Chapter 83 - Greatness of Yogeśvarī (Yoga-īśvarī)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Īśvara said:

1-3. Thereafter, O great goddess, a pilgrim should go to the shrine of the great goddess Yogeśvarī stationed to the east thereof (Daityasūdana).

The deity bestows the fruit in the form of Yogic powers. I shall describe its origin. Listen to it with faith.

Once, there was a mighty demon named Mahiṣa, a tiger among Dānavas. O goddess, he was the chief among them and highly terrible and frightening unto all the Devas. He could assume any form he pleased. Subjecting all the three worlds under his control, he remained happy.

4. On a certain occasion, a charming girl unparalleled in beauty in heaven was created by Brahmā, the creator of the worlds.

5. She performed a very severe penance. O lady of excellent countenance, once that chaste girl of excellent beauty was seen by Nārada.

6. He was struck with great wonder, O goddess, at once when he thought: ‘Oh, what an excellent beauty! Oh, what an excellent fortitude! Oh, what a great splendour! Oh, what a youthful age!’

7. Thinking thus, he spoke to the lady these words: “O fair lady, offer yourself to me. I have not yet taken a wife unto me. I have been afflicted by the arrows of Kāma on seeing you.”

She said:

8-9a. O venerable one, I have nothing to do with the dallying of love. I have taken up the vow of celibacy. I shall accomplish what I desire. Do not be offended in this matter nor be sorry for it.

9b-10. On hearing her words, O my beloved, Sage Nārada went to the wonderful city ruled by Mahiṣa within the ocean. Indeed the sage was honoured by that noble-souled Mahiṣa.

11. O goddess, after offering the excellent Arghya and enquiring after his health, he stood with palms joined in reverence. He spoke: “O Nārada, what may be the reason for your visit? What are your intentions? I shall do everything (necessary for them).”

12-13. Thereupon the sage said to Mahiṣa, the Lord of Dānavas: “O great Asura, a jewel of a girl has been born in Jaṃbūdvīpa. Neither in heaven nor in the mortal world nor also in the nether worlds, a beauty such as she, has been seen or heard about by me. I have now been victimised by the darts of the god of Love due to her.”

14. On hearing his words which generated a great deal of lust in him too, the demon went to the Prābhāsika Kṣetra where that chaste lady was staying.

15. He was accompanied by a great army. The demon pleaded before her: “O timid lady, be my wife. Enjoy charming pleasures. O highly esteemed lady, the penance that you are engaged in is antagonistic to your youthful charms.”

16-17. On hearing those words of that demon, the lady of excellent complexion laughed. O goddess of Devas, hundreds and thousands of terrible women holding weapons in their hands issued forth from the exhaled breath of the goddess, as she laughed. The army of the evil-souled Mahiṣa was destroyed by them.

18. When the army was being destroyed, the most excellent one among Dānavas became furious and rushed quickly towards her.

19-20. The great Asura shook vigorously and frequently his terrible, sharp-pointed horns and fought a great battle with her. He caught hold of the goddess with his horns. Standing above him, she trampled on the demon under her feet. Then the leading Daitya was killed by means of her trident.

21 When his head was cut off with a sword, a person of the same form as his, issued forth from it. Thus though the Daitya was terrible, he went to Svarga on being slain by the weapons of the goddess.

22. On seeing Mahiṣa defeated all the groups of the Devas beginning with Mahendra, eulogized the goddess with delighted minds.

The Devas said:

23. O highly esteemed goddess, O majestic one of terrible appearance, O three-eyed goddess, abiding by good means for achieving the ends, O goddess with faces all round, obeisance to you!

24. O subduer of Mahiṣa the Asura, O omnipresent goddess identical with Vidyā and Avidyā, O victorious one worthy of being meditated upon by Japa, O controlling deity of all lores, O goddess with universe as your form!

25. O eternal goddess devoid of sorrow, O goddess with long eyes like the petals of lotus, O goddess of pure Sattva quality, O goddess observing Vratas, O goddess of terrific form like the night!

26. O goddess, O bestower of prosperity and superior powers, O goddess engaged in Kālanṛtya (dance of destruction), O goddess fond of fortitude, O Śakti of Śaṅkara, O Brāhmaṇical power, O Śakti of Brahmā bowed down to by all the Devas!

27. O subduer of big Mahiṣa, O goddess armed with Ghaṇṭā (bell) and Śūla (trident), O goddess of frightful form, O goddess Śivā with hideous eyes, O great Māyā, O nectarine goddess!

28. O omnipresent goddess, O bestower of everything, O origin of all living beings and one identical with them, O mother of Vidyās (lores), Purāṇas and Śalyas (darts), O supporter of Bhūtas (living beings)!

29. O splendid one among all the esoteric doctrines of the Devas and all those who possess Sattva quality, O goddess, you alone are our refuge. O Vidyā, O Avidyā, O Śrī, O Aśrī (non-Śrī)!

30. On being thus eulogized by the Devas and the Sages after due obeisance, the goddess spoke laughingly: “Choose an excellent boon.”

The Devas said:

31. O goddess, may those excellent men who eulogize you by means of this prayer have all their desires fulfilled and continuously get showers of boons.

