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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox religious text
{{Infobox religious text
| image    =  
| image    =File:Devi bhagavata .jpg
| caption  =  
| caption  = A manuscript of Devi Bhagavata Purana
| author  = [[Vyasa]]
| author  = [[Vyasa]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
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| chapters = 318
| chapters = 318
| volumes  = 12
| volumes  = 12
}}
|background=yellow}}{{Italics title}}
[[File:Devi bhagavata .jpg|thumb|264x264px|Old script of Devi Bhagavata Purana]]
{{Hindu scriptures}}
{{Saktism}}
[[File:Stone sculpture of Devi Durga 30 Jan 2018.jpg|thumb|Stone sculpture of Devi Durga, [[Indian Museum]], Kolkata]]
[[File:Stone sculpture of Devi Durga 30 Jan 2018.jpg|thumb|Stone sculpture of Devi Durga, [[Indian Museum]], Kolkata]]
The '''Devi Bhagavata Purana''' ({{lang-sa|देवी भागवतपुराणम्}}, ''{{IAST|devī bhāgavatapurāṇam}}''), also known as the '''Srimad Devi Bhagavatam''', '''Srimad Bhagavatam''', '''Bhagavata Purana''' or simply '''''Devi Bhagavatam''''', is one of the eighteen [[Purana|Mahapurana]]s of [[Hinduism]].{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=117}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Devi Bhagavatam: The First Book: Chapter 1|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk01ch01.htm|access-date=2021-03-22|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Composed in [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] by [[Vyasa|Veda Vyasa]], the text is considered as a major purana for [[Devi]] worshippers. It promotes ''[[bhakti]]'' (devotion) towards [[Mahadevi]], integrating themes from the Shaktadvaitavada tradition (syncretism of [[Samkhya]] and [[Advaita Vedanta]]. literally, the path of nondualistic Shakti).
The '''Devi Bhagavata Purana''' ({{langx|sa|देवी भागवतपुराणम्}}, ''{{IAST|devī bhāgavatapurāṇam}}''), also known as the '''Devi Purana''' or simply '''Devi Bhagavatam''', is one of the major [[Puranas]] of [[Hinduism]]. Composed in [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]], the text is considered a [[Mahapurana (Hinduism)|Mahapurana]] for [[Devi]] worshippers ([[Shaktism|Shaktas]]), while others classify it as an [[Upapurana]] instead.{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=117}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Devi Bhagavatam: The First Book: Chapter 1 |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk01ch01.htm |access-date=2021-03-22 |website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Winternitz |first=M. |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.97551/page/n581/mode/1up |title=A History Of Indian Literature,vol.1 |date=1927}}</ref> It promotes ''[[bhakti]]'' (devotion) towards [[Mahadevi]], integrating themes from the Shaktadvaitavada tradition (a syncretism of [[Samkhya]] and [[Advaita Vedanta]]). While this is generally regarded as a Shakta Purana, some scholars such as Dowson have also interpreted this Purana as a [[Shaivism|Shaiva]] Purana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dowson |first=John |title=A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature |publisher=Trübner & Company |year=2008 |pages=83}}</ref>


The purana consists of twelve cantos (sections) with 318 chapters.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} Along with ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]'', it is one of the most important works in [[Shaktism]], a tradition within [[Hinduism]] that reveres [[Devi]] or [[Shakti]] (Goddess) as the primordial creator of the universe and the [[Brahman]] (ultimate truth and reality).{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=44-45, 129, 247-248 with notes 57-60}}{{Sfn|John Stratton Hawley|Donna Marie Wulff|1998|pp=6-14}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=183-188}} It celebrates the divine feminine as the origin of all existence, the creator, the preserver and the destroyer of everything, as well as the one who empowers spiritual liberation.{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=117}}{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1988|pp=133-139}} While all major Puranas of [[Hinduism]] mention and revere the Goddess, this text centers around her as the primary divinity.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=24-36, 48 (RS Sherma)}}{{Sfn|K P Gietz|1992|p=330 with note 1809, 497 with note 2764}} The underlying philosophy of this text is [[Advaita Vedanta]]-style [[monism]] combined with devotional worship of [[Shakti]] (feminine power).{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=128-132}}{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=89-91, 159-161}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=142-144}}It is believed that this was spoken by [[Vyasa]] to King [[Janamejaya]], the son of [[Parikshit]].  
The Purana consists of twelve cantos with 318 chapters.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} Along with the ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]'', it is one of the works in Shaktism, a tradition within [[Hinduism]] that reveres Devi or [[Shakti]] (Goddess) as the primordial creator of the universe, and as [[Brahman]] (ultimate truth and reality).{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=44-45, 129, 247-248 with notes 57-60}}{{Sfn|John Stratton Hawley|Donna Marie Wulff|1998|pp=6-14}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=183-188}} It celebrates the divine feminine as the origin of all existence: as the creator, the preserver and the destroyer of everything, as well as the one who empowers spiritual liberation.{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=117}}{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1988|pp=133-139}} While all major Puranas of [[Hinduism]] mention and revere the Goddess, this text centers around her as the primary divinity.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=24-36, 48 (RS Sherma)}}{{Sfn|K P Gietz|1992|p=330 with note 1809, 497 with note 2764}} The underlying philosophy of the text is Advaita Vedanta-style [[monism]] combined with the devotional worship of Shakti.{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=128-132}}{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=89-91, 159-161}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=142-144}} It is believed that the text was spoken by [[Vyasa]] to King [[Janamejaya]], the son of [[Parikshit]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Doniger |first=Wendy |title=Purāṇa Perennis |publisher=State University of New York Press |year=1993 |isbn=9780791413814 |pages=37}}</ref>
{{Hindu scriptures}}
{{Saktism}}


==Nomenclature==
==Nomenclature==
The title of the text, ''Srimad Devi Bhagavata'', is composed of two words, which together mean "devotees of the blessed Devi".
The title of the text, ''''Srimad Devi Bhagavata''' or ''''Devi Purana''''<nowiki/>', is composed of two words, which together mean "devotees of the blessed Devi". Johnson states the meaning as the "ancient annals of the luminous goddess".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Johnsen |first=Linda |title=The Living Goddess |publisher=Yes International Publishers |year=1999 |isbn=9780936663289 |pages=11}}</ref>


* '''<nowiki/>'Srimad'''' (or '''<nowiki/>'Srimat'''', Sanskrit श्रीमत्) means 'radiant', 'holy', 'splendid', or 'glorious', and is an [[honorific]] religious title.
* '''Srimad''' (or '''Srimat''', Sanskrit श्रीमत्) means 'radiant', 'holy', 'splendid', or 'glorious', and is an [[honorific]] religious title.
**''''[[Sri]]'''' (or '''<nowiki/>'Shri'''' or '''<nowiki/>'Shree'''', Sanskrit श्री) means 'Prosperity'. Goddess [[Lakshmi]] and [[Tripura Sundari]] are referred to as 'Sri'.
**[[Sri|'<nowiki/>'''Sri'<nowiki/>''']](or ''''Shri'<nowiki/>''' or ''''Shree'''', Sanskrit श्री) means 'Prosperity'. Goddess [[Lakshmi]] and [[Tripura Sundari]] are referred to as 'Sri'.
* '''<nowiki/>'[[Devi]]'''' ([[Sanskrit]]: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for '[[goddess]]'; the masculine form is [[Deva (Hinduism)|''deva'']]. The terms ''Devi'' and ''Deva'' are Sanskrit terms found in Vedic literature of 2nd millennium BCE, wherein Devi is feminine and Deva is masculine.{{Sfn|Klostermaier|2010|p= 496}} Monier Williams translates it as "heavenly, divine, terrestrial things of high excellence, exalted, shining ones".{{Sfn|Klostermaier|2010|p=101-102, 492}}
* ''''[[Devi]]'''' ([[Sanskrit]]: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for '[[goddess]]'; the masculine form is [[Deva (Hinduism)|''deva'']]. The terms ''Devi'' and ''Deva'' are Sanskrit terms found in Vedic literature of 2nd millennium BCE, wherein Devi is feminine and Deva is masculine.{{Sfn|Klostermaier|2010|p= 496}} Monier Williams translates it as "heavenly, divine, terrestrial things of high excellence, exalted, shining ones".{{Sfn|Klostermaier|2010|p=101-102, 492}}
* '''[[Bhagavata]]'''' (or '''<nowiki/>'Bhagavatam'''' or '''<nowiki/>'Bhagavat''', [[Sanskrit]] भागवत) means "devotee of the blessed Devi."{{Sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=94}} In devi Bhagavata purana God or Bhagavan connotation as the supreme goddess.
* ''''[[Bhagavata]]'''' (or ''Bhagavatam'' or ''Bhagavat'', [[Sanskrit]] भागवत) means "devotees of the Blessed One", a general name for the earliest (before 11th century C.E.) devotees of Vishnu, particularly of Krishna-Gopala.{{Sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=94}}
* '''<nowiki/>'[[Puranas|Purana'<nowiki/>]]''' (Sanskrit पराण) means 'ancient' or 'old' (or 'old traditional history').<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://spokensanskrit.org/index.php?mode=3&script=hk&tran_input=purANas&direct=se&anz=100|title=Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit: 'purana'|website=spokensanskrit.org|access-date=2020-01-14}}</ref> It also means 'complete' and 'completing'<ref name=":2" /> in the sense that a Purana 'completes the [[Vedas]]'.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6F0ZIBIL2ZAC|quote=purana word  completes.|title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas|last=Parmeshwaranand|first=Swami|date=2001|publisher=Sarup & Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-226-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6F0ZIBIL2ZAC/page/n228 222]|language=en}}</ref>
* '[[Puranas|'''Purana''']]' (Sanskrit पराण) means 'ancient' or 'old' (or 'old traditional history').<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://spokensanskrit.org/index.php?mode=3&script=hk&tran_input=purANas&direct=se&anz=100|title=Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit: 'purana'|website=spokensanskrit.org|access-date=2020-01-14}}</ref> It also means 'complete' and 'completing'<ref name=":2" /> in the sense that a Purana 'completes the [[Vedas]]'.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6F0ZIBIL2ZAC|quote=purana word  completes.|title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas|last=Parmeshwaranand|first=Swami|date=2001|publisher=Sarup & Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-226-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6F0ZIBIL2ZAC/page/n228 222]|language=en}}</ref>
**'''<nowiki/>'Maha'''' (Sanskrit महत) means 'great', 'large', or 'vast'.
**'''<nowiki/>'Maha'''' (Sanskrit महत) means 'great', 'large', or 'vast'.


==History==
==History==
[[File:A Saraswati Statue in park.jpg|thumb|This Purana lists Saraswati (above) as the creative aspect of the supreme Goddess, the Shakti of [[Brahma]].{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=49, 130, 134, 139}}]]
[[File:A Saraswati Statue in park.jpg|thumb|This Purana lists Saraswati (above) as the creative aspect of the supreme Goddess, the Shakti of [[Brahma]].{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=49, 130, 134, 139}}]]
The ''Srimad Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana'' has been variously dated.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=172}} A few scholars suggest an early date, such as Ramachandran who suggested that the text was composed before the 6th-century CE.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=172}} However, this early date has not found wide support, and most scholars to date it between the 9th and the 14th century.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=172}}{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|p=139, '''Quote:''' (...) portrayals of the Goddess in the later Devi Bhagavata (c. ninth century CE) bear crucial differences from those of the Goddess in the Devi Mahatmya.}} Rajendra Hazra suggests 11th or 12th century, while Lalye states that the text began taking form in the late centuries of the 1st millennium, was expanded over time, and its first complete version existed in the 11th century.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=172}}<ref>{{cite book|author=P. G. Lalye|title=Studies in Devī Bhāgavata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XVwpAAAAYAAJ|year=1973|publisher=Popular Prakashan|pages=101–105}}</ref> Tracy Pintchman dates the text to between 1000 and 1200 CE.{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|p=128}}
The ''Srimad Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana'' has been variously dated.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=172}} A few scholars suggest an early date, such as Ramachandran, who suggested that the text was composed before the 6th-century CE.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=172}} However, this early date has not found wide support, and most scholars date it between the 9th and the 14th century.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=172}}<ref>{{harvnb|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|p=139}}: "portrayals of the Goddess in the later Devi Bhagavata (c. ninth century CE) bear crucial differences from those of the Goddess in the Devi Mahatmya."</ref> Rajendra Hazra suggests 11th or 12th century, while Lalye states that the text began taking form in the late centuries of the 1st millennium, was expanded over time, and its first complete version existed in the 11th century.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=172}}<ref>{{cite book|author=P. G. Lalye|title=Studies in Devī Bhāgavata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XVwpAAAAYAAJ|year=1973|publisher=Popular Prakashan|pages=101–105}}</ref> Tracy Pintchman dates the text to between 1000 and 1200 CE.{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|p=128}}


The last ten chapters (31 to 40) of the seventh canto consist of 507 verses, a part which has often circulated as an independent handout just like the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'' circulates independently.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-4}} The handout from Book 7 of this Purana is called ''Devi Gita''.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=4}} This handout may have been composed with the original text, or it might be a later interpolation, states C Mackenzie Brown.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=4}} He suggests that this portion of the text was probably composed by the 13th century and may be later but before the 16th century.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=4}}
The last ten chapters (31 to 40) of the seventh canto consist of 507 verses, a part which has often circulated as an independent volume, just like the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'' circulates independently.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-4}} This text, from Book 7 of this Purana, is called ''[[Devi Gita]]''.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=4}} This text may have been composed with the original text, or it might be a later interpolation, according to C Mackenzie Brown.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=4}} He suggests that this portion of the text was probably composed by the 13th century; it may be later, but was set down before the 16th century.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=4}}


The ninth canto of the ''Srimad Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana'' contains many verses that reference ''Mlecchas'' (barbarians) and ''Yavanas'' (foreigners).{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|p=166}} These words may just refer to hill tribes, but the details contained in the description of ''Mlecchas'' within these verses, state some scholars such as Hazra, that the writer of these parts knew about Islam and its spread in India, leading scholars date these parts of the ninth book to 12th to 15th century compared to the older core of the ninth book.{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|p=166}}
The ninth canto contains many verses that reference ''Mlecchas'' (barbarians) and ''Yavanas'' (foreigners).{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|p=166}} These words may just refer to hill tribes, but the details contained in the description of ''Mlecchas'' within these verses, according to some scholars like Hazra, suggest that the writer of these parts knew about Islam and its spread in India, leading scholars to date these parts of the ninth book to the 12th to 15th centuries, compared to the older core of the ninth book.{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|p=166}}


The ''Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana'' is not the earliest Indian text that celebrates the divine feminine, the 6th-century ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]'' embedded in ''[[Markandeya Purana]]'' asserts the goddess to be supreme,{{Sfn|Collins|1988|p=36}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=191-192}} and multiple archaeological evidence in different parts of India such as [[Mathura]] and [[Bengal]] suggests that the concept of divine feminine was in existence by about the 2nd-century CE.{{Sfn|John Stratton Hawley|Donna Marie Wulff|1998|p=2, 9-10, 26 with note 2}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-4}} Both ''Devi Mahatmya'' and ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' have been very influential texts of the Shakta tradition, asserting the supremacy of the female and making goddess a figure of devotional ([[bhakti]]) appeal.{{Sfn|Philip Lutgendorf|2003|pp=251-252}}
The ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' is not the earliest Indian text that celebrates the divine feminine. The 6th century CE ''[[Devi Mahatmya]]'', embedded in the ''[[Markandeya Purana]]'', asserts the divine superiority of the Goddess.{{Sfn|Collins|1988|p=36}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=191-192}} Archaeological evidence in [[Mathura]] and [[Bengal]] suggests that the concept of the divine feminine was in existence by about the 2nd century CE.{{Sfn|John Stratton Hawley|Donna Marie Wulff|1998|p=2, 9-10, 26 with note 2}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-4}} Both the ''Devi Mahatmya'' and ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' have been very influential texts within the Shakta tradition, asserting the supremacy of the female and have made the Goddess a figure of devotional ([[bhakti]]) appeal.{{Sfn|Philip Lutgendorf|2003|pp=251-252}}


This text – along with all Puranas, all [[Vedas]] and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' – is attributed to sage [[Veda Vyasa]] in the Hindu tradition.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
This text, along with all the Puranas, [[Vedas]] and the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' has traditionally been attributed by Hindus to the sage [[Veda Vyasa]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}


==Characters==
==Characters==


=== Avatars of Devi ===
=== Avatars of Devi ===
This table shows the Notable incarnations of Devi mentioned in purana.
This table shows the notable incarnations of Devi mentioned in the Purana.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|+
Line 63: Line 62:
|-
|-
|[[Parvati]]
|[[Parvati]]
|The Goddess of love and fertility, who resides upon [[Mount Kailash|Kailasa]].  
|Consort of [[Shiva]], Goddess of love and fertility, who resides upon [[Mount Kailash|Kailasa]].  
| -- 5,7,9
| -- 5,7,9
|-
|-
Line 93: Line 92:
|The Goddess of bees
|The Goddess of bees
|10
|10
|-
|[[Tulasi in Hinduism|Tulasi]]
|Personification of the Tulasi plant
|9
|-
|[[Manasa]]
|Goddess of Serpents
|9
|-
|Mangala Chandika
|A form of goddess Chandika
|9
|}
|}


