The Devis and Demons
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Demons'.
"The Mother Nature is, as She should naturally be, the most faithful
mistress of Godhead and She becomes angry for the behavior of the
Asura and thus assume the role of Daivamaya (generally known as the
Mohakali, Durga, Bhadrakali etc.) and take at once Her grim trident
and inflicts the weapon in the heart of the asura who is also Her son.
The asura thus becomes subject to threefold miseries and this is done
according to the plan of Godhead as the mother has to chastise the
disobedient son in order to make him alright.
This process of chastisement is necessary for the benefit of both the
asura and the daiva sons in order to stop disorder in the great plan
of Godhead. As sons as the asura, however, surrenders unto Godhead as
the obedient son and servitor of the plan of Godhead the asura is
turned into a devata. The angry mode of Mother Nature at once subsides
and she appears to such godly sons as the most affectionate Mother in
the role of Yogamaya (commonly known as Laksmi, Sita and Radharani
etc)."
So according to Bhagavad-gita the whole trouble of the world is due to
the increase in the number of the asura and decrease in the number of
the daivas. Who is a daiva and who is a asura is clearly defined in
the Bhagavad-gita. Thus the whole problem has to be solved according
to expert advices and it is not possible to solve the world problem so
easily as by holding occasional discussions by some who are already
themselves under the influence of the asuric qualities. This should be
done most scientifically which is above mistakes and illusion.
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sir, Calcutta, May 1949
Durga Ma
So... So far killing or destroying is concerned, that Durga power,
Krsna's power, that is sufficient. That is sufficient. He doesn't
require to come to kill the demons. She is engaged. You have seen that
Durga is killing the demon, that asura. You have seen the Durga's
picture? The asura is there and the lion is there, and she has taken a
bunch of hair of the asura, and the trident is pushed on his chest,
and the lion has captured him. So he is overpowered. So the asura is
overpowered, but if the asura makes more attempt to save himself, then
there are, only two hands are engaged of Durga to kill the asura, one
catching his hair and one the trident. Only two hands are engaged. But
if he shows more power, then there are eight hands more, reserved with
different types of weapons. So you cannot overcome the ruling, or the
control, of the material nature. That is not possible. Daivi hy esa
gunamayi mama maya duratyaya. So asura, to kill the asuras, however
powerful they may be... We have seen. There were so many asuras in this
world. There were Lenin, there were Stalin, there were Hitler, there
were Hiranyakasipu. So many. But they could not survive. It is not
possible. They'll be finished.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam, 09-30-74, Mayapur
That is coming gradually. The more people are becoming godless, the
more there will be scarcity of food. Because nature is the servant of
Krsna. Krsna says, mama maya. The nature is the maidservant. Nature is
mother, goddess Durga, material nature. But she is not independent. In
the Brahma-samhita it is stated, srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir
eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga. Durga, Mother Durga is so
powerful that she can make, create... Srsti-sthiti. She can maintain.
Maintenance also in her power. So because she is the maidservant of
Krsna... Chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga. Durga bibharti,
maintains. But it works like chaya. Icchanurupam api yasya ca cestate
sa govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. She is not independent. She
works under the direction of Govinda. And Govinda says also in the
Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram: "Under My
order." So prakrti will be unkind. As we have seen, the Mother Durga
is chastising the asura on the chest; the trident, trisula, is
piercing. Why? Because he's asura. Asura means nondevotee. The asura.
Sura and asura. There are two kinds of men: daiva asura eva ca. Dvau
bhuta-sargau loke 'smin daiva asura eva ca. There are two kinds of men
in the world. One is called daiva, devata, demigods, and the other is
called asura. You have heard about the devata and asura, there is
always fight. Daivasura. So who is asura, who is deva? Visnu-bhaktah
smrto daivah. Those who are devotees of the Supreme Lord, Visnu, they
are devata. Asuras tad-viparyayah. And those who are not devotee of
Visnu, but other demigods, even if he's devotee of Lord Brahma or Lord
Siva, he's to be considered as asura.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam, 11-08-74, Bombay
Varahi Vaishnavi and Varahi Fighting Asuras
Rajasthan, c. 1775.
