About the Project

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु चेतनेत्यभिधीयते।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

To the Goddess who in all beings is called consciousness, to her salutations, to her salutations, to her salutations, salutations, salutations. (Devī Māhātmyam)

The digital portal ‘Devīmāhātmyam - Glory of the Divine Mother’ provides deep spiritual, philosophical, and literary insights that are essential to Indian cultural heritage, emphasizing its importance in understanding the Śakti paramparā.Devī Māhātmya, commonly referred to as Śrī Durgā Saptaśati, is a revered scripture from the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa that celebrates the triumph of Goddess Durgā over evil forces such as Mahiṣāsura.

Emphasizing the importance of the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Sri Aurobindo remarked, “….মার্কণ্ডেয় পুরাণের মত পণ্ডিত অধ্যাত্মবিদ্যাপরায়ণ লেখকের রচনাকে শিব বা অগ্নিপুরাণ অপেক্ষা গভীর জ্ঞানপূর্ণ বলিয়া চিনিতে হয় ।” (“….the Markandeya Purana written by a sage devoted to spiritual pursuits is more profound in Knowledge than either the Shiva or the Agni Purana.”) He specifically mentioned the four powers of the Mother as Māheśvarī, Mahākālī, Mahāsarasvatī, and Mahālakṣmī.This scripture symbolizes the victory of divine feminine energy (Śakti), promotes courage, and highlights themes of protection, prosperity, and spiritual advancement, inspiring devotees through their faith, strength, and ethical values.

This portal showcases the sacred text along with chants and translations by the esteemed scholar Shri S. Shankaranarayanan, who has interpreted the entire Devīmāhātmyam through the lens of Sri Aurobindo’s teachings. The initiative seeks to spread awareness about the rich and vibrant traditions of the Śakti paramparā.

In this endeavor, Shri S. Shankaranarayanan has referenced various experiences and dialogues with Shri Kapali Sastriar and has cited numerous references from the writings of Sri Aurobindo concerning the fundamental inquiries regarding the four auspicious manifestations of the Divine Mother as Māheśvarī, Mahākālī, Mahālakṣmī, and Mahāsarasvatī.

The thoughts of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother regarding Śakti Paramparā, which includes a hymn to Durgā, the Worship of Devi by T V Kapali Sastri, along with several other references, are presented here as an interconnected text to link the ideas of Sri Aurobindo.All the shlokas have been meticulously recorded in accordance with the text of Devīmāhātmyam. The verses are provided in Sanskrit, followed by transliteration and English translation, allowing listeners to appreciate the beautiful mantras while also grasping the meaning of the verses.

Sri Aurobindo has noted that “….the Chandi-Mahatmya, deservedly one of the best known in sacred literature;..” During the Navaratri festival, the Devī Māhātmya is recited throughout various regions of India, signifying a major celebration of Goddess Durgā as the Divine Śakti.On this auspicious occasion, we are pleased to present this portal as an offering to the Adi Śakti.