"Shree Skanda-Purana" is Divinely Unique. Volumes of Astonishing, Hair-Raising and Heart-Stopping Plots with associative arrays so heart-stirring...Words fail me here...
Actually, to speak in a "Honest to GOD" way, every time I read "Shree Lalitopakhyana" or the Stories from "Shree Skanda-Purana" or "Agni-Purana" (read the Story of The Appearance of The Ferocious Avatara of Shreemati MahaLakshmi-Devi from "Shree Agni-Purana", it will devoid you of sleep due to Love and Emotions) I feel like I am among the Most Darling Relatives in the World.
The Girlish Part of Puranas always make you feel like you would like to be a dasi of The Ishvari, you are listening to about.
When you, for example, read how Shreemati MahaLakshmi-Devi Drinks the wine from the gobblet and then Destroys everything around (in The Adhyay from "Shree Agni-Purana"), your only musing is: "What The Incredible GIRL MAHALAKSHMI IS, I want to be totally crushed by my girlish love for HER and I want to be only near HER as one from the trillion of Her dasis in order to serve HER".
What is "Shree Vajrapanjara Stotra of Shreemati Durga-Devi"?
This Sui Generis Stotra is running after the Story of The Appearance of Shreemati Durga-Devi.
In Sanskrit "वज्रपञ्जर - vajrapaJjara" means either "Very Secure Shelter" or "Adamantine Cage" or "The Diamond Fort".
Actually, it is not The Stotra but STOTRA + KAVACHA and I was tremendously amazed, when started to read This Stotra as Stotra and started encountering the patterns like "Shiro me patu", inherent to Kavachas...
Then I was in a state of a sheer shock, which had been aggravated by the fact that The Namas of The Chief Shaktis of Shreemati Durga-Devi are being called to the attention in The Stotra too.
So, as you see The Stotra is really Heart-Blasting...
As for me, I am not going to add This Stotra-Kavacha to my sadhana, as I am totally addicted to my MahaLakshmi-Kavachas and Vishnu-Kavachas.
But if you a Dasi of Adi-Shakti and just build/rebuild your SHAKTI-SADHANA, then do all the possible to learn This Stotra in Sanskrit.
WHERE TO FIND "SHREE VAJRAPANJARA STOTRA OF SHREEMATI DURGA-DEVI":
1) ENGLISH: It is Volume 11, Chapter 72, page 220 in the 2002 Motilal Banasirdass Edition of "Shree Skanda-Purana" (there is no use in English Variant from practical point of view, as all The Sanskrit Prayers must be recited ONLY IN SANSKRIT).
2) SANSKRIT: "Shree Skanda-Purana", Book IV, Kashi-Khanda, UttarArdha, Adhyay 72
CRUCIAL: Don't confuse DurgA (दुर्गा - durgA: The Name Of Shreemati Durga-Devi ParaIshvari) and Durga (दुर्ग - durga: the name of the demon, crushed by Shreemati Durga-Devi).
As you see, The Name of Our Adored ParaIshvari has prolonged "A" at the end, while the name of the demon has no prolonged vowels at all.
Now, The English Translation (from Volume 11, Chapter 72, page 220 in the 2002 Motilal Banasirdass Edition of "Shree Skanda-Purana").
Victory of Durga
Agastya said:
1. O Skanda, O son of The Omniscient Lord, O Delighter of The Heart of Shreemati Parvati-Devi, Who were all those Shaktis? Tell Their Names to me.