=== Notable devotees ===
=== Notable devotees ===
This table shows the devotees of the Goddess according to the purana.
This table shows the devotees of the Goddess according to the Purana.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|+
Line 113: Line 124:
|[[Pratipa]]
|[[Pratipa]]
|Father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]]
|Father of [[Shantanu]] and grandfather of [[Bhishma]]
|2
|-
|Shringi
|The young sage who cursed Parikshit
|2
|2
|-
|-
Line 126: Line 141:
|Father of  [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]; The king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince.  
|Father of  [[Krishna]], [[Balarama]], and [[Subhadra]]; The king of the [[Vrishni]]s and a [[Yadava]] prince.  
|2
|2
|-
|subahu
|The king of Kashi
|3
|-
|Sudarshana
|The son of king Dhruvasandhi
|3
|-
|[[Indra]]
|The king of devas, God of weather
| --
|-
|[[Prahlada]]
|Son of [[Hiranyakashipu]]
|4
|-
|[[Nimi (king)|Nimi]]
|The son of [[Ikshvaku]]
|6
|-
|[[Indrani|Sachi]]
|Consort of Indra, Queen of [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]]
|6
|-
|[[Himavat|Himavan]]
|Personification of the Himalayas, He is the guardian deity of the [[Himalayan mountains|Himalayas]], The Goddess preached the Devi Gita to him.
|7
|-
|Sukanya
|Daughter of King Sharyati
|7
|-
|Satyavrata
|A prince cursed by sage [[Vasishtha]]
|7
|-
|[[Janamejaya]]
|King of [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] kingdom, Son of Parikshit, Vyasa preached the Devi Bhagavata Purana to him.
| --
|-
|[[Savarni Manu|Savarni]]
|The eighth Manu of [[Hinduism]]
|10
|}
=== Notable demons and villains ===
Many demons (villains) are mentioned throughout the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Avatar (Incarnation)
!Description
!Canto
|-
|[[Madhu-Kaitabha]]
|Two demons who originated from the earwax within the god Vishnu's ears.
|1
|-
|Asura Hayagriva
|Son of [[Kashyapa]] and [[Danu (Hinduism)|Danu]] who Slain by Lord [[Hayagriva]]
|1
|-
|[[Takshaka]]
|One of the sons of [[Kadru]], Murderer of [[Parikshit]]
|2
|-
|[[Ravana]]
|Multi-headed [[rakshasa]] king of the island of [[Lanka]],
|3
|-
|[[Mahishasura]]
|The son of [[Rambha (asura)|Mahisi]] (Buffalo) and the great-grandson of [[Brahmarshi]] [[Kashyapa]], He was ultimately killed by goddess [[Durga]]
|5
|-
|Tamra
|One of minister's of Mahishasura
|5
|-
|Durmukha
|One of minister's of Mahishasura, killed by goddess [[Durga]]
|5
|-
|Ciksura
|General of Mahishasura, killed by goddess Durga
|5
|-
|[[Shumbha and Nishumbha]]
|Two Asura brothers, sons of Kashyapa and Danu, Goddess [[Kaushiki]] killed them both
|5
|-
|Dhumralochana
|The asura who was the general of the demon king Shumbha
|5
|-
|[[Raktabīja|Raktabija]]
|One of minister's of the demon king Shumbha
|5
|-
|[[Vritra]]sura
|A great demon (''asura'') killed by Indra
|6
|-
|[[Nahusha]]
|A king of the [[Lunar dynasty|Chandravamsha]] (Lunar dynasty), Nahusha was made the ruler of [[Svarga]] during Indra's absence
|6
|-
|[[Hiranyaksha]]
|He is slain by the [[Varaha]] (wild boar) avatar of [[Vishnu]]
|8
|-
|[[Hiranyakashipu]]
|Younger brother of Hiranyaksha, Slain by [[Narasimha]]
|5,10
|-
|[[Durgamasura]]
|A powerful demon who was killed by Goddess Durga
|9
|-
|Shankachuda
|[[Sudama]] who was lord Krishna's friend in his previous life
|9
|-
|[[Arunasura]]
|A powerful demon who was killed by the goddess Bhramari
|10
|}
|}


== Content and Structure ==
== Content and structure ==
The theosophy in the text, state Foulston and Abbott, is an encyclopedic mix of ancient history, metaphysics and [[bhakti]].{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|p=75}} This history, states C Mackenzie Brown, is of the same type found in other Puranas, about the perpetual cycle of conflict between the good and the evil, the gods and the demons.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=5-6}} These legends build upon and extend the ancient Hindu history, such as those found in the ''Mahabharata''.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=6-10}} However, this Purana's legends refocus the legends around the divine feminine, integrate a devotional theme to goddesses, and the Devi is asserted in this text to be the eternal truth, the eternal source of all of universe, the eternal end of everything, the ''nirguna'' (without form) and the ''saguna'' (with form), the supreme unchanging reality (Purusha), the phenomenal changing reality (Prakriti), as well as the soul within each living being.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=6-10}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=131-138}}{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=24-31}}
The theosophy in the text, state Foulston and Abbott, is an encyclopedic mix of ancient history, metaphysics and [[bhakti]].{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|p=75}} This history, states C Mackenzie Brown, is of the same type found in other Puranas, about the perpetual cycle of conflict between the good and the evil, the gods and the demons.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=5-6}} These legends build upon and extend the ancient Hindu history, such as those found in the ''Mahabharata''.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=6-10}} However, this Purana's legends refocus the legends around the divine feminine, integrate a devotional theme to goddesses, and the Devi is asserted in this text to be the eternal truth, the eternal source of all of universe, the eternal end of everything, the ''nirguna'' (without form) and the ''saguna'' (with form), the supreme unchanging reality (Purusha), the phenomenal changing reality (Prakriti), as well as the soul within each living being.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=6-10}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=131-138}}{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=24-31}}


=== Stated authorship and purpose ===
[[File:Sage Vyasa.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|[[Vyasa]]]]
From [[Swami Vijnanananda]] translation:
{{Blockquote|text=Suta said: “O Rsis! In days of yore, from the Lotus Face of the Devi Bhagavati came out Srimad Bhagavatam in the form of half a Sloka, as the decided conclusion of the Vedas. About what She gave instructions to Vishnu, sleeping on a leaf of a Banyan tree, that same thing, the seed of the Srimad Bhagavata, [[Brahma]] Himself expanded into one hundred Koti slokas. Then, Veda Vyasa, in order to teach his own son [[Shuka]] Deva, condensed them into eighteen thousand slokas, in Twelve Books and named it Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, the present volume. That voluminous book comprising one hundred koti slokas compiled by Brahma is still extant in the deva loka|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Twelfth Canto, Chapter 14, Verses 1:4}}{{Blockquote|text=The Purana Srimad Bhagavata (Devi Bhagavata) is excellent and holy; eighteen thousand pure Slokas are contained in it. Bhagavan Krishna-Dwaipayana has divided this Purana into twelve auspicious Skandhas (Books) and three hundred and eighteen chapters.|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam First Canto, Chapter 2, Verses 11:12}}{{Blockquote|text=O Suta! Fie to the nectar even! as the drinking of nectar is quite useless in giving Mukti. But hearing the Bhagavata gives instantaneous Mukti from this Samsara or round of birth and death.|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam First Canto, Chapter 1, Verse 21}}
=== Puranic characteristics ===
=== Puranic characteristics ===


==== As a Mahapurana ====
==== As a Mahapurana ====
There are two Bhagavatas in Hindu puranic literature. One is Vishnu [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagavata]] and other is Devi Bhagavata. There are some doubts between genuine of these two puranas, as an example in Uma Samhita of [[Shiva Purana]] Mentioned Srimad Devi Bhagavatam as fifth [[Mahapurana (Hinduism)|Mahapurana]] called Srimad Bhagavatam.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Winternitz|first=Moriz|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FYPOVdzZ2UIC|title=A History of Indian Literature, Volume 1|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|year=1996|isbn=9788120802643|pages=555|language=en}}</ref> Also in Devi Bhagavatam itself called Srimad Bhagavata Purana.
There are two Bhagavatas in Hindu puranic literature, the Vishnu [[Bhagavata Purana|Bhagavata]] and Devi Bhagavata. There are some doubts between genuine of these two puranas, as an example in Uma Samhita of [[Shiva Purana]] Mentioned Srimad Devi Bhagavatam as fifth [[Mahapurana (Hinduism)|Mahapurana]] called Srimad Bhagavatam.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Winternitz |first=M. |title=A History of Indian Literature Vol- I Part - II |publisher=University of Calcutta |year=1978 |pages=486–487}}</ref> Devi Bhagavata as it is called in itself, ''Bhagavata'' or ''Srimad Bhagavata'' confirms to the definitions of ''Bhagavata'' contained in other Puranas including Matsya Purana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=H. H. |title=The Vishnu Purana - A System Hindu Mythology and Tradition; Vol. 1 |date=11 March 2022 |isbn=9783752583281 |pages=49|publisher=BoD – Books on Demand }}</ref>  
 
From J. L. Shastri's translation:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shastri |first=J.L. |url=https://archive.org/details/SivaPuranaJ.L.ShastriPart4/page/n59/mode/1up |title=The Siva Purana |date=1950 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |page=1626}}</ref>


From J. L. Shastri'a translation:
{{Blockquote|text=Where the stories of the goddess Durga are mentioned, it is said to be Bhagavata Purana as well as Devi Purana.|source=Shiva Purana Uma Samhita, Chapter 44, verse 129}}
{{Blockquote|text=Where the stories of the goddess Durga are mentioned, it is said to be Bhagavata Purana as well as Devi Purana.|source=Shiva Purana Uma Samhita, Chapter 43, verse 76}}
As per Ashtadash Puran Darpan by Jwala Prasad, Devi Bhagavatam narrates prakriti aspect and its complied by Vyasa.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=Jwala |title=Ashtadash Puran Darpan |publisher=Khemraj Prakashan |language=Hindi}}</ref>


As mentioned in the [[Matsya Purana]], the Bhagavata Purana is contain 18,000 slokas and begins with the Gayatri and glorifies the Sarasvata Kalpa.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Basu |first=B. D. Ed. |title=The Matsya Puranam |publisher=The Panini office, Bhuvaneswari ashrama |year=1916 |language=English}}</ref> Vyasa mentions in Devi Bhagavatam that it was composed in Sarasvata Kalpa.
As mentioned in the [[Matsya Purana]], the Bhagavata Purana is contain 18,000 slokas and begins with the Gayatri and glorifies the Sarasvata Kalpa.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Basu |first=B. D. Ed. |title=The Matsya Puranam |publisher=The Panini office, Bhuvaneswari ashrama |year=1916 |language=English}}</ref> Vyasa mentions in Devi Bhagavatam that it was composed in Sarasvata Kalpa.


From [[Swami Vijnanananda]] translation:
Farquhar mentions that devotees of Devi accept this Purana as the original Bhagavata Purana, the fifth among all the Puranas, and the Vishnu Bhagavata Purana is believed to have been composed by Vopadeva around A.D. 1300. He points out that Sridhara remarks on this claim in his (Vishnu) Bhagavata Purana commentary, a claim apparently common during his day, thus making it clear that Devi Bhagavata is posterior to the Bhagavata Purana and prior to Sridhara, who lived about A.D. 1400.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Farquhar |first=J. N. |title=An outline of the religious literature of India |url=https://archive.org/details/outlineofreligio00farqrich/page/269/mode/1up |publisher=London, New York : H. Milford, Oxford university press |year=1920 |pages=269}}</ref>
 
Winternitz mentions that there are three polemic treatises discussing whether Devi Bhagavata should instead be considered a Mahapurana.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Winternitz |first=Moriz |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.97551/page/n581/mode/1up |title=A History of Indian Literature |volume=1 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |year=1996 |orig-date=1927 |isbn=9788120802643 |pages=555 |language=en}}</ref>
 
Hazra mentions that there is a band of scholars, both European and Indian, who hold that the Devi Bhagavata is the real Bhagavata and that the Vaishnava Bhagavata is a spurious work, which he views their opinion as untenable and elaborates on eleven reasons why in his book.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hazra |first=R. C. |title=Studies in the Upapuranas |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.18862/page/337/mode/1up |volume=2 |year=1963 |pages=337–341}}</ref>
 
Vishnulok Bihari Srivastava states that in Sanskrit literature, both Srimad Bhagavatam and Devi Bhagavatam are accepted as Mahapuranas, while the [[Vayu Purana]], Matsya Purana and Aditya Upa Purana accept Devi Bhagavatam as a Mahapurana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bihari Srivastava |first=Vishnulok |title=Dictionary of Indology |publisher=Hindoology Books |year=2009 |isbn=9788122310849 |pages=55}}</ref> Vanamali, in her book "Shakti", states that Devi Bhagavatam is classified as a Mahapurana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vanamali |title=Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother |publisher=Inner Traditions/Bear |year=2008 |isbn=9781594777851}}</ref> Puri states that in the Devi Bhagavata Purana it is entitled as the Bhagavata Mahapurana and the Vaishnava Bhagavata as an upapurana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Puri |first=Vishnu |title=Bhakti Ratnavali : An Anthology from Srimad Bhagavata |publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math |year=2020}}</ref> Sanyal states that in the Saura Purana and the revakhanda of [[Skanda Purana]], the Bhagavata Purana is mentioned as being divided into two parts. He further points out that the Vaishnava Bhagavata Purana is not so divided and that the Devi Bhagavata Purana is divided into two parts of six chapters each, so it may be the Devi Bhagavata Purana.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Purana Bulletin |date=January–July 1969 |publisher=All India Kashiraj Trust, Varanasi |pages=135–136}}</ref>
 
Wilson states that It is acceptable to include the Bhagavata among the eighteen Puranas, but it is said that it can only be the Devi Bhagavata as the circumstances apply more precisely than the Vaishnava Bhagavata.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Horace Hayman |title=Puranas, Or an Account of Their Contents and Nature |publisher=Society for the Resuscitation of Indian Literature |year=1987 |pages=49}}</ref>


{{Blockquote|text=On the banks of the river Sarasvati, I composed this Bhagavata to pass away my time during the excellent period of Sarasvata Kalpa.|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Sixth Canto, Chapter 31, verse 27}}
==== Five characteristics ====
==== Five characteristics ====
As a Sattvic Shakta Purana the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam has five characteristics.
As a [[Sattva|Sattvic]] [[Shaktism|Shakta]] Purana the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam has five characteristics.


From [[Swami Vijnanananda]] translation:  
From [[Swami Vijnanananda]] translation:  
Line 158: Line 300:


=== Shlokas / Verses ===
=== Shlokas / Verses ===
Srimad Devi Bhagavatam consists of 12 cantos with 318 chapters.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} Although the number of original [[Sanskrit]] [[shloka]]s is stated to be 18,000 by the Devi Bhagavata itself.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|p=73}} The actual text, in different versions, is close.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=4}}  
Srimad Devi Bhagavatam consists of 12 cantos with 318 chapters.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} Although the number of original [[Sanskrit]] ''[[shloka]]s'' ('verses') is stated to be 18,000 by the Devi Bhagavata itself.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|p=73}} The actual text, in different versions, is close.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=4}}  
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" |Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Chapters and Verses
! colspan="3" |Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Chapters and Verses
Line 225: Line 367:
|}
|}


===Cantos ===
== Cantos ==
 
For ease of reference, Swami Vijnanananda's complete 18-volume translation of the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam in wisdomlib is cited. It also provides original [[Sanskrit]] verses, [[transliteration]]s, [[synonym]]s, and purports.
==== First Canto ====
[[File:Durga Mahisasuramardini.JPG|thumb|180px|link=Devi|One aspect of the Goddess in the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana''. The text describes many.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=168-172}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=183-184}}]]
Consisting of 20 chapters, The first book (''skandha'') like other major Puranas, states Rocher, presents the outline, the structure of contents, and describes how in the mythical Naimisha forest, the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' was first recited among the sages.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} It also asserts that all of Reality was initially ''nirguna'' (without form, shape or attributes; in other words, there was nothingness except Truth).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} However, asserts the text, this ''nirguna'' Reality was a ''Bhagavati'' (woman), and she manifested herself as three ''Shaktis'' - Sattviki (truth, creative action), Rajasi (passion, aimless action) and Tamasi (delusion, destructive action).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} Its also include:


* Details about the Purana
=== First Canto ===
* Devi Killing Madhu and Kaitabha
Consisting of 20 chapters, the first book (''skandha'') like other major Puranas, states Rocher, presents the outline, the structure of contents, and describes how in the mythical Naimisha forest, the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' was first recited among the sages.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} It also asserts that all of Reality was initially ''nirguna'' (without form, shape or attributes; in other words, there was nothingness except Truth).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} However, asserts the text, this ''nirguna'' Reality was a ''Bhagavati'' (woman), and she manifested herself as three ''Shaktis'' - Sattviki (truth, creative action), Rajasi (passion, aimless action) and Tamasi (delusion, destructive action).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} It also includes:
*Suta narrate the story of [[Hayagriva]]  
* The group of sages including [[Shaunaka]] requested Suta to recite the Bhagavata Purana, the fifth Purana among the Mahapuranas.
*Lord Vishnu assume the form of [[Hayagriva]] with the grace of Devi as a result of a curse by Vishnu's consort Lakshmi.
*The penance of  [[Vyasa]], and boon granted by [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]]  
*The penance of  [[Vyasa]], and boon granted by [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]]  
*The story of King Sudyumna being turned into a woman and her prayers to the Goddess and  the Goddess granting her a place at Her Lotus Feet  
*Birth of [[Budha]] from Tara by Soma; Sudyumna's change into a female named Ila and her prayers to the Goddess and  the Goddess granting her a place at Her Lotus Feet  
* Birth of [[Shuka]]<nowiki/>deva and visit to Mithila to meet King Janaka.
* Birth of [[Shuka]]<nowiki/>deva and visit to Mithila to meet King Janaka
 
* Instructions of Bhagavati to Vishnu
'''SDB 01.02.03''' original Sanskrit:


{{Blockquote|text=<Poem>नतवा ततपदपङकज सललित मकतिपरद योगिना
In chapter fifteen chapter of the 1st canto, Devi reveals her true identity to [[Vishnu]] who is lying on a banyan leaf.{{Blockquote|text=All this that is seen is I Myself; there is existent nothing other that is eternal|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Canto 01, Chapter 15, Verse 52}}
बरहमादयरपि सवित सततिपरयय मनीनदरः सदा ।
वकषयामयदय सविसतर बहरस शरीमतपराणाततम
भकतया सरवरसालय भगवतीनामना परसिदध दविजाः ॥</Poem>|source=}}{{Blockquote|text=O Brahmins! I bow down to the gentle lotus feet, known in the three Lokas, of the Devi Bhagavati, praised by Brahma and the other devas Vishnu, Mahesha and others, meditated always by the Munindras and which the Yogis contemplate as their source of liberation. Today I will devotedly
describe, in detail and in plain language, that Purana which is the best of all the Puranas, which gives prosperity and contains all the sentiments (rasas) that a human being can conceive, the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam.|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Canto 01, Chapter 02, Verse 03}}Fifteen chapter in 1st canto Supreme Devi reveals her true identity to god [[Vishnu]] lying on a banyan leaf. its also mentioned that half stanza which revealed by supreme goddess is the seed of Bhagavata Purana.