The Devi-Mahatmyam
Chapter 8 - The slaying of Raktabija
The Rishi said:
1-3. After the daitya Chanda was slain and Munda was laid low, and
many of the battalions were destroyed, the lord of the asuras,
powerful Sumbha, with mind overcome by anger, commanded then the
mobilization of all the daitya hosts:
4. 'Now let the eighty-six asuras - upraising their weapons - with all
their forces, and the eighty-four Kambus, surrounded by their own
forces, go out.
5. 'Let the fifty asura families of Kotiviryas and the hundred
families of Dhaumras go forth at my command.
6. 'Let the asurasa Kalakas, Daurhrdas, the Mauryas and the Kalakeyas
hasten at my command and march forth ready for battle.'
7. After issuing these orders, Sumbha, the lord of the asuras and a
ferocious ruler, went forth, attended by many thousands of big
forces.
8. Seeing that most terrible army coming, Chandika filled into space
between the earth and the sky with the twang of her bow-string.
9. Thereon her lion made an exceedingly loud roar, O King, and Ambika
magnified those roars with the clanging of the bell.
10. Kali, expanding her mouth wide and filling the quarters with the
sound (hum ) overwhelmed the noises of her bow-string, lion and bell
by her terrific roars.
11. On hearing that roar the enraged asura battalions surrounded the
lion, the Devi (Chandika) and Kali on all the four sides.
12-13. At this moment, O King, in order to annihilate the enemies of
devas and for the well-being of the supreme devas, there issued forth,
endowed with exceeding vigour and strength, Shaktis from the bodies of
Brahma, Shiva, Guha, Vishnu and Indra, and with the form of those
devas went to Chandika.
14. Whatever was the form of each deva, whatever his ornaments and
vehicle, in that very form his Shakti advanced to fight with the
asuras.
15. In a heavenly chariot drawn by swans advanced Brahma's Shakti
carrying a rosary and Kamandalu. She is called Brahmani.
16. Maheshvari arrived, seated on a bull, holding a fine trident,
wearing bracelets of great snakes and adorned with a digit of the
moon.
17. Ambika Kaumari, in the form of Guha, holding a spear in hand
riding on a fine peacock, advanced to attack the asuras.
18. Likewise the Shakti of Vishnu came, seated upon Garuda, holding
conch, club, bow and sword in hand.
19. The Shakti of Hari, who assumed the incomparable form of a
sacrificial boar, she also advanced there in a boar-like form.
Narasimhi
9th c. C.E., West Bengal
20. Narasmihi arrived there, assuming a body like that of a Narasmiha,
bringing down the constellations by the toss of her mane.
21. Likewise the thousand-eyed Aindri, holding a thunderbolt in hand
and riding on the lord of elephants arrive just like Sakra (Indra).
22. Then Shiva, surrounded by those shaktis of the devas, said to
Chandika, 'Let the asuras be killed forthwith by you for my
gratification.'
23. Thereupon from the body of Devi issued forth the Shakti of
Chandika, most terrific, exceedingly fierce and yelling like a hundred
jackals.
24. And that invincible (Shakti) told Shiva, of dark coloured matted
locks, 'Go, my lord, as ambassador to the presence of Sumbha and
Nisumbha.
25. 'Tell the two haughty asuras, Sumbha and Nisumbha, and the other
asuras assembled there for battle.
26. "Let Indra obtain the three worlds and let the devas enjoy the
sacrificial oblations. You go to the nether world, if you wish to
live.
27. "But if through pride of strength you are anxious for battle, come
on then. Let my jackals be satiated with your flesh."'
28. Because that Devi appointed "Shiva" himself as ambassador
thenceforth she became renowned in this world as Shiva-duti.
29. Those great asuras, on their part, hearing the words of the Devi
communicated by Shiva, were filled with indignation and went where
Katyayani stood.
Kali and Durga
19th c.
30. Then in the very beginning, the enraged foes of the devas poured
in front on the Devi showers of arrows, javelins and spears.
31. And lightly, with the huge arrows shot from her full-drawn bow,
she clove those arrows, spears, darts and axes hurled by them.
32. Then, in front of him (Sumbha), stalked Kali, piercing the enemies
to pieces with her spear and crushing them with her skull-topped
staff.