Skanda said:
2. O Pot-born Sage, I shall tell The Names of Those Great Shaktis born of The Limbs of Shreemati Uma-Devi.
3. TrailokyaVijaya, Tara, Kshama, TrailokyaSundari, Tripura, TrijaganMata, Bhima, TripuraBhairavi,
4. Kamakhya, Kamalakshi, Dhrti, TripuraTapani, Jaya, Jayanti, Vijaya, Jaleshi, Aparajita,
5. Shankhini, GajaVaktra, Mahishaghni, Ranapriya, ShubhaAnanda, KotaRakshi, Vidyujjihva, Shivarava,
6. Trinetra, Trivaktra, Tripada, SarvaMangala, Humkaraheti, Taleshi, Sarpasya, SarvaSundarl,
7. Siddhi, Buddhi, Svadha, Svaha, MahaNidra, Sharasana, Pashapani, KharaMukhi, VajraTara, Sadanana,
8. MayuraVadana, Какi, Shuki, Bhashi, GarutMati, Padmavati, Padmakeshi, Padmasya, PadmaVasini,
9. Akshara, Tryakshara, Tantu, Pranaveshi, SvarAtmika, Trivarga, GarvaRahita, Ajapa, JapaHarini,
10. JapaSiddhi, TapahSiddhi, YogaSiddhi, Para, Amrita, MaitriKrita, MitraNetra, Rakshoghni, DaityaTapani,
11. Stambhani, Mohani, Maya, BahuMaya, BalotKata, Uccatani, Maholkashya, DanujendraKshayamKari,
12. KshemamKari, SiddhiKari, Chinnamasta, Shubhanana, Shakambhari, MokhsaLaksmi, TrivargaPhalaDayini,
13-14. Vartali, Jambhali, Klinna, AshvaRudha, SureShvari, JvalaMukhi and Others. They numbered nine crores.
All of Them were extremely powerful. Sportingly the armies of the mighty Danavas were shrunk by Them like the worlds shrunk by the flames of the fire at the time of the ultimate annihilation.
15-16. In the meantime, Durga, the mighty leader of the Daityas, made a shower of hailstones with the velocity of gusts of winds from behind the clouds. Thereupon, The Esteemed Goddess checked the shower of hailstones by discharging Shoshana ("drying up") missiles.
17-18. Just as a lustful young woman remains unsuccessful even after getting a eunuch, so also the shower of the hailstones by the Daitya was ineffective in regard to Shreemati Durga-Devi.
Thereupon, with the anger due to the sprain in his arms, the king of demons uprooted a peak of mountain and hurled it from the sky above.
19. On noticing the huge mountain peak rushing towards her, she split it into millions of bits by striking it with the thunderbolt.
20. Frequently shaking his head embellished with the earrings, the demon took the form of an elephant and rushed at Shreemati Durga-Devi.
21-22. On seeing the elephant coming forward huge in size like a mountain, Shreemati Durga-Devi bound him with a noose and quickly cut his trunk off with a sword. On the trunk having been cut off by Shreemati Durga-Devi, the elephant excessively trumpeted. Rendered ineffective in his action, he assumed a buffalo’s form.
23-26. Kicking with his hoofs, he made the immovable earth tremble. That powerful animal hurled many boulders and rocks with his horns. Struck down by his exhalation, huge trees fell down on the ground.
The seven vast expanses of water lashed against the shores and overflowed them. The pavilion of the three worlds was shaken by that powerful demon in the form of a great buffalo as though by the violent gusts of wind at the close of the Yugas. The entire Cosmic Egg became bewildered by the sudden, terrible fight. On seeing it, Shreemati Durga-Devi became furious and struck him with Her Trident.
27-28. Flurried on being struck by The Trident, he fell down and rose up again. Abandoning the form of the buffalo he became (a Daitya) with a thousand arms. Invincible (to others) that Durga shone excessively in the battlefield, holding thousands of weapons and resembled Kala, the destroyer.
29-36. Then that highly powerful Daitya king seized Shreemati Durga-Devi (though) an expert in the battle and carried Her quickly along the sky. Thereupon, he hurled The Mother of The Universe far off from the sky. In an instant the highly impetuous Daitya covered her with masses of arrows.
Shreemati Durga-Devi, within the circle of arrows high up in the sky above, shone like a streak of lightning encircled by masses of great clouds.