{{Blockquote|text=सरव खलविदमवाह नानयदसति सनातनम ॥}}{{Blockquote|text=All this that is seen is I Myself; there is existent nothing other that is eternal|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Canto 01, Chapter 15}}
=== Second Canto ===
 
Consisting of 12 chapters, this canto is short and historical.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} It weaves in the characters well known in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', states Rocher, and introduces in the key characters that appear in remaining books of the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana''.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=169}} It also includes:
==== Second Canto ====
* [[Parashara|Parasara]] union with [[Satyavati|Matsyagandha]] and part of Lord Vishnu, born as Vyasa.
Consisting of 12 chapters, This canto is short, and historical.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=168}} It weaves in the characters well known in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', states Rocher, and introduces in the key characters that appear in remaining books of the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana''.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=169}}Its also include:
* Union of Ganga with [[Shantanu]] and birth of eight [[Vasu]]s as her sons.
 
* Birth of [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Pandu]] and [[Vidura]], Dhritarashtra marriage [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] and Saubali and Pandu's marriage with [[Kunti]] and [[Madri]].
* Birth of [[Krishna Dvaipayana]]
* The story of the birth [[Karna]] and five [[Pandava]]s.
* Birth of [[Pandava]]s
* On the [[Kurukshetra War]]
* On the [[Kurukshetra War]]
* Death of [[Parikshit]]
* The story of Kasyapa and [[Takshaka]] meeting on the way to [[Parikshit]]'s house and Takshaka entering a fruit and killing Parikshit.


==== Third Canto ====
=== Third Canto ===
Consisting of 30 chapters,This canto mentioned the Glory of Devi [[Bhuvaneshvari]] and her worship, At the Beginning of the universe [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]] see Goddess reside in Manidvipa and praise her and also weaves in legends from the well known epic the [[Ramayana]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=169}}
Consisting of 30 chapters, this canto mentions the glory of Devi [[Bhuvaneshvari]] and her worship, at the beginning of the universe [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]] see the Goddess reside in Manidvipa and praise her. It also weaves in legends from the [[Ramayana]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=169}}


* Description about the secondary creation
* Description about the secondary creation
* [[Trimurti]] going towards the heavens on the celestial car
* [[Trimurti]] going towards the heavens on the celestial car
* Fight between Yudhâjit and Vîrasena
* Devi transforms Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva into young girls, Trimurti eulogizes Devi with various hymns.
* Details about [[Navaratri]] festival and [[Rama]]'s performing the Navarâtra ceremony  
* Devi's description of her own self and the description of nirguna [[shakti]] and nirguna [[purusha]].
'''SDB 03.03.52''' original Sanskrit:
* The Goddess bestows [[Saraswati]] on Brahma, [[Lakshmi]] on Vishnu and [[Parvati|Gauri]] on Shiva.
* Fight between Yudhajit and Virasena
* Details about [[Navaratri]] festival and [[Rama]]'s performing the Navaratri ceremony
=== Fourth Canto ===
Consisting of 25 chapters, this fourth canto presents more legends, including interactions between avatars of [[Hari]], [[Krishna]] and [[Shiva]] and [[Kashyapa]]'s birth as [[Vasudeva]]. It also introduces tantric themes and presents yoga meditation.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=169}}[[File:Durga Mahisasuramardini.JPG|thumb|180px|link=Devi|One aspect of the Goddess in the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana''. The text describes many.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=168-172}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=183-184}}]]


{{Blockquote|text=<poem>दतयाऽलपधिया दवी योगगमया दराशया ।
* The questions put by Janamejaya regarding Krishna's incarnation
इचछा परातमनः काम नितयानितयसवरपिणी ॥</poem>}}{{Blockquote|text=Devi is inconceivable to those who are of dull intellect; only the Yogis can see her by their Yogic powers. She is eternal (Brahman) and also noneternal (Maya). She is the will power of the Supreme Self. She is the first Creator of this world.|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Canto 03, Chapter 03, Verse 52}}'''SDB 03.30.35''' original Sanskrit:
{{Blockquote|text=<poem>तां ज्ञात्वा मुच्यते जन्तुर्जन्मसंसारबन्धनात् ।
सा विद्या परमा ज्ञेया वेदाद्या वेदकारिणी ॥</poem>}}{{Blockquote|text=She is the Supreme Knowledge, existing before the Vedas, and the Originator of the Vedas. The individual souls, knowing Her Nature, become able to free themselves from the bondages of the World.|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Canto 03, Chapter 30, Verse 35}}


==== Fourth Canto ====
Consisting of 25 chapters, this fourth canto presents more legends, including those of interaction between avatars of [[Hari]], [[Krishna]] and [[Shiva]], [[Kashyapa]] birth as [[Vasudeva]],  but also introduces tantric themes and presents yoga meditation.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=169}}
* The questions put by Janamejaya regarding Krishna's incarnation
* Details about Nara and Narayana
* Details about Nara and Narayana
* The fight between the Risis and [[Prahlada]]
* The fight between the Risis and [[Prahlada]]
* Description about several avatars of Vishnu
* Description about several avatars of Vishnu
* Explain about Devi's Highest Supremacy
* Explain about Devi's highest supremacy
'''SDB 04.02.04:05''' original Sanskrit:
=== Fifth Canto ===
 
{{Blockquote|text=<poem>अनादिनिधना जीवाः कर्मबीजसमुद्भवाः
नानायोनिषु जायंते म्रियते च पुनः पुनः ।
कर्मणा रहितो देहपयोगो न कदाचन ॥</poem>}}{{Blockquote|text=It was the seed of Karma whence the Jivas (the individual embodied souls) arose with neither any beginning nor any end. Those Jivas go on often and often incarnating in numberless varieties of wombs and then go to dissolution. When this Karma ceases, the Jivas then are never to have any more connection with any other body.|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Canto 04, Chapter 02, Verse 04:05}}
 
==== Fifth Canto ====
[[File:Bhuvaneshwari temple in the Mysore Palace grounds.jpg|thumb|Bhuvaneshwari temple in [[Mysore Palace]]. Bhuvaneshwari is the supreme Goddess in Book 7 of this Purana.{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2014|p=26-28}}]]
[[File:Bhuvaneshwari temple in the Mysore Palace grounds.jpg|thumb|Bhuvaneshwari temple in [[Mysore Palace]]. Bhuvaneshwari is the supreme Goddess in Book 7 of this Purana.{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2014|p=26-28}}]]
Consisting of 35 chapters, The Canto mentioned glory devi (Devi Mahatmya), Fight between Goddess [[Durga]] and [[Mahishasura]], Killing [[Sumbha and Nisumbha]] and other demons.
Consisting of 35 chapters, the canto mentions the glory of Devi (Devi Mahatmya), fight between [[Durga]] and [[Mahishasura]], killing of [[Sumbha and Nisumbha]] and other demons.


* Story of [[Mahishasura]] and the origin of goddess Mahalakshmi
* Devi Mahatmya - Story of [[Mahishasura]] and the origin of goddess Mahalakshmi
* The conquest of the Heavens by Shumba - Nishumbha and Birth of Devi [[Kaushiki]]
* The conquest of the Heavens by Shumba - Nishumbha and Birth of Devi [[Kaushiki]]
* The story of King Suratha and a Vaishya who heard the Devi Mahatmyam from a sage, received the nine-syllable mantra from him and performed severe austerities and worshiped the Devi.
* The methods of Devi worship, worship of Devi either in a metal image or in a [[Yantra]]


==== Sixth Canto ====
=== Sixth Canto ===
Consisting of 31 chapters, The sixth book continue these legends, states Rocher, with half of the chapters focussed on the greatness of Goddess, how male gods are befuddled by problems, how they run to her for help, and how she solves them because she is enlightened knowledge.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=169-170}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=201-216}} The text presents the feminine to whom all masculine deities are subordinate and dependent on.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|pp=73-74}} Its also include [[Indra]] killing of [[Vritra]].
Consisting of 31 chapters, The sixth book continue these legends, states Rocher, with half of the chapters focussed on the greatness of Goddess, how male gods are befuddled by problems, how they run to her for help, and how she solves them because she is enlightened knowledge.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=169-170}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=201-216}} The text presents the feminine to whom all masculine deities are subordinate and dependent on.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|pp=73-74}} Its also include [[Indra]] killing of [[Vritra]].


==== Seventh Canto ====
* [[Tvashtr]] create a son named Vishvarupa and Indra kills Visvarupa.
[[File:Goddess Parvati and her son Ganesha.jpg|thumb|245x245px|Goddess [[Parvati]]]]
* Tvashtr's rage and creation of [[Vritra]] from the sacrificial fire and the slaying of Vṛitrasura
* Indra's expulsion from heaven, [[Indrani|Sachi]] worship of Devi [[Bhuvaneshvari]] and [[Nahusha]] taking Indra's place.
* The birth of Mitra Varuṇa
* The origin of the Haihaya Dynasty
* Details of holy rivers, mountains, lakes and places sacred to the Goddess.
* The marriage of Narada and his face getting transformed into that of a monkey


=== Seventh Canto ===
Consisting of 40 chapters, The seventh canto of the ''Srimad Devi-Bhagavatam'' shifts towards more philosophy, asserting its version of the essence of the Vedas.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}} This book contains the philosophical text called ''Devi Gita'', or the "Song of the Goddess".{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=1-2, 85-98}} The Goddess explains she is the [[Brahman]] that created the world, asserting the Advaita premise that spiritual liberation occurs when one fully comprehends the identity of one's soul and the Brahman.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=12-17}} This knowledge, asserts the Goddess, comes from detaching self from the world and meditating on one's own soul.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=131-138}}Chapter 28 of the seventh book contain the story of Durgamasur and his annihilation by goddess Sivaa (Parvati) in her form of [[Shakambhari]].
Consisting of 40 chapters, The seventh canto of the ''Srimad Devi-Bhagavatam'' shifts towards more philosophy, asserting its version of the essence of the Vedas.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}} This book contains the philosophical text called ''Devi Gita'', or the "Song of the Goddess".{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=1-2, 85-98}} The Goddess explains she is the [[Brahman]] that created the world, asserting the Advaita premise that spiritual liberation occurs when one fully comprehends the identity of one's soul and the Brahman.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=12-17}} This knowledge, asserts the Goddess, comes from detaching self from the world and meditating on one's own soul.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=131-138}}Chapter 28 of the seventh book contain the story of Durgamasur and his annihilation by goddess Sivaa (Parvati) in her form of [[Shakambhari]].
* Description of the Solar and Lunar Kings


===== Festivals and culture =====
* The story of Satyavrata
* The birth of Devi Gauri, the seats of the Deity, and the distraction of Shiva
* Supreme goddess takes Universal Virat rupa and Self-realization, Spoken by the supreme Mother
This  canto, states Rocher, also includes sections on festivals related to Devi, pilgrimage information and ways to remember her.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}} Her relationship with Shiva and the birth of [[Kartikeya|Skanda]] is also briefly mentioned in the 7th book.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}} The last ten chapters (31 to 40) of the canto 7 is the famous and philosophical ''Devi Gita'', which often circulates in the Hindu tradition as a separate text.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-4}}
This  canto, states Rocher, also includes sections on festivals related to Devi, pilgrimage information and ways to remember her.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}} Her relationship with Shiva and the birth of [[Kartikeya|Skanda]] is also briefly mentioned in the 7th book.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}} The last ten chapters (31 to 40) of the canto 7 is the famous and philosophical ''Devi Gita'', which often circulates in the Hindu tradition as a separate text.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-4}}


==== Eighth Canto ====
=== Eighth Canto ===
Consisting of 24 chapters, The eighth book of the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' incorporates one of the five requirements of Puranic-genre of Hindu texts, that is a theory of the geography of the earth, planets and stars, the motion of sun and moon, as well as explanation of time and the Hindu calendar.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=170-171}} Its include:
Consisting of 24 chapters, The eighth book of the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' incorporates one of the five requirements of Puranic-genre of Hindu texts, that is a theory of the geography of the earth, planets and stars, the motion of sun and moon, as well as explanation of time and the Hindu calendar.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=170-171}} Its include:


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* Description about nether worlds and different hells
* Description about nether worlds and different hells


==== Ninth Canto ====
=== Ninth Canto ===
The largest canto is the 9th ''skandha'' Consisting of 50 chapters, which is very similar in structure and content of the ''Prakriti-kanda'' of the ''[[Brahmavaivarta Purana]]''.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|p=160}} Both are goddesses-focused, and discuss her theology, but have one difference.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} The ''Prakriti-kanda'' of the ''[[Brahmavaivarta Purana]]'' also includes many verses which praise Vishnu using various names (incarnations), which re-appear in the 9th book of the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' with Vishnu names substituted with Devi names (incarnations).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} Its also Mentioned [[Krishna]] as the male form of goddess.
The largest canto is the 9th ''skandha'' Consisting of 50 chapters, which is very similar in structure and content of the ''Prakriti-kanda'' of the ''[[Brahmavaivarta Purana]]''.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|p=160}} Both are goddess-focused and discuss her theology, but have one difference.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} The ''Prakriti-kanda'' of the ''[[Brahmavaivarta Purana]]'' also includes many verses which praise Vishnu and use various names (incarnations), which re-appear in the 9th book of the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'', with Vishnu's names substituted with Devi's names (incarnations).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} It also mentioned [[Krishna]] as the male form of goddess.


* Description of five forms of Devi [[Prakriti]]  
* Description of five forms of Devi [[Prakriti]]  
* Manifestation of Shri [[Krishna]] and Description of First creation (Sarga)
* Manifestation of Shri [[Krishna]] and description of first creation (Sarga)
* Birth of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
* Birth of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
* [[Lakshmi]], [[Saraswati]] and [[Ganga (goddess)]], mutually curse each other and descend them on Bharatavarsha.
* [[Lakshmi]], [[Saraswati]] and [[Ganga (goddess)]] mutually curse each other and descend them on Bharatavarsha.
* Description of the period of [[Kali Yuga]].
* Description of the period of [[Kali Yuga]].
* Story of Devi [[Tulsi]]  
* Story of Devi [[Tulsi]]  
* Significance and attributes of Bhagavati [[Bhuvaneshvari]]
* Significance and attributes of Bhagavati [[Bhuvaneshvari]]
* Goddess [[Mahalakshmi]] manifests from ocean of Milk
* Goddess [[Mahalakshmi]] manifests from ocean of milk
* Description of mantras and songs of praise to Devi [[Radha]] and goddess [[Durga]].
* Description of mantras and songs of praise to Devi [[Radha]] and goddess [[Durga]].


'''SDB 09.38.29:31''' original Sanskrit:
=== Tenth Canto ===
{{Blockquote|<poem>रप विभरतयरपा च भकतानगरहहतव ॥
Consisting of 13 chapters, This Canto of the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' is one of the shortest, and integrates ''manavantaras'', another structural requirement for this text to be a major Purana, but wherein the Devi is worshiped in every cosmic time cycle, because she is the greatest, she kills the evil and she nurtures the good.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=133-134}}Chapter 13 of the tenth book describes the glory of goddess [[Bhramari|Bhramri]] that how in the past she killed the demon [[Arunasura]].
गोपालसनदरीरप परथम सा ससरज ह ।
अतीव कमनीय च सनदर समनोहरम ॥
नवीननीरदशयाम किशोर गोपवषकम ।
कदरपकोटिलावणय लीलाधाम मनोहरम ॥</poem>}}
{{Blockquote|text=Though formless, She assumes forms for the gratification of the desires of Her Bhaktas. She created first the beautiful form of Gopala Sundari (Krisna) very lovely and beautiful, captivating the mind. His body is blue like the fresh rain cloud. He is young and dressed like that of a cowherd|source=Canto 09, Chapter 38, Verses 29:31}}
 
==== Tenth Canto ====
Consisting of 13 chapters, This Canto of the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' is one of the shortest, and integrates ''manavantaras'', another structural requirement for this text to be a major Purana, but wherein the Devi is worshiped in every cosmic time cycle, because she is the greatest, she kills the evil and she nurtures the good.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=133-134}}Chapter 13 of the tenth book describes the glory of goddess Bhramri that how in the past she killed the demon [[Arunasura]].


