Devi Becomes Gouri

Vayu said

Amba, devoted to her husband, circled him. Holding back the pangs of separation, she went to Mount Himalaya, the region where she had earlier performed austerities with her friends. Out of affection she again chose that spot. She went and saw her father and mother at home. The virtuous lady told them what had happened and asked their leave. Again she went to the sacred forest for austerities and set aside her ornaments. She bathed, took the garb of an ascetic and purified herself thoroughly. She took a vow to perform great, fierce and extremely terrible austerities, and kept her mind constantly on her husband's lotus feet. For a while, by the rules, she also meditated on his external lingam. With wild flowers and fruits she performed the rites of the three sandhyas. "He is the brahman, and in that form he will grant me the fruits of my austerities." Thinking this constantly, she performed austerities, and a long time and many days passed.

Once she saw a large tiger approaching with clearly wicked intent. She saw that very evil-souled creature come close, but when it came near her, its body was paralysed and it became like a painting. Devi's nature was such that she did not look at it as an ordinary person would. The tiger, numb in all limbs and suffering from hunger, kept thinking, "This is my meal, nothing else." It looked at Devi without pause and thought this. It stood before her as if worshipping her. Devi's heart is always full of compassion for those who worship her. She thought, "He is the one who saves from wicked beings, and he will show me compassion." Through her compassion it instantly lost the three kinds of impurity. The tiger suddenly understood Devi's nature. Its hunger went and so did the paralysis of its limbs. In place of the evil nature it had had since birth, contentment settled in. Through these supreme feelings it came to know the self within its heart. At once it became a worshipper and served Parameshvari. It roamed through the forest that was her hermitage, driving off wicked and evil-souled beings.

Devi's austerities grew, more and more fierce. Bound by the daityas, the devas went and took refuge with Brahma. They told him of their sufferings and how Shumbha and Nishumbha had been given a boon. Hearing the cause of the gods' grief, Vidhatri was filled with pity. He remembered the means by which the daityas could be killed and welfare brought about. At the immortals' request Brahma went to the forest where Devi was performing austerities, thinking in his mind how to remove the devas' misery. The best of gods saw the supreme one engaged in austerities there. She was Bhavani Parameshvari, responsible for establishing the universe. He bowed to the mother of his universe and of Hara's, the noble wife of his father Rudra and daughter of the lord of mountains. Devi saw that Brahma had come with a great number of devas. She greeted him with words of welcome and offered him arghya and other things. He answered in respectful words, honoured and worshipped her, and, as if he did not know, the lotus-born asked her the reason for her austerities.

Brahma said

Devi, why are you striving at these fierce austerities? All the success and fruit that comes from austerity is under your control. You have won Parameshvara, lord of the universe, as your husband, as the fruit of your austerity. Or perhaps all this is only your play and sport. But it is amazing. How do you bear separation from the divinity?

Devi answered

At the beginning of creation, we hear, you came from the divinity. So you are the first of beings and the first of my sons. Therefore, to multiply beings, Bhava came from your forehead. Since he arose that way, you became my guru and father-in-law. My father, the king of mountains, became your son. Grandfather of the worlds, you thus became my grandfather. You arrange the progress of the worlds. How can I tell you the conversation between me and my husband in the inner quarters? Why say more? There is a dark colour in my body. I want to use suitable means to be rid of it and become Gouri.

Brahma said

Devi, why then these fierce austerities? Your own will is enough. Why play in this way? Mother of the universe, your play is for the welfare of the worlds, so the wanted results may come of this. I have given boons to two daityas named Shumbha and Nishumbha. They are insolent and are hindering the devas. Their destruction can come only through you. Enough; there should be no delay. Stay steady for a while. A Shakti will be released now, and their death will come through her.

Vayu continued

Asked so by Brahma, Devi, daughter of the supreme mountain, quickly cast off her outer skin and became Gouri.

The one she made from her own skin was named Koushiki. Because she had the colour of a dark cloud, the maiden is also called Kali. She has Maya in her. She is Shakti. She is Vishnu's Yoganidra. Her eight mighty arms hold weapons such as a conch, a chakra and a trident. She is gentle, terrible and mixed. She has three eyes and the moon on her crest. No man has touched her. She is unassailable and extremely beautiful. Devi gave Brahma this eternal Shakti so that the two daityas, lions among their kind, could be slain. Brahma was delighted with this supreme Shakti. When a powerful lion came, he gave it to her as her mount. He arranged her residence on Vindhya and instructed that she be worshipped with wine, meat, fish and cakes. So Brahma, maker of the universe, honoured Shakti. In turn she bowed to her mother Gouri and to Brahma. Surrounded by many Shaktis equal to her, born from her, she left for Vindhya, preparing to kill the two lords of the daityas. In battle there she killed the two bulls among daityas. Their minds had been mangled by Kama's arrows, and she mangled their bodies with hers. This has been told elsewhere, so there is no need to describe it in detail. Instead I will prepare to describe other subjects worth thinking about.