In the twelfth chapter of this great book, the Goddess tells that for one, who reads or hears, these three stories of her, there is nothing impossible to obtain including salvation.

Devi Mahatmyam Translated by P.

R. Ramachander Under the blessings of the holy mother.

It consists of Chapters 74 to 86 (13 chapters) of the Markandeya Purana and has 700 stanzas.

This Purana is also authored by Veda Vyasa and is a medium sized Purana.

The stories of Devi Mahatmya are as told by Sage Markandeya to Sage Baguri.

He tells him that one king called Suradha, who was driven out of his kingdom by his own people met one Vysya (businessman) called Samadhi who was driven out of his home by his wife and sons, in the forest.

They discover that though their own people have driven them out, they are both worried about the welfare of their people.

So they approach Sage Sumedhas who was also living in the forest.

They became curious and want to know about this great mother Goddess.

He then relates to them the story of Devi Mahatmya, which consists of three stories in all of which the mother Goddess kills the enemies of Gods.

They take birth from the earwax of Lord Vishnu while he was asleep and start troubling Lord Brahma who was sitting on the lotus originating from the belly of Lord Vishnu.

Lord Brahma prays to the Goddess to help him continue his work of creation.

Since both these Asuras were of Thamasic origin, she also had a thamasic form.

The second story is of how the mother Goddess helped the devas by killing Mahishasura.

This Asura who had the form of buffalo, drove away the devas and Indra from their homes.

This made those three gods very angry and the innate power of the Goddess in them came out and joined together.

This goddess was further strengthened by the powers of the various Gods.

This goddess, mainly consisting of the anger-generated power killed Mahishasura.

The third story is of how the Great Asura brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha were killed by the goddess.

This time the gods approach Goddess Uma who was wandering in the Himalaya Mountains and told her of her sufferings.

She along with the powers generated by various Gods killed Shumbha and Nishumbha.

Sage Markandeya then tells of how, the king Suradha and Vysya Samadhi did penance on the goddess and got the boons that they wanted.

Devi Mahatmyam Chapter 11