{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/db/bk09ch50.htm","path":"hin/db/bk09ch50.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk09ch50.htm","text":"THE NINTH BOOK\nChapter L\nOn the Glory of S\u2019akti\n1-4. N\u00e2rada said :-- \u201cO Bhagav\u00e2n! I have heard all the anecdotes of Prakriti, as according to the S\u2019\u00e2stras, that lead to the freedom from birth and death in this world. Now I want to hear the very secret history of S\u2019r\u00ee R\u00e2dh\u00e2 and Durg\u00e2 as described in the Vedas. Though you have told me about their glories, yet I am not satisfied. Verily, where is he whose heart does not melt away on hearing the glories of both of them! This world is originated from their parts and is being controlled by them. The devotion towards them frees one easily from the bonds of Sams\u00e2ra (rounds of birth and death). O Muni! Kindly describe now about them.\u201d\n5-44. N\u00e2r\u00e2yana said :-- O N\u00e2rada! I am now describing the characters of R\u00e2dh\u00e2 and Durg\u00e2, as described in the Vedas; listen. I did not describe to anybody this Secret which is the Essence of all essences and Higher than the highest. This is to be kept very secret. Hearing this, one ought not to divulge it to any other body. R\u00e2dh\u00e2 presides over the Pr\u00e2na and Durg\u00e2 presides over the Buddhi. From these two, the M\u00fblaprakriti has originated this world. These two S\u2019aktis guide the whole world. From the Mah\u00e2vir\u00e2t to the small insect, all, moving or non-moving, are under the M\u00fblaprakriti. One must satisfy them. Unless these two be satisfied, Mukti cannot be obtained.\nTherefore one ought to serve M\u00fbla Prakriti for Her satisfaction. Now of the two in M\u00fbla Prakriti, I will describe fully the R\u00e2dh\u00e2 Mantra. Listen. Brahm\u00e2, Visnu, and others always worship this mantra. The principal mantra is \u201cS\u2019r\u00ee R\u00e2dh\u00e2yai Sv\u00e2h\u00e2.\u201d By this six lettered mantra Dharma and other fruits all are obtained with ease. If to this six lettered M\u00fbla mantra Hr\u00eem be added, it yields gems and jewels as desired. So much so, if thousand koti mouths and one hundred koti tongues are obtained, the glory of this mantra cannot be described. When the incorporeal voice of M\u00fbla Prakriti was heard in the Heavens, this mantra was obtained, first by Krisna in the R\u00e2sa Mandalam in the region of Goloka where all love sentiments are played. (The Vedas declare him as Raso vai Sah). From Krisna, Visnu got the Mantra; from Visnu, Brahm\u00e2 got; from Brahm\u00e2\nVir\u00e2t got, from Vir\u00e2t, Dharma, and from Dharma I have got this Mantra. Repeating that Mantra, I am known by the name of Risi. Brahm\u00e2 and the other Devas meditate always on the M\u00fbla Prakriti with greatest joy and ecstasy. Without the worship of R\u00e2dh\u00e2, never can the worship of S\u2019r\u00ee Krisna be done. So men, devoted to Visnu, should first of all worship R\u00e2dh\u00e2 by all means. R\u00e2dh\u00e2 is the Presiding Deity of the Pr\u00e2na of S\u2019r\u00ee Krisna. Hence S\u2019r\u00ee Krisna is so much subject to R\u00e2dh\u00e2. The Lady of the R\u00e2sa Mandalam remains always close to Him. Without Her S\u2019r\u00ee Krisna could not live even for a moment. The name R\u00e2dh\u00e2 is derived from \u201cR\u00e2dhnoti\u201d or fulfills all desires. Hence M\u00fbla Prakriti is termed R\u00e2dh\u00e2. I am the Risi of all the mantras but the Durg\u00e2 Mantra mentioned in this Ninth Skandha. G\u00e2yatr\u00ee is the chhanda (mantra) of those mantras and R\u00e2dhik\u00e2 is the Devat\u00e2 of them. Really, N\u00e2r\u00e2yana is the Risi of all the mantras; G\u00e2yatr\u00ee is the chhanda; Pr\u00e2nava (om) is the V\u00eeja (seed) and Bhuvanes\u2019var\u00ee (the Directrix of the world) is the S\u2019akti. First of all the principal mantra is to be repeated six times; then meditation of the great Dev\u00ee R\u00e2dhik\u00e2, the S\u2019akti of the Risis is to be done, as mentioned in the S\u00e2ma Veda. The meditation of R\u00e2dh\u00e2 is as follows :-- O Dev\u00ee Radhike! Thy colour is like white Champaka flower; Thy face is like the autumnal Full Moon; Thy body shines with the splendour of ten million moons, Thy eyes look beautiful like autumnal lotus; Thy lips are red like Bimba fruits, Thy loins are very heavy and decked with the girdle (K\u00e2nch\u00ee) ornament; Thy face is always gracious with sweet smiles; Thy breasts defy the frontal globe of an elephant. Thou art ever youthful as if twelve years old; Thy body is adorned all over with ornaments! Thou art the waves of the ocean of S\u2019ring\u00e2ra (love sentiments.) Thou art ever ready to show Thy grace to the devotees; on Thy braid of hair garlands of Mallik\u00e2 and M\u00e2lat\u00ee are shining; Thy body is like a creeping plant, very gentle and tender; Thou art seated in the middle of R\u00e2sa Mandalam as the Chief Directrix; Thy one hand is ready to grant boons and another hand expresses \u201cHave no fear.\u201d Thou art of a peaceful appearance; Thou art ever youthful; Thou art seated on a jewel throne; Thou art the foremost guide of the Gop\u00eek\u00e2s; Thou art dearer to Krisna than even His life; O Parame\u2019svar\u00ee! The Vedas reveal Thy nature. Meditating thus, one is to bathe the Dev\u00ee on a S\u2019\u00e2lagr\u00e2ma stone, jar, yantra or the eight petalled lotus and then worship Her duly. First the Dev\u00ee is to be invoked; then P\u00e2dya and \u00c2sana, etc., are to be offered, the principal Mantra being pronounced at every time an offering\nis given. After giving water for washing both the feet, Arghya is to be placed on the head and \u00c2chaman\u00eeyam water to be offered three times on the face. Madhuparka (an oblation of honey, milk etc.) and a cow giving a good quantity of milk are next to be offered. Then the yantra is to be thought of as the bathing place where the Dev\u00ee is to be bathed. Then Her body is to be wiped and a fresh cloth given for putting on. Sandalpaste and various other ornaments are next to be given. Various garlands of flowers with Tulas\u00ee Manjari (flower stalks) P\u00e2rij\u00e2ta flower and Satapatra etc., then, are to be offered. Then within the eight petals, the family members of the Dev\u00ee are to be thought of; worship is next to be offered in the right hand direction (with the hands of the watch). First of all, M\u00e2l\u00e2vat\u00ee on the petal in front of (on the east) the Dev\u00ee, then M\u00e2dhav\u00ee on the southeast corner, then Ratnam\u00e2l\u00e2 on the south, Sus\u2019\u00eel\u00e2 on the south-west, Sas\u2019ikal\u00e2 on the west, P\u00e2rij\u00e2ta on the north-west, Par\u00e2vat\u00ee on the north and the benefactious Sundar\u00ee on the north-east corner are to be worshipped in order. Outside this, Br\u00e2hm\u00ee and the other M\u00e2trik\u00e2s are to be worshipped and on the Bh\u00fbp\u00fbras (the entrances of the yantra,) the Regents of the quarters, the Dikp\u00e2las and the weapons of the Dev\u00ee, thunderbolt, etc., are to be worshipped . Then all the attendant Deities of the Dev\u00ee are to be worshipped with scents and various other articles. Thus finishing the worship, one should chant the Stotra (hymns) named Sahasra-n\u00e2ma (thousand names) Stotra with care and devotion. O N\u00e2rada! The intelligent man who worships thus the R\u00e2ses\u2019var\u00ee Dev\u00ee R\u00e2dh\u00e2, becomes like Visnu and goes to the Goloka.