Three forms of the supreme Goddess disciples should meditate upon daily

तदीयं त्रिविधं रूपं स्थूलं सूक्ष्मं परं ततः |
ध्येयं मुमुक्षुभिर्नित्यं क्रमतो योगिभिर्मुने || 13 ||

 

Sage, these three forms of that (supreme Goddess Shivaa), gross, subtle and higher than that, should be meditated upon by renunciate disciples (those aspiring for liberation) always/everyday; successively by Yogis.

The all pervading supreme Goddess Shakti/Shivaa is reachable by devotion/affection

यस्य पुंसां परा शक्तिर्भावगम्या मनोहरा |
निर्गुणा स्वगुणेरैव निगूढा निष्कला शिवा || 12 ||

The Purusha's (God's) higher energy Shivaa is reachable by affection, attractive, formless, hidden by her own characteristics only, all pervading.

The whole universe is lighted up by the God of everyone

यस्य भासा विभातीदञ्जगत्सर्वं समन्ततः |
सर्वैश्वर्येण संपन्नो नाम्ना सर्वेश्वरः स्वयम् || 10 ||

 

With whose brilliance, this whole universe is lighted up from all sides, is the God of everyone himself, endowed with all characteristics of Godliness.

The main meaning of Pranava

प्रणवार्थः शिवः साक्षात्प्राधान्येन प्रकीर्तितः |

श्रुतिषु स्मृतिशास्त्रेषु पुराणेष्वागमेषु च || 6 ||

 

The main meaning of the Pranava (Om, the primordial sound) is said to be Shiva in visible form, in Shrutis, Smritis, Puranas and Agamas.

People do not know the great God

संन्यासविधिवर्णनं नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः

Renunciation procedure description Chapter 12

श्रीब्रह्मण्य उवाच |

Kartikeya said (to sage Vamadeva)

न जानन्ति परम् साक्षात्प्रणवार्थं महेश्वरम् |
सगुणं निर्गुणं ब्रह्म त्रिदेवजनकं परम् || 4 ||

(Living beings under the influence of Maya) do not know the highest great God in visible form, the meaning of the Pranava (Om, the primordial sound), with form as well as without form, the supreme element and the father of the three Devas (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).

Om is everything

वामदेव उवाच |

 

Sage Vamadeva said (to Kartikeya)

 

ओमितीदं सर्वमिति श्रुतिराह सनातनी | 49

 

Om is all this (universe), so said the eternal Shrutis (Vedas).

This repeats in Chapter 16, shloka 52

Chapter 11

वामदेवब्रह्मवर्णनं नामैकादशोऽध्यायः

Vamadeva's Brahma description Chapter 11

ब्रह्मण्य उवाच |

Kartikeya said (to sage Vamadeva)

तथापि धर्मरक्षायै लोकानुग्रहकाङ्क्षया |
त्वादृशाः साधवः सन्ता विचरन्ति महीतले || 41 ||

 

(You have no desires but) still sages and saints like you wander the earth for the sake of protecting Dharma and with the desire to make things easier for the world.

How ascetics should meditate

मूलादिब्रह्मरन्ध्रान्तं षट्चक्रं परिचिन्तयेत् |
विद्युत्कोटि समप्रख्यं सर्वतेजोमयं परम् || 7 ||
तन्मध्ये चिन्तयेन्मां च सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहम् |
निर्गुणं परमं ब्रह्म सदाशिवमनामयम् || 8 ||

One should think of (meditate on) the six chakras from the Muladhara to the Brahmarandhra (Sahasrara) known to be highly brilliant like a lot of lightning/electricity.
And among those, one should think of me, an image of sachchidananda, the supreme element beyond characteristics of nature, always kind and pure.

whatever I do be really the great God's worship

प्रातःप्रभृति सायान्ते सायादिप्रातरन्ततः |
यत्करोमि महादेव तदस्तु तव पूजनम् || 5 ||

Since the morning to the end of the evening, (and) starting from
evening to morning, may whatever I do be really the great God's
worship. (So should one think.)

An ascetic should wake up in Brahma Muhurta and meditate on one's Guru

संन्यासाचारवर्णनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः

Renunciation behaviour description Chapter 4

ईश्वर उवाच |

God said (to supreme Goddess Parvati)

ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते उत्थाय शिरसि श्वेतपङ्कजे |
सहस्रारे समासीनं गुरुं सञ्चिन्तयेद्यतिः || 2 ||

An ascetic should wake up in Brahma muhurta (96 to 48 minutes before sunrise), (and) think of (or meditate on one's) Guru sitting on the white lotus of the Sahasrara (chakra on the crown) of the head.