Dispersing the multitude of arrows perfectly by means of Her Own arrows, Shreemati Durga-Devi pierced the leader of Daityas by means of a great arrow. Pierced in the heart by Shreemati Durga-Devi with that great arrow, he became highly agitated and fell on the ground with eyes rolling about and created a river (of blood) by means of great torrents of his blood. When that Durga of highly impregnable exploits fell down, the divine war drums were beaten. All the worlds became delighted.
The sun and the moon along with fire regained their original splendour. Making a shower of flowers, the Devas came there along with the great sages.
They eulogized MahaIshvari Durga respectfully with great hymns.
The Devas said:
The Prayer of the Devas (Stotra + Kavacha)
37. Obeisance to You, O Goddess, The Nursing Mother of The Universe, The Source of Origin of the three worlds (like the Arani producing fire), O Great Shakti of Maheshvara, O Destroyer of Daityas, like an Axe felling trees.
38. O Shiva pervading the three worlds, O Wielder of The Conch, The Shell, The Chakra and The Club, Obeisance to You in The Form of BHAGAVAN SHREE VISHNU engaged in holding forth in Your Hand Your Own Sharnga Bow.
39. Obeisance to You, O Goddess with The Swan for The Vehicle, O Creatress of all created things. O Ground of Origin of all the worlds without beginning, O Goddess in The Form of the Four-Faced Lord.
40. You are The Shakti of Indra, of Kubera, of Vayu (the Wind-god), of Varuna, of Yama, of Nirrti, of Isha and of Fire-god.
41. You are The Light of the Moon; You are The Shakti of The Sun; You are The Shakti of all the gods; You are The Supreme Goddess.
42. You are Gauri; You are Savitri; You are Gayatri; You are Sarasvati.
You are Prakrti; You are The Cosmic Intellect; You are The Form of The Great Ego.
43. You are in The Form of the mind; You are in The Form of all indriyas (sense-organs). You are in The Form of the Five Tanmatras; O Shreemati Ambika-Devi, You are in The Form of all (gross) elements.
44. You are in The Form (of the qualities like) sound etc. You are THE ONE Who blesses all the organs of action; You are The Creator of the Cosmic Egg, O MahaIshvari. You are identical with the Cosmos.
45. O Great Goddess, You are The Supreme Goddess; You are Greater than the greatest; You are in The Form of The Supreme Soul, Greater than everything beyond.
46. O Ishani, You are in the Embodiment of everything; You Are The Formless One; You Are Present everywhere. O Great Maya, You Are The Power of Consciousness (ChitShakti). O The Immortal One, You Are Svaha and also Svadha.
47. You are in The Form of Vashat and Vaushat; You are in The Form of PRANAVA; You are in The Form of all The Mantras; Brahma and others are born of You.
48. You are in The Form of 4 Purusharthas; You are the Outcome of the Benefit of 4 Purusharthas; this Entire Universe is (born) from You; O Storehouse of the universe, everything is in You.
49. Whatever is visible and invisible, whatever is gross and subtle You are in The Form of Shakti therein. There is nothing anywhere without You.
50. O Mother, the great leader of asuras, Durga***, who had employed the entire host of armies of the Daityas against the genuine Devas (Brahma and others), has been killed by You. O Refuge of those who bow down, we have been protected. Who else is there whom we shall seek as The Refuge?
***Annotation by Vishnudut1926: DURGA is The Name of The Goddess Shreemati Durga-Devi (दुर्गा - durgA), but Durga (दुर्ग - durga) was the name of very despicable asura, killed by Shreemati Durga-Devi. As you see there is difference in the pronunciation (long and ordinary "a"-vowel).
51. O Goddess, only they whom You look with Favour can be prosperous in the world with wealth and grain; only they can be blessed with sons, wives, grandsons and excellent friends; only their fame can spread all over the universe and make it bright as if with rays of the moon.
