There were also eight Shaktis: Brahmi, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri, Chamunda and Mahalakshmi, each holding skull and lotus, red in complexion and in red garments. Lalita Devi moved ahead on a huge chariot on whose ninth step ten Siddhi Devis of china rose complexion were stationed (Anima, Mahima, Laghima, Garima, Ishita, Vashita, Prapatisiddhi, Prakamyashiddhi, Muktisiddhi and Sarvakama, each holding the Chintamani, skull, trident and collyrium. From the parrot carried on the hand of dark Mantranayika (whose other names are Sangitayogini and Shukapriya), the science of archery emerged to hand over the bow Citrajiva and inexhaustible quivers. Alighting from the elephant Shri Dandanatha mounted the lion Vajraghosha whose thunderous roar deafened the four quarters. They were joined by the boar-faced Shakti Krodhamukhi leading an army carrying palm-leaf fans set with diamonds and dark Mantranayika on a chariot. From Lalita Devi’s noose emerged the swiftly moving deity Ativaritavikranti seated on the horse Aparajita, holding in her four hands the noose, the goad, the cane and the horse’s bridle. Out of her goad emerged the goddess Sampatkari, sword in hand, mounted on the elephant Kanakakolahala.

Thereafter, Lalita Devi set out to conquer Bhanda. Delighted, Shiva blessed him, “Bhanda (fortunate)! As you have wished, half the strength of your opponent’s strength will become yours and your rule shall last for sixty thousand years.” When Shiva cast his gaze upon this form, it assumed life as an extraordinarily powerful, resplendent person who worshipped Mahadeva with the Shatarudriya mantra that Chitrakarma taught him.

Chitrakarma, a lord of Shiva’s hosts, made a wonderfully formed figure from these ashes.

Shiva, disturbed with the flower-arrows of desire shot from Kama’s sugarcane bow, opened his third eye and burned the presumptuous god to ashes. So, the gods begged Kama, the god of love, to intervene. But the lord was engrossed in meditation. The Asura leader Taraka had routed the gods who found out that only a son of Shiva could slay this invincible. This is a story of the days following the destruction of Daksha’s sacrificial rite by Shiva’s retainers and the rebirth of Dakshayani (Sati) as Gauri, daughter of the mountain-lord Himachal.

Rajarajeshwari goddess