SIMA: Mahishasura Mardini 2011

Seattle Indian Music Academy

Ancient Music for Contemporary Lives

Mahishasura Mardini

Mahishasura Mardini tells the story of the Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. Unable to bear the cruelty and barbarity of the demon king, the gods turn to the Creator, Bramha for help. Bramha finds himself unable to assist the gods, as his powers shield Mahishasura from harm. He leads the gods to the abode of the Preserver, Vishnu, where the gods find Vishnu in deep discussion with the Destroyer, Shiva. When told of the torments that Mahishasura has inflicted on the worlds, Vishnu and Shiva grow increasingly furious, until a beam of energy emanates from each God’s being. Soon the energy of all of the gods issue forth and combine together, generating a physical manifestation, the Goddess Durga.

Bedecked with the weaponry of every god, Durga goes to battle with Mahishasura. After a furious war in which Mahishasura, relying on black magic, makes use of every trick and cunning, Durga thrusts her spear through the demon’s chest and with her sword beheads Mahishasura.

Based on Adi Shankaracharya’s Mahishasura Mardini Stotram, this version of the story has been related across radio on Mahalaya day in Bengal, every year since 1930. A very difficult sequence of recitation and songs, in Bengali and Sanskrit, a portion of this version was performed ten years ago. SIMA and its students and faculty are very pleased to present Mahishasura Mardini in its entirety for the first time in Seattle.