52. O Consort of The Enemy of Tripura (that is MahaDeva Shiva), not even the least of trouble can befall the people in whose mind there is Devotion unto You. Where can there be distress to the men who bow down unto You? Where is rebirth in the world to those who resort to Your Name throughout their lives?
53. It is surprising, O Bhavani, that the daitya Durga fell within The Range of Your Vision in the course of the battle and was subjected to the control of the god of Death, though Your Vision is The Storehouse of Nectar. It is clearly well-known. Even a wicked one does not attain wretchedness (or return to the earth by being born again) if he falls within The Range of Your Vision.
54. The Daityas who had attained the state of the locusts in The Fire of Your Weapons, pierce through the disc of the Sun and attain heaven. This is because good persons do not have evil-intentions towards even wicked ones. Loving them like good persons, they direct them to their own pathways.
55. O Mrdani, always protect us in the East since we have always bowed to You.
O Bhavani, protect us in the South at every step from adversity.
O The Wife of Tripura-Tapana ("The Destroyer of 3 Puras"), protect us in the West.
O Maheshi, do protect Your devotees in the North.
56-57. O Brahmani, always protect (us) whose heads are bent down to You.
O Vaisnavi, protect the families (of devotees) from beneath.
May Mrityunjaya, Trinayana, Tripura and TriShakti, protect in the quarters of Rudra, Fire (South-East) Nirrti (South-West) and the Wind-god (North-West).
O Goddess devoid of impurities, May Your Trident protect our hairs;
May the Goddess Sashikalabhrt (wearing The Crescent Moon on Her Head) protect our forehead;
May Shreemati Uma-Devi protect the eye-brows;
May The Bride of The Three-Eyed Lord protect our eyes;
May The Daughter of The Mountain (Shreemati Parvati-Devi) protect our nose;
May Shreemati Jaya-Devi protect the upper lip; and
May Shreemati Vijaya-Devi protect the region of lower lip.
58. May Shreemati Shrutirava protect the pair of our ears;
May Shreemati Shree-Devi protect the row of teeth;
May Shreemati Chandi-Devi protect the pair of our cheeks;
May Shreemati Vani-Devi protect our tongue;
May Shreemati JayaMangala-Devi always protect the chin; and
May Shreemati Katyayani-Devi protect the entire facial region.
59. We make obeisance to You.
May Shreemati NilaKanthi-Devi protect our neck here;
May Shreemati BhudaraShakti-Devi (Shreemati Varahi-Devi) always protect the nape of the neck;
May Shreemati Kaurmi-Devi protect the region of our shoulders always;
May Shreemati Aindri-Devi (lndra's Shakti) protect the upper arm and
May Shreemati Padma-Devi protect the hand.
60. May Shreemati Kamalaja-Devi protect the lingers of the hands;
May Shreemati Viraja-Devi protect the nails;
May The Destroyer of darkness stationed in the solar disc protect the armpit;
May Shreemati Sthalacari-Devi protect the chest;
May Shreemati Dharitri-Devi protect the heart;
May The Slayer of night-stalking demons protect both sides.
61. May Shreemati JagadIshvari-Devi always protect the cavity of the stomach;
May Shreemati Nabhogati-Devi protect our navel;
May Shreemati Aja-Devi protect the back;
May Shreemati Vikata-Devi protect the waist;
May Shreemati Parama-Devi protect the buttocks;
May Shreemati Guharani-Devi ("Mother of Guha") protect the private parts and
May Shreemati Apayahantri-Devi ("Destroyer of danger") protect the anus.
62. May Vipula-Devi protect the pair of thighs;
May Shreemati Lalita-Devi protect the knees;
May Shreemati Java-Devi protect the calves;
May Shreemati Kathoratara-Devi protect the pair of ankles here;
May Shreemati Rasatalacara-Devi protect the feet;
May Shreemati Ugra-Devi protect the region of the toes;
May Shreemati Candri-Devi protect the nails and
May Shreemati Talavasini-Devi protect the soles of the feet.
