Durga Saptashati is a Hindu religious text describing the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. Durga Saptashati is also known as the Devi Mahatmyam, Chandi Patha (चण्डीपाठः) and contains 700 verses, arranged into 13 chapters.
The tenth chapter of Durga Saptashati is based on "the slaying of Shumbha".
शुम्भ-वध
मैं मस्तकपर अर्धचन्द्र धारण करनेवाली शिवशक्तिस्वरूपा भगवती कामेश्वरी का हृदयमें चिन्तन करता (करती) हूँ। वे तपाये हुए सुवर्णके समान सुन्दर हैं। सूर्य, चन्द्रमा और अग्नि - ये ही तीन उनके नेत्र हैं तथा वे अपने मनोहर हाथों में धनुष-बाण, अङ्कुश, पाश और शूल धारण किये हुए हैं।
ऋषि कहते हैं -॥1॥ राजन्! अपने प्राणोंके समान प्यारे भाई निशुम्भको मारा गया देख तथा सारी सेनाका संहार होता जान शुम्भने कुपित होकर कहा -॥2॥ 'दुष्ट दुर्गे! तू बलके अभिमानमें आकर झूठ-मूठका घमंड न दिखा। तू बड़ी मानिनी बनी हुई है, किंतु दूसरी स्त्रियोंके बलका सहारा लेकर लड़ती है'॥3॥
देवी बोलीं -॥4॥ ओ दुष्ट! मैं अकेली ही हूँ। इस संसारमें मेरे सिवा दूसरी कौन है? देख, ये मेरी ही विभूतियाँ हैं, अतः मुझमें ही प्रवेश कर रही हैं॥5॥
तदनन्तर ब्रह्माणी आदि समस्त देवियाँ अम्बिका देवीके शरीरमें लीन हो गयीं। उस समय केवल अम्बिका देवी ही रह गयीं॥6॥
देवी बोलीं -॥7॥ मैं अपनी ऐश्वर्यशक्तिसे अनेक रूपोंमें यहाँ उपस्थित हुई थी। उन सब रूपोंको मैंने समेट लिया। अब अकेली ही युद्धमें खड़ी हूँ। तुम भी स्थिर हो जाओ॥8॥
ऋषि कहते हैं -॥9॥ तदनन्तर देवी और शुम्भ दोनों में सब देवताओं तथा दानवोंके देखते-देखते भयंकर युद्ध छिड़ गया॥10॥ बाणोंकी वर्षा तथा तीखे शस्त्रों एवं दारुण अस्त्रोंके प्रहारके कारण उन दोनोंका युद्ध सब लोगोंके लिये बड़ा भयानक प्रतीत हुआ॥11॥ उस समय अम्बिका देवीने जो सैकड़ों दिव्य अस्त्र छोड़े, उन्हें दैत्यराज शुम्भने उनके निवारक अस्त्रोंद्वारा काट डाला॥12॥ इसी प्रकार शुम्भने भी जो दिव्य अस्त्र चलाये; उन्हें परमेश्वरीने भयंकर हुंकार शब्दके उच्चारण आदिद्वारा खिलवाड़में ही नष्ट कर डाला॥13॥ तब उस असुरने सैकड़ों बाणोंसे देवीको आच्छादित कर दिया। यह देख क्रोधमें भरी हुई उन देवीने भी बाण मारकर उसका धनुष काट डाला॥14॥ धनुष कट जानेपर फिर दैत्यराजने शक्ति हाथमें ली, किंतु देवीने चक्रसे उसके हाथकी शक्तिको भी काट गिराया॥15॥ तत्पश्चात् दैत्योंके स्वामी शुम्भने सौ चाँदवाली चमकती हुई ढाल और तलवार हाथमें ले उस समय देवीपर धावा किया॥16॥ उसके आते ही चण्डिकाने अपने धनुषसे छोड़े हुए तीखे बाणोंद्वारा उसकी सूर्यकिरणोंके समान उज्ज्वल ढाल और तलवारको तुरंत काट दिया॥17॥ फिर उस दैत्यके घोड़े और सारथि मारे गये, धनुष तो पहले ही कट चुका था, अब उसने अम्बिका को मारनेके लिये उद्यत हो भयंकर मुद्गर हाथमें लिया॥18॥ उसे आते देख देवीने अपने तीक्ष्ण बाणोंसे उसका मुद्गर भी काट डाला, तिसपर भी वह असुर मुक्का तानकर बड़े वेगसे देवीकी ओर झपटा॥19॥ उस दैत्यराजने देवीकी छातीमें मुक्का मारा, तब उन देवीने भी उसकी छातीमें एक चाँटा जड़ दिया॥20॥ देवीका थप्पड़ खाकर दैत्यराज शुम्भ पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा, किंतु पुनः सहसा पूर्ववत् उठकर खड़ा हो गया॥21॥ फिर वह उछला और देवीको ऊपर ले जाकर आकाशमें खड़ा हो गया; तब चण्डिका आकाशमें भी बिना किसी आधारके ही शुम्भके साथ युद्ध करने लगीं॥22॥ उस समय दैत्य और चण्डिका आकाशमें एक-दूसरे से लड़ने लगे। उनका वह युद्ध पहले सिद्ध और मुनियोंको विस्मयमें डालनेवाला हुआ॥23॥