* The creation Swayambhu Manu and Description of other Manus.
* The creation Swayambhu Manu and Description of other Manus.
* Narada describes the greatness of Vindhya who tries to stop the path of [[Sun God]].
* Narada describes the greatness of Vindhya who tries to stop the path of [[Sun God]].
* Method of [[Panchayatana puja|Panchayatana Puja]]
* The anecdote of the King Suratha
* The story of [[Bhramari]] Devi


[[File:Devi Bhuvaneswari at Parashakthi Temple.jpg|left|thumb|240x240px|Devi Bhuvaneshwari]]
[[File:Devi Bhuvaneswari at Parashakthi Temple.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Devi Bhuvaneshwari]]


==== Eleventh Canto ====
=== Eleventh Canto ===
Consisting of 24 chapters, This canto of the text discusses ''Sadachara'' (virtues) and [[Dharma]] to self as an individual, as belonging to a ''Grama'' (village, community) and to a ''Desha'' (country).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} The text praises [[Sruti]] and asserts it to be the authoritative source, adding that [[Smriti]] and [[Purana]]s are also sources for guidance.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} This section is notable for adding that Tantra is also a source of guidance, but only if it does not conflict with the [[Vedas]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} Verses in the 11th books also describe sources for [[Rudraksha]] as Japa beads, the value of [[Tripundra]] mark on the forehead, five styles of ''Sandhyas'' (reflection, meditation) and five types of [[Yajna]]s.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}}
Consisting of 24 chapters, This canto of the text discusses ''Sadachara'' (virtues) and [[Dharma]] to self as an individual, as belonging to a ''Grama'' (village, community) and to a ''Desha'' (country).{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} The text praises [[Sruti]] and asserts it to be the authoritative source, adding that [[Smriti]] and [[Purana]]s are also sources for guidance.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} This section is notable for adding that Tantra is also a source of guidance, but only if it does not conflict with the [[Vedas]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}} Verses in the 11th books also describe sources for [[Rudraksha]] as Japa beads, the value of [[Tripundra]] mark on the forehead, five styles of ''Sandhyas'' (reflection, meditation) and five types of [[Yajna]]s.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=171}}


==== Twelfth Canto ====
* The glories of the Rudrakṣa beads and Bhasma
The last and 12th canto of the ''Devi-Bhagavatam'' Consisting of 14 chapters, Its describes the Goddess as the mother of the Vedas, she as the ''Adya Shakti'' (primal, primordial power), and the essence of the [[Gayatri mantra]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=171-172}} The verses map every syllable of the Gayatri mantra to 1008 names of reverence in the Hindu tradition.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=171-172}} These names span a spectrum of historic sages, deities, musical meters, mudras and the glories of the goddesses.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=171-172}} Also in Chapter 10 to Chapter 12 Describe the supreme abode of Devi called [[Manidvipa]] which is above [[Vaikuntha]] and [[Goloka]].
* The rules of using the Tripuṇḍra and Urdhapundra marks
* Description of the Greatness of the Devi Puja
* The description of Sandhya Upasana


'''SDB 12.10.03:04''' original Sanskrit:
=== Twelfth Canto ===
The last and 12th canto of the ''Devi-Bhagavatam'' Consisting of 14 chapters, Its describes the Goddess as the mother of the Vedas, she as the ''Adya Shakti'' (primal, primordial power), and the essence of the [[Gayatri mantra]].{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=171-172}} The verses map every syllable of the Gayatri mantra to 1008 names of reverence in the Hindu tradition.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=171-172}} These names span a spectrum of historic sages, deities, musical meters, mudras and the glories of the goddesses.{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|pp=171-172}} Also, from Chapter 10 to Chapter 12, a description is provided of the supreme abode of Devi called [[Manidvipa]], which is above [[Vaikuntha]] and [[Goloka]].


{{Blockquote|text=<poem>सरवदो निजवासारथ परकतया मलभतया ।
* One thousand and eight names of [[Gayatri]]
कलासादधिको लोको वकणठादपि चोततमः ॥
* The story of Uma Haimavati
गोलोकादपि सरवसमातसरवलोकोऽधिकः समतः ।
* Effects of Gayatri upasana
नततसम तरिलोकया त सनदर विदयत कवचित ॥</poem>}}
* Janamejaya's Devi-yajna
{{Blockquote|text=In the very beginning, the Devi Mula Prakriti Bhagavati built this place for Her residence, superior to Kailaska, Vaikunta and Goloka. Verily no other place in this universe can stand before it. Hence it is called Manidvipa or Sarvaloka as superior to all the Lokas|source=Canto 12, Chapter 10, Verses 03:04}}'''SDB 12.13.27:28''' original Sanskrit
* Glory of Devi Bhagavata as the essence of all the Vedas and Puranas.
{{Blockquote|text=<poem>मूलप्रकृतिरेवैषा यत्र तु प्रतिपाद्यते ।
समं तेन पुराणं स्यात्कथमन्यन्नृपोत्तम ॥
पाठे वेदसमं पुण्यं यस्य स्याज्जनमेजय ।
पठितव्यं प्रयत्नेन तदेव विबुधोत्तमैः ॥</poem>}}
{{Blockquote|text=In fact, this Purana is the Essence of all the Puranas. How can the other Puranas be compared with this, wherein is established the Devi Mula Prakriti? Reading this Purana from the beginning  to the end yields the result of reading the Vedas. So the wise persons should try their best to study it always.|source=Canto 12, Chapter 13, Verses 27:28}}


=== Devi Gita ===
=== Devi Gita ===
''Main articles: [[Devi Gita]]''
''Main articles: [[Devi Gita]]''


The ''Devi Gita'', like the ''Bhagavad Gita'', is a condensed philosophical treatise.{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=179-198}} It presents the divine female as a powerful and compassionate creator, pervader and protector of the universe.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3}} She is, states Brown, presented in the opening chapter of the ''Devi Gita'' as the benign and beautiful world-mother, called ''Bhuvaneshvari'' (literally, ruler of the universe, and the word is feminine).{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2014|p=26-28}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=179-198}} Thereafter, theological and philosophical teachings become the focus of the text, covering chapters 2 to 10 of the ''Devi Gita'' (or, chapters 32 to 40 of this Purana's Book 7).{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3}} Some of the verses of ''Devi Gita'' are almost identical to the [[Devi Upanishad]].{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=25-26, 77 with note 26}}
The ''Devi Gita'', like the ''Bhagavad Gita'', is a condensed philosophical treatise.{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=179-198}} It presents the divine female as a powerful and compassionate creator, pervader and protector of the universe.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3}} She is, states Brown, presented in the opening chapter of the ''Devi Gita'' as the benign and beautiful world-mother, called ''Bhuvaneshvari'' (literally, ruler of the universe, and the word is feminine).{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2014|p=26-28}}{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=179-198}} Thereafter, theological and philosophical teachings become the focus of the text, covering chapters 1 to 10 of the ''Devi Gita'' (or, chapters 31 to 40 of this Purana's Canto 7).{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3}} Some of the verses of ''Devi Gita'' are almost identical to the [[Devi Upanishad]].{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=25-26, 77 with note 26}}


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The ''[[Devi Gita]]'' frequently explains Shakta ideas by quoting from the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3}}  The Devi is described by the text as a "universal, cosmic energy" resident within each individual, weaving in the terminology of [[Samkhya]] school of [[Hindu philosophy]].{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3}}  It is suffused with [[Advaita Vedanta]] ideas, wherein nonduality is emphasized, all dualities are declared as incorrect, and interconnected oneness of all living being's soul with Brahman is held as the liberating knowledge.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3, 12-17}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=9, 34, 89-90, 131-138}}{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston|Stuart Abbott|2009|pp=15-16}} However, adds Tracy Pintchman, ''Devi Gita'' incorporates Tantric ideas giving the Devi a form and motherly character rather than the gender-neutral concept of Adi Shankara's Advaita Vedanta.{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2014|p=9-10}}
The ''Devi Gita'' frequently explains Shakta ideas by quoting from the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]''.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3}}  The Devi is described by the text as a "universal, cosmic energy" resident within each individual, weaving in the terminology of [[Samkhya]] school of [[Hindu philosophy]].{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3}}  It is suffused with [[Advaita Vedanta]] ideas, wherein nonduality is emphasized, all dualities are declared as incorrect, and interconnected oneness of all living being's soul with Brahman is held as the liberating knowledge.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=1-3, 12-17}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=9, 34, 89-90, 131-138}}{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston|Stuart Abbott|2009|pp=15-16}} However, adds Tracy Pintchman, ''Devi Gita'' incorporates Tantric ideas giving the Devi a form and motherly character rather than the gender-neutral concept of Adi Shankara's Advaita Vedanta.{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2014|p=9-10}}


Supreme Goddess describes her gross form in Devi Gita as follows:
The [[Bhakti]] theology of the ''Devi Gita'' part of this Purana may have been influenced by the ''Bhagavad Gita'', and with Vaishnava concepts of loving devotion to [[Krishna]] found in the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''. All these texts highlight different types of devotion in a Samkhya philosophy framework.{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=158-161}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=23-25}} The text asserts that ''Tamasic Bhakti'' is one where the devotee prays because he is full of anger and seeks to harm or induce pain or jealousy to others.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=23-25}} ''Rajasic Bhakti'' is one where the devotee prays not to harm others, but to gain personal advantage, fame or wealth.{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=158-161}} ''Sattvic Bhakti'' is the type where the devotee seeks neither advantage nor harm to others but prays to purify himself, renounce any sins and surrender to the ideas embodied as Goddess to liberate himself.


{{Blockquote|text=<poem>वरहमा विषणशच रदशच ¦
== Philosophy ==
टशच ईशवरशच सदाशिवः ।
एत पञचमहापरताः पादमल मम सथिताः ॥</poem>|source=}}{{Blockquote|text=Brahma, Vishnu, Rudhra, Ishvara and Sadashiva: these are the five great disembodied spirits, who are situated at the base of my feet.|source=Devi Gita (Swami Satyānanda Saraswati), Chapter 12, Verse 10<ref>{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iL9BwgEACAAJ|title= Devi Gita|date=1996|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publisher|isbn=9781877795138|pages=224|language=en}}</ref>}}


The [[Bhakti]] theology of the ''Devi Gita'' part of this Purana may have been influenced by the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'', and with Vaishnava concepts of loving devotion to [[Krishna]] found in the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]''. All these texts highlight different types of devotion in a Samkhya philosophy framework.{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=158-161}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=23-25}} ''Tamasic Bhakti'' is one, asserts the text, where the devotee prays because he is full of anger, seeks to harm others, induce pain or jealousy to others.{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=23-25}} ''Rajasic Bhakti'' is one where the devotee prays not to harm others, but to gain personal advantage, fame or wealth.{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=158-161}} ''Sattvic Bhakti'' is the type where the devotee seeks neither advantage nor harm to others but prays to purify himself, renounce any sins and surrender to the ideas embodied as Goddess to liberate himself.
=== Vedic literature ===


'''SDB 07.37.11:12''' original Sanskrit:
Devi Bhagavatam mentioned number of Vedic mantras connected with observance. In eleventh canto describes certain rites, also Devi is identified with [[Yajurveda]] and [[Rudra]]. In the ninth canto mentioned various phase powers of Devi. Dhyana stotras of Lakshmi and Svaha are adopted from [[Samaveda]]. Use of Rudrakshas mentioned in ninth canto is supported by the [[Śruti|Sruti]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Layle|first=P.G|title=Studies in Devi Bhagavata|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=1973|isbn=978-8171540693|pages=38–39}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|<poem>अधना पराभकति त परोचयमाना निबोध म ।
मदगणशरवण नितय मम नापानकीरतनम ॥
कलयाणगणरतनानामाकराया मयि सथिरम ।
चतसो वरतन चव तलधारासम सदा ॥</poem>}}


'''SDB 07.37.13:14''' original Sanskrit:
=== Upanishad ===
{{Blockquote|<poem>हतसत ततर को वापि न कदाचिदधबदपि ।
Devi Bhagavatam adopted some of the passages in the Upanishad. In the seventh canto of the purana, Devi describes her own form. These verses are identical with some verses of the [[Devi Upanishad]]. Also, in the fourth canto some famous expressions of [[Taittiriya Upanishad]] are used to describe the nature of Devi.
सामीपयसाषटिसायजयसालोकयाना न चषणा ॥
मतसवातोऽधिक किचिननव जानाति करहिचित ।
सवयसवकताभावातततर मोकष न वाछति ॥</poem>}}


''Disciples'' of Swami Vijnanananda translation:
=== Samkhya ===
{{Blockquote|text=Now hear attentively about the Para Bhakti that I am now describing to you. He who hears always My Glories and recites My Name and Whose mind dwells always, like the incessant flow of oil, in Me who is the receptacle of all auspicious qualities and Gunas.|source=Canto 07, Chapter 37, Verse 11:12<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/devi-bhagavata-purana/d/doc57428.html|title = On Bhakti Yoga &#91;Chapter 37&#93;|date = 16 May 2013}}</ref>}}
{{Main|Samkhya}}


{{Blockquote|text=But he has not the least trace of any desire to get the fruits of his Karma; yea he does not want Samipya, Sarsti, Sayujya, and Salokya and other
Devi Bhagavatam belongs to the Shaktadvaitavada tradition (syncretism of [[Samkhya]] and [[Advaita Vedanta]]; literally, the path of nondualistic Shakti). The duality of [[Prakṛti]] and [[Purusha]] in Samkhya is also acknowledged by Devi Bhagavatam as it covers wide range of different philosophies. In the text prakriti is identified with Parashakti. She is also called Mulaprakriti (root prakriti).
forms of liberations! He becomes filled with devotion for Me alone worships Me only; knows nothing higher than to serve Me and he does not want final liberation even.|source=Canto 07, Chapter 37, Verse 13:14}}


=== Translations ===
=== Bhakti ===
There are several separate translations of Devi Gita.
''Main articles: [[Bhakti]] and [[Bhakti yoga]]''


* Devi Gita - The Song of The Goddess translated by C. Mackenzie Brown
The Devi Bhagavata Purana adds ''Para Bhakti'' ([[Sanskrit]]: दवी) in Devi Gita as the highest level of devotion, states McDaniel, where the devotee seeks neither boon nor liberation but weeps when he remembers her because he loves the Goddess, when he feels her presence everywhere and sees the Goddess in all living beings, he is intoxicated by her ideas and presence.{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=158-161}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=23-25}}
* Devi Gita translated by swami Satyananda Saraswati<ref>{{Cite book|last=Saraswati|first=Satyananda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VXfOuAEACAAJ|title=Devi Gita|publisher=Temple of the Divine Mother, Incorporated|year=2018|isbn=9781877795565|pages=274|language=en}}</ref>
* Sri Devi Gita translated by Ramamurthy Natarajan<ref>{{Cite book|last=Natarajan|first=Ramamurthy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uZq_zQEACAAJ|title=Śrī Devī Gīta: Sri Devi Gita|publisher=India ISBN Agency|year=2020|isbn=9789382237723|pages=186|language=en}}</ref>


== Philosophy ==
=== Advaita ===
[[Advaita Vedanta]] concepts can be seen throughout the Devi Bhagavata Purana. One of the main Advaita concepts found in the Purana is the concept that the individual self and the Supreme Self are one. As P. G. Lalye states that the Advaita Vedanta concept most prominent in the Devi Bhagavata Purana is the non-dual unity of the Goddess.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lalye |first=P. G |title=Studies In Devi Bhagavata |year=1973 |pages=80}}</ref>


=== Vedic Literature ===
=== Karma ===
Devi Bhagavatam mentioned number of Vedic mantras connected with observance. In eleventh canto describes certain rites, also Devi is identified with [[Yajurveda]] and [[Rudra]]. In the ninth canto mentioned various phase powers of Devi. Dhyana stotras of Lakshmi and Svaha are adopted from [[Samaveda]]. Use of Rudrakshas mentioned in ninth canto is supported by the [[Śruti|Sruti]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Layle|first=P.G|title=Studies in Devi Bhagavata|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=1973|isbn=978-8171540693|pages=38–39}}</ref>
Lalye state that Devi Bhagavatam has described many events that directly affect karma. In purana Vyasa, Narada and Narayana are exponents of Karma theory. He further states that one's actions must be forgiven. As the action is, so is the result. In this narrative the theory of karma and the theory of destiny are mixed together in the Purana.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Lalye |first=P. G |title=Studies In Devi Bhagavata |year=1973 |pages=133–134}}</ref>


=== Upanishad ===
== Significance ==
Devi Bhagavatam adopted some of passages in Upanishad. In seventh canto in purana Devi describe her own form these verses are identical with some verses of [[Devi Upanishad]]. Also in fourth canto some famous expressions of [[Taittiriya Upanishad]] are used to describe the nature of Devi. The four states of consciousness described in the [[Mandukya Upanishad]], are mentioned in 30th chapter of sixth canto.
The Devi Bhagavata Purana promotes devotion to the Goddess.<ref>{{Cite book |last=J. N. |first=Farquhar |title=Outline of the Religious Literature of India |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Limited |year=1984 |isbn=9788120820869 |pages=359}}</ref> As Lynn Foulston states, the text was written to satisfy Shakti devotees. He further mentions that the Devi Gita in the seventh Canto is the Shakta alternative to the Bhagavad Gita.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Foulston |first=Lynn |title=Hindu Goddesses - Beliefs & Practices |publisher=Liverpool University Press |year=2009 |isbn=9781782847205 |pages=73–74}}</ref>
=== Hindu Festivals ===
[[File:Durga Puja 2.jpg|thumb|196x196px|Durga Puja in Navaratri]]
Devi Bhagavatam also mentions the [[Navaratri]] festival which is a special festival of Goddess and the rituals to be performed on that festival and about the Navaratri Puja performed by [[Rama]] on [[Ashtami]] night.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2013-05-15 |title=On the narration of the Navarātra ceremony by Nārada and the performance of that by Rāma Chandra [Chapter 30] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/devi-bhagavata-purana/d/doc57163.html |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>


=== Samkhya ===
In the thirteenth chapter of the Ninth canto mentions, the Hindu festival of [[Dol Purnima|Dola Purnima]], celebrated during [[Holi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Devi Bhagavatam: The Ninth Book: Chapter 30 |url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk09ch30.htm |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref>
{{Main|Samkhya}}


