Devi, the multi-tasker

‘On the first three days, Devi meditated as Herself, the next three days as Mahalakshmi and the last three days as Sarasvati. This signifies progression from tamasik (dark) to rajasik (noble) to satvik (pure) states of being and eventually obtaining liberation: a lesson for human beings. The tenth day,’Sharada Navaratri’, is Vijayadashmi’. In some parts of India, it’s acceptable to believe that the Jews go back millennia. But ‘modern’ Hindus are even now caught expressing disbelief that it is an ancient, honourable tradition to read theDevi-Bhagavatam or theDevi Mahatmyaham (Durga Saptasati, ‘700 verses on Durga’) from the Markandeya Purana. During this period says the Devi Bhagavatam, Sri Rama meditated and fasted for nine days after Sita was kidnapped by Ravana. So is this ‘cool Hindu’ reluctance a case of residual mental slavery to our past conquerors? Or, quite understandably, “How can the God of the Bajrangis be MY GOD?” To which the answer is, how we work our religion depends on us, not them, because it’s still our religion.
Anyhow, Chapter One of the Durga Saptasati tells us how the ancients, through their poetic imagination, envisioned this formless energy: “ I resort to Mahakali, who has ten faces, ten legs and holds in her hands the sword, disc, mace, arrows, bow, club, spear, missile, human head and conch, who is three eyed, adorned with ornaments on all her limbs, and whom Brahma extolled in order to destroy Madhu and Kaitabha (demons, symbolizing negative forces).
For those who wonder, the multiple limbs symbolizes God the Multitasker; the ‘One Who Is Capable of All Things’. When a king in the purana’s mainframe asks,’Venerable Sir, who is that Devi whom you call Mahamaya?’ Rishi Markandeya replies: She is the universe. By Her is all this (creation) pervaded. When She manifests Herself in order to put things right on the side of God, She is said to be ‘born’ in the world, though She is Unborn and Eternal. She holds the world together and also breaks it apart, the Mahamaya.’