Mahishasura~*~Mardini

She is the Divine Mother, She is the terrifying Destroyer, She is the Glorious Protector, She is Ma Durga,  She is Mahishasura Mardini

She is Parvati, Kali, Ambe, Chandi, Lakshmi, Saraswati – One hundred and eight names has She

In all her forms, She is the embodiment of magnificent grace, divine benevolence, splendid majesty

The beloved of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, The adored one of the heavens – She is Sathya Swaroopini

She is the beauteous Goddess with the vivid vermilion mark on her forehead

Her face more beautiful than ten thousand moons, her three eyes, like lotus petals, emit divine power and light

The protector of the Universe, Like a tigress She arrives in feline ferocity, from Mount Kailasha, her abode

Dressed in blood-red attire, her skin the colour of sunflower-gold

A garland of crimson hibiscus adorning her throat, Her hair flowing like the ripples of the Ganga

Her ears and nose bejeweled with dazzling stones, Her arms bedecked with glittering bracelets

Goddess Durga arrives, resplendent, astride the fearsome tawny beast, her mount

Her ten hands bestowed with the majestic armour of the celestial Gods

She arrives, Ma Chandika, Ma Bhavani, Ma Asurakshayamkari, to do battle and relieve mankind

From the terrors of Mahishasura – the dreadful demon

Nine days of bloody battle she does, fiery, fearsome Durga

Her eyes ablaze like ten thousand suns, her ten hands strike with the might of all the Gods in the heavens

And there is the sound of ten thousand bolts of lightning and thunder

And all the earth and the skies tremble in terrible fear and wonder

And great swirling storms over mountain and river raze and plunder

And the trees bend and sway, and all living beings shudder, and all the suns in the Cosmos quiver

And even the Gods in the heavens fall silent in great ponder

The demon king is strong and cunning, He uses stealth, deceit and craft

He uses his great might, his giant body rippling with the power of the evil slayer

He takes many guises, he uses many ruses, to destroy the Mother of the Universe

To no avail! - On the tenth day - On the day of Bijoya Dashami, She triumphs

Piercing the demon’s massive breast with her trident, She triumphs

– O Durga, O Chamunda – Henceforth to be known as Mahishasura Mardini

The slayer of the terrible Mahishasura

And the Gods in the heavens, and all mankind on earth

Blow conch shells and offer oblations to celebrate the great victory of this mighty deity

They sing, and they beat their drums, and they rejoice

As the divine Mother of the Universe – O Kali, O Tribhuvaneshwari –

O Queen consort of Shiva – Ma Durga looks on in divine radiance

Bestowing peace, joy and prosperity to her ardent devotees

Dancing in a trance of sublime bliss to the mystic beat of the dhak

Chanting – O Devi, O Shakti, O Kushmanda, O Gauri, O Bestower of harmony and tranquility to the Universe

O Divine Mother, We bow our heads to Thee, Keep us forever in your lotus bosom, Protect us from all misery

Remove all difficulties from our earthly existence, Bestow upon us your golden rays of everlasting happiness

And Shiva dances his tandava to the celestial thunder of the damaru and the tamboura

In celebration of the great victory of the Siddhidatri – O  Durgé, Durgé, Namastuté –

-by Rita Putatunda