Devi Bhagavatam belong to the Shaktadvaitavada tradition (syncretism of [[Samkhya]] and [[Advaita Vedanta]]. literally, the path of nondualistic Shakti). The duality of Prakriti and Purusha in Samkhya is not accepted by Devi Bhagavatam. In the text prakriti is identified with Parashakti. She is also called Mulaprakriti. The text maintains that the Gunas are of mixing nature and when they pair together they condition each other. This is an adaptation from the Samkhya theory.
=== shaktism ===
Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, a non-profit organization, performs the rituals of the Devi Bhagavatam and preaches its stories.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Katha {{!}} DJJS {{!}} Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan |url=https://www.djjs.org/devibhagwatkatha |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.djjs.org}}</ref>


=== Bhakti ===
When [[Swami Vivekananda]] talks about Para bhakti, the highest form of devotion to Brahman, he gives examples and definitions from the Devi Bhagavata Purana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Swami |first=Vivekananda |title=The Complete Works Of Swami Vivekananda Vol. 3 |publisher=Advaita Ashrama |year=1958 |pages=85}}</ref>
''Main articles: [[Bhakti]] and [[Bhakti yoga]]''


The Devi Bhagavata Purana adds '''Para Bhakti''' ([[Sanskrit]]: दवी) in Devi Gita as the highest level of devotion, states McDaniel, where the devotee seeks neither boon nor liberation but weeps when he remembers her because he loves the Goddess, when he feels her presence everywhere and sees the Goddess in all living beings, he is intoxicated by her ideas and presence.{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=158-161}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|pp=23-25}}
Sanyal states that Devi Bhagavata Parayana is still popular in [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Maharashtra]] etc.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1969 |title=Purana Bulletin 1969 January & July |journal=Purana Bulletin 1969 January & July |pages=150}}</ref>


''From'' [[Swami Vijnanananda]] translation:
{{Blockquote|text=Now hear attentively about the Para Bhakti that I am now describing to you. He who hears always My Glories and recites My Name and whose mind dwells always, like the incessant flow of oil, in Me who is the receptacle of all auspicious qualities and Gunas. But he has not the least trace of any desire to get the fruits of his Karma; yea he does not want Samipya, Sarshti, Sayujya, and Salokya and other forms of liberations! He becomes filled with devotion for Me alone, worships Me only; knows nothing higher than to serve Me and he does not want final liberation even. He does not like to forsake this idea of Sevya (to be served) and Sevaka (servant who serves). He always meditates on Me with a constant vigilance and actuated by a feeling of Supreme Devotion; he does not think himself separate from Me but rather thinks him self ‘that I am the Bhagavati.' Не considers all the Jivas as Myself and loves Me as he loves himself. He does not make any difference between the Jivas and myself as he finds the same with anybody as he has abandoned all ideas about separateness; he bows down, and worships the Chandalas and all the Jivas.|source=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Seventh Canto, Chapter 37, Verses 11:18}}
==Reception==
==Reception==
The verses and ideas in the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'', state Foulston and Abbott, are built on the foundation of the [[Upanishads]] wherein the nonduality and oneness of [[Brahman]] and [[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (soul) are synthesized.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|pp=75-76}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}} The text makes references to the philosophy and metaphors used in the Advaita Vedanta tradition of [[Adi Shankara]]. However, those ideas are reformulated and centered around the Goddess in the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'', states C Mackenzie Brown, as well as other scholars.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|p=75}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=12-17}} In ''Devi Bhagavata'' text, states Tracy Pintchman, the Devi is not only Brahman-Atman (soul, interconnected oneness), she is also the always-changing empirical reality ([[Maya (illusion)|Maya]]).{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2014|p=29-30}}
The verses and ideas in the ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'', state Foulston and Abbott, are built on the foundation of the [[Upanishads]] wherein the nonduality and oneness of [[Brahman]] and [[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (soul) are synthesized.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|pp=75-76}}{{Sfn|Rocher|1986|p=170}} The text makes references to the philosophy and metaphors used in the Advaita Vedanta tradition of [[Adi Shankara]]. However, those ideas are reformulated and centered around the Goddess in the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'', states C Mackenzie Brown, as well as other scholars.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|p=75}}{{Sfn|Cheever Mackenzie Brown|1998|p=12-17}} In ''Devi Bhagavata'' text, states Tracy Pintchman, the Devi is not only Brahman-Atman (soul, interconnected oneness), she is also the always-changing empirical reality ([[Maya (illusion)|Maya]]).{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2014|p=29-30}}
'''SDB 01.18.41''' original Sanskrit:
{{Blockquote|text=<poem>जीवो बरहम सदवाह नातर कारया विचारणा ।
भदबदधिसत ससार वरतमाना परवरतत ॥42 ॥</poem>}}{{Blockquote|text=Jiva is Brahman; I am that Brahman and nothing else; there is nothing to be discussed here. It is owing to the dualities that monism appears not clear and differences between Jiva and Brahman arise.|source=Canto 01, Chapter 18, Verse 41}}


The Goddess, in ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'', is both the source of self-bondage through ''Avidya'' (ignorance) and the source of self-liberation through ''Vidya'' (knowledge), state Foulston and Abbott.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|p=75}} She is identical to the Vedic [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] reality concept of Brahman, the supreme power, the ruler of the universe, the hero, the hidden energy, the power, the bliss innate in everything, according to the text.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|pp=75-76}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=128, 131-138}}{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1997|pp=131-134}} The Devi, states Kinsley, is identified by this Purana to be all matter, mother earth, the cosmos, all of nature including the primordial.{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1988|pp=179-180}} The Goddess is presented, states Brown, as "the womb of the universe", who observes the actions of her children, nurtures them to discover and realize their true nature, forgive when they make mistakes, be fearsomely terrible to the wicked that threaten her children, and be friend of all souls.{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=129-130}}
The Goddess, in ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'', is both the source of self-bondage through ''Avidya'' (ignorance) and the source of self-liberation through ''Vidya'' (knowledge), state Foulston and Abbott.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|p=75}} She is identical to the Vedic [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] reality concept of Brahman, the supreme power, the ruler of the universe, the hero, the hidden energy, the power, the bliss innate in everything, according to the text.{{Sfn|Lynn Foulston |Stuart Abbott|2009|pp=75-76}}{{Sfn|Tracy Pintchman|2015|pp=128, 131-138}}{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1997|pp=131-134}} The Devi, states Kinsley, is identified by this Purana to be all matter, mother earth, the cosmos, all of nature including the primordial.{{Sfn|David Kinsley|1988|pp=179-180}} The Goddess is presented, states Brown, as "the womb of the universe", who observes the actions of her children, nurtures them to discover and realize their true nature, forgive when they make mistakes, be fearsomely terrible to the wicked that threaten her children, and be friend of all souls.{{Sfn|C Mackenzie Brown|1990|pp=129-130}}


Cynthia Humes compares the depiction of Goddess in the 6th-century Hindu text ''Devi Mahatmya'', with that in this later ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' text.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-140 (Cynthia Humes)}} Both revere the feminine, states Humes, but there are some important differences.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-140 (Cynthia Humes)}} Nowhere does the ''Devi Mahatmya'' state anything negative about women, and it is explicit in asserting that "all women are portions of the Goddess".{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-142 (Cynthia Humes)}} By contrast, states Humes, the portrayal of women in ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' is more complex.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-142 (Cynthia Humes)}} It includes verses critical of the feminine, with the text stating that behavior of woman can be "reckless, foolish, cruel, deceitful" and the like. The ''Devi Bhagavata'' also praises women and describes their behavior can be "heroic, gentle, tenacious, strong" and the like.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-142 (Cynthia Humes)}}
Cynthia Humes compares the depiction of Goddess in the 6th-century Hindu text ''Devi Mahatmya'', with that in this later ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' text.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-140 (Cynthia Humes)}} Both revere the feminine, states Humes, but there are some important differences.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-140 (Cynthia Humes)}} Nowhere does the ''Devi Mahatmya'' state anything negative about women, and it is explicit in asserting that "all women are portions of the Goddess".{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-142 (Cynthia Humes)}} By contrast, states Humes, the portrayal of women in ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' is more complex.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-142 (Cynthia Humes)}} It includes verses critical of the feminine, with the text stating that behavior of woman can be "reckless, foolish, cruel, deceitful" and the like. The ''Devi Bhagavata'' also praises women and describes their behavior can be "heroic, gentle, tenacious, strong" and the like.{{Sfn|Alf Hiltebeitel|Kathleen M. Erndl|2000|pp=139-142 (Cynthia Humes)}}
As Hazra points out, in some parts of the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu is shown as the supreme deity, and in some parts Shiva is shown superior to Vishnu and Krishna. In the ninth canto, Krishna is shown as Para-Brahman. He further shows that the author of this Purana has composed it in such a way as to be consistent with all the Hindu sects, without contradicting the views of any sect.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hazra |first=R. C. |title=Studies in the Upapuranas |year=1963 |volume=2 |pages=333}}</ref>


The ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' is an important and historic Shakta Bhakti text, states June McDaniel.{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=158-161}}
The ''Devi-Bhagavata Purana'' is an important and historic Shakta Bhakti text, states June McDaniel.{{Sfn|June McDaniel|2004|pp=158-161}}
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The Devi Bhagavata Purana has been translated into different languages.
The Devi Bhagavata Purana has been translated into different languages.


==== [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ====
==== Telugu ====
*[[Mulugu Papayaradhya]], an 18th-century Telugu poet, is regarded as the first poet to translate the Devi Bhagavata Purana into [[Telugu language|Telugu]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C3JOAAAAYAAJ|title=Purāṇam|date=1962|publisher=All-India Kasiraja Trust.|pages=401|language=en}}</ref>  
*[[Mulugu Papayaradhya]], an 18th-century Telugu poet, is regarded as the first poet to translate the Devi Bhagavata Purana into [[Telugu language|Telugu]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C3JOAAAAYAAJ|title=Purāṇam|date=1962|publisher=All-India Kasiraja Trust.|pages=401|language=en}}</ref>  
*[[Tirupati Venkata Kavulu]] also translated this purana into Telugu language in 1896 entitled ''Devi Bhagavatamu''. They have divided the purana into 6 skandas and themselves published it in 1920.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tirupati Venkata Kavulu |title=Devi Bhagavatamu |date=1920 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.332758/mode/2up |access-date=21 October 2020 |language=te}}</ref>
*[[Tirupati Venkata Kavulu]] also translated this purana into Telugu language in 1896 entitled ''Devi Bhagavatamu''. They have divided the purana into 6 skandas and themselves published it in 1920.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tirupati Venkata Kavulu |title=Devi Bhagavatamu |date=1920 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.332758/mode/2up |access-date=21 October 2020 |language=te}}</ref>
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*Sri Devi Bhagavatam translated by Smt. S Rukminamma<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rukminamma|title=Sri Devi Bhagavatam|publisher=Victory Publishers|year=2008}}</ref>
*Sri Devi Bhagavatam translated by Smt. S Rukminamma<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rukminamma|title=Sri Devi Bhagavatam|publisher=Victory Publishers|year=2008}}</ref>


==== [[Kannada]] ====
==== Kannada ====
* Edatore Chandrashekhara Sastry has translated the entire Devi Bhagavatam to Kannada with Sanskrit Text. This was published in 11 volumes at Mysore. (Jayachamarajendra Grantha Ratna Mala - 5)
* Edatore Chandrashekhara Sastry has translated the entire Devi Bhagavatam to Kannada with Sanskrit Text. This was published in 11 volumes at Mysore. (Jayachamarajendra Grantha Ratna Mala - 5)
*Sri Devi Bhagavata by Pavana Sutha<ref>{{Cite book|last=Prakashan|first=Laxmi|title=Shri Mad Devi Bhagwat Mahapuran|publisher=Laxmi Prakashan|year=2018|pages=488}}</ref>
*Sri Devi Bhagavata by Pavana Sutha<ref>{{Cite book|last=Prakashan|first=Laxmi|title=Shri Mad Devi Bhagwat Mahapuran|publisher=Laxmi Prakashan|year=2018|pages=488}}</ref>


==== [[Malayalam]] ====
==== Malayalam ====


* Srimad Devi Bhagavatam translated by Varavoor Shamu Menon and Dr. N. P Unni<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shamu Menon|first=Varavoor|title=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam|publisher=PRASANTHI PUBLISHERS|year=2015|isbn=978-8189823443}}</ref>
* Srimad Devi Bhagavatam translated by Varavoor Shamu Menon and Dr. N. P Unni<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shamu Menon|first=Varavoor|title=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam|publisher=PRASANTHI PUBLISHERS|year=2015|isbn=978-8189823443}}</ref>
* Shrimad Devi Bhagavata published by Aarshasri Publications Co
* Shrimad Devi Bhagavata published by Aarshasri Publications Co


==== [[Hindi]] ====
==== Hindi ====


* Devi Bhagavatam published by [[Gita Press]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Shukla|first=Harendra|title=શરીમદ દવી ભાગવત|publisher=Shree Harihar Pustakalay Surat|year=|isbn=9789385955785|pages=984}}</ref>
* Devi Bhagavatam published by [[Gita Press]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Shukla|first=Harendra|title=શરીમદ દવી ભાગવત|publisher=Shree Harihar Pustakalay Surat|year=|isbn=9789385955785|pages=984}}</ref>
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*Srimad Devi Bhagawat Mahapurana by Shivjeet Singh<ref name=":1" />
*Srimad Devi Bhagawat Mahapurana by Shivjeet Singh<ref name=":1" />


==== [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] ====
==== Gujarati ====


* શરીમદ દવી ભાગવત: Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana by Harendra Shukla<ref name=":0" />
* શરીમદ દવી ભાગવત: Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana by Harendra Shukla<ref name=":0" />


==== [[Bengali language|Bengali]] ====
==== Bengali ====


* Devi Bhagavatam by Navabharat Publishers, Kolkata
* Devi Bhagavatam by Navabharat Publishers, Kolkata


==== [[Nepali language|Nepali]] ====
==== Nepali ====


* Srimad Devi Bhagawat Mahapuran (Nepali) translated by Gaurishankar Vasistha (SRI DURGA SAHITYA BHANDAR, VARANASI)<ref name=":0" />
* Srimad Devi Bhagawat Mahapuran (Nepali) translated by Gaurishankar Vasistha (SRI DURGA SAHITYA BHANDAR, VARANASI)<ref name=":0" />


==== [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ====
==== Tamil ====


* Devi Bhagavatam - Karthikeyan by Giri Trading Agency private limited  
* Devi Bhagavatam - Karthikeyan by Giri Trading Agency private limited  
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* Sri Devi Bhagavatham by Acharya Bethavolu Ramabrahmam - V.G.S Publishers
* Sri Devi Bhagavatham by Acharya Bethavolu Ramabrahmam - V.G.S Publishers


==== [[English language|English]] ====
==== English ====
* [[Swami Vijnanananda]] translated the Devi Bhagavatam to English with Sanskrit Text.
* [[Swami Vijnanananda]] translated the Devi Bhagavatam to English with Sanskrit Text.
* Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (2 Volumes) by  C. P. Balachandran Nair
* Ramesh Menon translated condensed English version of The Devi Bhagavatam in 2010<ref>{{Cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|title=Devi: The Devi Bhagavatam Retold|publisher=Rupa & Co|year=2010|isbn=9788129115546|pages=514}}</ref>
* Ramesh Menon translated condensed English version of The Devi Bhagavatam in 2010<ref>{{Cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|title=Devi: The Devi Bhagavatam Retold|publisher=Rupa & Co|year=2010|isbn=9788129115546|pages=514}}</ref>
*Srimad Devibhagavata Puranam (Sanskrit Text with English Translation in Two Volumes) by Bahadur Sris Chandra
*Srimad Devibhagavata Puranam (Sanskrit Text with English Translation in Two Volumes) by Bahadur Sris Chandra
*Sampoorna Devi Bhagavatham by Sadguru Vaddiparti Padmakar
*Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (2 Volumes): English Version Prose by C. P. Balachandran Nair<ref>{{Cite web |title=Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (2 Volumes): English Version Prose |url=https://www.motilalbanarsidass.com/en-us/products/srimad-devi-bhagavatam-2-volumes-english-version-prose |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Motilal Banarsidass |language=en}}</ref>


==== [[German language|German]] ====
==== German ====


* Shrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam: Mutter Natur in Aktion by  Michael Stibane<ref>{{Cite book|last=Stibane|first=Michael|title=Shrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam: Mutter Natur in Aktion|publisher=Alfa-Veda Verlag|year=2020|isbn=978-3945004456}}</ref>
* Shrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam: Mutter Natur in Aktion by  Michael Stibane<ref>{{Cite book|last=Stibane|first=Michael|title=Shrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam: Mutter Natur in Aktion|publisher=Alfa-Veda Verlag|year=2020|isbn=978-3945004456}}</ref>


==== [[Russian language|Russian]] ====
==== Russian ====


* Девибхагавата-Пурана. В 6 томах (Devi Bhagavata Purana) - Клуб Касталия (Kastalia Club)
* Девибхагавата-Пурана. В 6 томах (Devi Bhagavata Purana) - Клуб Касталия (Kastalia Club)


==In Popular Culture==
== See also ==
*[[Colors TV]] launched a mythological series named Jai Jag Janani Maa Durga in 2012 based on Devi-Bhagavata Purana.
*Colors [[Colors TV|TV]] launched a mythological series named [[Mahakali — Anth Hi Aarambh Hai]] in 2017 partially based on Devi-Bhagavata Purana
*[[Sony Entertainment Television]] launched a mythological series named [[Vighnaharta Ganesha|Vighnaharata Ganesha]] in 2017 which also portrayed episodes from this text.
*[[Dangal TV]] launched a mythological series named [[Devi Adi Parashakti]] in 2020 which is also based on Devi-Bhagavata Purana.