फिर अम्बिकाने शुम्भके साथ बहुत देरतक युद्ध करनेके पश्चात् उसे उठाकर घुमाया और पृथ्वीपर पटक दिया॥24॥ पटके जानेपर पृथ्वीपर आनेके बाद वह दुष्टात्मा दैत्य पुनः चण्डिकाका वध करनेके लिये उनकी ओर बड़े वेगसे दौड़ा॥25॥ तब समस्त दैत्योंके राजा शुम्भको अपनी ओर आते देख देवीने त्रिशूलसे उसकी छाती छेदकर उसे पृथ्वीपर गिरा दिया॥26॥ देवीके शूलकी धारसे घायल होनेपर उसके प्राण-पखेरू उड़ गये और वह समुद्रों, द्वीपों तथा पर्वतोंसहित समूची पृथ्वीको कँपाता हुआ भूमिपर गिर पड़ा॥27॥ तदनन्तर उस दुरात्माके मारे जानेपर सम्पूर्ण जगत् प्रसन्न एवं पूर्ण स्वस्थ हो गया तथा आकाश स्वच्छ दिखायी देने लगा॥28॥ पहले जो उत्पातसूचक मेघ और उल्कापात होते थे, वे सब शान्त हो गये तथा उस दैत्यके मारे जानेपर नदियाँ भी ठीक मार्गसे बहने लगीं॥29॥
उस समय शुम्भकी मृत्युके बाद सम्पूर्ण देवताओंका हृदय हर्षसे भर गया और गन्धर्वगण मधुर गीत गाने लगे॥30॥ दूसरे गन्धर्व बाजे बजाने लगे और अप्सराएँ नाचने लगीं। पवित्र वायु बहने लगी। सूर्यकी प्रभा उत्तम हो गयी॥31॥ अग्निशालाकी बुझी हुई आग अपने-आप प्रज्वलित हो उठी तथा सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंके भयंकर शब्द शान्त हो गये॥32॥
इस प्रकार श्रीमार्कण्डेय पुराण में सावर्णिक मन्वन्तर की कथा के अन्तर्गत
देवी माहात्म्य में 'शुम्भ-वध' नामक दसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥10॥
Durga Puja is performed in various ways every year during the fifteen-day Devi Paksha, which is also popular as Navratri, Durgotsava, and Shardotsava. Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya are also worshiped in Durga Puja.
The worship of the Goddess in Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana. For which choosing an auspicious Muhurat is most important. On this page, you can get information about the most auspicious time for Ghatasthapana according to your city.
The complete schedule of Durga Puja has been published here. Durga Puja is an important Hindu festival, which is also popular by the names of Durgotsava and Shardotsava. On the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, special Navadurga forms of Goddess Maa Durga is worshipped.
Due to being related to Sharada Ritu, Ashwina Navratri is also called Sharadiya Navratri. Worshippers of Goddess Durga from all over the world wait for this festival, due to which this Navratri is very popular, hence it is also called 'Maha Navratri'. On this page, you will find the days of Sharadiya Navratri festival and other important information.
Sandhi Puja Muhurat is listed on this page. Sandhi Puja is performed during Navratri festival. Sandhi Puja is performed at a special time at the end of Ashtami Tithi and beginning of Navami Tithi. At this special moment Goddess Chamunda was appeared to kill the demons named Chand-Munda.
