The story of Mangalacandi
Narayana said—О son of Brahma, you have heard the story of goddess SasthI as prescribed in the Vedas. I am now going to tell you the story of goddess Mangalacandi. Whatever I had heard from the mouth of Dharma and other intellectuals about the story of Mangalacandi. I am going to speak out the same.
The word candl is used in the sense of rage. That is why the goddess candl remains among the enemies and being well-versed in the performing of welfare deeds, she is called Mangalacandi. The word candl is also used for Durga and Mangala is known as the son of the earth goddess. Therefore the process who bestowed success on Mangala is called Mangalacandi.
Mangala is born in the race of Manu and happened to be the lord of all the seven continents of the earth. The goddess who was adored by him and the one who granted success to him, was given the name of Mangalacandi.
She is also known as Durga, dhlsvarl, Miilaprakrti and the great goddess of the ladies. Taking to the compassionate form she always appears before them.
О Brahman, in the earlier times when Tripurasura was to be killed then at the instance of lord Visnu, lord Siva first of all adored this goddess.
Thereafter finding his own fort in danger, the demon Tripurasura getting enraged threw away the chariot of Siva from space. Thereafter at the advice of Brahma and Visnu, lord Siva adored Durga. She therefore appeared in the form of Mangalacandi.
Standing before Siva, she then asked him, О lord, now you need not be afraid because the bull who is the lord of all has come to serve you as your vehicle.
О Vrsadhvaja, at the command of the lord, I shall take to the form of the force of battle. О lord, thus with my efforts and the help of the lord, you better kill the terrific demon. Thus speaking the goddess disappeared and she became the strength of lord Siva. О best of the sages, thereafter lord Mahadeva, the husband of Uma, destroyed the demon with the weapons provided to him by lord Visnu.
Then after the death of the demon all the gods and sages adored Siva with devotion bowing their heads. At the same time a shower of flowers started falling over the head of Siva. Both Brahma and Visnu feeling extremely satisfied, blessed Siva variously. At the advice of Brahma and Visnu, Siva took a bath properly and getting purified, he worshipped the goddess Mangalacandl who possessed the great force, offering padya, arghya, sipping water and various types of offerings including flowers, sandal-paste and naivedyas of different types. О sage, similarly goats, sheep, buffaloes, rhinos, magicians, clothes, ornaments, garland, payasam, fried sweets, honey, nectar and various types of ripe fruits were offered. All the gods in ecstasy danced together with lord Krsna accompanied by divine music and singing. They also started reciting the miilamantra as prescribed by the Madhyandini-sakha. О Narada, then they recited twenty-one letter mantra which is “Aum Hreem Shreem Kleem Sarvapujyai Devi Mangchandike Aim Phat Swaha”
This is the great twenty-one letters mantra.
This is adorable for the devotees and makes all the desires successful like a kalpataru. By reciting ten lakhs of this mantra a person achieves success. And the one who achieves the Mantrasiddlii, becomes lord Visnu the bestower of all the success. О Brahmana, now listen to the stotra of the goddess which is well known in the Vedas.
I am adoring the goddess of sixteen years who is quite beautiful, is quite youthful, possesses all the qualities, has tender and beautiful limbs.
She has the complexion resembling the white campaka flower, has the glory and the lustre of crores of moons, pure like fire, clad in the sanctified garments and adorned with the gem- studded ornaments. She is having beautiful hair. Her hair is adorned with flowers, her lips are like the ripe wood-apple fruit. She possesses a beautiful line of teeth. She has a pure complexion and her face resembles the lotus flower of the winter season. She wears a serene smile ovn her face. Her eyes resemble the blue lotus flower. She is the base of the universe and is the bestower of all the riches and carries the people across the terrific ocean of the universe.
О sage, this is the dhyanam of the goddess; now you listen to her stuti, reciting which lord Siva had adored her at the time of danger.
Siva said—О goddess Mangalacandl you are the mother of the universe, you protect us, you are the destroyer of misfortune and provide pleasure and welfare to the people.
You are well-versed in providing pleasure and welfare and are the form of welfare. You provide pleasant welfare; that is why you are called Mangalacandl.
You are full of welfare, the form of welfare and are the welfare for all the welfares. О goddess, you provide welfare to the noble people, you happen to be the treasure of welfare.
You are adored on Tuesdays. You are the great goddess of the welfare and are immensely adorable by the king Mangala. О great goddess of welfare you are the welfare for all the welfare. You are the base of all the welfare and also provide the welfare in salvation.
You are the essence of all, the base of welfare, beyond all the deeds and are adorable by the welfare and provide welfare to all.
By reciting this stotra, lord Siva worshipped Mangalacandika and adoring her on Tuesday went for war.
Whosoever recites the welfare stotra of the goddess Mangalacandl, always meets with welfare arid never has to face misery.
Thus the goddess Mangala was adored by lord Siva on Tuesday. On the next Tuesday the planet Mangala adored her. On the third Tuesday the goddess Bhadra was worshipped by the king Mangala and on the fourth Tuesday all the damsels adored her. On the fifth Tuesday all the people adored the goddess with the desire of achieving welfare. Thus all the gods adored her at all the times. О saf 2, the gods, the ascetics, the mendicants and the humans also adore her and thereafter she was adored at all the places by the people. Whosoever recites or listens to the Mangala-stolra of the goddess, always meets with welfare and misfortune never approaches him. He always has increase in his sons and grandsons.