Kailasa Samhita starts, Guru and Lord Shiva are to be seen as the same

कैलाससंहितायां संन्यासपद्धतिवर्णनं नाम तृतीयोऽध्यायः

Kailasa Samhita, Renunciation method description Chapter 3

ईश्वर उवाच |

God said (to supreme Goddess Parvati)

यो गुरुः स शिवः प्रोक्तो यः शिवः स गुरुः स्मृतः | 42

One who is Guru is also called Shiva (a disciple should see the Guru as God); one who is Shiva is also considered to be the Guru (God and Guru should be the same element for a disciple).

The same sentence, the same half-shloka also appears in Guru Gita (18^th of 214 shlokas), which is a part of Uttarakhand of Skanda Purana. There too, God says this same thing to the supreme Goddess. For this very reason, Guru Gita is also called Shiva Gita.

This sentence also repeats in Chapter 12 of Kailasa Samhita, where Kartikeya tells this to sage Vamadeva.

Navaratri vrat very important

आश्विने धवले पक्षे नवरात्रव्रतं चरेत् |
यत्कृते सकलाः कामाः सिद्ध्यन्त्येव न संशयः || 73 ||
नवरात्रव्रतं कृत्वा भूपालो विरथात्मजः |
हृतं राज्यं निजं लेभे सुरथो मुनिसत्तमाः || 75 ||

One should carry out the Navaratra vow in the bright fortnight of Ashvina. By doing that all desires really get fulfilled, no doubt.
Best of the sages, after carrying out the Navaratra vow, king Suratha, the son of Viratha, got back his kingdom which was taken over (by another king).

Bhavani vrat on Chaitra shukla tritiya

चैत्रशुक्लतृतियायां यो भवानीव्रतं चरेत् |
भवबन्धननिर्मुक्तः प्राप्नुयात् परमं पदम् || 54 ||

One who carries out the Bhavani vow on Chaitra, third of the bright fortnight, gets released from the bonds of the world and obtains the highest state.

Those who speak the two lettered name Uma

ये व्रजन्तः स्वपन्तश्च तिष्ठन्तो वाप्यहर्निशम् |
उमेति द्वयक्षरं नाम ब्रुवते ते शिवागणाः || 36 ||

Those who while walking, sleeping or standing speak the two lettered name Uma day and night are assistants of the supreme Goddess.

Chapter 51 (Continued)

मनसा ये चिकीर्षन्ति मूर्तिस्थापनमुत्तमम् |
तेऽप्युमायाः परं लोकं प्रयान्ति मुनिदुर्लभम् || 32 ||

Those who think (desire/dream) in their mind of establishing a wonderful idol (and building a temple of the supreme Goddess), they also go to Umaloka (after death) which is difficult even for sages.

Sins committed over a lot of lives are also destroyed

कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं स्वल्पं वा यदि वा बहु |
श्रीमातुर्मन्दिरारम्भक्षणादेव प्रणश्यति || 15 ||

Sins committed over a lot of lives, little bit or in plenty, get destroyed the moment the temple of Mother Goddess is started.

Tremendous rewards for those who get a temple of the supreme Goddess built

यस्तु देव्यालयं कुर्यात्पाषाणं दारवं तथा |
मृन्मयं वाथ कालेय तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु |
अहन्यहनि योगेन यजतो यन्महाफलम् || 13
प्राप्नोति तत्फलं देव्या यः कारयति मन्दिरम् | 14

One who builds a temple of the Goddess, of stone and wood or clay/mud or a certain kind of wood, hear the fruit of his merits. The great fruit one gets by worshipping day after day through yoga, that fruits one gets who gets a temple built.

Karmayoga leads to liberation through devotion and knowledge

कर्मयोगनिरूपणं नामैकपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः

 

Karmayoga description Chapter 51

 

सनत्कुमार उवाच |

 

Sanatkumar said (to sage Vyasa)

 

कर्मणा जायते भक्तिर्भक्त्या ज्ञानं प्रजायते |

ज्ञानात्प्रजायते मुक्तिरिति शास्त्रेषु निश्चयः || 10 ||

From actions is devotion born, from devotion is knowledge born, from knowledge is born liberation, so do the scriptures conclude.

