Divine Legends that ensure peace and prosperity in the society - Part 2
Legend of Shaakambari Devi and how Her Grace removed the Famine in Ayodhya
Once there was a severe famine in the regions surrounding Ayodhyaa. The people could not divine the reason for that. They thought that propitiating Goddess is the best way out of troubles and they approached Sage Durvaasa for guidance.
The great Sage said that "Removal of Famines is possible by worshipping Goddess Paraa Shakti in Her form of Shaakambari. I shall initiate you people into Her mantra." My note: Shaakambari Devi has 1000 eyes and hence she is also called as "Sadaakshi" - one with Eyes everywhere! Shastras say that when famines torment people and if there is at least one highly righteous person in their midst, the Goddess' eyes water out of compassion and this will induce rains! This is the basis of the belief that if there are punyaatmaas in a place, there will be rains.(end of my note on this).
A small sthothra on Goddess Shaakambari:"Ashwattha vata nimbhaamra kapitta padarii gathe
Banasaarka kareeraadi ksheera vruksha swaroopinii
dhuktavallii nivaasaarhe dhaneeye dayaanidhe
daakshinya karunaaroope saakambarii namo(a)sthute"
(pronunciation guide: "e" in this sthotra has the sound as in "May", "Day" etc. - the "Ay sound")
People surrounding Ayodhya did the worship as per the guidelines of the Great sage Durvaasa. The Goddess manifested with a Form carrying all sorts of vegetables and grains all over Her Body. By Her Grace, rain cycles were regularized and people were relived from their famine.
Meditating on this legend and worshipping Goddess Saakambari will give immunity from famines and will ensure good agricultural produce and prosperity in the nation.
May Goddess bless us and guide us; may Her Grace stand by us and help us to overcome the current depressive economic conditions.
Reciting these legends in community prayers and praying to the Divine Mother for Peace and prosperity will help in maintaining a well-balanced society where there will be peaceful co-existence and prosperity.
(
I have given a liberal translation of the original legends; those who wish to study the original legends in their full form should refer Devi Bhaagavatam for the Sanskrit version. I have given this legends in their English rendering so that this could be recited in community prayers where everyone can participate in this with full understanding. There are some mantras where the sound is more important than the content, while there are certain portions of scriptures where the content is more important than the Sanskrit mantraic sounds. This is one such portion where the content of the legend has the remedial potency. That is why I have given the translated version. It is our earnest request that spiritual communities perform this recital in mass prayers on convenient holidays for the welfare of the Universe as a whole).
Click here to read Part 1 of Divine Legends that ensure peace and prosperity in the societyArticle by
Pandit R.DAKSHINAMOORTHI
