THE STORY OF MAHA SARASWATI

After Maha Kali and Maha Lakshmi in the first two charitas, now comes the last uttama charita, the best story, of our Mother.KILLING OF SUMBHA: Two brothers, Sumbha and Nisumbha, sons of Sunda and Upasunda, the well known asuras of the house of the demon, Hiranyakasipu, were engaged in severe austerities from their very boyhood and by the sheer force of their tapas, succeeded in getting an audience with Brahma, who granted them all their desires in addition to the boon (at their own request) that they would not meet death at the hands of gods or men except at the instance of a kanya, a virgin who was not born of a mother's womb, ayonija.Then, puffed up with pride and power, the brothers challenged Indra, took away his rights and privileges enjoyed in yajnas (sacrifices), displaced him from his position as king of gods, established their rule everywhere, enjoying the rights and positions of the devas. The gods assembled and, remembering the promise of the Devi to come to their help when needed, went to himalayas and offered their prayers to Her in their distress, invoking her presence and help.The Mother was moved. She made her appearance before them in a very attractive form, at once luminous, charming and graceful. The asuras were there, the leaders, messangers and the party of the demon king, Sumbha. They were infatuated by the melting beauty of her form and made overtures to her to become the spouse of their king.Many generals were sent for the purpose including Dhoomralochana, Chanda and Munda who met their fate at the hands of laughing Mother, who is therefore called Chamunda. Then came the turn of Raktabija who was so called because every drop of his blood touching the ground would produce an asura, a fighter equal to him. But without allowing a drop of blood to fall on the ground, the Mother finished with him. Then came in person Sumbha and Nisumbha, who attacked the Devi but in vain and were struck down by the Mother. Virile and vehement in her attacks single handed against Sumbha, she is referred to as Chandi or Chandika.When the work of the Devi was finishes, the gods adored her and chanted many hymns in praise of her. The Mother was pleased and once again gave her word of assurance to stand by the side of the gods in times of need and stress and also declared that she would ever be present in places where these hymns are read and used in prayers. Finally, the Devi spoke of her future incarnations.This is the divine story of Maha Sarasvati (called Sumbha damani), the goddess who presides over SATTVA, the balancing quality of universal calm amidst all activity and tribulations of external nature or in the inner existence.