Navratri: Day 8

 The 8th day of Navaratri is dedicated to Maa Mahagauri, the 8th form of Maa Durga. It is said that on this day, Maa Durga slayed the demons and freed the world from them. 

The story goes as follows: 

The Rise of Maa Ambika & Maa Kalaratri

Two demons named Shumbh & Nishumbh defeat Indradev and conquer all the three worlds. They start discharging the duties of Sun, Moon, and other gods etc. Then all the gods went to Himalayas and pleaded Goddess Parvathi to help them. She was bathing at that time and created a powerful form called Ambika—a shining goddess armed with divine weapons and surrounded by heavenly beings. Born of Ma Parvati’s body (Kosha or sheath), she is also known as Kaushiki. After giving rise to this form, Maa Parvathi's whole body turned dark, who is also known as Kalki/Kalika/Kaalaratri.

The Goddess thus born was supremely beautiful and when Chanda and Munda, the disciples of the demon brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha set eyes upon her, they at once reported of her beauty to their masters. Upon hearing of her beauty, the two brothers sent a marriage proposal to the goddess. The Goddess told them that she has taken a vow to marry the one who can vanquish her in battle and take her forcibly. Thus incited into a battle by the Goddess, Shumbha and Nishumbha first send a large army and their able Generals to beat this beautiful lady, but on being defeated, they sent Chanda and Munda whom also the Goddess defeated assuming the form of Maha Kali

Maa Ambika (form of Parvathi Devi) slayed Chanda, hence she is also called Chandi and Maa Kaalaratri ( a form of Ambika/Parvathi/Durga) slayed Munda, hence she is referred as Chamunda or Chamundeshwari.

The end of Raktabija

Shumbha and Nishumbha were not discouraged by the loss of their generals and used all their power against Devi Chamunda (Ma Kali). The clash between the demons and the goddess grew stronger.

As the battle became more and more fierce, seven more Goddesses or Shaktis emerged from the bodies of seven Devtas to assist the Goddess in this battle. At that time was sent to the battlefield, the all powerful demon Raktabija who had been granted the strange boon that wherever his blood fell on the ground it would take the form of a 'Bija' or seed and from it will sprout another Raktabija. In a moment of divine inspiration, Devi Kalaratri extended her long tongue and consumed the drops of blood, preventing them from reaching the ground. She, thus, neutralised Raktabija's power by killing all his clones.  

All the Shaktis then together killed Nishumbha and his army leaving just Shumbha. When Shumbha realised that he has been outnumbered, he taunted the Goddess that she alone cannot defeat him and needed the help of seven other Goddesses to do so. The Goddess got infuriated and merged all the Shaktis into herself and single handedly killed Shumbha thus freeing the world of evil.

WHAT DOES THE STORY ACTUALLY MEAN?

This story is not just a mythological aspect but has a very profound spiritual meaning to it . Ego is represented by the demon Shumbha. It is a false sense of identity and has two principle movements. One movement is outward exertion (pra-vrtti) while the other is inward withdrawal (ni-vrtti). These two patterns of psychological and behavioural functioning are the most common patterns of behaviour. Ego reacts to external objects (be it people or material things) in one of these two manners.

If past experience or impression of the person or object is pleasant, we pursue passionately. If it was unpleasant or hurtful, we withdraw due to hurt, or in extreme cases , may develop intense dislike or hatred for the person or object. Thus, pursuit and withdrawal are actually behavioural expressions or reactionary patterns . Our responses to things or people fit into either of these patterns to varying degrees depending on the object in front of us.

Maa Durga or Devi is the inner self or one's true identity. The Demon Shumba attempts to conquer Devi (False identity over true self). The Chanda & Munda are responsible for Raga(Infatuation) & Dvesha(Aversion). Only when they are slain by the true understanding of one's self, we can overcome our false sense of identity.

Raktabija's unique property of one drop of blood giving rise to another demon refers to the चित्त वृत्ति (chittha-vritti) i.e. thoughts or desires. Desire makes us human but it is also the source of all suffering. Desire is in the mind, as mental activity, as thoughts, as chitta vrttis. 

This represents how each desire, craving, or attachment, when unfulfilled or when confronted with some success, gives birth to more similar desires, creating a cycle of suffering. When desire takes centre stage we often sit and watch helplessly wondering what we can do. How do we release from the endless cycle of desire, gratification or frustration?

Kali's act of drinking Raktabija's blood is crucial. This act of "drinking" the blood symbolizes the complete annihilation of desires and cravings, which is the only way to stop the cycle of suffering they generate.