63. May Shreemati Lakshmi-Devi protect our house;
May Shreemati Kshemakari-Devi always protect our fields;
May Shreemati Priyakari-Devi protect our sons;
May Shreemati Sanatani-Devi protect our longevity.
64. May Shreemati MahaDevi-Devi protect the fame;
May Shreemati Dhanurdhari-Devi protect our virtue;
May Shreemati Kuladevi-Devi protect the family;
May Shreemati Sadgatiprada-Devi always protect the goal of the good.
65. May Shreemati Sharvani-Devi protect from all sides in the battlefield, in the royal palace, at the gaming table, at the hostilities, when there is danger from the enemy, in the house, in the forest, in water.
66. After eulogizing The Mother of The Universe thus, all the Devas including Indra, sages, Gandharvas and Caranas bowed down to Shreemati Durga-Devi again and again.
67-71. Thereafter The Delighted Mother of The Universe spoke to those excellent Suras:
Shreemati Durga-Devi said:
May all the Suras take up their administrative task in their respective positions of authority as before.
I have become pleased with this Prayer and Eulogy perfectly based on reality. I shall grant you another boon. Listen ye all excellent Suras.
If any man of pure habit eulogized Me devoutly by means of this prayer, I shall destroy his adversity at every step.
If a man wears the coat of mail of this prayer, he has no fear anywhere as if he is within the Vajrapanjara (Adamantine Cage).
From today My Name will become famous as Durga because I have caused the downfall of Durga, the Daitya, which was very difficult to accomplish.
72. Those who seek refuge in Me, Durga, will have no wretchedness anywhere.
This Eulogy of Durga is named Vajrapanjara and is highly meritorious.
73-75. Making an armour with this, one can cease to be afraid of even Yama, ghosts, goblins, vampires, evil planets, groups of shakinis and dakinis, wicked spirits like jhotingas, demons, cruel poisonons serpents, fires, thieves, vetalas, fevers arising from gaseousness or biliousness etc. - all these flee on hearing this splendid Prayer.
76-77. This Hymn named Vajrapanjara is laudatory of Shreemati Durga-Devi. One who is protected by This Hymn is free from the fear of even the thunderbolt.
If anyone repeats this eight times and drinks the water consecrated therewith, he will never have pain in the stomach.
78-80. Consecrated with This Hymn, one will never have any affliction in the womb. Children will experience great peace and tranquillity by drinking the water consecrated with This Hymn.
All the Shaktis along with Me will be present where there is the presence of This Hymn. At My behest, they will accord protection to all My devotees.
After granting boons thus to the Devas, the Goddess vanished.
81-84. All those heaven-dwellers joyously went to their respective abodes.
Skanda said:
It was thus, Great Sage, that Shreemati Durga-Devi got the name Durga.
Listen how The MahaIshvari should be worshipped (and resorted to) at Kashi, I shall tell You.
MahaIshvari Durga, The Destroyer of wretchedness, should always be adored at Kashi on the eighth and the fourteenth lunar day and especially on Tuesdays.
During the autumnal nine-day festivities, MahaIshvari Durga should be adored everyday. She will then destroy collections of obstacles and grant wisdom and knowledge.
Due to the presents of great adoration and the food offerings of sweet cooked rice, MahaIshvari Durga in Kashi shall be The Bestower of cherished things. Shreemati Durga-Devi will grant spiritual powers.
There is no doubt in this.
85-89. During the autumnal Navaratra every year, pilgrimage and festivals should be performed for MahaIshvari Durga by the devotees along with the members of their families, seeking auspiciousness.
If anyone of evil intellect fails to perform the annual pilgrimage and religious festival of Shreemati Durga-Devi at Kashi, there shall be thousands of obstacles at every step of his.
A man who takes his holy bath in Shree Durga Kunda and duly worships Durga, the destroyer of all insurmountable distresses, shall get rid of the sins of nine births.
Goddess Durga protects Kashi all-round in the company of the Shaktis.