33. And Brahmani, wherever she moved, made the enemies bereft of
valour and prowess by sprinkling on them the water from her
Kamandalu.
34. The very wrathful Maheshvari slew the daityas with her trident,
and Vaisnavi, with her discus and Kaumari, with her javelin.
35. Torn to pieces by the thunderbolt which come down upon them,
hurled by Aindri, daityas and danavas fell on the earth in hundreds,
streams of blood flowing out of them.
36. Shattered by the boar-formed goddess (Varahi)with blows of her
snout, wounded in their chests by the point of her tusk and torn by
her discus, (the asuras) fell down.
37. Narasmihi, filling all the quarters and the sky with her roars,
roamed about in the battle, devouring other great asuras torn by her
claws.
38. Demoralised by the violent laughter of Shivaduti, the asuras fell
down on the earth; she then devoured them who had fallen down.
39. Seeing the enraged band of Matrs crushing the great asuras thus by
various means, the troops of the enemies of devas took to their
heels.
40. Seeing the asuras harassed by the band of Matrs and fleeing, the
great asura Raktabija strode forward to fight in wrath.
41. Whenever from his body there fell to the ground a drop of blood,
at that moment rose up from the earth asura of his stature.
42. The great asura fought with Indra's shakti with club in his hand;
then Aindri also struck Ranktabija with her thunderbolt.
43. Blood flowed quickly and profusely from him who was wounded by the
thunderbolt. From the blood rose up (fresh)combatants of his form and
valour.
44. As many drops of blood fell from his body, so may persons came
into being, with his courage, strength and valour.
45. And those persons also sprung up from his blood fought there with
the Matrs in a more dreadful manner hurling the very formidable
weapons.
46. And again when his head was wounded by the fall of her thunder-
bolt, his blood flowed and therefrom were born persons in thousands.
47. Vaisnavi struck him with her discus in the battle, Aindri beat
that lord of asuras with her club.
48. The world was pervaded by thousands of great asuras who were of
his stature and who rose up from the blood that flowed from him when
cloven by the discus of Vaisnavi.
49. Kaumari struck the great asura Raktabija with her spear, Varahi
with her sword, and Mahesvari with her trident.
50. And Raktabija, that great asura also, filled with wrath, struck
everyone of the Matrs severally with his club.
51. From the stream of blood which fell on the earth from him when he
received multiple wounds by the spears, darts and other weapons,
hundreds of asuras came into being.
52. And those asuras that were born from the blood of Raktabija
pervaded the whole world; the devas got intensely alarmed at this.
53-54. Seeing the devas dejected, Chandika laughed and said to Kali,
'O Chamunda, open out your mouth wide; with this mouth quickly take in
the drops of blood generated by the blow of my weapon and (also) the
great asuras born of the drops of blood of Raktabija.
55. 'Roam about in the battle-field, devouring the great asuras that
spring from him. So shall this daitya, with his blood emptied,
perish.
56. 'As you go on devouring these, other fierce (asuras) will not be
born.' Having enjoined her thus, the Devi next smote him (Raktabija)
with her dart.
57. Then Kali drank Raktabija's blood with her mouth. Then and there
he struck Chandika with his club.
58-60. The blow of his club caused her not even the slightest pain.
And from his stricken body wherever blood flowed copiously, there
Chamunda swallowed it with her mouth. The Chamunda devoured those
great asuras who sprang up from the flow of blood in her mouth, and
drank his (Raktabija's) blood.
61. The Devi (Kausiki) smote Raktabija with her dart, thunderbolt,
arrows, swords, and spears, when Chamunda went on drinking his book.
62. Stricken with a multitude of weapons and bloodless, the great
asura (Raktabija) fell on the ground, O King.
63. Thereupon the devas attained great joy, O King. The band of Matrs
who sprang from them dance, being intoxicated with blood. Here ends
the eighth chapter called 'The Slaying of Raktabija' of Devi-mahatmya
in Markandeya-purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.