==See also==
* [[Mahadevi]]
{{col div|colwidth=35em}}
* [[Shaktism]]
*''[[Devi Mahatmya]]''
* [[Puranas]]
*''[[Markandeya Purana]]''
*''[[Shiva Purana]]''
*[[Mahadevi]]
{{colend}}


==Notes==
==Notes==
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==References==
==References==
{{citation style|reason=Inline full citation need to be moved to works cited and replaced with short citations|date=September 2023}}
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}


===Bibliography===
===Works cited===
*{{cite book |first=Charles Dillard |last= Collins |title=The Iconography and Ritual of Siva at Elephanta: On Life, Illumination, and Being |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pQNi6kAGJQ4C&pg=PA36 | year=1988 | publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-88706-773-0}}
*{{cite book |first=Charles Dillard |last= Collins |title=The Iconography and Ritual of Siva at Elephanta: On Life, Illumination, and Being |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pQNi6kAGJQ4C&pg=PA36 | year=1988 | publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-88706-773-0}}
*{{cite book| author=Philip Lutgendorf| editor=Arvind Sharma| title=The Study of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npCKSUUQYEIC |year=2003| publisher=University of South Carolina Press |isbn=978-1-57003-449-7 }}
*{{cite book|author=Cheever Mackenzie Brown|title=The Devi Gita: The Song of the Goddess: A Translation, Annotation, and Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=28CIEnZCcqMC|year=1998|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3939-5}}
*{{cite book|author=C Mackenzie Brown|title=The Triumph of the Goddess: The Canonical Models and Theological Visions of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p6KumJp_wNgC|year=1990|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-0364-8}}
*{{cite book|first = Rosen|last= Dalal|year= 2014|title= Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide| publisher= Penguin|isbn= 978-8184752779| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC }}
*{{cite book|first = Rosen|last= Dalal|year= 2014|title= Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide| publisher= Penguin|isbn= 978-8184752779| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Dimmitt | first1 = Cornelia | first2 = J. A. B.  |last2 = van Buitenen | title = Classical Hindu Mythology: A Reader in the Sanskrit Puranas | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=re7CR2jKn3QC| publisher = Temple University Press (1st Edition: 1977) | year = 2012 | isbn =978-1-4399-0464-0 }}
*{{cite book|author1=Lynn Foulston |author2=Stuart Abbott| title=Hindu Goddesses: Beliefs and Practices| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgwVgPx5G5UC| year=2009| publisher=Sussex Academic Press| isbn=978-1-902210-43-8}}
*{{cite book|author1=Lynn Foulston |author2=Stuart Abbott| title=Hindu Goddesses: Beliefs and Practices| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgwVgPx5G5UC| year=2009| publisher=Sussex Academic Press| isbn=978-1-902210-43-8}}
*{{cite book|author=K P Gietz|display-authors=etal|title=Epic and Puranic Bibliography (Up to 1985) Annoted and with Indexes: Part I: A - R, Part II: S - Z, Indexes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kgpLBpUCufwC&pg=PA870|year= 1992|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-03028-1}}
*{{cite book|author=K P Gietz|display-authors=etal|title=Epic and Puranic Bibliography (Up to 1985) Annoted and with Indexes: Part I: A - R, Part II: S - Z, Indexes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kgpLBpUCufwC&pg=PA870|year= 1992|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-03028-1}}
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*{{cite book| author=David Kinsley|title=Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iob2JIzY9fIC| year=1997|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-91772-9}}
*{{cite book| author=David Kinsley|title=Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iob2JIzY9fIC| year=1997|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-91772-9}}
*{{cite book| last= Klostermaier| first=Klaus K.| title=Survey of Hinduism, A: Third Edition| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC | year=2010| publisher=State University of New York Press| isbn=978-0-7914-8011-3}}
*{{cite book| last= Klostermaier| first=Klaus K.| title=Survey of Hinduism, A: Third Edition| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC | year=2010| publisher=State University of New York Press| isbn=978-0-7914-8011-3}}
*{{cite book|first= James|last= Lochtefeld|year= 2002|title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1 & 2|publisher= Rosen Publishing|isbn= 978-0823931798|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch}}
*{{cite book|first= James|last= Lochtefeld|year= 2002|title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 1 & 2|publisher= Rosen Publishing|isbn= 978-0823931798|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/TheIllustratedEncyclopediaOfHinduism.../mode/2up}}
*{{cite book| author=Philip Lutgendorf| editor=Arvind Sharma| title=The Study of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=npCKSUUQYEIC |year=2003| publisher=University of South Carolina Press |isbn=978-1-57003-449-7 }}
*{{cite book|author=C Mackenzie Brown|title=The Triumph of the Goddess: The Canonical Models and Theological Visions of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p6KumJp_wNgC|year=1990|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-0364-8}}
*{{cite book|author=Cheever Mackenzie Brown|title=The Devi Gita: The Song of the Goddess: A Translation, Annotation, and Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=28CIEnZCcqMC|year=1998|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-3939-5}}
*{{cite book|author= June McDaniel |title=Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=caeJpIj9SdkC | year =2004| publisher=Oxford University Press| isbn=978-0-19-534713-5}}
*{{cite book|author= June McDaniel |title=Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=caeJpIj9SdkC | year =2004| publisher=Oxford University Press| isbn=978-0-19-534713-5}}
*{{cite book| author=Tracy Pintchman| title=Guests at God's Wedding: Celebrating Kartik among the Women of Benares |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3KcEotmV2MAC| year=2005|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0-7914-6595-0}}
*{{cite book|author=Tracy Pintchman| title=Seeking Mahadevi: Constructing the Identities of the Hindu Great Goddess| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JfXdGInecRIC |year=2014| publisher=State University of New York Press| isbn=978-0-7914-9049-5}}
*{{cite book|author=Tracy Pintchman| title=Seeking Mahadevi: Constructing the Identities of the Hindu Great Goddess| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JfXdGInecRIC |year=2014| publisher=State University of New York Press| isbn=978-0-7914-9049-5}}
*{{cite book|author=Tracy Pintchman|title=The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JsDpBwAAQBAJ| year=2015| publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-1-4384-1618-2}}
*{{cite book|author=Tracy Pintchman|title=The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JsDpBwAAQBAJ| year=2015| publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-1-4384-1618-2}}
*{{Cite book|first=Ludo |last=Rocher| year= 1986| author-link= Ludo Rocher| title= The Puranas| publisher= Otto Harrassowitz Verlag| isbn= 978-3447025225}}
*{{Cite book|first=Ludo |last=Rocher| year= 1986| author-link= Ludo Rocher| title= The Puranas| publisher= Otto Harrassowitz Verlag| isbn= 978-3447025225}}
*{{cite book |last= Wilson |first=H. H. |author-link= Horace Hayman Wilson|title=The Vishnu Purana: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition (Volume 1: Introduction, Book I) |year=1864 | url=https://archive.org/stream/vishnupurnsyst01wils#page/n3/mode/2up | publisher=Read Country Books (reprinted in 2006) |isbn=1-84664-664-2}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/index.htm English Translation of the Devi Bhagavata by Swami Vijnanananda]
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/index.htm English Translation of the Devi Bhagavata by Swami Vijnanananda]
* [https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/devi-bhagavata-purana ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' English translation] correct IAST transliteration and glossary
* [https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/devi-bhagavata-purana ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' English translation] correct IAST transliteration and glossary
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[[Category:Hindu philosophy]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophy]]
[[Category:Sanskrit texts]]
[[Category:Sanskrit texts]]
[[Category:Religious texts]]
[[Category:Indian religious texts]]

Latest revision as of 15:13, 9 March 2026


For other uses, see Bhagavata Puranas (disambiguation).
This article is about a Goddess-related text. For Krishna-related text, see Bhagavata Purana.

Devi Bhagavata Purana
A manuscript of Devi Bhagavata Purana
Information
ReligionHinduism
AuthorVyasa
LanguageSanskrit
Chapters318
Verses18, 000
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Stone sculpture of Devi Durga, Indian Museum, Kolkata

The Devi Bhagavata Purana (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., devī bhāgavatapurāṇam), also known as the Devi Purana or simply Devi Bhagavatam, is one of the major Puranas of Hinduism. Composed in Sanskrit, the text is considered a Mahapurana for Devi worshippers (Shaktas), while others classify it as an Upapurana instead.[1][2][3] It promotes bhakti (devotion) towards Mahadevi, integrating themes from the Shaktadvaitavada tradition (a syncretism of Samkhya and Advaita Vedanta). While this is generally regarded as a Shakta Purana, some scholars such as Dowson have also interpreted this Purana as a Shaiva Purana.[4]

The Purana consists of twelve cantos with 318 chapters.[5] Along with the Devi Mahatmya, it is one of the works in Shaktism, a tradition within Hinduism that reveres Devi or Shakti (Goddess) as the primordial creator of the universe, and as Brahman (ultimate truth and reality).[6][7][8] It celebrates the divine feminine as the origin of all existence: as the creator, the preserver and the destroyer of everything, as well as the one who empowers spiritual liberation.[1][9] While all major Puranas of Hinduism mention and revere the Goddess, this text centers around her as the primary divinity.[10][11] The underlying philosophy of the text is Advaita Vedanta-style monism combined with the devotional worship of Shakti.[12][13][14] It is believed that the text was spoken by Vyasa to King Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit.[15]

Nomenclature[edit | edit source]

The title of the text, 'Srimad Devi Bhagavata or 'Devi Purana'', is composed of two words, which together mean "devotees of the blessed Devi". Johnson states the meaning as the "ancient annals of the luminous goddess".[16]

  • Srimad (or Srimat, Sanskrit श्रीमत्) means 'radiant', 'holy', 'splendid', or 'glorious', and is an honorific religious title.
  • 'Devi' (Sanskrit: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is deva. The terms Devi and Deva are Sanskrit terms found in Vedic literature of 2nd millennium BCE, wherein Devi is feminine and Deva is masculine.[17] Monier Williams translates it as "heavenly, divine, terrestrial things of high excellence, exalted, shining ones".[18]
  • 'Bhagavata' (or Bhagavatam or Bhagavat, Sanskrit भागवत) means "devotees of the Blessed One", a general name for the earliest (before 11th century C.E.) devotees of Vishnu, particularly of Krishna-Gopala.[19]
  • 'Purana' (Sanskrit पराण) means 'ancient' or 'old' (or 'old traditional history').[20] It also means 'complete' and 'completing'[20] in the sense that a Purana 'completes the Vedas'.[21]
    • 'Maha' (Sanskrit महत) means 'great', 'large', or 'vast'.

History[edit | edit source]

This Purana lists Saraswati (above) as the creative aspect of the supreme Goddess, the Shakti of Brahma.[22]

The Srimad Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana has been variously dated.[23] A few scholars suggest an early date, such as Ramachandran, who suggested that the text was composed before the 6th-century CE.[23] However, this early date has not found wide support, and most scholars date it between the 9th and the 14th century.[23][24] Rajendra Hazra suggests 11th or 12th century, while Lalye states that the text began taking form in the late centuries of the 1st millennium, was expanded over time, and its first complete version existed in the 11th century.[23][25] Tracy Pintchman dates the text to between 1000 and 1200 CE.[26]

The last ten chapters (31 to 40) of the seventh canto consist of 507 verses, a part which has often circulated as an independent volume, just like the Bhagavad Gita of the Mahabharata circulates independently.[27] This text, from Book 7 of this Purana, is called Devi Gita.[28] This text may have been composed with the original text, or it might be a later interpolation, according to C Mackenzie Brown.[28] He suggests that this portion of the text was probably composed by the 13th century; it may be later, but was set down before the 16th century.[28]

The ninth canto contains many verses that reference Mlecchas (barbarians) and Yavanas (foreigners).[29] These words may just refer to hill tribes, but the details contained in the description of Mlecchas within these verses, according to some scholars like Hazra, suggest that the writer of these parts knew about Islam and its spread in India, leading scholars to date these parts of the ninth book to the 12th to 15th centuries, compared to the older core of the ninth book.[29]

The Devi Bhagavata Purana is not the earliest Indian text that celebrates the divine feminine. The 6th century CE Devi Mahatmya, embedded in the Markandeya Purana, asserts the divine superiority of the Goddess.[30][31] Archaeological evidence in Mathura and Bengal suggests that the concept of the divine feminine was in existence by about the 2nd century CE.[32][27] Both the Devi Mahatmya and Devi Bhagavata Purana have been very influential texts within the Shakta tradition, asserting the supremacy of the female and have made the Goddess a figure of devotional (bhakti) appeal.[33]

This text, along with all the Puranas, Vedas and the Mahabharata has traditionally been attributed by Hindus to the sage Veda Vyasa.[citation needed]

Characters[edit | edit source]

Avatars of Devi[edit | edit source]

This table shows the notable incarnations of Devi mentioned in the Purana.

Avatar (Incarnation) Description Canto
Bhuvaneshvari Third Mahavidya form of Devi, queen of Manidvipa 3
Durga Goddess of protection, strength, motherhood, destruction and wars 5, 7, 9
Parvati Consort of Shiva, Goddess of love and fertility, who resides upon Kailasa. -- 5,7,9
Kali Goddess of time and destruction 5, 9
Lakshmi Consort of Vishnu, Goddess of wealth and purity 1, 3, 9
Saraswati Consort of Brahma, Goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning 3, 5, 9
Radha Consort of Krishna, Goddess of love, compassion and devotion, Queen of Goloka 9
Savitri Personified form of Gayatri Mantra and mother of Vedas 9
Shakambhari The one who nourished mankind with fruits and vegetables. 7
Bhramari The Goddess of bees 10
Tulasi Personification of the Tulasi plant 9
Manasa Goddess of Serpents 9
Mangala Chandika A form of goddess Chandika 9

Notable devotees[edit | edit source]

This table shows the devotees of the Goddess according to the Purana.

Name Description Canto
Ila / Sadyumana The king was named Sadyumana and later became the mother of the Budha 1
Anuha The son of Vibhraja; He married the daughter of Shuka named Kirti. 1
Pratipa Father of Shantanu and grandfather of Bhishma 2
Shringi The young sage who cursed Parikshit 2
Kunti Mother of Pandavas and wife of king Pandu 2
Suta Son of Lomaharshana and a disciple of Vyasa --
Vasudeva Father of Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra; The king of the Vrishnis and a Yadava prince. 2
subahu The king of Kashi 3
Sudarshana The son of king Dhruvasandhi 3
Indra The king of devas, God of weather --
Prahlada Son of Hiranyakashipu 4
Nimi The son of Ikshvaku 6
Sachi Consort of Indra, Queen of devas 6
Himavan Personification of the Himalayas, He is the guardian deity of the Himalayas, The Goddess preached the Devi Gita to him. 7
Sukanya Daughter of King Sharyati 7
Satyavrata A prince cursed by sage Vasishtha 7
Janamejaya King of Kuru kingdom, Son of Parikshit, Vyasa preached the Devi Bhagavata Purana to him. --
Savarni The eighth Manu of Hinduism 10

Notable demons and villains[edit | edit source]

Many demons (villains) are mentioned throughout the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam

Avatar (Incarnation) Description Canto
Madhu-Kaitabha Two demons who originated from the earwax within the god Vishnu's ears. 1
Asura Hayagriva Son of Kashyapa and Danu who Slain by Lord Hayagriva 1
Takshaka One of the sons of Kadru, Murderer of Parikshit 2
Ravana Multi-headed rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, 3
Mahishasura The son of Mahisi (Buffalo) and the great-grandson of Brahmarshi Kashyapa, He was ultimately killed by goddess Durga 5
Tamra One of minister's of Mahishasura 5
Durmukha One of minister's of Mahishasura, killed by goddess Durga 5
Ciksura General of Mahishasura, killed by goddess Durga 5
Shumbha and Nishumbha Two Asura brothers, sons of Kashyapa and Danu, Goddess Kaushiki killed them both 5
Dhumralochana The asura who was the general of the demon king Shumbha 5
Raktabija One of minister's of the demon king Shumbha 5
Vritrasura A great demon (asura) killed by Indra 6
Nahusha A king of the Chandravamsha (Lunar dynasty), Nahusha was made the ruler of Svarga during Indra's absence 6
Hiranyaksha He is slain by the Varaha (wild boar) avatar of Vishnu 8
Hiranyakashipu Younger brother of Hiranyaksha, Slain by Narasimha 5,10
Durgamasura A powerful demon who was killed by Goddess Durga 9
Shankachuda Sudama who was lord Krishna's friend in his previous life 9
Arunasura A powerful demon who was killed by the goddess Bhramari 10

Content and structure[edit | edit source]

The theosophy in the text, state Foulston and Abbott, is an encyclopedic mix of ancient history, metaphysics and bhakti.[34] This history, states C Mackenzie Brown, is of the same type found in other Puranas, about the perpetual cycle of conflict between the good and the evil, the gods and the demons.[35] These legends build upon and extend the ancient Hindu history, such as those found in the Mahabharata.[36] However, this Purana's legends refocus the legends around the divine feminine, integrate a devotional theme to goddesses, and the Devi is asserted in this text to be the eternal truth, the eternal source of all of universe, the eternal end of everything, the nirguna (without form) and the saguna (with form), the supreme unchanging reality (Purusha), the phenomenal changing reality (Prakriti), as well as the soul within each living being.[36][37][38]

Puranic characteristics[edit | edit source]

As a Mahapurana[edit | edit source]

There are two Bhagavatas in Hindu puranic literature, the Vishnu Bhagavata and Devi Bhagavata. There are some doubts between genuine of these two puranas, as an example in Uma Samhita of Shiva Purana Mentioned Srimad Devi Bhagavatam as fifth Mahapurana called Srimad Bhagavatam.[39] Devi Bhagavata as it is called in itself, Bhagavata or Srimad Bhagavata confirms to the definitions of Bhagavata contained in other Puranas including Matsya Purana.[40]

From J. L. Shastri's translation:[41]

Where the stories of the goddess Durga are mentioned, it is said to be Bhagavata Purana as well as Devi Purana.

