Even a subtle philosopher cannot dispense with the conception of Shakti, for he is essentially an embodiment of power, and has love for power. The mother is the personality that appeals most to the human heart, whereas the father is perceived as a hard taskmaster. The conception of divinity as Devi, Durga or Sri, is not merely a theory but a practical way of life. The Riga Veda bears testimony to the fact that even in ancient times there existed the belief that the supreme ruler is the all-compassionate Mother. The conception of the Infinite as Mother is not a meaningless one. Meaning : ‘Mother, all arts and sciences, all branches of knowledge, are your modifications, all women in the world are your manifestations. She is the truth behind thought, willing, feeling, understanding, action, name and form. Her compassion takes the form of aspiration in the aspirant, sadhana in the sadhaka, siddhi in the siddha. She is Parabrahma-Mahishi, the queen and sovereign of all existence. The Saptashati refers to her as Mahavidya, Mahamaya, Mahamedha, Mahasmriti, Mahamoha, Mahadevi and Maheshwari. When she is propitiated through the practice of sincere devotion and self-surrender, she as vidya-maya, removes the veil and enables us to perceive the truth. For the sake of the continuance of her divine play, she as avidya-maya, has veiled the truth from us and bound us to samsara. Yet she is the one who bestows liberation on the devotee who pleases her. Devi is the deluding power which binds man to the relentlessly moving wheel of samsara she deludes even the wisest of men. The Devi Mahatmaya describes how Devi assumes many aspects, according to the tasks to be performed by her, sometimes sweet and tender, and at others terrible and devouring. Chapter 13 – Bestowing of Boons to Suratha and Vaisya.Chapter 7 – Slaying of Chanda and Munda.Chapter 5 – Devi’s Conversation with the Messenger.Chapter 2 – Slaughter of the Armies of Mahishasura.

Chapter 1 – Slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha.It is the base and root of the Shakta tradition. A ritualistic reading of Durga Saptashati is part of the Navratri (nine days of worship in the months of April and October) celebrations in the honor of the Goddess Durga. For ritual reading purposes a number of subsidiary texts are appended before and after of 700 verses. The seven hundred verses are arranged into 13 chapters.

700 verses and because of that the whole composition is known as Durga Saptashati. It is part of the Markandeya Purana, written by sage Markandeya. Durga Saptashati which is also known as Devi Mahatmya and Chandi Path is a Hindu religious text describing the victory of the Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.

Chandei paath pdf