They, the chief of whom is Shreemati Kalaratri-Devi, should be assiduously worshipped by men.
Similarly, there are 9 Other Shaktis Who protect This Holy Tirtha from thousands of oppressive torments.
They are the following Deities (Protectors) of the quarters in due order.
90-91.
1. ShataNetra
2. Sahasrasya
3. Ayutabhuja
4. AshvaRudha
5. Gajasya
6. Tvarita
7. ShavaVahini
8. Vishva
9. Saubhagya-Gauri
They have been posted in the eight directions beginning with East and (the last one) in the middle. These Goddesses protecting the Holy Spot should be assiduously worshipped.
92. Similarly, there are 8 Bhairavas established in the eight quarters, who always protect Kashi, The Abode of the Goddess and Glory of Salvation.
93.
1. Ruru
2. Chanda
3. Asitanga
4. Kapali
5. Krodhana
6. UnmattaBhairava
7. Samhara and
8. Bhishana in due order.
94. There are 64 Vetalas of extremely terrible forms.
All of them have garlands of skulls and headless trunks.
They have scissors and skulls in their hands.
95. They are nude with dishevelled hairs. They are inebriated with blood as their wine.
96. All of them could assume many different forms. They have different kinds of weapons and missiles in their hands.
They have crores and crores of servants surrounding them with the same characteristics and features as they themselves (have).
97-100. Some of these sixty-four are the following:
Vidyujjihava
Lalajjihva
Krurasya
Kruralochana
Ugra
Vikatadamshtra
Vakrasya
Vakranasika
Jambhaka
JrmbhanaMukha
JvalaNetra
VrikoDara
GartaNetra
MahaNetra
TucchaNetra
AntraMandana
JvalatKesha
Kambushiras
Kharvargiva
Mahahanu
Mahanasa
LambaKarna
Karnapravarana
Anasa and so on.
O Sage, These Servants of Shreemati Durga-Devi protect Kashi always.
They are fond of the blood of the people of evil actions and conduct.
They terrify the people of wicked actions and habit.
101-102. O Pot-born Sage, The Shaktis I mentioned beginning with Shreemati TrailokyaVijaya-Devi and ending with Shreemati JvalaMukhi-Devi protect Kashi all-round in the four quarters with Their Weapons raised aloft.
For quelling all great obstacles They should be assiduously worshipped.
103. Bhairavas, the Chief of Whom is Ruru, are the Dispellers of great fear.
They should always be adored in Kashi.
They are the causes of all riches.
104. Vetalas beginning with Vidyujjihva are fierce in Their Forms.
On being worshipped here, They will remove even excessively fierce masses of obstacles.
105. Similarly, the group of Bhutas here of Diverse and Terrible forms numbering a hundred crores, O Sage, protects the city with the weapons lifted up.
106. All These Deities Who protect The Holy Spot of the glory of salvation at every step, should be worshipped in Kashi by those who desire Salvation.
107. On listening to this Meritorious Chapter named "SHREE DURGA-JAYA" and containing The Names of The Various Shaktis a man will surmount all difficulties quickly.
108. On hearing The Names of Bhairavas and Vetalas enumerated and cited here, the man does not become dispirited due to obstacles.
109. Those Bhutas, even when not visited directly will assiduously protect the reader of this narrative along with those who listen to it.
110. Hence this narrative that removes great obstacles should be listened to attentively by men devoted to Kashi.
111-112. If this is copied and worshipped and kept in the house Shreemati Durga-Devi and Her Shaktis will destroy thousands of the obstacles befalling that owner of the house.
This narrative resembling The Adamantine Cage should be listened to with great respect by one who has any love for Kashi.
Scan of the Text, proofreading and edit by Vishnudut1926, October 2014
Scan based on 20-Volume Edition of
"Shree Skanda-Purana" by Motilal Banasirdass.
See the beginning of the post for more details
(page numbers and etc.)