The supreme Goddess is the Prakriti of the great God

अद्वितियो महेशानः परब्रह्म सदाशिवः |
यत्तत्त्वं न विदुर्वेदा विष्ण्वादीनां च का कथा || 59 ||
तस्याहं प्रकृतिः सूक्ष्मा कथमन्यं पतिं वृणे |
सिंही कामातुरा नैव जम्बुकं वृणुते क्वचित् || 60 ||

The great God, the supreme element, always auspicious, second to none – the element which Vedas do not know, what to say about Lord Vishnu, etc.?
I am its/his subtle Prakriti. How will I take another husband? Even a lust-crazed lioness will never accept a jackal.

Dhumralochana was burnt up by the breath of the great Goddess

इत्युक्तस्तामन्वधावद्दानवो धूम्रलोचनः |
हुंकारोच्चारणेनैव तं ददाह महेश्वरी || 50 ||
ततः प्रभृति सा देवी धुमावत्युच्यते भुवि |

 

Having said that, the demon Dhumralochana ran up (towards her). With just her breath making a sound hmmm, the great Goddess burnt him (to death).
Since then, that Goddess is called Dhumavati on the earth.

Supreme Goddess attracts the demons to fight with her

धूम्रलोचनचण्डमुण्डरक्तबिजवधो नाम सप्तचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः

 

Dhumralochana, Chanda, Munda and Raktabija killing Chapter 47

 

देव्युवाच |

 

Goddess (incarnation of supreme Goddess Uma, called Dhumavati) said (to demon Sugriva, the messenger of Shumbha)

 

सत्यं वदसि भो दूत नानृतं किञ्चिदुच्यते |

परन्त्वेका कृता पूर्वं प्रतिज्ञा तां निबोध मे || 40 ||

यो मे दर्पं विधुनुते यो मां जयति संगरे |

उत्सहे तमहं कर्तुं पतिं नान्यमिति ध्रुवम् || 41 ||

 

Messenger, you are saying the truth, nothing (of what you said) is called untrue. But one vow made in the past, that you listen from me.
One who shakes up my pride (humbles me), one who wins against me in a fight – I will eagerly make him my husband, certainly nobody else.

The Supreme Goddess incarnates age after age

निर्विकारापि साकारा निराकारापि देव्युमा |
देवानां तापनाशार्थं प्रादुरासीद्युगे युगे || 77 ||

Goddess Uma, without defects, with form, yet without form appears/incarnates in age after age for destroying the sufferings of the Devas.

Date of birth of Goddess Mahakali

ऋषिरुवाच |

 

Sage said (to King Suratha with the merchant Samadhi)

 

द्वादश्यां फाल्गुनस्यैव शुक्लायां समभून्नृप |

महाकालीति विख्याता शक्तिस्त्रैलोक्यमोहिनी || 67 ||

 

King, on the twelfth of the brighter half of Falguna only, Goddess Shakti, who causes moha (illusion/confusion) to the three worlds, known as Mahakali, appeared (was born).

With the might of Supreme Goddess Mahakalika

ब्रह्मोवाच |

Brahma said (to Goddess Mahakalika)

त्वत्प्रभावादहं ब्रह्मा माधवो गिरिजापतिः |
सृजत्यवति संसारं काले संहरतीति च || 60 ||

With your might, I, Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva create,
maintain and in time (at the right time) destroy the material world.

Madhu and Kaitabha demons were born of ear wax

तदा द्वावसुरौ जातौ विष्णोः कर्णमलेन वै |
मधुकैटभनामानौ विख्यातौ पृथिवीतले || 53 ||

Then two demons were born actually of ear dirt (wax) of Lord Vishnu, with the names Madhu and Kaitabha, well known on the earth.

These events (meeting of King Suratha, merchant Samadhi and the sage, who tells how the supreme Goddess killed various demons) are described in more detail in Durga Saptashati (Devi Mahatmyam), which is a part of Markandeya Purana.

The supreme Goddess who creates, maintains and destroys the universe can help overcome Maya

सा सृजत्यखिलं विश्वं सैव पालयतीति च |

सैव संहरते काले त्रिगुणा परमेश्वरी || 49 ||
यस्योपरि प्रसन्ना सा वरदा कामरूपिणी |

सा एव मोहमत्येति नान्यथा नृपसत्तम || 50 ||

She creates the entire universe and she only maintains it. She only (she herself) destroys it in time (at the right time), the supreme Goddess with three characteristics (of nature – sattva, rajas and tamas).
She who takes any form she desires gives boons to ones (she) is pleased with. Best of the kings, only she can help one overcome the confusion/illusion, not otherwise.