On the day of Vijayadashami, Lord Shri Rama killed Demon Ravana and Goddess Durga killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Therefore, this day is celebrated as the victory of Dharma over Adharma. On the occasion of Vijayadashami, rituals like Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja, Simollanghana etc. are performed.
Since ancient times, Ayudha Puja is performed on the occasion of Mahanavami of Maha Navratri. According to religious beliefs, on this day Goddess Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura after a fierce nine-day war. In South India, this festival is also celebrated as Saraswati Puja.
This page provides details of nine types of leaves used during Durga Puja, which are called Navapatrika. The worship of Goddess Durga by nine leaves is known as Navapatrika Puja. Bengal This festival is popular by the name of Kalabau Puja.
Ambe Tu Hai Jagadambe Kali is the most prevalent and popular aarti dedicated to Goddess Durga. This aarti is also sung in daily worship including on various occasions related to Mother Goddess. This aarti is very sweet and melodious and its singing pleases the Mother Goddess.
Shri Durga Chalisa is a prayer consisting of 40 verses dedicated to Goddess Durga, reciting it with devotion pleases the Mother Goddess and bestows her blessings. Goddess Durga is one of the supreme goddesses of Hindu religion. By the grace of Goddess Durga, devotees gain strength, courage and bravery.
Here is the list of 108 names of Goddess Durga, these 108 names are also known as Ashtottara Shatnamavali. These 108 names of Mother Goddess provide peace and joy. Reciting these 108 names daily increases enthusiasm and joy along with the blessings of the Goddess Durga.
Here is the list Durga Saptashati all chapters. Shri Durga Saptashati is a famous scripture dedicated to Goddess Durga divided into 700 verses and 13 chapters, which originates from the Markandeya Purana written by sage Markandeya. By reciting Durga Saptashati, the seeker attains various Siddhis and finally attains salvation.
Goddess Parvati is worshiped in nine different forms like Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda etc. These nine forms of Mata Parvati are famous all over the world as Navadurga. During the Navratri festival, elaborate worship of the divine Navadurga forms of Mother Goddess is done.
The 10 main forms of Goddess Shakti are worshipped as Dasha Mahavidya. The Dasha Mahavidyas are the presiding powers of different directions. Through the worship and Sadhana of Dasha Mahavidya, spiritual seekers attain various types of Siddhis.
Here are attractive greetings and e-cards for Durga Puja to send to your friends and family on this auspicious occasion. These greetings and e-cards have been published in both Hindi and English languages with beautiful pictures of Goddess Durga.
Here, greetings and e-cards for Navratri festival dedicated to Goddess Durga have been given, through which you can send the best wishes of this holy festival of Navratri to your friends and loved ones. These greetings are available with beautiful pictures of the Goddess.
Here the method of making beautiful Alpana designs of Bengal has been presented step by step through pictures. Under the ancient cultural tradition, rangolis made with different colors are known as Alpana. Alpana is made on important auspicious occasions.
The complete Ghatasthapana Vidhi is provided here in detail. Ghatasthapana is a major and essential part of Navratri festival. On the first day of Navratri, Mother Goddess is invoked in the Kalash through Ghatasthapana. Only after this Navratri worship and fasting begins.
Here a pictorial description of 7 types of grains used during Navratri is given, which are collectively known as Saptadhyaya. Under Saptadhyanya, grains like barley, sesame, paddy, Moong and Kangni etc. have been included, which are very dear to Mother Goddess.
Here is a detailed method of offering Pushpanjali with the Mantra at the time of Durga Puja has been provided. The act of joining the palms of both the hands and offering flowers in them is called Pushpanjali. In many major temples of Goddess Durga, flowers are regularly offered on every Saptami, Ashtami and Navami Tithi.
Dhunuchi dance is a very popular dance performed during Durga Puja. Under the Dhunuchi dance, one dances in front of Goddess Durga carrying burning incense in an earthen Dhunachi in both hands. A traditional musical instrument called Dhak is also used for dance.
Here the detailed Shodashopachara Durga Puja Vidhi for doing Durga Puja during Navratri is described. Goddess Durga is worshipped through sixteen steps during Shodashopachara puja. One attains happiness, peace and prosperity by worshipping Goddess Durga.