— Shiva Purana Uma Samhita, Chapter 44, verse 129

As mentioned in the Matsya Purana, the Bhagavata Purana is contain 18,000 slokas and begins with the Gayatri and glorifies the Sarasvata Kalpa.[42] Vyasa mentions in Devi Bhagavatam that it was composed in Sarasvata Kalpa.

Farquhar mentions that devotees of Devi accept this Purana as the original Bhagavata Purana, the fifth among all the Puranas, and the Vishnu Bhagavata Purana is believed to have been composed by Vopadeva around A.D. 1300. He points out that Sridhara remarks on this claim in his (Vishnu) Bhagavata Purana commentary, a claim apparently common during his day, thus making it clear that Devi Bhagavata is posterior to the Bhagavata Purana and prior to Sridhara, who lived about A.D. 1400.[43]

Winternitz mentions that there are three polemic treatises discussing whether Devi Bhagavata should instead be considered a Mahapurana.[44]

Hazra mentions that there is a band of scholars, both European and Indian, who hold that the Devi Bhagavata is the real Bhagavata and that the Vaishnava Bhagavata is a spurious work, which he views their opinion as untenable and elaborates on eleven reasons why in his book.[45]

Vishnulok Bihari Srivastava states that in Sanskrit literature, both Srimad Bhagavatam and Devi Bhagavatam are accepted as Mahapuranas, while the Vayu Purana, Matsya Purana and Aditya Upa Purana accept Devi Bhagavatam as a Mahapurana.[46] Vanamali, in her book "Shakti", states that Devi Bhagavatam is classified as a Mahapurana.[47] Puri states that in the Devi Bhagavata Purana it is entitled as the Bhagavata Mahapurana and the Vaishnava Bhagavata as an upapurana.[48] Sanyal states that in the Saura Purana and the revakhanda of Skanda Purana, the Bhagavata Purana is mentioned as being divided into two parts. He further points out that the Vaishnava Bhagavata Purana is not so divided and that the Devi Bhagavata Purana is divided into two parts of six chapters each, so it may be the Devi Bhagavata Purana.[49]

Wilson states that It is acceptable to include the Bhagavata among the eighteen Puranas, but it is said that it can only be the Devi Bhagavata as the circumstances apply more precisely than the Vaishnava Bhagavata.[50]

Five characteristics[edit | edit source]

As a Sattvic Shakta Purana the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam has five characteristics.

From Swami Vijnanananda translation:

Thus, the Mahatma Veda Vyasa has divided this Bhagavata Purana into so many Skandhas and into so many chapters; and that the number of verses is eighteen thousand is already stated. That is denominated as Purana which contains the following five characteristics: (1) Sarga (creation of the universe), (2) Pratisarga (secondary creation), (3) Vamsa (dynasties), (4) Manvantaras, (5) Vamsa nuchararita (the description of Manus and other kings).

— Srimad Devi Bhagavatam First Canto, Chapter 2, Verse 17:18

Shlokas / Verses[edit | edit source]

Srimad Devi Bhagavatam consists of 12 cantos with 318 chapters.[5] Although the number of original Sanskrit shlokas ('verses') is stated to be 18,000 by the Devi Bhagavata itself.[51] The actual text, in different versions, is close.[28]

Srimad Devi Bhagavatam Chapters and Verses
Swami Vijnanananda Translation
Canto Chapters Verses
1 20 1,185
2 12 723
3 30 1,746
4 25 1,426
5 35 2,086
6 31 1,885
7 40 2,251
8 24 793
9 50 3,563
10 13 508
11 24 1,239
12 14 964
Total 318 18,369
Difference (Sanskrit) +369

Cantos[edit | edit source]

For ease of reference, Swami Vijnanananda's complete 18-volume translation of the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam in wisdomlib is cited. It also provides original Sanskrit verses, transliterations, synonyms, and purports.

First Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 20 chapters, the first book (skandha) like other major Puranas, states Rocher, presents the outline, the structure of contents, and describes how in the mythical Naimisha forest, the Devi-Bhagavata Purana was first recited among the sages.[5] It also asserts that all of Reality was initially nirguna (without form, shape or attributes; in other words, there was nothingness except Truth).[5] However, asserts the text, this nirguna Reality was a Bhagavati (woman), and she manifested herself as three Shaktis - Sattviki (truth, creative action), Rajasi (passion, aimless action) and Tamasi (delusion, destructive action).[5] It also includes:

  • The group of sages including Shaunaka requested Suta to recite the Bhagavata Purana, the fifth Purana among the Mahapuranas.
  • Lord Vishnu assume the form of Hayagriva with the grace of Devi as a result of a curse by Vishnu's consort Lakshmi.
  • The penance of Vyasa, and boon granted by Lord Shiva
  • Birth of Budha from Tara by Soma; Sudyumna's change into a female named Ila and her prayers to the Goddess and the Goddess granting her a place at Her Lotus Feet
  • Birth of Shukadeva and visit to Mithila to meet King Janaka
  • Instructions of Bhagavati to Vishnu

In chapter fifteen chapter of the 1st canto, Devi reveals her true identity to Vishnu who is lying on a banyan leaf.

All this that is seen is I Myself; there is existent nothing other that is eternal

— Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Canto 01, Chapter 15, Verse 52

Second Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 12 chapters, this canto is short and historical.[5] It weaves in the characters well known in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, states Rocher, and introduces in the key characters that appear in remaining books of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana.[52] It also includes:

Third Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 30 chapters, this canto mentions the glory of Devi Bhuvaneshvari and her worship, at the beginning of the universe Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva see the Goddess reside in Manidvipa and praise her. It also weaves in legends from the Ramayana.[52]

  • Description about the secondary creation
  • Trimurti going towards the heavens on the celestial car
  • Devi transforms Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva into young girls, Trimurti eulogizes Devi with various hymns.
  • Devi's description of her own self and the description of nirguna shakti and nirguna purusha.
  • The Goddess bestows Saraswati on Brahma, Lakshmi on Vishnu and Gauri on Shiva.
  • Fight between Yudhajit and Virasena
  • Details about Navaratri festival and Rama's performing the Navaratri ceremony

Fourth Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 25 chapters, this fourth canto presents more legends, including interactions between avatars of Hari, Krishna and Shiva and Kashyapa's birth as Vasudeva. It also introduces tantric themes and presents yoga meditation.[52]

One aspect of the Goddess in the Devi Bhagavata Purana. The text describes many.[53][54]
  • The questions put by Janamejaya regarding Krishna's incarnation
  • Details about Nara and Narayana
  • The fight between the Risis and Prahlada
  • Description about several avatars of Vishnu
  • Explain about Devi's highest supremacy

Fifth Canto[edit | edit source]

Bhuvaneshwari temple in Mysore Palace. Bhuvaneshwari is the supreme Goddess in Book 7 of this Purana.[55]

Consisting of 35 chapters, the canto mentions the glory of Devi (Devi Mahatmya), fight between Durga and Mahishasura, killing of Sumbha and Nisumbha and other demons.

  • Devi Mahatmya - Story of Mahishasura and the origin of goddess Mahalakshmi
  • The conquest of the Heavens by Shumba - Nishumbha and Birth of Devi Kaushiki
  • The story of King Suratha and a Vaishya who heard the Devi Mahatmyam from a sage, received the nine-syllable mantra from him and performed severe austerities and worshiped the Devi.
  • The methods of Devi worship, worship of Devi either in a metal image or in a Yantra

Sixth Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 31 chapters, The sixth book continue these legends, states Rocher, with half of the chapters focussed on the greatness of Goddess, how male gods are befuddled by problems, how they run to her for help, and how she solves them because she is enlightened knowledge.[56][57] The text presents the feminine to whom all masculine deities are subordinate and dependent on.[58] Its also include Indra killing of Vritra.

  • Tvashtr create a son named Vishvarupa and Indra kills Visvarupa.
  • Tvashtr's rage and creation of Vritra from the sacrificial fire and the slaying of Vṛitrasura
  • Indra's expulsion from heaven, Sachi worship of Devi Bhuvaneshvari and Nahusha taking Indra's place.
  • The birth of Mitra Varuṇa
  • The origin of the Haihaya Dynasty
  • Details of holy rivers, mountains, lakes and places sacred to the Goddess.
  • The marriage of Narada and his face getting transformed into that of a monkey

Seventh Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 40 chapters, The seventh canto of the Srimad Devi-Bhagavatam shifts towards more philosophy, asserting its version of the essence of the Vedas.[59] This book contains the philosophical text called Devi Gita, or the "Song of the Goddess".[59][60] The Goddess explains she is the Brahman that created the world, asserting the Advaita premise that spiritual liberation occurs when one fully comprehends the identity of one's soul and the Brahman.[59][61] This knowledge, asserts the Goddess, comes from detaching self from the world and meditating on one's own soul.[59][37]Chapter 28 of the seventh book contain the story of Durgamasur and his annihilation by goddess Sivaa (Parvati) in her form of Shakambhari.

  • Description of the Solar and Lunar Kings
  • The story of Satyavrata
  • The birth of Devi Gauri, the seats of the Deity, and the distraction of Shiva
  • Supreme goddess takes Universal Virat rupa and Self-realization, Spoken by the supreme Mother

This canto, states Rocher, also includes sections on festivals related to Devi, pilgrimage information and ways to remember her.[59] Her relationship with Shiva and the birth of Skanda is also briefly mentioned in the 7th book.[59] The last ten chapters (31 to 40) of the canto 7 is the famous and philosophical Devi Gita, which often circulates in the Hindu tradition as a separate text.[27]

Eighth Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 24 chapters, The eighth book of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana incorporates one of the five requirements of Puranic-genre of Hindu texts, that is a theory of the geography of the earth, planets and stars, the motion of sun and moon, as well as explanation of time and the Hindu calendar.[62] Its include:

  • In the beginning of creation Manu (Hinduism) praise Devi and Lord taking Varaha avatar
  • Divisions of Bhu Mandala with Seven islands
  • Various avatars of Vishnu worship in Jambudvīpa
  • Description of the movement of the Moon and other planets.
  • Narada worship and praises Lord Ananta
  • Description about nether worlds and different hells

Ninth Canto[edit | edit source]

The largest canto is the 9th skandha Consisting of 50 chapters, which is very similar in structure and content of the Prakriti-kanda of the Brahmavaivarta Purana.[63][64] Both are goddess-focused and discuss her theology, but have one difference.[63] The Prakriti-kanda of the Brahmavaivarta Purana also includes many verses which praise Vishnu and use various names (incarnations), which re-appear in the 9th book of the Devi Bhagavata Purana, with Vishnu's names substituted with Devi's names (incarnations).[63] It also mentioned Krishna as the male form of goddess.

  • Description of five forms of Devi Prakriti
  • Manifestation of Shri Krishna and description of first creation (Sarga)
  • Birth of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
  • Lakshmi, Saraswati and Ganga (goddess) mutually curse each other and descend them on Bharatavarsha.
  • Description of the period of Kali Yuga.
  • Story of Devi Tulsi
  • Significance and attributes of Bhagavati Bhuvaneshvari
  • Goddess Mahalakshmi manifests from ocean of milk
  • Description of mantras and songs of praise to Devi Radha and goddess Durga.

Tenth Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 13 chapters, This Canto of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana is one of the shortest, and integrates manavantaras, another structural requirement for this text to be a major Purana, but wherein the Devi is worshiped in every cosmic time cycle, because she is the greatest, she kills the evil and she nurtures the good.[63][65]Chapter 13 of the tenth book describes the glory of goddess Bhramri that how in the past she killed the demon Arunasura.

  • The creation Swayambhu Manu and Description of other Manus.
  • Narada describes the greatness of Vindhya who tries to stop the path of Sun God.
  • Method of Panchayatana Puja
  • The anecdote of the King Suratha
  • The story of Bhramari Devi
Devi Bhuvaneshwari

Eleventh Canto[edit | edit source]

Consisting of 24 chapters, This canto of the text discusses Sadachara (virtues) and Dharma to self as an individual, as belonging to a Grama (village, community) and to a Desha (country).[63] The text praises Sruti and asserts it to be the authoritative source, adding that Smriti and Puranas are also sources for guidance.[63] This section is notable for adding that Tantra is also a source of guidance, but only if it does not conflict with the Vedas.[63] Verses in the 11th books also describe sources for Rudraksha as Japa beads, the value of Tripundra mark on the forehead, five styles of Sandhyas (reflection, meditation) and five types of Yajnas.[63]

  • The glories of the Rudrakṣa beads and Bhasma
  • The rules of using the Tripuṇḍra and Urdhapundra marks
  • Description of the Greatness of the Devi Puja
  • The description of Sandhya Upasana

Twelfth Canto[edit | edit source]

The last and 12th canto of the Devi-Bhagavatam Consisting of 14 chapters, Its describes the Goddess as the mother of the Vedas, she as the Adya Shakti (primal, primordial power), and the essence of the Gayatri mantra.[66] The verses map every syllable of the Gayatri mantra to 1008 names of reverence in the Hindu tradition.[66] These names span a spectrum of historic sages, deities, musical meters, mudras and the glories of the goddesses.[66] Also, from Chapter 10 to Chapter 12, a description is provided of the supreme abode of Devi called Manidvipa, which is above Vaikuntha and Goloka.

  • One thousand and eight names of Gayatri
  • The story of Uma Haimavati
  • Effects of Gayatri upasana
  • Janamejaya's Devi-yajna
  • Glory of Devi Bhagavata as the essence of all the Vedas and Puranas.

Devi Gita[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Devi Gita

The Devi Gita, like the Bhagavad Gita, is a condensed philosophical treatise.[67] It presents the divine female as a powerful and compassionate creator, pervader and protector of the universe.[68] She is, states Brown, presented in the opening chapter of the Devi Gita as the benign and beautiful world-mother, called Bhuvaneshvari (literally, ruler of the universe, and the word is feminine).[55][67] Thereafter, theological and philosophical teachings become the focus of the text, covering chapters 1 to 10 of the Devi Gita (or, chapters 31 to 40 of this Purana's Canto 7).[68] Some of the verses of Devi Gita are almost identical to the Devi Upanishad.[69]

The soul and the Goddess

[My sacred syllable हरीम] transcends,[note 1]
the distinction of name and named,
beyond all dualities.
It is whole,
infinite being, consciousness and bliss.
One should meditate on that reality,
within the flaming light of consciousness.
Fixing the mind upon me,
as the Goddess transcending all space and time,
One quickly merges with me by realizing,
the oneness of the soul and Brahman.

—Devi Gita, Transl: Lynn Foulston, Stuart Abbott
Devibhagavata Purana, Book 7[72]

The Devi Gita frequently explains Shakta ideas by quoting from the Bhagavad Gita.[68] The Devi is described by the text as a "universal, cosmic energy" resident within each individual, weaving in the terminology of Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.[68] It is suffused with Advaita Vedanta ideas, wherein nonduality is emphasized, all dualities are declared as incorrect, and interconnected oneness of all living being's soul with Brahman is held as the liberating knowledge.[73][74][75] However, adds Tracy Pintchman, Devi Gita incorporates Tantric ideas giving the Devi a form and motherly character rather than the gender-neutral concept of Adi Shankara's Advaita Vedanta.[76]

The Bhakti theology of the Devi Gita part of this Purana may have been influenced by the Bhagavad Gita, and with Vaishnava concepts of loving devotion to Krishna found in the Bhagavata Purana. All these texts highlight different types of devotion in a Samkhya philosophy framework.[77][78] The text asserts that Tamasic Bhakti is one where the devotee prays because he is full of anger and seeks to harm or induce pain or jealousy to others.[78] Rajasic Bhakti is one where the devotee prays not to harm others, but to gain personal advantage, fame or wealth.[77] Sattvic Bhakti is the type where the devotee seeks neither advantage nor harm to others but prays to purify himself, renounce any sins and surrender to the ideas embodied as Goddess to liberate himself.

Philosophy[edit | edit source]

Vedic literature[edit | edit source]

Devi Bhagavatam mentioned number of Vedic mantras connected with observance. In eleventh canto describes certain rites, also Devi is identified with Yajurveda and Rudra. In the ninth canto mentioned various phase powers of Devi. Dhyana stotras of Lakshmi and Svaha are adopted from Samaveda. Use of Rudrakshas mentioned in ninth canto is supported by the Sruti.[79]

Upanishad[edit | edit source]

Devi Bhagavatam adopted some of the passages in the Upanishad. In the seventh canto of the purana, Devi describes her own form. These verses are identical with some verses of the Devi Upanishad. Also, in the fourth canto some famous expressions of Taittiriya Upanishad are used to describe the nature of Devi.

Samkhya[edit | edit source]

Main article: Samkhya

Devi Bhagavatam belongs to the Shaktadvaitavada tradition (syncretism of Samkhya and Advaita Vedanta; literally, the path of nondualistic Shakti). The duality of Prakṛti and Purusha in Samkhya is also acknowledged by Devi Bhagavatam as it covers wide range of different philosophies. In the text prakriti is identified with Parashakti. She is also called Mulaprakriti (root prakriti).

