The story of the Goddess Lalita

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Lalitopakhyana – VIII
( 8th Day)

275. In that meeting it was decided that Vishanga would attack devi’s army from its
rear side in a treacherous way (This is called Parshti grahamu). This decision was
taken because they got information from their spies that Lalita devi was having less
army and protection at her rear end and it was easier for them to approach Lalita
devi directly and attack her, if they approached from the rear.
276. After the first day’s war, at dusk, Vishanga with a small army proceeded to the
rear of Lalita devi’s army noiselessly without any drums
277. By then Lalita devi’s army was moving westward. Vishanga along with his army
moved north wards and then turned to reach eastern side
278. He was able to see Srichakraraja chariot very near to him. Lalita devi was
looking forward observing the movement of the army. She was not having much
army close to her
279. Taking this opportunity Vishanga attacked devi’s chariot from the rear, all of a
sudden.
280 Anima and other gods who were present there were taken back at this sudden
attack but quickly recovered themselves and prepared for a counter fight.
281. Exactly at the same time Kutilaksha along with ten akshohini army attacked
from the front side
282. Seeing attack from both ends Lalita devi was a little angry. In the mean while,
struck by an arrow from Vishanga, the fan present in Lalita devi’s hand fell down and
broke
283. Seeing this Tithidevatas got very angry. They went and requested Lalita devi
that Vahnivasini and Jwalamalini nitya devas have property and capacity of self
illumination. If they glow then the demons who are in the dark will all become
visible.
284. With the permission of Lalita devi, Vahnivasini and Jwalamalini devis started
glowing like fireballs. All the demons who were hiding in darkness now became
visible.
285. Now the 16 nitya devi’s became outrageous and attacked Vishanga’s army. All
the commanders in the demons army died.
286. Wounded all over the body Vishanga fled for his life shamelessly. Even
Kutilaksha who attacked from the front also fled. (In Lalita sahasranama -


nityaparakrama topa nirikshana samatsuka =seeing the valour of nityadevatas,Lalita
devi was very pleased)

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287. Mantrini devi and Dandanatha devi felt unhappy about this unprecedented
attack in the night They felt very sorry that their arrangements of protection were
not up to the mark.
Agni prakara (compound wall made of fire)
288. Both of them went to Lalita devi, expressed sorry for what had happened and
made arrangements for protection.
289. At the instance of Lalita devi,Jwalamalini devi made a compound wall of fire
around the devi’s army The fire wall is 100 yojana wide and 30 yojana tall. (1 yojana
is approximately 8 miles).
290.At the southern end of fire wall is a 1 yojana long entry, to enable devi’s army
go out and fight because Shunyapuram is facing this end.(L.S.N—jwalamalini
kashipta vahniprakaramadhyaga)
291. Stambhini devi a member of Dandanatha devi family along with 20 akshohini
senas was protecting this entry point. She is also called Vighna devi.
292. By then it was dawn.
293. Knowing all this news Bhandasura was in despair and started thinking what to
do.
294. This time he sent all his 30 sons for the war
295. After listening to this news Lalita devi’s daughter Baladevi wanted to fight
these demons herself.
296. Baladevi is the only daughter of Lalita devi .She resembles Lalita devi very
much but is always only 9 years old .She stays permanently with her mother only.
297. Baladevi approached her mother and requested for permission to fight in the
battlefield
298. At the outset Lalita devi denied but looking at the courage and will power
exhibited by Bala devi she ultimately gave permission.
299. Seeing Bala devi coming for the war Mantrini and Dandanayaka were
astonished , they stood as her body guards.
300.Now Baladevi started ferocious fighting with Bhanda’s sons. Every one was
surprised at her valour
301.Whole of the second day Baladevi fought. That evening she shot 30 arrows at a
time and killed 30 sons of Bhanda.

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302. Lalita devi was very happy and she embraced her daughter (L.S.N---
Bhandaputravadhodyukta bala vikrama nandita)
303. Bhanda was grief stricken. Desperately he himself started off for the war
304. Vishukra and Vishanga pacified Bandasura
Vighnayentra nashnam (Destruction of the mystic symbol of obstacles)
305. Now Bhanda sent Vishukra to the warfront.
306. In the darkness Vishukra approached the Vahniprakara (firewall) –on a flat
stone he drew a mystic symbol and performed some black magic.
307. He then threw that mystic symbol forcefully. It fell in the firewall at some point.
308. With the affect of that yantra (mystic symbol) laziness crept into the minds of
the devi’s army
(a.) Some started arguing that war itself was wrong.
(b.) Some said, “Why should we fight on behalf of the gods”.
(c.) Some said, “Who is this Lalita devi? Who has given her superior ship over us?”
(d.) Some said, “If all of us together decline not to fight what can Lalita devi do?”
(e.) All of them fell into sleep of ignorance.
309. After midnight Vishukra along with 30 akshohini sena surrounded the fire
barrier.
310. Even then none of the members of shaktisena moved under the influence of the
ignorance caused by the Vighna yentra
311. However, Vighnayentra was not able to affect Mantrini and Dandanatha. But
they were both very sad worried seeing the state of their army.
312. Not knowing what to do they went and enquired Lalita devi.
313.Then Lalita devi looked at the Kameshwara’s face and passed a gentle smile.
314. From her smile Ganapathi took birth.
315. He immediately searched in the firewall and noticed the ‘vighnayentra shila’ at
one place. He broke the shila into pieces and powder with his tooth.
(kameshwaramukhaloka kalpita sri ganeshwara
Mahaganesha nirbhinna vighnayentra praharsita)
316. With that shaktisena’s ignorance and sleep was dispelled, they immediately got
ready for the war.
317. Now Vighneswara along with this army came out of the fire barrier and started
fighting with Vishukra.

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318. Vishukra sent Gajasura to attack him but soon Gajasura was slayed. Seeing this
Vishukra ran away.
Annihilation of Vishukra and Vishanga
319.After discussing with Bhandasura, Vishukra came back to war, along with his
brother Vishanga and son- in –law. With this the third day war had started.
320. Mantrini and Dandanatha both started to fight simultaneously
321. In the front was Dandanatha devi mounted on her kirichakra ratha with her
plough weapon (halayudha) swirling it rapidly.
322.Behind her was Mantrini devi mounted on Geyachakra ratha as an archer with
bow and arrows
323.Dandanatha devi attacked Vishunga.
324. Mantrini devi confronted Vishukra.
325. Ashwarudha, Sampatkari and others attacked the son- in-law of the demons
who had come .
326.The army of the demons started slackening. Noticing this Vishukra discharged
Trushastram(weapon which produces thirst). Shaktisena’s army started to
experience intense thirst.
327.Then Dandanatha devi invited ‘Madyasamudra’(=ocean of liquor) devata from
her kirichakra and quenched their thirst.
328. Madyasamudra deva showered liquor rains. With that the army quenched their
thirst and rejuvenated.
329. By sunset most of the demons including Bhanda’s son-in-law had died.
330. Then Shyamala devi (Mantrini) fought with Vishukra and killed him with
‘Brahmashironamakastra’ (a powerful weapon named brahmashira)
331. Dandanatha devi (Potrini) killed Vishanga with her plough weapon and pestle.
However in Lalita sahasranama it is mentioned that Vishukra was killed by Varahi
and Vishanga was killed by Mantrini—
Mantrinyamba virachita vishanga vadhatoshita
Vishukra prana harana varahiveryanandita
332. By then it was past midnight.

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