English
Kalaratri
Source: Markandeya Purana, Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), chapter 8; the Navadurga tradition
Chanda and Munda had been slain. Hearing this, the demon king Shumbha shook with rage. He ordered his entire army to battle, and countless demons marched on the Devi Chandika.
Then the powers (shaktis) of the gods appeared in their forms and on their mounts and came to the Devi: Brahmani on a swan, Maheshvari on a bull, Kaumari on a peacock, Vaishnavi on Garuda, and with them Varahi, Narasimhi, and Aindri riding the elephant Airavata.
From the Devi's own body came forth a fierce power. She sent Lord Shiva himself as a messenger to the demons: “If you wish to live, return the three worlds to Indra and go down to the underworld.” For this she is called Shivaduti, she whose messenger is Shiva.
The demons rejected the message. A terrible battle followed, and the demon army began to scatter before the Devi's powers. Then the great demon Raktabija stepped onto the field.
Raktabija had a strange power. For every drop of his blood that fell on the earth, a new demon just like him and equally strong would rise.
Aindri struck him with the thunderbolt, and as the blood flowed, thousands of Raktabijas stood up. Vaishnavi hurled her discus, Maheshvari her trident, Kaumari her spear. Every wound bled more, and from every drop new demons rose.
In moments the whole world was filled with Raktabijas. Wherever one looked, there was the same demon. The gods sank into deep fear. Could this battle ever be won?
Seeing the gods anxious, the Devi Chandika laughed. She said to Kali, also called Chamunda, “Chamunda, open your mouth wide. Take into your mouth at once the drops of blood that fall from my blows, and the demons born from them.”
“Then the blood will never reach the earth, and no new demons will be born. Raktabija will weaken and meet his end.”
Kali spread her mouth wide. The Devi struck Raktabija, and Kali drank every drop before it could touch the ground. The demons that arose within her mouth, Kali destroyed as well.
Raktabija struck the Devi with his mace, but she felt no pain at all. The Devi struck him with spear, thunderbolt, arrows and sword, and Kali went on drinking the blood.
Slowly Raktabija's body was drained of blood. No new demons rose from his wounds now. At last he fell to the earth and was ended. The gods were filled with joy. On the battlefield the Devi's powers danced in the joy of victory.
In the Navadurga tradition, this destroying form of the Devi is worshipped as Kalaratri. Her colour is black as deep night, her hair loose, she has three eyes and a necklace that flashes like lightning. She rides a donkey. One hand holds a sword, one an iron hook, and two are raised in fearlessness and blessing.
Her form is fearsome, but her fruit is always auspicious. So Maa Kalaratri is also called Shubhankari, the one who does good. She removes her devotees' fear; she does not frighten them.
What this story teaches
Some problems grow the more you fight them; they must be ended at the root. Kalaratri teaches that the right method and fearlessness dispel every darkness.
Maa Kalaratri is worshipped on Saptami, the seventh day of Sharad and Chaitra Navratri. In Brahma's hymn in the Devi Mahatmya the Devi is called Kalaratri; identifying the Kali who slew Raktabija with Kalaratri is the Navadurga tradition.
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