King Janamejaya requested Maharshi Veda Vyasa to narrate some previous illustrations of devotion to Chandika Devi securing Salvation. There was a King of virtuosity named Suratha who ruled his subjects well and earned popularity. But, some Mlecchyas attacked and defeated his Kingdom and he had to take refuge in a hermitage of a Muni and practised Tapasya till better days could return to revive his Kingship again. Meanwhile a Vysya named Samadhi too sought refuge in the hermitage as his wife and sons became greedy and threw him out of the house. The Muni described to the King and the Vysya about the kindness of Devi Maya whose sincere devotion would never fail. But the power of Maya or illusion was so powerful that even Brahma, Vishnu and Maha Deva were never exempt from its mighty pull. When Brahma and Vishnu had an argument as to who was more important, they found a ‘Linga’ or a never ending stone formation, whose depth and height were never known. Brahma said that he would ascertain the Linga’s height and flew up, while Vishnu went down to find out its depth. Both of them were tired going up and down for several years, but could not get a clue. But Brahma said that he found out the height and a Ketaki flower was a witness.When asked for confirmation the flower said that Brahma did reach the top. A voice was heard saying that both Brahma and the Ketaki flower were lying, because the flower rolled down from a height while Brahma caught hold of it. Since then Maha Deva cursed the flower that it should never be used for worshipping Him. Such was the power of Maha Maya that even Brahma or Vishnu could not comprehend It. The three ‘Gunas’ of Satvika, Rajas and Tamas had such a mighty pull that even Trinity were victims of these, let alone others! The Sage described that the ‘Moola Prakriti’ or the Super Force had no beginning nor end. She is Eternal, the Cause of Causes, the Vital Force residing in all beings. She is the all pervading innner consciouness or the ‘Brahman’ and a reflection of the beings, like Fire present in Fire only, rain present in rain only, sunshine present in sunshine only but not in any other form. She is the doer, the doing and the deed. She is Sarasvati of Brahma, Maha Lakshmi of Maha Vishnu and Parvati of Maha Deva. She is the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Devi Chandika’s Bija (Seed) Mantra is: Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vicchhe. When King Suratha and Vaisya ‘Samadhi’ performed meditation as suggested by the Muni, they were relieved of their respective difficulties. The King regained his throne as Mlecchas were overthrown. Vaisya ‘Samadhi’ too adopted a typical life of hermitage shedding his worldly desires.
