When the gods were driven from their heavenly realms by defeat, they gathered together in their distress and, led by Brahma, journeyed to the highest world. There, in the presence of the two supreme deities—Shankara (Shiva) and Achyuta (Vishnu)—the gods recounted the wicked deeds of the demon Mahishasura. They described how Mahishasura had violently seized the divine abodes, casting out the gods and, intoxicated by his own strength and valor, now enjoyed their former splendors as his own. With great urgency, the gods pleaded with the assembled Lords of the Immortals to quickly devise a means to destroy this evil one, for Mahishasura’s tyranny had caused them untold suffering. Hearing the gods’ anguished words, the Blessed Lord, accompanied by the sons of Shankara and Padmaja (Brahma), was filled with a fierce and righteous anger. In that moment, a divine radiance, blazing with the brilliance of a thousand suns, burst forth from the mouth of Hari (Vishnu). In succession, the radiance of all the gods—the dwellers of heaven—emerged from their bodies, merging together in a wondrous display that delighted the lords of the gods. From Shambhu’s (Shiva’s) energy, her face took form; Yama’s energy became her hair; Vishnu’s power shaped her arms. Soma’s radiance formed her breasts, Indra’s energy her waist, and the radiance of Varuna became her thighs and shanks. The earth’s own radiance shaped her hips, Brahma’s energy her feet, the Sun’s brilliance her toes, and Vasava’s (Indra’s) power her fingers. Kubera’s energy formed her nose, Prajapati’s supreme radiance her teeth. Agni (the fire god) gave her three beautiful eyes, and the glow of Sandhya (the twilight) became her eyebrows. Vayu’s energy shaped her ears. Thus, from the combined radiance of all the gods, the great Goddess Mahishamardini was born. Each god then bestowed upon her their own divine weapons and ornaments: Shiva gave her a trident; Vishnu, a discus and a conch; the Lord of Bonds, a noose; Agni, a spear; Maruta, a bow and arrows. Mahendra (Indra) offered his thunderbolt and a bell from Airavata, his elephant; Yama gave her the staff of time; Brahma presented a rosary and a water-pot. The Sun adorned her with a garland of rays for her pores, and Kala (Time) gave her a sword and a spotless shield. The ocean presented her with a pure garland, an unaging garment, a crest-jewel, earrings, bracelets, and armlets. With joy, he also gave her a flawless crescent moon, anklets, a neck ornament, and other fine adornments. Vishvakarma gave her armlets, Himavat (the lord of the mountains) gifted her a lion as her mount and a variety of gems. The lord of wealth offered a drinking vessel filled with divine nectar, and the blessed Shesha (the serpent king) gave her a serpent-necklace. Honored by all the gods without exception, this World-Encompassing Goddess was praised by the deities, who were tormented by Mahishasura. With many hymns, they worshipped the great Lady, the cause of creation itself, and she listened as their praises reached her. To slay Mahishasura, the Goddess let out a mighty roar that shook the worlds. The sound startled Mahishasura, lord of the Dānavas, and, surrounded by his entire army, the Mother of the Universe advanced to confront him. The demon Mahishasura, with his generals—Cikṣura, Durdhara, and Durmukha—hurled countless weapons and missiles, filling the sky. Fierce warriors like Bāṣkala, Tāmraka, and another with a cat-like face, along with many others as terrifying as Death itself, joined the fray. Encircled by these formidable warriors, Mahishasura, best of the Dānavas, stood ready for battle. The Goddess, her eyes blazing with anger, bewildered the worlds as she struck down the warriors who had sought refuge with Mahishasura. Seeing his followers slain, the demon was seized by furious wrath. Skilled in magical arts, Mahishasura approached the Goddess, assuming various forms through his illusion. Yet, each form he took, the Goddess destroyed in turn. At last, he assumed his true buffalo shape, a terror to the immortals. The Goddess bound him firmly with a noose and, drawing her sword, cut off his head. Thus Mahishasura, destroyer of the hosts of gods, was vanquished. With their leader slain, the demon army scattered in all directions, broken and crying out in despair. The gods, filled with delight, praised the Queen of the gods for her victory. In this way, Lakṣmī manifested as the slayer of Mahishasura. Now, O King, listen as I tell you how Sarasvatī came into being. In another time, there arose the demon Śumbha, proud and intoxicated by his own strength, and his mighty brother Niśumbha. Oppressed by these two, the gods again lost their splendor. In their distress, they went to Mount Himavat and earnestly praised the Goddess. They cried out: “Victory to you, Queen of the gods, expert in removing the suffering of your devotees! In your form as the destroyer of demons, you are undecaying, immortal, and sinless. O Queen of the gods, easily accessible to your devotees, of great strength and valor, you assume the forms of Viṣṇu, Śaṅkara, Brahmā, and others, of infinite might. You are the cause of creation, preservation, and destruction, the giver of radiance; greatly delighted by the supreme dance, O Mādhavī, you bestow joy. Be gracious, Queen of the gods, be gracious, ocean of compassion; you are the boundless sea that removes the fear born of Niśumbha and Śumbha. Rescue us, O destroyer of the suffering of those who seek refuge, for we have come to you for shelter.” Thus, as the gods praised her, their voices rose to the heavens.