The Manifestation of Goddess Kali and the Slaying of Raktabeeja
Maharishi Medha said – When the Asura king Shumbha heard that Chanda and Munda had been slain and that a large part of his army had been destroyed, he was filled with rage and ordered his entire force to prepare for battle. He commanded, “Let the eighty-six commanders known as Udayudha march with their armies. Let the eighty-four commanders called Kambu also go forth. Let the fifty commanders known as Kotivirya and the hundred commanders of the Dhumra clan set out for war. Let Kalaka, Dauhrida, Maurya and Kalakeya also arm themselves and march at once.”
After issuing these commands, the fierce ruler of the Asuras, Shumbha, advanced with an enormous army. Seeing the vast force approaching, Chandika drew Her bow and released a thunderous twang that echoed through the space between Earth and sky.
O King, the Goddess’s lion then began to roar, and the ringing of Ambika’s bell made the sound even more overwhelming. The twang of the bow, the roar of the lion and the peal of the bell filled the heavens and the Earth with their terrible sound. The Goddess too assumed an even fiercer expression. Hearing that tremendous noise, the Asura army surrounded the Goddess and Her lion from every side.
O King, at that moment, for the destruction of the Daityas and the protection of the Devas, the divine Shaktis of Brahma, Shiva, Kartikeya, Vishnu, Indra and the other Devas emerged from their bodies and came to Chandika. Each Shakti appeared in the form of the Deva from whom She had emerged, bearing the same ornaments, weapons and Vahana.
Brahma’s Shakti came seated in a swan-drawn Vimana, carrying a Rudraksha Mala and Kamandalu. Maheshwari, the Shakti of Lord Shankar, arrived riding a bull, holding a Trishul, adorned with a great serpent as a bracelet and crowned with the crescent Moon. Kaumari, the Shakti of Kartikeya, came riding a peacock and carrying a Shakti weapon, appearing in the very form of Kartikeya.
Vaishnavi, the Shakti of Lord Vishnu, came riding upon Garuda, carrying the Shankha, Chakra, Sharanga bow, Gada and Khadga. Varahi, another Shakti of Shri Hari, appeared in the form of a boar. Narasimhi also manifested in a form resembling Narasimha, and the force of Her movements seemed powerful enough to shake the stars from the sky. In the same way, Aindri, the Shakti of Devaraj Indra, arrived seated upon Airavata.
Surrounded by these divine Shaktis, Lord Shankar said to Chandika, “For My satisfaction, destroy these Asuras without delay.”
Then from the body of the Goddess emerged another fierce Shakti, terrifying in form and crying out with a sound like hundreds of jackals. This invincible Goddess addressed Lord Shankar, whose matted hair was ash-grey, and said, “O Lord, go as My messenger to Shumbha and Nishumbha. Tell those arrogant Daityas, and all the others who have gathered there for battle: if you wish to live, return the sovereignty of the three worlds to Indra. Let the Devas once again receive their rightful shares of the Yajnas, and you return to Patal. But if, out of pride in your strength, you still desire battle, then come. My Yoginis shall be satisfied with your flesh.”
Because the Goddess appointed Lord Shankar Himself as Her messenger, She became known throughout the world as Shivaduti.
When the Daityas received the Goddess’s message through Lord Shankar, their anger knew no bounds. They rushed to the place where the Goddess stood and immediately began showering Her with arrows, Shakti weapons, Trishuls and axes. But the Goddess cut down every weapon with Her own arrows.
Kali stood at the forefront beside the Goddess, piercing the enemies with Her Trishul and crushing them with Her Khatvanga. Wherever Brahmani moved, She sprinkled water from Her Kamandalu, draining the strength and vigour of the Daityas. Maheshwari struck them down with Her Trishul, Vaishnavi with Her Chakra, and Kaumari, blazing with anger, with Her Shakti weapon. With the blows of Aindri’s Vajra, hundreds of Daityas fell to the ground, their blood flowing across the battlefield.
Varahi killed many Rakshasas with Her snout and tore open the chests of others with the tips of Her tusks. She struck down many more with Her Chakra. Narasimhi ripped apart great Asuras with Her claws and devoured them, roaming through the battlefield while Her roar echoed in all directions. At the terrible laughter of Shivaduti, many Daityas collapsed in fear, and as soon as they fell, She devoured them.
Seeing mighty Asuras being destroyed in so many ways by the enraged Matrikas, the remaining Rakshasa army began to flee. At that moment, the immensely powerful Asura Raktabeeja stepped forward in fury.
Raktabeeja possessed a terrifying power: whenever even a single drop of his blood fell upon the Earth, another Asura exactly like him, equal in strength and form, immediately arose from that drop.
Holding a Gada, Raktabeeja attacked Aindri. When She struck him with Her Vajra, blood poured from his wounded body. From every drop that fell, another mighty and fearsome Asura sprang forth, equal to Raktabeeja in strength and power. These new Daityas, armed with terrible weapons, immediately joined the battle against the Goddesses.
When Aindri struck Raktabeeja on the head with Her Vajra and more blood began to flow, thousands of warriors were born from it. Vaishnavi struck him with Her Chakra, and Aindri attacked with Her Gada. The blood that flowed from the wounds caused by Vaishnavi’s Chakra gave rise to thousands more powerful Asuras, until they seemed to fill the entire world.
Kaumari wounded him with Her Shakti, Varahi struck him with Her Khadga, and Maheshwari pierced him with Her Trishul. Enraged, the great Daitya attacked each of the Matrikas with his Gada, while they continued to strike him again and again with Shakti weapons, Shulas and other divine weapons. But every wound caused more blood to fall, and from that blood hundreds of new Asuras arose.
Before long, the entire world seemed filled with the Daityas born from Raktabeeja’s blood, and the Devas became afraid. Seeing their fear, Chandika turned to Kali and said:
“O Chamunde, open Your mouth wide. As I strike Raktabeeja, drink every drop of blood that flows from his body before it can reach the ground. Devour at once every Asura that arises from those drops. Move across the battlefield consuming them all. In this way, once his blood is exhausted, this Daitya will be destroyed, and no new Asuras will be born.”
Having said this, Chandika struck Raktabeeja with Her Trishul, while Kali immediately drank the blood that flowed from the wound. Raktabeeja struck Chandika with his Gada, but the blow caused Her no harm. More blood poured from his body, yet before a single drop could touch the ground, Kali caught it in Her mouth.
Whenever Asuras arose from the blood already within Her mouth, Kali devoured them immediately and continued drinking every drop that flowed from Raktabeeja’s body.
Then Chandika attacked Raktabeeja again and again with Vajra, arrows, Khadga, Rishti and other weapons. With Kali drinking all his blood, no new Asuras could arise. Deprived of his blood and struck repeatedly by the divine weapons, the mighty Raktabeeja finally fell dead upon the Earth.
O King, when Raktabeeja fell, the Devas were filled with immense joy. The Matrikas, exhilarated after drinking the blood of the Asuras, began to dance upon the battlefield.