\nHe who performs the birthday anniversary of S\u2019r\u00ee R\u00e2dh\u00e2 on the Full-Moon day of the month of K\u00e2rtik, gets the blessings of S\u2019r\u00ee R\u00e2dh\u00e2 who remains near to him. For some reason R\u00e2dh\u00e2, the dweller in Goloka was born in Brind\u00e2ban as the daughter of Vrisav\u00e2nu. However, according to the number of letters of the mantras that are mentioned in this chapter, Purascharana is to be made and Homa, one-tenth of Purascharana, is to be then performed. The Homa is to be done with ghee, honey, and milk; the three sweet things mixed with Til and with devotion.\n45. N\u00e2rada said :-- \u201cO Bhagav\u00e2n; Now describe the Stotra (hymn) Mantra by which the Dev\u00ee is pleased.\u201d\n46-100. N\u00e2r\u00e2yana said :-- O N\u00e2rada! Now I am saying the R\u00e2dh\u00e2 Stotra. Listen. O Thou, the Highest Deity, the Dweller in R\u00e2sa Mandalam! I bow down to Thee; O Thou, the Chief Directrix of the R\u00e2sa Mandalam; O Thou dearer to Krisna than His life even, I bow down to Thee. O Thou, the Mother of the three Lokas! O Thou the Ocean of\nmercy! Be pleased. Brahm\u00e2, Visnu and the other Devas bow down before Thy lotus feet. Thou art Sarasvat\u00ee; Thou art Savitr\u00ee; Thou art S\u2019ankar\u00ee; I bow down to Thee; Thou art Gang\u00e2; Thou art Padm\u00e2vat\u00ee; Thou art Sasth\u00ee; Thou art Mangal\u00e2 Chandik\u00e2; Thou art Manas\u00e2; Thou art Tulas\u00ee; Thou art Durg\u00e2; Thou art Bhagavat\u00ee; Thou art Laksm\u00ee; Thou art all, I bow down to Thee. Thou art the M\u00fbla Prakriti; Thou art the Ocean of mercy. Obeisance to Thee! Be merciful to us and save us from this ocean of Sams\u00e2ra (round of birth and death). O N\u00e2rada! Anybody who remembers R\u00e2dh\u00e2 and reads this Stotra three times a day does not feel the want of anything in this world. He will ultimately go to Goloka and remain in the R\u00e2sa Mandalam. O Child This great secret ought never to be given out to any. Now I am telling you the method of worship of the Durg\u00e2 Dev\u00ee. Hear. When any one remembers Durg\u00e2 in this world, all his difficulties and troubles are removed. It is not seen that anybody does not remember Durg\u00e2. She is the object of worship of all. She is the Mother of all and the Wonderful S\u2019akti of Mah\u00e2deva. She is the Presiding Deity of the intellect (Buddhi) of all and She controls the hearts of all and She removes the great difficulties and dangers of all. Therefore She is named Durg\u00e2 in the world. She is worshipped by all, whether a S\u2019aiva or a Vaisnava. She is the M\u00fbla Prakriti and from Her the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe proceed. O N\u00e2rada! Now I am saying the principal nine lettered Durg\u00e2 Mantra, the best of all the Mantras. \u201cAim Hr\u00eem Kl\u00eem Ch\u00e2mund\u00e2yai Vichche\u201d is the nine lettered V\u00eeja mantra of S\u2019r\u00ee Durg\u00e2; it is like a Kalpa Vriksa yielding all desires. One should worship this mantra by all means. Brahm\u00e2, Visnu, and Mahes\u2019a are the Risis of this mantra; G\u00e2yatr\u00ee, Usnik and Anusthubha are the chhandas; Mah\u00e2k\u00e2l\u00ee, Mah\u00e2 Laksm\u00ee and Sarasvat\u00ee are the Devat\u00e2s; Rakta Dantik\u00e2, Durg\u00e2, and Bhr\u00e2mar\u00ee are the V\u00eejas. Nand\u00e2, S\u00e2kambhar\u00ee, and Bh\u00eem\u00e2 are the S\u2019aktis and Dharma (Virtue), Artha (wealth) and K\u00e2ma (desires), are the places of application (Viniyoga). Assign the head to the Risi of the mantra (Ny\u00e2sa); assign the chhandas to the mouth and assign the Devat\u00e2 to the heart. Then assign the S\u2019akti to the right breast for the success and assign the V\u00eeja to the left breast.