In that meeting it was decided that Viṣaṅga would attack Devī’s army from its rear side in a treacherous way. This decision was taken because they got information from their spies that Lalitā Devī was having less army and protection at Her rear end and it was easier for them to approach Lalitā Devī directly and attack Her, if they approached from the rear.
After the first day’s war, at dusk, Viṣaṅga with a small army proceeded to the rear of Lalitā Devī’s army noiselessly without any drums. By then Lalitā Devī’s army was moving westward. Viṣaṅga along with his army moved northwards and then turned to reach eastern side. He was able to see Śri-cakrarāja-rathā very near to him. Lalitā Devī was looking forward observing the movement of the army. She was not having much army close to Her.
Taking this opportunity Viṣaṅga attacked Devī’s chariot from the rear, all of a sudden. Aṇimā (a Siddhi devī) and other gods who were present there were taken back at this sudden attack but quickly recovered themselves and prepared for a counter fight. Exactly at the same time Kuṭilākṣa along with ten akṣauhiṇī army attacked from the front side. Seeing attack from both ends Lalitā Devī was little angry. In the mean while, struck by an arrow from Viṣaṅga, the fan present in Lalitā Devī’s hand fell down and broke.
Seeing this Tithidevatās got very angry. They went and requested Lalitā Devī that Vahnivāsinī and Jvālāmālinī nitya devas have property and capacity of self illumination. If they glow then the demons who are in the dark will all become visible. With the permission of Lalitā Devī, Vahnivāsinī and Jvālāmālinī Devīs started glowing like fireballs. All the demons who were hiding in darkness now became visible. Now the 16 Nitya Devīs became outrageous and attacked Viṣaṅga’s army. All the commanders in the demons army died.
Wounded all over the body Viṣaṅga fled for his life shamelessly. Even Kuṭilākṣa who attacked from the front also fled. (In Lalitā Sahasranāma - nityā-parākramāṭopa-nirīkṣaṇa-samutsukā). Seeing the valour of Nitya Devīs, Lalitā Devī was very pleased. Mantriṇī Devī and Daṇḍanāthā Devī felt unhappy about this unprecedented attack in the night. They felt very sorry that their arrangements of protection were not up to the mark.
Agni Prākāra (compound wall made of fire)
Both of them went to Lalitā Devī, expressed sorry for what had happened and made arrangements for protection. At the look of Lalitā Devī, Jvālāmālinī Devī made a compound wall of fire around the Devī’s army. The fire wall is 100 yojana wide and 30 yojana tall (1 yojana is approximately 9 miles). At the southern end of fire wall is a 1 yojana long entry to enable Devī’s army go out and fight because Śūnyakapuram is facing this end (jvālā-mālinikākṣipta-vahniprākāra-madhyagā).
Stambhinī Devī a member of Daṇḍanāthā Devī family along with 20 akṣauhiṇī senās was protecting this entry point. She is also called Vighna Devī. By then it was dawn. Knowing all this news Bhaṇḍāsura was in despair and started thinking what to do. This time he sent all his 30 sons for the war. After listening to this news Lalitā Devī’s daughter Bālā Devī wanted to fight these demons herself.
Bālā Devī is the only daughter of Lalitā Devī. She resembles Lalitā Devī very much but is always only 9 years old. She stays permanently with her Mother only. Bālā Devī approached her mother and requested for permission to fight in the battlefield. At the outset Lalitā Devī denied but looking at the courage and will power exhibited by Bālā Devī she ultimately gave permission.
Seeing Bālā Devī coming for the war Mantriṇī and Daṇḍanāyaka were astonished, they stood as her body guards. Now Bālā Devī started ferocious fighting with Bhaṇḍā’s sons. Every one was surprised at her valour. Whole of the second day Bālā Devī fought. That evening she shot 30 arrows at a time and killed 30 sons of Bhaṇḍā.
Lalitā Devī was very happy and she embraced Her daughter (bhaṇḍaputra-vadhodyukta-bālā-vikrama-nanditā).
