas left the place and installed her in the Himalayas and paid her homage. Since she was thus honoured (nandita) she came to be known as Nanda.

48. He who listens to this account of the origin of the goddess and recites it himself, gets freed of all sins and attains salvation.