Chandimangal by Shyamsundar Chitrakar

Kali-ma, save me. I take shelter at your feet.

You must save me or I will be lost forever. I am a sinner, you know that, I am entangled

in Maya. Candi has 10 arms at her sides and a third eye. Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh,

Kartik, Joya, Bijoya, all go with her.

One day Ma Durga was pleased as she sat under a

pomegranate tree. Kalketu got his wealth from her and made a kingdom. He also hid some

of his wealth and then, carrying some heavy things went to his wife who was waiting for him.

Meanwhile, Srimanta was born to Khullana. He wanted to find his father and went in search

of him. His mother said, "I have only one son, if he goes, I will lose my son. But if you really

want to go, pray to Durga."

Durga came. Khullana gave her son to Durga.

Srimanta went in a boat and in the sea they saw a woman swallowing an elephant. It was

a goddess [Candi] on a lotus and Srimanta bowed to her over and over.

 

Finally Srimanta came to a ghat and went on shore.

When he arrived he was arrested by a policeman. He was taken to the king. The king was

sitting on a jeweled throne. Srimanta told him, "In your kingdom I saw a woman swallowing

an elephant." The King said, "If you can show that to me, then I will give you half of my

kingdom and my daughter in marriage. But, if you cannot show me this, I will kill you."

The king went to the ocean to see the promised vision.

Candi hid herself in the lotus garden. Then the King called his people to tie up Srimanta who
began to cry but then remembered Durga. He sang in praise of Durga, "Will I die here in this

place where people are executed? I have heard that calling the name of Durga stops all problems."

When he remembered Durga, she flew in the sky like a kite. Then his handcuffs fell off and the

policeman couldn't understand what was happening.

To whose house did you go today Mother? Indra

offered puja to you and he became a king. Durga gave a boon to Srimanta so that he may

marry someone's daughter. Then he married her and came to his home. He made everyone

offer puja to Durga. Everyone offered puja to Durga.

 

 

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