Devi Bhagavatam, Devi Purana and Devi Mahatmiya
Each of the above three is distinct and different from each other.
I will write about the third one (since we are discusing Rishi Markandeya).
Devi Mahatmiya, also known as Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path is a 700 verse Sanskrit text which occurs as a part of Markandeya Purana. In this, Rishi Markandeya narrates the story of how a king, Suratha and a trader whose name is Samadhi, gain the Devi's grace.
The king,Suratha, is betrayed by his ministers and ousted from his kingdom. Fleeing from them the king enters a dense forest and he finds himself in front of a hermitage, where Rishi Medhas is in deep meditation. The king is joined by another person- a trader named Samadhi whose has also been cheated of his wealth by unscruplous relatives.
The rishi. Medhas, in an attempt to assuage their grief, narrates the story of Devi and her battle against Shumbha and Nishumbha. This forms the text of Durga Saptashati and descibes Durga's victory over Mashishasura, Chanda and Munda, Dhumralochana, Raktabeeja and finally Shumbha and Nishumbha.
It is common to recite the Devi Kavach Stotra, Argala Stotra and Keelaka Stotra before the actual Saptahati. All the above three were also composed by Rishi Markandeya.
There is a lot of spiritual and symbolic significance behind the apparently straightforward stories in the Devi Mahtmiya. Scholars have pointed out how a subtle shift of letters in the words reveal hidden meanings.
Edited by varaali - 13 years ago
