Devi Mahatmya

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Hindu texts

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The Devi Mahatmya is a Hindu scripture in Sanskrit containing 700 verses, arranged into 13 chapters. It extols goddess Devi and her manifestations. The Devi Mahatmya is part of the Markandeya Purana, a larger text of Hindu mythology and stories. In modern time, the Devi Mahatmya is also known by two other names: Sri Durga Saptashi, that is seven-hundred verses to the goddess Durga) and Chandi-Patha.

The oldest surviving manuscript of the text, on palm-leaf, in an early Bhujimol script, Bihar or Nepal, 11th century.

Devi Mahatmya is a collection of seven hundred hymns devoted to the deeds and exploits of Hindu mother goddess Durga. They state the background of her emergence, at the invocation of a number of gods of the Hindus, Durga in her various aspects, including Kali. These hymns recount her deeds and her encounters with a number of asuras (demons), and her ultimate victories over the asuras. It is believed to be crystallized in its present form during the 9th century-10th century, and is believed to be originally authored by rishi Markandeya. However, A single verse of the text appears in an inscription (dated 608) on the Dadhimatimata temple in the former kingdom of Jodhpur. This indicates the antiquity of the work.

Reference

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna Dallapiccola

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