Guruji and GuruAmma in front of Devipuram

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

2 years later

Sri Matre Namah,

Sri Gurubhyo Namah!

Reading this epic history many questions come to my mind, some how I would like to understand how to relate to this happening in the history of creation like a reference in our linear time…? And after in our personal journeys.

We know now that science is coming to terms with this ancient Vidya accepting the no local nature of reality so I understand this battle happpens here and now in our inner universe, right? And keeps happening everywhere and always?

In the other side of the note in our tradition we recognise the environment like very real and being the body of the Goddess … So that arose another question : where this happened in the macro cosmos ? Behind the sky, in the space?

I remember Radha Amma explaining us in the course that we go trough similar experiences like the yoginis when we begin to do our sādhana, a kind of tamasic lethargy; wich more events in the battle can be translated and inform our daily life/battle

I’m reading what I have just typed and sounds pretty abstract and not very well articulated but I choose to post it hoping in your understanding and compassion in my broken English.

Thank you very much! 🙏🏼✨🌙🤍🔻

    Sansaar

    Śrī Mātre Namaḥ,

    This is a tough one, a tricky one and very subjective. One needs to come to terms with this problem from one's experiences. I can only offer what works for me, may be it will help you as well.

    Maharṣi Patañjali in his Yoga-sūtras talks about siddhis or psychic powers a sādhaka gets on the path of (Rāja) Yoga eventually and also warns that these are obstacles for attaining samādhi. Śrī Vidyā sādhakas are also bound to get some siddhis by the grace of Devī if practices are followed diligently.

    If a sādhaka is convinced of these siddhis then s/he doesn't need science or anything or anybody else to validate them. These siddhis show up to prove to a sādhaka that they are just teasers for the final destination of God or Goddess.

    This article should help.

    Śrī Gurubhyo Namaḥ.

      23 days later

      deviupasaka

      Srī Mātre Namah

      Sorry for my belated answer. Thank you very much for the honest answer that gives a clear message.

      The article is a «  full trip » I will read it more times to assimilate more, but is just many enunciation of Guru ji like a guided meditation that can give a kind of expansion of consciousness just by reading his words and understanding the cosmology in it. His deep scientific knowledge plus enlightened mind are very powerful for us his disciples.

      That blog has many interesting articles but like it was explained to us in other groups, not all is pure Guru ji.s teaching but interpretation of the admin. How to know ?

      Anyways in this case it has been helpful. Sri Gurubhyo Namah.

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