HAPPY MAHALAYA~BE BLESSED BY GODDESS DURGS THE MAHADEVI:

Dear readers, Be ready to welcome the beloved consort of SHIVA who is descending on Earth every year (tomorrow morning in BRAHMA-MUHURAT) in the form of Supreme Power of the Universe - DURGA. Hindu scriptures discribed this day of Her devolvement as Mahalaya.

Mahalaya marks the start of the 'Devipaksha' (Holy phase of Mother Goddess)and the end of the 'Pitri-paksha' (phase of paternal ancestors for sacramental ceremony). The traditional six day countdown to Mahasaptami starts from Mahalaya. This new moon day is also known as Pitru Amavasya, Sarvapitri amavasya, Peddala Amavasya, Mahalaya amavasya or simply Mahalaya.

Mahalaya is an auspicious occasion observed seven days before Maha Saptami, and heralds the advent of Durga, the goddess of Supreme Power. It's a kind of invocation or invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth. This is done through the chanting of mantras from Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran.

The Story of “Mahishasura Mardini”:

The story element is captivating. It speaks of the increasing cruelty of the demon king Mahishasura against the gods. Unable to tolerate his tyranny the gods plead with Vishnu to annihilate the demon. The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara (Shiva) come together to create a powerful female form with ten arms - Goddess Durga or 'Mahamaya', the Mother of the Universe who embodies the primeval source of all power.

The gods then bestow upon this Supreme creation their individual blessings and weapons. Armed like a warrior, the goddess rides a lion to battle with the Mahisasura. After a fierce combat the 'Durgatinashini' is able to slay the 'Asura' king with her trident. Heaven and earth rejoice at her victory. Finally, the mantra narration ends with the refrain of mankind's supplication before this Supreme Power: Aparajita Stuti.

Aparajita Stuti: “Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu” (या देवी सर्वभुतेषु) is a part of the legendary holy verses of "Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran that tells the story of the descent of Durga to earth. Click on the below given title to watch a complete video of:

Aparajita Stuti

Here I bow to MAHADEVI and dedicate the "Aparajita Stuti" from Devi Mahatmyam, Saluting her again and again:

नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः ।
नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम् ॥१॥

MEANING:
Salutations to the Devi, to the Mahadevi; Salutations Always to Her Who is One with Shiva (the Auspicious One).
Salutations to Her Who is the Auspicious (being One with Shiva) Primordial Source of Creation and Controller of Everything; We Bow Always to Her.

रौद्रायै नमो नित्यायै गौर्यै धात्र्यै नमो नमः ।
ज्योत्स्नायै चेन्दुरूपिण्यै सुखायै सततं नमः ॥२॥

MEANING:
Salutations to the Terrible, Salutations to the Eternal, the Shining One and the Supporter of the Universe.
Salutations Always to Her, Who has a Cool Brightness like the Moonlit Night, And the Radiant Form of the Moon, and Who is Joy Herself.

कल्याण्यै प्रणता वृद्धयै सिद्धयै कुर्मो नमो नमः ।
नैर्ऋत्यै भूभृतां लक्ष्म्यै शर्वाण्यै ते नमो नमः ॥३॥

MEANING:
We Bow to Her Who is the Source of Welfare, Who is Great, Fulfilled and Abides as the Universe.
Salutations to Her Who is the Destroyer as well as the Prosperity which Supports the Earth and Who is the Consort of Shiva (in the Divine Play of Creation, Sustenance and Destruction).

दुर्गायै दुर्गपारायै सारायै सर्वकारिण्यै ।
ख्यात्यै तथैव कृष्णायै धूम्रायै सततं नमः ॥४॥

MEANING:
Salutations to Durga, Who helps us in Crossing over the Difficulties and Dangers of Life and Who is the Essence of All Causes.

Salutations Always to Her, Who is Renowned and Widely Known Outside (in Creation) Just As She is Dark and Smoky and Difficult to Know Inside (in Meditation).

अतिसौम्यातिरौद्रायै नतास्तस्यै नमो नमः ।
नमो जगत्प्रतिष्ठायै देव्यै कृत्यै नमो नमः ॥५॥

MEANING:
Salutations to Her Who is Extremely Gentle like the Moon and also Extremely Terrible like Rudra.

Salutations to the Devi Who is the Supporter of the Universe and Salutations to Her Who is the Creator of the Universe.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु विष्णुमायेति शब्दिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥६॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Called Vishnumaya.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु चेतनेत्यभिधीयते ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥७॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Reflected as Consciousness.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥८॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Intelligence.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु निद्रारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥९॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Sleep.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु क्षुधारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१०॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Hunger.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु छायारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥११॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Shadow (of Higher Self) (Jivatma as a Shadow of Paramatma),
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१२॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Power.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु तृष्णारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१३॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Thirst.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु क्षान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१४॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Forbearance.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु जातिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१५॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Genus (Original Cause of Everything).
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु लज्जारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१६॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Modesty.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१७॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Peace.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु श्रद्धारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१८॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Faith (in Higher Self).
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु कान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१९॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Loveliness and Beauty.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२०॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Good Fortune.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु वृत्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२१॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Activity.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु स्मृतिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२२॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Memory.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु दयारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२३॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Kindness.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु तुष्टिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२४॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Contentment.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२५॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Mother.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु भ्रान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२६॥

MEANING:
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Delusion.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

इन्द्रियाणामधिष्ठात्री भुतानां चाखिलेषु या ।
भूतेषु सततं तस्यै व्याप्तिदेव्यै नमो नमः ॥२७॥

MEANING:
Salutations To that Devi Who Governs the Faculty of Senses of Beings in All the Worlds.
Salutations to Her Who is the Devi Who Always Pervades all Beings.

चितिरूपेण या कृत्स्नमेतद्व्याप्य स्थिता जगत् ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥२८॥

MEANING:
Salutations to Her Who in the Form of Consciousness Pervades This Universe and Abides in It.
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

ॐ ~ψ~ || या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः || ~ψ~ ॐ

Hope you too will get involved your self in Mahalaya recital during this seven days.

May Mother Goddess Durga bless you all.....