Durga Saptshati: A Glorious Song of the Divine Mother

The Durga Saptshati is known as Devi Mahatmya in South India, Chandi in West Bengal and as Durga Saptshati in the northern parts of the country. Authored by Ved Vyasa, the Durga Saptshati is found in the Markandeya Purana and consists of 13 chapters with 700 stanzas.

All the stories in the book symbolize the power of good over evil and emphasize on the principle:truth always triumphs.

This book relates the stories of how the Devi (Mother Divine) killed Madhu and Kaidabha as Vishnu Maya (Tamasic Form), killed Mahishasura as Lakshmi (Rajasic Form) and killed Shumbha and Nishumbha in the form of Goddess Saraswati (Sattvic Form).

Reciting the text of the Durga Saptshati is a part of the festivities of many homes during the nine days of Navratri. These stories are in a form of a song, and during Navratri, families sit together and recite the verses of this holy text with surrender and devotion. These nine stories are a literal translation from the Durga Saptshati, glorifying the Mother Divine. The reader or listener is bestowed with the realization that everything in this creation has stemmed from the Mother Divine.