The Enemy Too Big to Face Alone

The most famous battle: the demon no single god could kill, the Goddess born of combined light, armed by the devas, and Mahishasura-Mardini.

Lessons in this chapter

• The Demon No God Could Kill — Mahisha's boon; the gods thrown out of heaven. The problem that beats every one of your strengths taken singly.
• Born of Combined Light — The tejas of all the gods pours out and becomes Her. Power that only exists when the parts stop acting alone.
• Armed by the Devas — Each god gives his weapon; the eighteen arms and what each stands for. Marshalling every capacity you have for one fight.
• The Shape-Shifting Demon — Mahisha becomes buffalo, lion, man, buffalo again to survive. How ego changes form the moment you corner it.
• Mahishasura-Mardini — The slaying; the most-depicted image in Indian art, read closely. The ego falls to the whole integrated self, steady.
• The Devas' Song: Ya Devi Sarva-Bhuteshu — The Shakradi Stuti; the great refrain-hymn. She is not out there defeating a monster; she is in all beings. A sacred hymn taught reverently.

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