~~OM~~
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Remember that Samadhi and Surath are seated at the feet of Medhas Muni as He relates the next story about the Glory of the Goddess.
In olden times, the Devas led by Indra and Asuras led by Mahishasura (the Great Ego) were engaged in a war that lasted one hundred years. At the end of the war, the Gods were defeated and Mahisha kicked them out of heaven. With the Great Ego ruling the earth, everyone became filled with a sense of doership and started feeling and saying, “I did this, I am doing that and so on.”
So the Gods led by Brahma went to take refuge in Shiva and Vishnu. When the Gods related the tale of their defeat to Shiva and Vishnu, they, together with Gods, put forth their lights and these lights united to take the wonderful form of Divine Mother. Then all the Gods armed Her with weapons.
The Divine Mother made such a noise that the earth heaved causing the Great Ego and his army to get ready to battle. A fierce battle ensued between Mother on the one hand and the Great Ego, his formidable Generals and uncountable army of thoughts:
- Devoid of Understanding: “I dont get it, I am confused”
- Haughtiness
- Fickleness
- Great Deceiver: “Let me take advantage of others”
- Want of Resolution: “Gee, maybe I should try this, maybe I should try that, etc.”
- Memories
- Wandering to and Fro: “Get up from your asan and do other things, be useful”
- Hypocrisy
In the fierce battle, the thoughts tried to strike and kill the Goddess. But She just playfully destroyed their weapons. And soon all the thoughts meet their demise in Her hands just like grass and timber are reduced to ashes by a forest conflagration.
Swamiji says, “The whole story is about us. We are the Gods who were thrown out of heaven. We pray to Mother to become manifest. Each of us projects our light and the light becomes a manifestation of Divinity. And we become the Divine Mother ourselves. And then playfully we watch the demise of the thoughts in us.”
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Follow these links to useful resources on Chapter 2:
- Listen to Swamiji chanting Chapter 2
- Listen to Swamiji’s Class on Chapter 2
- Watch Swamiji’s Video Classes on the Chandi Path
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