\nThen perform the Sadamga Ny\u00e2sa as follows :-- Aim Hriday\u00e2ya namah, Hr\u00eem S\u2019irase Sv\u00e2h\u00e2, Kl\u00eem S\u2019ikh\u00e2y\u00e2m Vasat, Ch\u00e2mund\u00e2yai Kavach\u00e2ya Hum, Vichche Netr\u00e2bhy\u00e2m Vausat, \u201cAim Hr\u00eem Kl\u00eem Ch\u00e2mund\u00e2yai Vichche\u201d Karatalaprisih\u00e2bhy\u00e2m Phat. Next say touching the corresponding parts of the body :-- \u201cAim namah S\u2019ikh\u00e2y\u00e2m, Hr\u00eem Namah\u201d on the right eye; \u201cKl\u00eem Namah\u201d on the left eye, \u201cCh\u00e2m Namah\u201d on\nthe right ear, \u201cMum namah\u201d on the left ear, ndam Namah\u201d on the nostrils; \u201cVim Namah\u201d on the face; \u201cChchem Namah\u201d on the anus and finally \u201cAim Hr\u00eem Kl\u00eem Ch\u00e2mund\u00e2yai Vichche\u201d on the whole body. Then do the meditation (dhy\u00e2n) thus :-- \u201cO Ch\u00e2munde! Thou art holding in Thy ten hands ten weapons, viz., Khadga (axe), Chakra (disc), Gad\u00e2 (club), V\u00e2na (arrows), Ch\u00e2pa (bow), Parigha, S\u00fbla (spear), Bh\u00fbs\u2019und\u00ee Kap\u00e2la, and Khadga. Thou art Mah\u00e2 K\u00e2l\u00ee; Thou art three-eyed; Thou art decked with various ornaments. Thou shinest like Lil\u00e2njan (a kind of black pigment). Thou hast ten faces and ten feet. The Lotus born Brahm\u00e2 chanted hymns to Thee for the destruction of Madhu Kaitabha; I bow down to Thee.\u201d Thus one should meditate on Mah\u00e2 K\u00e2l\u00ee, of the nature of K\u00e2mav\u00eeja (the source whence will comes). Then the Dhy\u00e2nam of Mah\u00e2 Laksm\u00ee runs as follows :-- O Mah\u00e2 Laksm\u00ee, the destroyer of Mahis\u00e2sura! Thou holdest the garland of Aksa (a kind of seed), Paras\u2019u (a kind of axe), Gad\u00e2 (club), Isu (arrows), Kulis\u2019a (the thunderbolt) Padm\u00e2 (Lotus), Dhanu (bow), Kundik\u00e2 (a student\u2019s waterpot), Kamandalu, Danda (rod for punishment), S\u2019akti (a kind of weapon), Asi (sword), Charma (shield) Padm\u00e2 (a kind of waterlily), Ghant\u00e2 (bell,) S\u2019ur\u00e2p\u00e2tra (a pot to hold liquor), S\u2019\u00fbla (pickaxe), P\u00e2s\u2019a (noose) and Sudarsana (a kind of weapon). Thy colour is of the Rising Sun. Thou art seated on the red Lotus. Thou art of the nature M\u00e2y\u00e2v\u00eeja (the source whence female energy comes). So Obeisance to Thee! (The V\u00eeja and the Dev\u00ee are one and identical). Next comes the Dhy\u00e2nam of Mah\u00e2 Sarasvat\u00ee as follows :-- O Mah\u00e2 Sarasvat\u00ee! Thou holdest bell, pickaxe, plough (Hala), Conch shell, Musala (a kind of club), Sudars\u2019ana, bow and arrows. Thy colour is like Kunda flower; Thou art the destroyer of S\u2019umbha and the other Daityas; Thou art of the nature of V\u00e2n\u00eev\u00eeja (the source whence knowledge, speech comes). Thy body is filled with everlasting existence, intelligence and bliss. Obeisance to Thee! O N\u00e2rada! Now I am going to say on the Yantra of Mah\u00e2 Sarasvat\u00ee. Listen. First draw a triangle. Draw inside the triangle eight petalled lotus having twenty-four leaves. Within this draw the house. Then on the Yantra thus drawn, or in the S\u2019\u00e2lagr\u00e2ma stone, or in the jar, or in image, or in the V\u00e2nalingam, or on the Sun, one should worship the Dev\u00ee with oneness of heart. Then worship the P\u00eetha, the deities seated also on the dais, i.e., Jay\u00e2, V\u00eejay\u00e2, Ajit\u00e2, Aghor\u00e2, Mangal\u00e2 and other P\u00eetha S\u2019aktis. Then worship the attendant deities called \u00c2varana P\u00fbj\u00e2 :-- Brahm\u00e2 with Sarasvat\u00ee on the east, N\u00e2r\u00e2yana with Laksm\u00ee on the Nairirit corner, S\u2019ankara with P\u00e2rvat\u00ee on the V\u00e2yu corner, the Lion on the north of the Dev\u00ee, and Mah\u00e2sura on the left side of the Dev\u00ee; finally worship Mahisa (buffalo). Next worship\nNandaj\u00e2, Raktadant\u00e2, S\u2019akambhar\u00ee, S\u2019iv\u00e2, Durg\u00e2, Bh\u00eem\u00e2, and