Bhandāsurā received the grim news that seven of his key military chiefs had been killed in battle. He summoned his minister and convened another council of war. “We are facing repeated defeats,” he declared. “There is an undisclosed power that strengthens them. We were misled into believing they were merely ordinary women, which is why we did not send a more formidable army. The forces we did send, though strong and loyal, perished in battle. We must not underestimate this force. I have come to realize that their army is invincible in direct confrontation or conventional combat.”
“We can only defeat them through treacherous means,” Bhandāsurā said. He commanded Viśangāna, “Go to the battlefield, but do not reveal yourself. Find a way to reach Lalithaṃbika. This war will end with her defeat, so your task is to vanquish her. We must change our strategy and no longer engage in open battle, as the Asuras grow stronger at night. Use any means necessary to reach Lalithaṃbika and defeat her.”
Viśangāna set out under the cover of darkness, unknown to anyone, accompanied only by Kutilakṣana and a comparatively small army. According to the rules of war in those times, battles could not be fought at night. The śakti Sena would never anticipate a surprise attack from the rear under the cover of night. They would have removed their armor, sitting together, sharing news, and relaxing after the day’s fierce battle. All of them would be longing for a mischievous glance from Devī’s eyes, yearning for the compassionate look of Devī to caress them.
It is said that Devī rode on “Kusumākara,” her aircraft, and gave darshan to everyone. The śakti Sena devotedly hoped for Devī’s gaze to rest upon them for a while. However, Viśangāna launched his attack from the rear, hoping to escape detection and avoid coming within Devī’s sight. The śakti Sena, caught off guard by this unexpected assault, found themselves defenseless, resulting in many lives lost. Viśangāna’s army made some progress, advancing toward Devī’s chariot, the śrī Chakra Rāja Ratha, which was stationed at the back of the śakti Sena. The Asuras closed in on the chariot.
It was then that the śakti Sena snapped awake, realizing they had fallen victim to a great deception as the rules of war were broken. A skirmish erupted, and hearing the clamor of battle, Devī turned her gaze toward the commotion. She was seated in her chariot, conversing with the fifteen Nitya Devīs who always accompany her and stand equal to her. Devī is praised as…
nityā-ṣoḍaśikārūpā
[She who is in the form of the sixteen deities ]
(Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – 391)
śrī Lalithaṃbika Devī is regarded as the sixteenth Nitya Devī highlighting the glory of this divine assembly. The names of the fifteen Nitya Devīs are Kāmeśvarī, Bhagamālinī, Nityaklinnā, Peruṇḍa, Vaḥnivasini, Vajreśvarī śivadūthi, Tvaritha, Kulasundarī, Nitya, Nīlapathāka, Vijaya, Sarvamaṅgala Jwalamalini, and citra. Upon realizing that Viśangāna was rapidly approaching her chariot, slaying those in his path, she commanded the fifteen Nitya Devīs to engage in battle.
They defeated the fifteen Akṣauhiṇī senas that had marched with Viśangāna, forcing him and Kutilakṣana to flee. According to the rules of war, those who abandon the battlefield are not to be killed, so they were permitted to escape. Mantriṇī and Dandhinī approached Devī, pleading for her forgiveness, admitting, “We were lax in our duties and should have been more vigilant against their evil intentions.” The Lalithopakhyānāṃ recounts this treacherous act of Viśangāna, which violated all established rules of warfare. We continue the tale of the battle that ultimately led to the destruction of the evil Bhandāsurā, with more details to come in the upcoming episodes.
To be continued….
#Lalita #LalithaSahasranāma
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