Sri chandi 1St chapter Summery

Sri chandi 1St chapter Summery: Madhukaitava Badhah

Chaitra, a descendant of Brahma, had a king in his lineage named Suratha, known for his immense love and care for his subjects. However, at one point, a battle against the Yavanas resulted in King Suratha’s defeat (Sri chandi 1St chapter). Returning to his capital, he found that his ministers had seized all his wealth, jewels, and army.

King Suratha Betrayed amd Excile into the forest & Meetting the Marchant Samadhi

Feeling betrayed and heartbroken, the king left his kingdom under the pretense of hunting and ventured alone into a dense forest, riding on a horse.

In that forest, he found refuge in the ashram of Sage Medhas. Despite staying there, his thoughts constantly revolved around his kingdom, capital, and the happiness and suffering of his subjects and servants.

One day, in the same forest, he met a merchant named Samadhi. Samadhi, too, had been betrayed—he had been deceived by his wife and sons, his wealth had been taken, and he had been cast out of his own home. (Sri chandi 1St chapter) Yet, astonishingly, even in the forest, he could not forget the comfort and well-being of his ungrateful family.

After conversing, both realized they shared a similar state of mind. Curious about the cause of their attachment and delusion, they approached sage Medhas, narrated their experiences, and asked why wise individuals like them were overwhelmed by such illusions.

Sage Medhas and the Mystry of Mahamaya

Sage Medhas, listening to their questions, explained that although all beings possess some level of knowledge, the power of Mahamaya (the Great Illusion) traps living creatures in cycles of delusion and attachment. The Goddess Mahamaya even captivates the minds of the wise, overpowering them with her divine influence (Sri chandi 1St chapter).

When King Suratha expressed his desire to understand the nature of Mahamaya, the sage began narrating one of the goddess’s divine pastimes.

At the time of cosmic dissolution, when everything was submerged in water, Lord Vishnu lay on the serpent Ananta in a deep meditative sleep, while Lord Brahma meditated on the lotus emerging from Vishnu’s navel. At that moment, two terrifying demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, emerged from Vishnu’s ears and attempted to kill Brahma (Sri chandi 1St chapter).

In this perilous situation, Brahma began chanting hymns to invoke the blessings of Goddess Mahamaya to awaken Vishnu. Pleased by Brahma’s devotion, the goddess emerged from Vishnu’s eyes, mouth, nostrils, chest, and hands, revealing herself momentarily to Brahma before disappearing. (Sri chandi 1St chapter Summery).

Awakened by the goddess, Vishnu saw the demons Madhu and Kaitabha and immediately engaged them in a fierce battle. The battle lasted for five thousand years without resolution.

Finally, Mahamaya used her divine power to delude the demons, making them overconfident. They mockingly asked Vishnu to seek a boon from them. Vishnu, seizing the opportunity, said, “If you are pleased, grant me the boon that I may kill you both right now.”

Under the influence of the goddess’s illusion, the demons agreed but added a condition: “You must slay us only where there is no water,” as the universe was entirely submerged in water at the time. Vishnu accepted their condition and, placing them on his thighs, beheaded them with his Sudarshan Chakra.

Thus, the goddess responded to the prayers of her devotees, manifesting in various forms to protect them. Sage Medhas narrated several such divine manifestations of Goddess Durga, which are detailed in subsequent chapters of Shri Devi Mahatmyam or Chandi.

Continue reading to discover more about the divine stories in Bharatsastra English. You can also read bengali language on our Main website Bharatsastra.

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with others. At Bharatsastra, we aim to provide free knowledge about Hindu scriptures, including mantras, stotras, vrat kathas, and puja rituals. If our work moves you, financial support is encouraged. Your contributions will help us continue this humble service. Click here to donate us.