The power of evil is so great that even gods are
unable to combat it single handed. It is only
through the united effort of divinity in totality
that it can be defeated. The name Chandi is one
of the many names of goddess Durga.
Durga is symbolic of the power of creation
and regeneration; it is the power through
which life comes into existence and its
well being thereafter. Chandi is that image
of Durga in which she destroyed Mahishasur,
the dreaded demon.
The glory of Durga is known from the ancient
treatise of Markandeyo Purana. It
is known as Devi Mahatmyam or Durga
Saptasati and was written in 700 slokas.
Devi Durga was generated and empowered by
the unification process of all the power
of the gods and destroyed the demons who
had dislodged them from their divine abode.
Three aspects of the eternal mother has been depicted
in this; they are Mahakali, Mahalakshmi
and Mahasaraswati. She was victorious and
this image of destruction is Chandi.
Devi Chandi is also the image of the eternal mother
who in her different forms killed various demons
like Mahishasur, Shumbh & Nishumbh, Raktabeej,
Chando, Mundo, Dhumrolochana and their army and
saved the Devas from destruction. Chandi is Durga
at her most terrifying image, there is nothing
that can be victorious against it. It is said
that these slokas are powerful Mantras against
all evils.
Devi Mahatmaya or Durga Saptasati or the Chandi
is divided into 13 Chapters and consists of 700
slokas or mantras. Recitation of these slokas
is known as Chandi Paath and has been recited
and known to combat every kind of enmity and adversity,
from ages forgotten. It has been used as the most
powerful weapon by the Devas (gods) and mortals
alike. Enemy can be of many kinds.
There can be real living enemies or there can
be negative factors in our minds that can become
our enemies detrimental for our development or
there can be negative powers that work against
us due to our interaction with other mortals.
Instances of enmity, rivalry and unavoidable obstacles
are regular phenomena of human existence. While
we try our level best to overcome them but a lot
of energy and time goes into this effort. It would
not be wrong or false to conclude that we waste
a tremendous amount of life force in fighting
these shadows. The end result is never perfect
and we go from one obstacle to the other.
We ourselves generate negative energy and suffer
from tension and fatigue. This fatigue due to
the struggle for existence has chain reaction
at our domestic front where family starts to squirm
under the pressure of negative vibes. Ultimately,
peace and harmony are lost when our professional
front becomes shaky and shows signs of decline.
The world is a huge reservoir where there are
millions of souls who generate this negative energy
unconsciously. The random activities create chaos
in and around us. While there is effort to eliminate
the same but the veil of maya (Illusory world)
causes delusion and we fall prey to wrong decisions.
Chandi Paath can be done with the
following objectives in mind:
To get empowered for combating the evil
To get protection when one is weak
To purge the environment of all negative
energies
To absorb and feel the power of Shaptashati
& be confident in life
To keep temptations at bay
To get respite from the curse of birth and
rebirth
To set in motion the purgatory actions that
elevates our soul to the ultimate service