The supreme Goddess is Mahamaya and is the mother of the universe

महाकालिकावतारवर्णनं नाम पञ्चचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः

 

Mahakalika incarnation description Chapter 45

 

ऋषिरुवाच |

 

Sage said (to King Suratha with the merchant Samadhi)

 

महामाया जगद्धात्री शक्तिरूपा सनातनी |

सा मोहयति सर्वेषां समाकृष्य मनान्सि वै || 47 ||

ब्रह्मादयः सुरा सर्वे यन्मायामोहिताः प्रभो |

न जानन्ति परं तत्त्वं मनुष्याणां च का कथा || 48 ||

 

(The supreme Goddess is) the great illusionary power (Maya), mother of the universe, eternal, in the form of energy. She causes illusion/infatuation to everyone indeed by attracting (their) minds.
Lord (King Suratha), the Maya (illusionary power) by which (even) Brahma, etc. (Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and) all Devas have been deluded/infatuated do not know the highest element. (Then) what to talk of the humans?

God himself made sage Vyasa compose the Puranas

बाल उवाच |

(God in the form of a) child said (to sage Vyasa)

कण्ठे स्थित्वा तव ब्रह्मन्नन्तर्याम्यहमीश्वरः |
सेतिहासपुराणानि सम्यङ्निर्मापयाम्यहम् || 113 ||

Staying on your neck/throat, I, the God, Brahman (divine element), one who is inside (or soul), I will properly create/construct Puranas with history.

This adds a lot of weight to the Puranas. The great God himself made sage Vyasa compose them, and "properly".

Kashi (Varanasi) is where the God of the universe and supreme Goddess live

व्यासोत्पत्तिवर्णनं नाम चतुश्चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः

 

Vyasa emergence (story of his birth) description Chapter 44

 

सूत उवाच |

 

Suta Goswami said (to the sages)

 

यत्र विश्वेश्वरः साक्षादन्नपूर्णा महेश्वरी |

भक्तानाममृतं दातुं विराजेते कृपानिधी || 51 ||

प्राप्य वाराणसीतीर्थं दृष्ट्वाऽथ मणिकर्णिकाम् |

कोटिजन्मार्जितं पापं तत्याज च स मुनीश्वरः || 52 ||

 

(Kashi is) where the God of the universe in visible form (and) Annapurna, the great Goddess, an ocean of mercy, live for giving liberation to devotees.
Great sage, he (sage Vyasa) having reached Varanasi tirtha (place of pilgimage – the whole city) and having seen Manikarnika (on the bank of river Ganga, close to Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga temple) gave up the sins accumulated over plenty of lives.

The lineage after Lord Rama

रामस्य तनयो जज्ञे कुश इत्यतिविश्रुतः |

अतिथिस्तु कुशाज्जज्ञे निषधस्तस्य चात्मजः || 19 ||
निषधस्य नलः पुत्रो नभः पुत्रो नलस्य तु |

नभसः पुण्डरीकश्च क्षेमधन्वा ततः स्मृतः || 20 ||

As Rama's son, Kusha was born, which is very well known. Atithi was indeed born of Kusha, and Nishadha (was) his (Atithi's) son.
Nala (was) the son of Nishadha, Nabha (was) indeed the son of Nala, and Pundarika (was the son) of Nala; Kshemadhanva (was) his (son).

The lineage is described further in the chapter including the sons to occur in future from the time this Purana was spoken.

Lineage of the Sun through Lord Rama

वैवस्वतवंशोद्भवराजवर्णनं नामैकोनचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः

Lineage of the Sun, its emergence and kings' description Chapter 39

सूत उवाच |

Suta Goswami said (to the sages)

दीर्घबाहुः सुतस्तस्य रघुस्तस्याभवत्सुतः |
अजस्तस्य तु पुत्रोऽभूत्तस्माद्दशरथोऽभवत् || 16 ||

रामो दशरथाज्जज्ञे धर्मात्मा यो महायशाः |
स विष्ण्वंशो महाशैवः पौलस्त्यो येन घातितः || 17 ||
तच्चरित्रं च बहुधा पुराणेषु प्रवर्णितम् |

रामायणे प्रसिद्धं हि नातः प्रोक्तं तु विस्तरात् || 18 ||

Dirghabahu was his son, Raghu became his (Dirghabahu's) son, Aja indeed became his (Raghu's) son; from him became Dasharatha.
Rama, the great soul of Dharma who had great fame, was born of Dasharatha. He was a little part of Lord Vishnu, a great follower of Lord Shiva, by whom Ravana (Paulastya) was killed.
And his life events have been described in many ways in the Puranas. (It is) really well known in Ramayana. Therefore, it is not spoken (here) in detail.