The significance of Devi Bhagavatham/Sri Durga Sapthashathi

The Devi Bhagavatham/Sri Durga Sapthashathi elaborately describes the glories of Goddess Chandi.  Sage Markandeya eulogizes the splendor of Goddess Durga in seven hundred beautiful verses and methods of worship of Goddess Durga as Nava Durga to attain an abundance of piousness.  There are certain methods should be followed for reciting the Durga Shapthashapthi, such as reciting the hymns of Shapavimochana, these are the utterance of sacred syllables followed with gestures/Yonimudra and initial obeisance to Goddess Durga.  The first chapter eulogizes the glories of Goddess Mahakali, the next three chapters eulogize the glories of Goddess Mahalakshmi and the rest of the nine chapters eulogize the glories of Goddess Mahasaraswathi.  The Sathvik, Rajasik and Thamasik qualities help to attain wealth, in order to attain wisdom we require intense devotion and faith.  Tantras describe the nine types of Rasa/emotions such as love that wipe out ego and enhance devotion, joy is the outcome of humor, laughter, happiness, and contentment, astonishment is the cause of playfulness and innocence, courage is the result of braveness, confidence, and pride, peace is the state of serenity, kindness is the outcome of sadness, anger results in violence and hatred, fear causes apprehension, qualms, feeling insecure and dislike is the result of self pity. 

The essence of Durga Sapthashathi is the knowledge of human emotions; it describes the nine emotions of living beings.  The demon Madhu/sweet and Kaitabha/bitter, these two are the fundamental elements in human life such as taste/sweet and bitter, sound/rejection and praise. Once the spiritual seeker tackle the taste and sound, the next hurdle is the demon Mahishasura which represents lust and rage, they try to knock down the aspirants of spiritual seeker, this is the moment worship of the supreme Goddess who symbolizes energy comes to protection, we have to channelize all our energies to fight against these lust and rage though it is impossible to wipe out completely, at least we can get control over it, and harness our energy for spiritual benefits.   Once the seeker learned to tackle the taste, sound, lust and rage, there comes another demon Dhoomralochana/darkness of ignorance, it takes away the concentration of the spiritual seeker, it creates wide distraction on his path of spirituality.  The demons Chanda/passion, cruelty, violence and Munda/inner conflicts, is another kind of hurdle a true seeker should raise above this level too.  The most powerful demon is Rakthabeeja/desires, who has attained unique boon from Lord Brahma that every drop of his blood spill on the battlefield causes to sprout countless forms of the demon, a true seeker should have control over his desires which is countless in nature.  The demon Shumbha/auspiciousness, pleasant, morality and Nishumbha inauspiciousness, unpleasant, immorality, once the true seeker trained to rise from the above impurities, he immerses in bliss/compassion and love which is the real nature of living beings.  The ultimate state is known as Surath/wisdom and Samadhi/oneness which is the boon received from the supreme Goddess.  The Durga Sapthashathi is all about the knowledge of Bhramagrandhi which creates the thoughts, Vishnugrandhi that sustains the thoughts and Rudragrandhi which is either fulfills or destroys them.  The ultimate destination where a successful spiritual seeker arrives in the path of seeking the truth, known as supreme bliss.

‘The glory of Goddess’ – Devi Mahathmyam/Sri Chandi Mahathmyam/Sri Durga Sapthashathi

