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| "You are Creation;
you are creator; you are the breath of life in all nature. . . .Devi, Devi,
Devi." -----Ammachi |
| Once
upon a time, a long time ago, while the gods were resting in the heavens, evil
influences infested the world. The demonic forces, led by a powerful and
unrighteous king, had become widespread and uncontrollable. A messenger was
sent to alert the gods who were lost in deep sleep, but it took centuries to
awaken them. By the time they opened their eyes, darkness pervaded the land.
Wickedness prevailed. Once roused from their heavenly slumber, the gods with
their mighty weapons were unable to vanquish the evildoers. The gods' weakness
in the midst of the abominable and fierce turmoil allowed these vile powers to
rage on. There was only one way to bring the world back into balance: Ask the
Mother of the Universe to intervene. The gods, fuming with anger, raced through the sky in their chariots to Devi's home on top of the mountain in the Himalayas. They summoned the goddess through her power which lay within them. Great lights came forth out of their bodies like glittering rainbows, infusing the entire world with a brilliant luster. Like a luminescent vessel of fragrant gold at the end of the colorful rays, the different lights concentrated, combined into one as the body of the Great Mother. Wonderstruck upon beholding her as she sat in blinding radiance on her jewel-studded throne, they bowed down before her and sang hymns of praise. As a symbol of their urgent request, they entrusted their ornaments and weapons to her and prayed for her to wield them for the benefit of all mankind. The all-compassionate goddess, who is the author of both the good and the demoniacal, had been watching and waiting. She gladly agreed to assist in eliminating the evildoers from their wanton devastation. In order to bring balance back into the world, she consented to intervene. But first, because of an agreement she had made a long time ago, the bad king would have to come to her. The great and wicked monarch who now ruled heaven and earth was told by his messengers that there was a goddess whose beauty and charm were beyond compare. The king's subjects wondered why their all-powerful king had not seized her as his own. The king listened intently as his advisors described her swan-like elegance and grace. He quickly realized that the love of this one woman was the only important possession he lacked. Filled with ravenous desire, he sent his most loyal subject to offer her the king's hand in marriage. In haste the royal messenger made his way to Devi's snow-capped mountain abode. With sweet, persuasive words he promised her gems and precious metals, all the luxuries of the world. She graciously thanked him, but reminded him of a vow she had made many years ago, "Only a man who conquers me in battle, removes my pride, and equals me in power shall be my husband." The messenger said, "My dear lady, even the gods are unable to face my lord and his brother in battle. How can a single women expect to defeat them?" Devi said, "It is true, your king and his brother are mighty and strong. However, I am bound by my promise even if it was ill-considered. Do not lose your dignity by being dragged by the hair to your king. Go back and tell him what I have said. Let him do whatever he considers proper." The messenger returned to the wicked monarch with Devi's proclamation. The king strutted back and forth, puffed up with pride, and did not remember that the woman he desired was the mother of the universe, the creator of all that is. He thought her foolish and haughty. In a rage, he commanded his forces to enter into battle with her. A great war ensued. Devi rode into battle on her lion. The magnificent beast's mane shook, its muscles rippled, and it roared while biting off warriors' heads. With the utterance of the sacred sound, Hum, Devi burned one of the army generals to ashes. She frightened thousands of soldiers with the twang of her bow while her goddess warrior attendants brandished their weapons. This angered the monarch's brother who came at her with his club. She dismounted her lion and marched toward him. Each of her steps caused the entire world to quake. The sound of her ankle bells penetrated into the stratosphere with their ringing. Undaunted and unable to recognize her identity, he rushed at her with his army. 
Devi called upon the terrible form of the
goddess Kali - black, with tongue hanging out, a garland of skulls strung
around her neck, blood dripping from her teeth. The heavenly beings cheered as
Kali raised her sword and trident, advancing triumphantly toward the
enemy. She bellowed like a thousand lions, pierced the enemy lines,
flung elephants aside, and devoured their riders. The wicked brother showered
Kali with arrows which she crushed like matchsticks in her gaping white teeth.
With wild fury Kali slaughtered his armies and with her sword she severed his
head. The king, who cherished his brother's life as he did his own, flew into a rage. He raised his fist, told Devi she was arrogant and challenged her to fight him alone without the help of her goddess warriors. Obligingly she withdrew the feminine beings into her body. Her loud, untamed laughter echoed off the distant mountains as she said, "These goddesses are but my own powers; I stand alone." He lunged at her with his sword and mace; he pulled her up into the sky where they fought with missiles which flew across the expansive space like comets. With one dart, Devi pierced the king in his chest, threw him down lifeless onto the ground. The entire earth shook upon receiving his fall. Those who had been trembling in fear as they watched, now became tranquil. Sacred fires blazed peacefully, the blue sky cleared, and the sun shone brilliantly as the throngs of onlookers sang these hymns of praise: Salutations again and again and again to the Devi who is at once most gentle and most terrible, and who is blue-black in complexion. Salutations again and again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of power. Salutations again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of peace. Salutations again and again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of sleep, of thirst, and of hunger. Salutations again and again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of reflection, of meditation, and of happiness. Salutations again and again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of forgiveness, of modesty, and of faith. Salutations again and again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of loveliness, of good fortune, and of activity. Salutations again and again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of memory, of contentment, and of intelligence. Salutations again and again and again to the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of error and of confusion. Salutations again and again and again to Her who, pervading this entire world, abides in all beings in the form of consciousness. Salutations again and again and again to Her who is the author of everything. Story and hymn adapted from Devi Mahatmayam (Glory of the Divine Mother). Translated by Swami Jagadiswarananda (Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1953) Next Excerpt: "Hinduism and the Mother"  Details about The Path of the Mother  Order from: Amazon: The Path of the Mother : With the Divine... or from your local bookstore.
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