Arrival at Raiee

Raja Ambarish requests Narad Muni to narrate the story of Kamakshi’s arrival in Raiee.

Narad then narrates the story...

Jagannath Shree Shankar and LakshmiVallabh Shree Vishnu were worshipped as Shree Rayeshwar and Shree LaxmiNarayan in Raiee. Shree Shantadurga was also worshipped in this Mahakshetra.

There was a brahman named Agnimukh who lived in this Mahakshetra and served the deities presiding in Raiee with great devotion. His son Gunaakar, as was his routine, entered the nearby forest to fetch the daily pooja essentials. On this particular day, he couldn’t find enough material and went deeper into the forest. After collecting all the essentials, as he was returning, he was stopped by a daitya whose appearance scared Gunaakar. With a thunderous roar, the daitya ran towards Gunaakar who fainted. The daitya picked him up and swallowed him whole.

At home, Agnimukh was getting restless because Gunaakar had not yet returned. He went into the forest calling out and hoping that Gunaakar was only lost and had not fallen prey to any of the wild animals in the forest. After a while, he came across the daitya and asked him if he had seen Gunaakar. The daitya laughed and said he had swallowed the child and was now going to do the same with him. Agnimukh was in tears and began running away. The daitya started chasing him. Seeing that, Agnimukh started praying to his dieties. He said a daitya from the Maahish clan had taken his son and asked for help. He was blessed and asked to go to Kaahur and pray to Kamakshi who resided there for her blessing. Kamakshi blessed him and said she would come to Raiee to save his son.

As Kamakshi passed a village called Path, Kaal Bhairav who resided there said he would join her to go to Raiee. All the deities welcomed her to Raiee and the people in this Mahakshetra were very happy. Harihar requested her to rest for a day and solve the problem created by Mahish the next day. Mahish learnt of Kamakshi’s arrival and decided to gather all the daityas from the nether world in preparation of a war. When Kamakshi entered the forest, she destroyed all the daityas who had gathered to help Maahish. He fell at her feet and asked for forgiveness. Kamakshi asked him to return Agnimukh’s son Gunaakar and go back to the nether world.

Everyone was happy and Agnimukh with great devotion offered his namaskaar to the deity. Kamakshi was pleased with his devotion and with all the deities requesting her, decided to stay back in Raiee.

Reference – Kamakshi Mahatmyam - Shiroda

Mahishasurmardini

Mahishasurmardini

Raja Ambarish asks Narad Muni to narrate the story of Mahishasurmardini.

Narad Muni begins:

There was a daitya who became powerful enough to defeat Indra Dev and take over. All the Devas went to Brahmadev for help. Brahmadev took them to Shiv & Vishnu and asked for a solution. They asked Brahmadev and the devas to pray to Mahamaya Jagdamba.

Ambarish asks Narad to tell him about Mahamaya Jagdamba. Narada says that she is the amalgamation of the qualities & power of Vishnu, Shiv, Brahma and other Gods. She is Mahamaheshwari. She is Sarvasvarupini.

Narad Muni then continues: Brahmadev prays to the Goddess with the other Devas. Mahamaya Jagdamba then defeats the army of Mahishsur and using her trishul kills Mahishasur.

The gods were happy and along with Brahmadev sing praises of the destroyer of fear, Kamakshi mata and pray to her.

Ambarish then says: This is similar to the story of mahish from Raee kshetra.

Mahatmyam Jagdambayahaa Kimidam Kautukam Shrutam

Yatha Purvam Tathayvaytdreyakshetriya Kathanakam

Tatra Brahmagnivaktrouch Devou Hariharavubhou

Saiv Kamakshika Devi Maahisho Mahishsuraha

Like Brahmadev here, it is Agnimukh in that narration, like Mahishasur, there is Mahish, where there is Harihar (Vishnu and Shiv), there is Narayan and Rayeshwar. And Mahishasurmardini is Kamakshi.

Narada then says:

I have narrated to you about Raee kshetra and the Kamakshi Mahatmya.

Whoever reads the Kamakshi Mahatamya with devotion will have their prayers answered.

Reference – Kamakshi Mahatmyam - Shiroda

Arrival at Raee