Kumari Kumari fighting Asuras
Folio from a Devimahatmya (Glory of the Goddess), 1675-1700 Rajasthan
At one time the asuras gained supremacy over the devas and adharma
began to prevail. Protected by a boon that he could only be killed by
a virgin girl, Banasura was wreaking havoc, driving the devas away
from heaven and torturing the saints and sages. Unable to bear the
agony of her children, Bhoomi Devi sought the help of Lord Vishnu, the
Protector of the Universe. Vishnu advised that the devas should
supplicate themselves to Parashakti, the Divine Mother, as she alone
was capable of vanquishing Banasura.
Accordingly, the devas performed a yaj a in supplication for the
Parashakti's help. Parashakti appeared before them in the form of
small girl and promised to annihilate the evil forces championed by
Banasura. Asking the devas to be patient for the right time for the
killing of Banasura, Parashakti then came out of the fire and
travelled to the southern-most tip of India, where she began to
meditate upon Lord Shiva. As time went on she grew into a teenager.
This is how the southern tip of India got the name Kanya Kumari, as
kanya kumari means "a virgin teenaged girl."
Seeing Parashakti in the beautiful form of Kanya Kumari, Lord Shiva
fell in love [specifically the form of Lord Shiva worshipped in
Suchindram, a town 15 km from India's southern tip.] Parashakti agreed
to become his bride, and arrangements were made for their marriage.
At this point, the divine sage Narada realized that the marriage of
Lord Shiva with Kanya Kumari would destroy the goddess' chances of
destroying Banasura, as he could not be killed by a married woman. In
order to prevent this potential disaster, Narada decided to sabotage
the holy couple's wedding.
First Narada tried to confuse Kanya Kumari, telling her that perhaps
it was not Shiva at all who wanted to marry her, but Banasura in
disguise. Narada told the goddess that she should ask Shiva to bring
three items that could not be obtained anywhere in the world in order
to prove his identity. These were a coconut without eyes, a stalk of
sugarcane without stump-joints and a betel leaf without veins. But
Lord Shiva easily fulfilled this difficult challenge and the marriage
continued to be scheduled.
But Narada had a final trick up his sleeve. The marriage was to take
place at midnight on a certain auspicious day. On that day, Lord Shiva
began his journey from Suchindram to Kanya Kumari's abode. When he was
in the town of Vazhukkamparai [5 km from Suchindarm], Narada assumed
the form of a rooster and crowed, falsely heralding the break of dawn.
Thinking that he had missed the appointed hour of his marriage, Shiva
returned to Suchindram.
It is said that in Kanya Kumari's anger over Shiva not arriving that
she scattered all the food items that had been assembled for the
wedding. The small pebbles, resembling sand, and the multi-coloured
sands found on the shore in southern India are attributed to the above
incident.
The goddess was also heart-broken, but remained ever-dedicated to Lord
Shiva and continues to perform austerities to this day with the hopes
that he will one day unite with her.
Soon Banasura heard about Kanya Kumari's beauty. He decided that he
would come and try her hand in marriage. She refused him. In rage, the
demon decided he would take her by force. He drew his sword, but Kanya
Kumari was also armed. A fierce battle took place, which ended with
Kanya Kumari slaying Banasura with her chakra in Mahadana Puram [4 km
north of Kanya Kumari].
It is said that at the moment of his death, Banasura repented for his
adharmic acts and prayed to Parashakti to have compassion upon him and
absolve him and anyone else who bathed in the waters off Kanya Kumari
of their sins. Devi granted Banasura the boon, and this is why people
come from all over the world to bathe in this holy confluence of
seas.
The Kanya Kumari Temple is located on those southern shores. The
teenaged goddess is shown holding a m?la, performing eternal
austerities as she waits for Lord Shiva to come. According to the
temple's sthala purana, the Deity was installed by Lord Parasurama, an
incarnation of Lord Vishnu. One specialty of the Deity is her diamond
nose ring, which sparkles gloriously. The temple's sthala purana says
that the nose ring was obtained from a king cobra and that light
reflects off it so brightly that once an ancient mariner mistook it
for a lighthouse. Sailing his ship towards the beacon, he wrecked upon
the Kanya Kumari rocks. In order to prevent such a tragedy from
happening again, the eastern door to the temple's sanctum sanctorum is
only opened on five special occasions throughout the year.