Bhr\u00e2mar\u00ee. Then on the eight petals worship Brahm\u00e2, Mahes\u2019var\u00ee, Kaum\u00e2r\u00ee, Vaisnav\u00ee, V\u00e2r\u00e2h\u00ee, N\u00e2ra Simh\u00ee, Aindr\u00ee, and Ch\u00e2mund\u00e2. Next commencing from the leaf in front of the Dev\u00ee, worship on the twenty four leaves Visnu M\u00e2y\u00e2, Chetan\u00e2, Buddhi, Nidr\u00e2 (sleep), hunger, shadow, S\u2019akti, thirst, peace, species (J\u00e2ti), modesty, faith, fame, Laksm\u00ee (wealth), fortitude, Vriti, S\u2019ruti, memory, mercy, Tusti, Pusti (nourishment), Bhr\u00e2nti (error) and other M\u00e2trik\u00e2s. Next on the corners of the Bh\u00fbpura (gates of the Yantra), Ganes\u2019a Ksettrap\u00e2las, Vatuka and Yogin\u00ees are to be worshipped. Then on the outside of that Indra and the other Devas furnished with weapons are to be worshipped as per the aforesaid rules. For the satisfaction of the World-Mother various nice offerings and articles like those given by the royal personages are to be presented to the Mother; then the mantra is to be repeated, understanding its exoteric and esoteric meanings. Then Saptas\u2019ati stitra (Chand\u00ee p\u00e2tha) is to be repeated before the Dev\u00ee. There is no other stotra like this in the three worlds. Thus Durg\u00e2, the Deity of the Devas, is to be appeased every day. He who does this gets within his easy reach Dharma, Artha, K\u00e2ma, and Moksa, the four main objects of human pursuits (virtue, wealth, enjoyment and final beatitude). O N\u00e2rada! Thus I have described to you the method of worship of the Dev\u00ee Durg\u00e2. People get by this what they want. Hari, Brahm\u00e2, and all the Devas, Manus, Munis, the Yog\u00ees full of knowledge, the \u00c2s\u2019ram\u00ees, and Laksm\u00ee and the other Devas all meditate on S\u2019iv\u00e2n\u00ee. One\u2019s birth is attained with success at the remembrance of Durg\u00e2. The fourteen Manus have got their Manuship and the Devas their own rights by meditating on the lotus feet of Durg\u00e2. O N\u00e2rada! Thus I have described to you the very hidden histories of the Five Prakritis and their parts. Then, verily, the four objects of human pursuits Dharma, Artha, K\u00e2ma and Moksa are obtained by hearing this. He who has no sons gets sons, who has no learning gets learning and whoever wants anything gets that if he hears this. The Dev\u00ee Jagaddh\u00e2tr\u00ee becomes certainly pleased with him who reads with his mind concentrated on this for nine nights before the Dev\u00ee. The Dev\u00ee becomes obedient to him who daily reads one chapter of this Ninth Skandha and the reader also does what is acceptable to the Dev\u00ee. To ascertain before-hand what effects, merits or demerits, would accrue from reading this Bh\u00e2gavata, it is necessary by examining through the hands of a virgin girl or a Br\u00e2hmin child, the auspicious or inauspicious signs. First make a Sankalpa (resolve) and worship the book. Then bow down again and again to the Dev\u00ee Durg\u00e2. Then bring there a virgin girl, bathed well and worship her duly and have a golden pencil fixed duly in her\nhand and placed in the middle on the body. Then calculate the auspicious or inauspicious effects, as the case may be, from the curves made by that pencil. So the effects of reading this Bh\u00e2gavata would be. If the virgin girl be indifferent in fixing the pencil within the area drawn, know the result of reading the Bh\u00e2gavata would be similar. There is no doubt in this.\nHere ends the Fiftieth Chapter of the Ninth Book on the Glory of S\u2019akti in the Mah\u00e2pur\u00e2nam S\u2019r\u00eemad Dev\u00ee Bh\u00e2gavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vy\u00e2sa.\nHere ends the Ninth Book.\nThe Ninth Book Completed.","title":"The Devi Bhagavatam: The Ninth Book: Chapter 50","type":"page"}