Devi Mahatmyam is a Hindu religious text describing the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the universe. It is part of the Markandeya Purana, and estimated to have been composed in Sanskrit between 400-600 CE. Along with Devi-Bhagavata Purana and Shakta Upanishads, it is one of the most important texts of Shaktism tradition within Hinduism.
About Devi Mahatmya in brief
Devi Mahatmyam is a Hindu religious text describing the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the universe. It is part of the Markandeya Purana, and estimated to have been composed in Sanskrit between 400-600 CE. The text contains 700 verses arranged into 13 chapters. Along with Devi-Bhagavata Purana and Shakta Upanishads such as the Devi Upanishad, it is one of the most important texts of Shaktism tradition within Hinduism. It describes a storied battle between good and evil, where the Devi manifesting as goddess Durga leads the forces of good against the demon Mahishasura. In peaceful prosperous times, states the text, the Devi manifests as Lakshmi, empowering wealth creation and happiness. The verses of this story also outline a philosophical foundation wherein the ultimate reality is female. The Devi Mahat myam is often ranked in some Hindu traditions to be as important as the Bhagavad Gita. It has been particularly popular in eastern states of India, such as West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Goaas as well as Nepal. It’s recited during Navratri celebrations, the Durga Puja festival, and in Durga temples across India. The title devīmāhātmyam means ‘the magnanimity of the goddess’ or ‘Glory of the Goddess’ The text is a culmination of centuries of Indian ideas about the divine feminine, and is a foundation for the literature and spirituality focussed on the feminine transcendence in centuries that followed.
One of the earliest evidence of reverence for the feminine aspect of God appears in chapter 10. 125 of the Rig Veda, also called Devīsūkta. Hymns to goddesses are in the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, particularly in the later Harivamsa section of it. The archaeological and textual evidence implies that the Goddess had become as much a part of Hindu tradition, as God, by about the third or fourth century. In Southern India, Tulunadu in Coastal Karnataka considers\’Devi Mahatme\’ as important story line in praying the Shakti and several plays in the form of Yakshagana conducted throughout the year by most of Shakti temples to tell glorious powers of Devi to people of all generations since many centuries. The inscription quotes a portion from the Devi Maha tmya, which states ‘Devi Mata Mata Mata is a goddess of highmindedness, majesty and great soul’ The inscription also states that the goddess is very angry and ruthless, and the forces of good win over the demon Mahish asura in the battle. The text is called Saptaśati, as it contains 700 shlokas. Caṇḍī or CaḾḍika is the name by which the Supreme Goddess is referred to.
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