Durga Saptashati Chapter 8: The Seven Mothers and the Slaying of Raktabija

In chapter 8 the battle reaches its height. The powers of all the gods come to fight beside the Goddess, and the hardest of the asuras, Raktabija, is slain.

Shumbha's entire army

With Chanda and Munda slain and their army destroyed, Shumbha ordered his whole army to battle: eighty-six asura generals of the Udayudha clan, eighty-four of the Kambu clan, fifty of the Kotivirya, a hundred of the Dhaumra, and the Kalakas, Daurhridas, Mauryas and Kalakeyas with their armies.

The seven Mothers

Seeing the vast army coming, the Goddess filled earth and sky with the twang of her bowstring, the lion roared, and Kali widened her mouth and swelled the roar. Then, for the destruction of the asuras and the good of the gods, the shaktis of Brahma, Shiva, Kartikeya, Vishnu and Indra came forth from their bodies with their forms, ornaments and mounts:

• Brahmani: on a swan, with rosary and water pot.
• Maheshvari: on a bull, holding a trident, adorned with the moon and serpents.
• Kaumari: on a peacock, holding a spear, in the form of Kartikeya.
• Vaishnavi: on Garuda, with conch, discus, mace, bow and sword.
• Varahi: in the form of a boar.
• Narasimhi: in the form of Narasimha, the tossing of whose mane scattered the stars.
• Aindri: on Airavata, thunderbolt in hand, thousand-eyed.

Then Shiva came with these shaktis and said to the Goddess: "For my pleasure, slay the asuras quickly."

Shivaduti

Then from the Goddess's body came forth a most fierce power, howling like a hundred jackals. She said to Shiva: "Go as my messenger to Shumbha and Nishumbha and tell them: if you wish to live, return to the nether world, give heaven back to Indra and let the gods receive their share of sacrifice; if in pride of strength you want war, come, and my jackals will feast on your flesh." Because she sent Shiva as her messenger she is called Shivaduti.

The asuras refused, and battle began. Brahmani struck the asuras with water from her pot, Maheshvari with her trident, Vaishnavi with her discus, Kaumari with her spear, Aindri with her thunderbolt, Varahi with her snout and Narasimhi with her claws. At Shivaduti's laughter asuras fell, and she devoured them.

Raktabija

As the asura army began to flee, the great asura Raktabija came forward in fury. He had a boon that whenever a drop of his blood fell on the earth, an asura as strong as himself would rise from it. When Aindri struck him with her thunderbolt, blood flowed and thousands like him arose. As much blood as fell from Vaishnavi's discus, Kaumari's spear, Varahi's sword and Maheshvari's trident, so many Raktabijas sprang up, until the world was filled with them. The gods were dismayed.

The slaying of Raktabija

Then Chandika laughed and said to Kali: "Chamunda, open your mouth wide. Take into it the drops of blood that fall from my weapons and the asuras born of them. Then no blood will fall, no new asuras will arise, and he will wither and perish."

The Goddess struck Raktabija with her spear and Kali took his blood into her mouth. The asuras that arose in her mouth she devoured too. At last, drained of blood, Raktabija fell to the ground. The gods rejoiced, and the Mothers danced, drunk with the blood of the asuras.

What this chapter teaches

• When all powers unite for one goal, the greatest evil is defeated; every god gave his power.
• A message of peace before war: the Goddess sent Shiva as her messenger to offer terms first.
• Raktabija is like our desires: cut one and ten new ones arise. They must be ended at their source.
• Work is done not by strength alone but by wisdom; stopping the blood from falling was the answer.