Bhaṇḍā was grief stricken. Desperately he himself started off for the war. Viśukra and Viṣaṅga pacified Bhaṇḍāsura.
Vighnayentra Nāśanaṃ (Destruction of the mystic symbol of obstacles)
Now Bhaṇḍā sent Viśukra to the warfront. In the darkness Viśukra approached the Vahniprākarā (firewall) – on a flat stone he drew a mystic symbol and performed some black magic. He then threw that mystic symbol forcefully. It fell in the firewall at some place. With the affect of that yantra (mystic symbol) laziness crept into the minds of the Devī’s army.
Some started arguing that war itself was wrong.
Some said, “Why should we fight on behalf of the gods”.
Some said, “Who is this Lalitā Devī? Who has given Her lordship over us?”
Some said, “If all of us together decline not to fight what can Lalitā Devī do?”
All of them fell into sleep of ignorance.
After midnight Viśukra along with 30 akṣauhiṇī senā surrounded the fire barrier. Even then none of the members of Śaktisenā moved under the influence of the ignorance caused by the Vighnayantra. However, Vighnayantra was not able to affect Mantriṇī and Daṇḍanāthā. But they were both very sad worried seeing the state of their army. Not knowing what to do they went and enquired Lalitā Devī.
Then Lalitā Devī looked at Kāmeśvarā's face and passed a gentle smile. From Her smile Gaṇapati took birth. He immediately searched in the firewall and noticed the ‘Vighnayantra śilā’ at one place. He broke the śilā into pieces and powder with his tooth. (kāmeśvara-mukhāloka-kalpita-śrīgaṇeśvarā; mahāgaṇeśa-nirbhinna-vighnayantra-praharṣitā).
With that Śaktisenā’s ignorance and sleep was dispelled, they immediately got ready for the war. Now Vighneśvara along with this army came out of the fire barrier and started fighting with Viśukra. Viśukra sent Gajāsura to attack him but soon Gajāsura was slayed. Seeing this Viśukra ran away.
Annihilation of Viśukra and Viṣaṅga
After discussing with Bhaṇḍāsura, Viśukra went back to war, along with his brother Viṣaṅga and son-in-law. With this the third day war had started. Mantriṇī and Daṇḍanāthā both started to fight simultaneously. In the front was Daṇḍanāthā Devī mounted on her Kiricakra-rathā with her plough weapon (Halāyudha) swirling it rapidly. Behind her was Mantriṇī Devī mounted on Geyacakra-rathā as an archer with bow and arrows
Daṇḍanāthā Devī attacked Viṣaṅga. Mantriṇī Devī confronted Viśukra. Aśvārūḍhā, Sampatkarīkari and others attacked the son-in-law of the demons who had come. The army of the demons started slackening. Noticing this Viśukra discharged Truśastram (weapon which produces thirst). Śaktisenā’s army started to experience intense thirst.
Then Daṇḍanāthā Devī invited ‘Madhyasamudra’ (ocean of liquor) devatā from her Kiricakra and quenched their thirst. Madhyasamudra deva showered liquor rains. With that the army quenched their thirst and rejuvenated. By sunset most of the demons including Bhaṇḍā’s son-in-law had died.
Then Śyāmalā Devī (Mantriṇī) fought with Viśukra and killed him with ‘Brahmashironamakastra’ (a powerful weapon named brahmashira). Daṇḍanāthā Devī (Potrini) killed Viṣaṅga with her plough weapon and pestle. However in Lalitā Sahasranāma it is mentioned that Viśukra was killed by Vārāhī and Viṣaṅga was killed by Mantriṇī—
mantriṇyambā-viracita-viṣaṅga-vadha-toṣitā
viśukra-prāṇaharaṇa-vārāhī-vīrya-nanditā
By then it was past midnight.
Source: 8th Day (17-10-99) of Sri Devi Navaratri Festivals ’99, Avadhoota Datta Peetham – Mysore