Sri Devi Mahathmyam compiles glorious seven hundred verses into three sub-sections such as Prathama Charitha, Madhyam Charithra, and Uththama Charithra describe the splendor of Goddess Durga/ Goddess Chandi.   It comprises Yanthric, Manthric, and Tantric worship of Goddess Durga.  Sri Markandeya Puranam describes the victory of Goddess over the demons Madhu Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumba, and Rakthabeeja.   The greatness of supreme Goddess is elaborately narrated in various Puranas such as Rudrayamala Tantra, Marichikalpa, Meru Tantra, Kataka Tantra, Chidambara Rahasyam etc.. The recitation of Devi Mahathmya provides all that desired by the worshiper/Sakama Upasaka, it also provides liberation from repeated births to Nishkamya Upasaka who recites these glorious verses without any expectation other than nearness to the Universal Mother.  The worship of Goddess Durga and recitation of these sacred verses would bring an abundance of piousness to the worshiper.  Mathsyapuranam describes recitation of these sacred hymns for three times cures all physical and mental ailments, recitation of these sacred hymns for five times would relieve the evil effects caused by malefic planets, recitation of seven times would  remove perils, recitation of nine times would extend peace and serenity in the family, recitation of eleven times would bring royal favors, recitation of twelve times would help the worshiper get rid of the spell, recitation of these sacred hymns for twenty-five times would bring release from prison, recitation of these hymns for thirty-three times would protect from critical illness, recitation of hundred times would get relief from the ill-fame, recitation of thousand times would eradicate loss of wealth and brings eternal peace and prosperity.

The Durga Sapthashathi is the sacred hymn was composed by Maharishi Veda Vyasa praising Goddess Durga, it provides an abundance of merit of Nava Durgas to the worshiper.  Goddess Durga is considered as the destroyer of miseries and sorrows, therefore there is no superior hymn other than Devi Durga Sapthashathi for Deviupasaka/Devi worshiper.   These seven hundred verses praising the grandeur of Goddess Durga are known as Siddha Manthras, it should be recited with utmost serenity.  The worshiper should undertake strictly austerities and recite the hymns with intense faith, veneration of Goddess Durga with red flowers, lightening ghee lamp before the idol of Goddess Durga, are part of the worship.  The recitation of these glorious verses brings discipline in the life of the worshiper.  The recitation of Siddha Kunjika Sthothra provides equivalent merits of chanting the entire Devi Sapthashathi, or veneration of Goddess Durga with her thirty-two sacred names and there are hymns are known as Siddha Manthra from Devi Shapthashathi such as:

 |Rogansheshanapahansi Thushta Rushta Thu Kaman Sakalanabhishtan Thvamashrithanam Vipannaranam Thvamashrithahyashrayatham Prayanthi || recited to get relief from physical as well as mental ailments.

|Sarvabadha Vinirmuktho Dhana Dhanyasuthanvitha: Manushyo Math Prasadhena Bhavishyathi Na Samshaya: || are recited to get relieved from obstacles, and attain immense wealth and prosperity along with virtuous offspring.

|Sarva Mangala Mangalye Shive Sarvarththa Sadhike Sharanye Thrayambike Devi Narayani Namosthuthey ||  This is the sacred chant /Mahamanthra praising Goddess Narayani, it is considered as Sarvakalyan Manthra/it would bring all the auspiciousness to the worshiper.

| Sarvabadha Prashamanam Thrailokhyasya Akileshwari  Yevameya Thvaya  Karyam Asmath Vairivinashanam ||  It is considered as Vignanashaka Manthra, it removes obstacles and enemies.

| Pathni Manoramam Dhehi Manovruththanusarineem Tharineem Durga Samsarasagarasya Kulodhbhavam || these hymns are recited to get an appropriate companion as wedded wife/husband and virtuous offspring in order to attain Moksha from the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence.

|Dhehi  Saubhagyam Arogyam Dhehi Mey  Paramam Sukham Roopam Dhehi Jayam Dhehi Yasho Dhehi Dhvishojahi || these hymns are recited for good fortune, good health, happiness, attractiveness, victory, and fame to win over enemies.

| Shoolena Pahino Devi Pahi Khadgena Chambike  Gandasvanena Na: Pahi Chapajyani: Swanena Cha || these hymns are recited to protect from troubles and extreme dangers.

|Sharanagatha Dheenartha Parithrana Parayane Sarvasyarththihare Devi Durga Devi Namosthuthe||  It is recited to attain refugee at the lotus feet of Goddess Durga.