32. O goddess of pure smiles, you shall stay in this holy spot for ever.

33. O lady of excellent countenance, that goddess said to the Devas, “This will be so.” She sent away the groups of sages too and remained engaged there.

34. O lady of excellent countenance, a devotee should observe fast on the ninth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Aśvayuj and devoutly visit the deity. His sins get dissolved like darkness at sunrise.

35. If a man gets up early in morning and recites this prayer he will never be assailed by any fear all through his life.

36-37. The eighth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Aśvayuj in conjunction with the constellation Mūla is called Mahānāmikā (of great name). O splendid lady, those who give up their life on that day, shall certainly stay in Svarga. Those heroic ones become the favourites of celestial damsels.

38. In all the Manvantaras and beginnings of Kalpas, O goddess of Suras, it is said that the sequence is the same. Now listen to the special features.

39. The fifth lunar day in the bright half of the month of Aśvayuj is called Pāpanāśinī (the destroyer of sins). During the night on that day, one should worship (her) adorned by means of Khaḍga Mantra.

40. In a place sloping towards the north-east a Brāhmaṇa should duly make a beautiful pavilion of sixteen pillars in the vicinity of Yogeśvarī. It should be embellished with banners.

41. The priest should make a very splendid Kuṇḍa (sacrificial pit) of the length of a hand with three Mekhalās (slopes) and the Yonī (pit) shall have the semblance of a leaf of Aśvattha.

42. Pāyasa (milk pudding) is to be used for Homa as mentioned in the scriptures with due utterance of Mantras. The sword is bathed in Pañcāmṛta. Excellent Brāhmaṇas should worship it with various kinds of flowers uttering the following Mantra:

The Mantra for the Khaḍga worship:

43-44. The following are the eight names uttered by Vedhas (god Brahmā) himself: Abhī (fearless), Viśasana (cutting), Khaḍga (sword), Prāṇabhūta (that which is the very vital life), Durāsada (difficult of approach), Agamya (impossible to reach), Vijaya (victory) and Dharmādhāra (the basis of piety). Thy constellation is Kṛttikā; the preceptor is Lord Maheśvara. Gold is thy body; the Dhātā (Creator) is Lord Janārdana; the father Lord Pitāmaha (Brahmā). Do protect (us) always with everything belonging to you.

45. After duly worshipping it thus, the Sword is taken round in the city at night by excellent Brāhmaṇas along with Nāndīghoṣa (loudly proclaiming the praise of the deity).

46. The king who performs thus shall be accompanied by all the armies and excellent Brāhmaṇas. After proceeding thus in accordance with the injunctions, it should be taken to Yogeśvarī. The Mantra is uttered and the Khaḍga is dedicated to the deity.

47. It should be splashed with collyrium (application) and smeared with sandal-paste. A garland made of Bilva leaves is offered to the goddess.

The Arghya Mantra:

48. O goddess Durgā, O destroyer of intractable distresses, O goddess destroying all evil ends (disasters), save me in all difficult situations. O Durgā, I have sought refuge in you.

49. O goddess of Devas, after offering the Arghya thus, the Khaḍga is kept there with vigilant guards (attending it). Till the Aṣṭamī (eighth day) it shall be adored everyday.

50. After keeping awake that night, when the day has dawned, at the rise of Aruṇa, buffaloes and sheep should be beheaded in front.

51. The animals may number a hundred, half of it (fifty) or half of half (twenty-five) as the devotee pleases. With potful of Surā and Āsava (liquor) the great goddess should be propitiated.

52-53. The meat thereof should be given to Kāpālikas as well as to servants and maid servants. In the afternoon of the Navamī day, Yogeśī should be placed on a chariot and taken round the whole realm by the king himself along with his army. Conchs and Paṭaha drums should be sounded. Baṭus and Cāraṇas should recite, sing and chant.

The Bali Mantra:

54-56. May these Devas, Ādityas, Vasus, Maruts, Aśvins, Rudras, Suparṇas, Pannagas etc. accept this oblation. Let all the spirits and ghosts become mild and conducive to happiness.

O beautiful woman, the king should offer Bali (oblation) to the spirits with this Mantra. The oblation shall consist of water, blood, cooked rice, sweet scents, raw rice grains and flowers. The king should scatter this Bali three times in all the quarters and inner spaces by means of the trident.

57. The Brāhmaṇas residing in the holy spot should perform the Yātrā thus. O goddess of Devas, due to the favour of Yogeśvarī, they will have no enemies. Neither fire nor thieves, nor Vināyakas (Trouble-making gods) will impede their progress.

58. They shall be happy enjoying all pleasures. They shall be devoid of all Ātaṅkas (anguish, agony). The men shall become permanent devotees of Yogeśvarī.

59. Thus the great festival of Yogeśvarī has been narrated to you. It destroys all inauspiciousness of those who read and listen to it.

60. Men who worship Durgā on the Navamī day do cross the forests of impassable difficulties—the goddess who has pierced with the tip of the trident, the back of demon Mahiṣa and with her drawn sword, has cut up the staff-like arms (of the demon) adorned with armlets, and who is followed by Pañcavadana (Lord Śiva).