Bhakti[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Bhakti and Bhakti yoga

The Devi Bhagavata Purana adds Para Bhakti (Sanskrit: दवी) in Devi Gita as the highest level of devotion, states McDaniel, where the devotee seeks neither boon nor liberation but weeps when he remembers her because he loves the Goddess, when he feels her presence everywhere and sees the Goddess in all living beings, he is intoxicated by her ideas and presence.[77][78]

Advaita[edit | edit source]

Advaita Vedanta concepts can be seen throughout the Devi Bhagavata Purana. One of the main Advaita concepts found in the Purana is the concept that the individual self and the Supreme Self are one. As P. G. Lalye states that the Advaita Vedanta concept most prominent in the Devi Bhagavata Purana is the non-dual unity of the Goddess.[80]

Karma[edit | edit source]

Lalye state that Devi Bhagavatam has described many events that directly affect karma. In purana Vyasa, Narada and Narayana are exponents of Karma theory. He further states that one's actions must be forgiven. As the action is, so is the result. In this narrative the theory of karma and the theory of destiny are mixed together in the Purana.[81]

Significance[edit | edit source]

The Devi Bhagavata Purana promotes devotion to the Goddess.[82] As Lynn Foulston states, the text was written to satisfy Shakti devotees. He further mentions that the Devi Gita in the seventh Canto is the Shakta alternative to the Bhagavad Gita.[83]

Hindu Festivals[edit | edit source]

Durga Puja in Navaratri

Devi Bhagavatam also mentions the Navaratri festival which is a special festival of Goddess and the rituals to be performed on that festival and about the Navaratri Puja performed by Rama on Ashtami night.[84]

In the thirteenth chapter of the Ninth canto mentions, the Hindu festival of Dola Purnima, celebrated during Holi.[85]

shaktism[edit | edit source]

Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, a non-profit organization, performs the rituals of the Devi Bhagavatam and preaches its stories.[86]

When Swami Vivekananda talks about Para bhakti, the highest form of devotion to Brahman, he gives examples and definitions from the Devi Bhagavata Purana.[87]

Sanyal states that Devi Bhagavata Parayana is still popular in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra etc.[88]

Reception[edit | edit source]

The verses and ideas in the Devi-Bhagavata Purana, state Foulston and Abbott, are built on the foundation of the Upanishads wherein the nonduality and oneness of Brahman and Atman (soul) are synthesized.[89][59] The text makes references to the philosophy and metaphors used in the Advaita Vedanta tradition of Adi Shankara. However, those ideas are reformulated and centered around the Goddess in the Devi Bhagavata Purana, states C Mackenzie Brown, as well as other scholars.[34][61] In Devi Bhagavata text, states Tracy Pintchman, the Devi is not only Brahman-Atman (soul, interconnected oneness), she is also the always-changing empirical reality (Maya).[90]

The Goddess, in Devi Bhagavata Purana, is both the source of self-bondage through Avidya (ignorance) and the source of self-liberation through Vidya (knowledge), state Foulston and Abbott.[34] She is identical to the Vedic metaphysical reality concept of Brahman, the supreme power, the ruler of the universe, the hero, the hidden energy, the power, the bliss innate in everything, according to the text.[89][91][92] The Devi, states Kinsley, is identified by this Purana to be all matter, mother earth, the cosmos, all of nature including the primordial.[93] The Goddess is presented, states Brown, as "the womb of the universe", who observes the actions of her children, nurtures them to discover and realize their true nature, forgive when they make mistakes, be fearsomely terrible to the wicked that threaten her children, and be friend of all souls.[94]

Cynthia Humes compares the depiction of Goddess in the 6th-century Hindu text Devi Mahatmya, with that in this later Devi-Bhagavata Purana text.[95] Both revere the feminine, states Humes, but there are some important differences.[95] Nowhere does the Devi Mahatmya state anything negative about women, and it is explicit in asserting that "all women are portions of the Goddess".[96] By contrast, states Humes, the portrayal of women in Devi-Bhagavata Purana is more complex.[96] It includes verses critical of the feminine, with the text stating that behavior of woman can be "reckless, foolish, cruel, deceitful" and the like. The Devi Bhagavata also praises women and describes their behavior can be "heroic, gentle, tenacious, strong" and the like.[96]

As Hazra points out, in some parts of the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu is shown as the supreme deity, and in some parts Shiva is shown superior to Vishnu and Krishna. In the ninth canto, Krishna is shown as Para-Brahman. He further shows that the author of this Purana has composed it in such a way as to be consistent with all the Hindu sects, without contradicting the views of any sect.[97]

The Devi-Bhagavata Purana is an important and historic Shakta Bhakti text, states June McDaniel.[77]

Commentaries and translations[edit | edit source]

Commentaries[edit | edit source]

  • Studies in Devi Bhagavata - P.G. Layle
  • Srimad Devi Bhagavatam with the Tika of Nilakantha
  • Discourses on the Devi Bhagavatam - Pt Vidur Prasad Dahal
  • The Triumph of the Goddess : The Canonical Models and Theological Visions of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana[98]

Translations[edit | edit source]

The Devi Bhagavata Purana has been translated into different languages.

Telugu[edit | edit source]

  • Mulugu Papayaradhya, an 18th-century Telugu poet, is regarded as the first poet to translate the Devi Bhagavata Purana into Telugu.[99]
  • Tirupati Venkata Kavulu also translated this purana into Telugu language in 1896 entitled Devi Bhagavatamu. They have divided the purana into 6 skandas and themselves published it in 1920.[100]
  • Dasu Sriramulu (1846 -1908) a scholar, composer, poet, Avadhani, orator, proficient in astrology and dramaturgy, translator, founder of a music school, nationalist and social reformer and author of kavyalu, Satakas, plays, musical and dance compositions in Telugu. He translated many satakams and plays from Sanskrit into Telugu. He translated Sri Devi Bhagavatham, which was first published in 1907.[101]
  • Sri Devi Bhagavatham by Acharya Bethavolu Ramabrahmam in 2005[102]
  • Sri Devi Bhagavatam translated by Smt. S Rukminamma[103]

Kannada[edit | edit source]

  • Edatore Chandrashekhara Sastry has translated the entire Devi Bhagavatam to Kannada with Sanskrit Text. This was published in 11 volumes at Mysore. (Jayachamarajendra Grantha Ratna Mala - 5)
  • Sri Devi Bhagavata by Pavana Sutha[104]

Malayalam[edit | edit source]

  • Srimad Devi Bhagavatam translated by Varavoor Shamu Menon and Dr. N. P Unni[105]
  • Shrimad Devi Bhagavata published by Aarshasri Publications Co

Hindi[edit | edit source]

  • Devi Bhagavatam published by Gita Press[106]
  • Shri Mad Devi Bhagwat Mahapuran by Laxmi prakashan[107]
  • Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana in Simple Hindi Language by Gita Press
  • A Synopsis of Devi Bhagawat by Gita Press
  • Srimad Devi Bhagawat Mahapurana by Shivjeet Singh[107]

Gujarati[edit | edit source]

  • શરીમદ દવી ભાગવત: Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana by Harendra Shukla[106]

Bengali[edit | edit source]

  • Devi Bhagavatam by Navabharat Publishers, Kolkata

Nepali[edit | edit source]

  • Srimad Devi Bhagawat Mahapuran (Nepali) translated by Gaurishankar Vasistha (SRI DURGA SAHITYA BHANDAR, VARANASI)[106]

Tamil[edit | edit source]

  • Devi Bhagavatam - Karthikeyan by Giri Trading Agency private limited
  • Sri Devi Bhagavatha 3 parts translated by Durgadoss S.K.Swami and Prema Pirasuram
  • Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Purana in Tamil (Set of 2 Volumes) by Vidya Venkataraman
  • Sri Devi Bhagavatham by Acharya Bethavolu Ramabrahmam - V.G.S Publishers

English[edit | edit source]

  • Swami Vijnanananda translated the Devi Bhagavatam to English with Sanskrit Text.
  • Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (2 Volumes) by C. P. Balachandran Nair
  • Ramesh Menon translated condensed English version of The Devi Bhagavatam in 2010[108]
  • Srimad Devibhagavata Puranam (Sanskrit Text with English Translation in Two Volumes) by Bahadur Sris Chandra
  • Sampoorna Devi Bhagavatham by Sadguru Vaddiparti Padmakar
  • Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (2 Volumes): English Version Prose by C. P. Balachandran Nair[109]

German[edit | edit source]

  • Shrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam: Mutter Natur in Aktion by Michael Stibane[110]

Russian[edit | edit source]

  • Девибхагавата-Пурана. В 6 томах (Devi Bhagavata Purana) - Клуб Касталия (Kastalia Club)

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ हरीम is pronounced as hrīm, it is a tantric mantra beej, and it identifies a "Shakti".[70][71]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dalal 2014, p. 117.
  2. ↑ "The Devi Bhagavatam: The First Book: Chapter 1". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  3. ↑ Winternitz, M. (1927). A History Of Indian Literature,vol.1.
  4. ↑ Dowson, John (2008). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature. Trübner & Company. p. 83.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Rocher 1986, p. 168.
  6. ↑ C Mackenzie Brown 1990, pp. 44-45, 129, 247-248 with notes 57-60.
  7. ↑ John Stratton Hawley & Donna Marie Wulff 1998, pp. 6-14.
  8. ↑ Tracy Pintchman 2015, pp. 183-188.
  9. ↑ David Kinsley 1988, pp. 133-139.
  10. ↑ Alf Hiltebeitel & Kathleen M. Erndl 2000, pp. 24-36, 48 (RS Sherma).
  11. ↑ K P Gietz 1992, p. 330 with note 1809, 497 with note 2764.
  12. ↑ Tracy Pintchman 2015, pp. 128-132.
  13. ↑ June McDaniel 2004, pp. 89-91, 159-161.
  14. ↑ C Mackenzie Brown 1990, pp. 142-144.
  15. ↑ Doniger, Wendy (1993). Purāṇa Perennis. State University of New York Press. p. 37. ISBN 9780791413814.
  16. ↑ Johnsen, Linda (1999). The Living Goddess. Yes International Publishers. p. 11. ISBN 9780936663289.
  17. ↑ Klostermaier 2010, p. 496.
  18. ↑ Klostermaier 2010, p. 101-102, 492.
  19. ↑ Lochtefeld 2002, p. 94.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit: 'purana'". spokensanskrit.org. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  21. ↑ Parmeshwaranand, Swami (2001). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas. Sarup & Sons. pp. 222. ISBN 978-81-7625-226-3. purana word completes.
  22. ↑ C Mackenzie Brown 1990, pp. 49, 130, 134, 139.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Rocher 1986, p. 172.
  24. ↑ Alf Hiltebeitel & Kathleen M. Erndl 2000, p. 139: "portrayals of the Goddess in the later Devi Bhagavata (c. ninth century CE) bear crucial differences from those of the Goddess in the Devi Mahatmya."
  25. ↑ P. G. Lalye (1973). Studies in Devī Bhāgavata. Popular Prakashan. pp. 101–105.
  26. ↑ Tracy Pintchman 2015, p. 128.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, pp. 1-4.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, p. 4.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 C Mackenzie Brown 1990, p. 166.
  30. ↑ Collins 1988, p. 36.
  31. ↑ Rocher 1986, pp. 191-192.
  32. ↑ John Stratton Hawley & Donna Marie Wulff 1998, p. 2, 9-10, 26 with note 2.
  33. ↑ Philip Lutgendorf 2003, pp. 251-252.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Lynn Foulston & Stuart Abbott 2009, p. 75.
  35. ↑ Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, pp. 5-6.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, p. 6-10.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Tracy Pintchman 2015, pp. 131-138.
  38. ↑ Alf Hiltebeitel & Kathleen M. Erndl 2000, pp. 24-31.
  39. ↑ Winternitz, M. (1978). A History of Indian Literature Vol- I Part - II. University of Calcutta. pp. 486–487.
  40. ↑ Wilson, H. H. (11 March 2022). The Vishnu Purana - A System Hindu Mythology and Tradition; Vol. 1. BoD – Books on Demand. p. 49. ISBN 9783752583281.
  41. ↑ Shastri, J.L. (1950). The Siva Purana. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 1626.
  42. ↑ Basu, B. D. Ed. (1916). The Matsya Puranam. The Panini office, Bhuvaneswari ashrama.
  43. ↑ Farquhar, J. N. (1920). An outline of the religious literature of India. London, New York : H. Milford, Oxford university press. p. 269.
  44. ↑ Winternitz, Moriz (1996) [1927]. A History of Indian Literature. Vol. 1. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 555. ISBN 9788120802643.
  45. ↑ Hazra, R. C. (1963). Studies in the Upapuranas. Vol. 2. pp. 337–341.
  46. ↑ Bihari Srivastava, Vishnulok (2009). Dictionary of Indology. Hindoology Books. p. 55. ISBN 9788122310849.
  47. ↑ Vanamali (2008). Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother. Inner Traditions/Bear. ISBN 9781594777851.
  48. ↑ Puri, Vishnu (2020). Bhakti Ratnavali : An Anthology from Srimad Bhagavata. Sri Ramakrishna Math.
  49. ↑ Purana Bulletin. All India Kashiraj Trust, Varanasi. January–July 1969. pp. 135–136.
  50. ↑ Wilson, Horace Hayman (1987). Puranas, Or an Account of Their Contents and Nature. Society for the Resuscitation of Indian Literature. p. 49.
  51. ↑ Lynn Foulston & Stuart Abbott 2009, p. 73.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 Rocher 1986, p. 169.
  53. ↑ Rocher 1986, pp. 168-172.
  54. ↑ Tracy Pintchman 2015, pp. 183-184.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Tracy Pintchman 2014, p. 26-28.
  56. ↑ Rocher 1986, pp. 169-170.
  57. ↑ C Mackenzie Brown 1990, pp. 201-216.
  58. ↑ Lynn Foulston & Stuart Abbott 2009, pp. 73-74.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 59.6 Rocher 1986, p. 170.
  60. ↑ Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, p. 1-2, 85-98.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, p. 12-17.
  62. ↑ Rocher 1986, pp. 170-171.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 63.3 63.4 63.5 63.6 63.7 Rocher 1986, p. 171.
  64. ↑ C Mackenzie Brown 1990, p. 160.
  65. ↑ C Mackenzie Brown 1990, pp. 133-134.
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 Rocher 1986, pp. 171-172.
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 C Mackenzie Brown 1990, pp. 179-198.
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 68.2 68.3 Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, pp. 1-3.
  69. ↑ Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, pp. 25-26, 77 with note 26.
  70. ↑ Antonio Rigopoulos (1998). Dattatreya: The Immortal Guru, Yogin, and Avatara: A Study of the Transformative and Inclusive Character of a Multi-faceted Hindu Deity. State University of New York Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7914-3696-7.
  71. ↑ Douglas Renfrew Brooks (1992). Auspicious Wisdom: The Texts and Traditions of Srividya Sakta Tantrism in South India. State University of New York Press. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-7914-1145-2.
  72. ↑ Lynn Foulston & Stuart Abbott 2009, pp. 74-75.
  73. ↑ Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, pp. 1-3, 12-17.
  74. ↑ Tracy Pintchman 2015, pp. 9, 34, 89-90, 131-138.
  75. ↑ Lynn Foulston & Stuart Abbott 2009, pp. 15-16.
  76. ↑ Tracy Pintchman 2014, p. 9-10.
  77. ↑ 77.0 77.1 77.2 77.3 June McDaniel 2004, pp. 158-161.
  78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 78.2 Cheever Mackenzie Brown 1998, pp. 23-25.
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  80. ↑ Lalye, P. G (1973). Studies In Devi Bhagavata. p. 80.
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  82. ↑ J. N., Farquhar (1984). Outline of the Religious Literature of India. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Limited. p. 359. ISBN 9788120820869.
  83. ↑ Foulston, Lynn (2009). Hindu Goddesses - Beliefs & Practices. Liverpool University Press. pp. 73–74. ISBN 9781782847205.
  84. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (15 May 2013). "On the narration of the Navarātra ceremony by Nārada and the performance of that by Rāma Chandra [Chapter 30]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  85. ↑ "The Devi Bhagavatam: The Ninth Book: Chapter 30". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  86. ↑ "Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Katha | DJJS | Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan". www.djjs.org. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  87. ↑ Swami, Vivekananda (1958). The Complete Works Of Swami Vivekananda Vol. 3. Advaita Ashrama. p. 85.
  88. ↑ "Purana Bulletin 1969 January & July". Purana Bulletin 1969 January & July: 150. 1969.
  89. ↑ 89.0 89.1 Lynn Foulston & Stuart Abbott 2009, pp. 75-76.
  90. ↑ Tracy Pintchman 2014, p. 29-30.
  91. ↑ Tracy Pintchman 2015, pp. 128, 131-138.
  92. ↑ David Kinsley 1997, pp. 131-134.
  93. ↑ David Kinsley 1988, pp. 179-180.
  94. ↑ C Mackenzie Brown 1990, pp. 129-130.
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  102. ↑ ramabrahmam, Bethavolu (2005). Sri Devi Bhagavatam. VGS Publishers.
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  105. ↑ Shamu Menon, Varavoor (2015). Srimad Devi Bhagavatam. PRASANTHI PUBLISHERS. ISBN 978-8189823443.
  106. ↑ 106.0 106.1 106.2 Shukla, Harendra. શરીમદ દવી ભાગવત. Shree Harihar Pustakalay Surat. p. 984. ISBN 9789385955785.
  107. ↑ 107.0 107.1 Singh, Shivjeet (2012). Srimad Devi Bhagawat Mahapurana. SHREE THAKUR PRASAD PUSTAK BHANDAR. p. 576.
  108. ↑ Menon, Ramesh (2010). Devi: The Devi Bhagavatam Retold. Rupa & Co. p. 514. ISBN 9788129115546.
  109. ↑ "Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (2 Volumes): English Version Prose". Motilal Banarsidass. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  110. ↑ Stibane, Michael (2020). Shrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam: Mutter Natur in Aktion. Alfa-Veda Verlag. ISBN 978-3945004456.

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