The Devi Mahatmya or Devi Mahatmyam (Sanskrit: देवीमाहात्म्यम्, romanized: devīmāhātmyam, lit
‘Glory of the Goddess’) is a Hindu philosophical text describing the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the universe
It is part of the Markandeya Purana
Devi Mahatmyam is also known as the Durgā Saptashatī (दुर्गासप्तशती) or Shri Chandi (श्री चण्डी)
The text contains 700 verses arranged into 13 chapters
Along with Devi-Bhagavata Purana and Shakta Upanishads such as the Devi Upanishad, it is one of the most important texts of Shaktism (goddess) tradition within Hinduism
The Devi Mahatmyam describes a storied battle between good and evil, where the Devi manifesting as goddess Durga leads the forces of good against the demon Mahishasura—the goddess is very angry and ruthless, and the forces of good win
In peaceful prosperous times, states the text, the Devi manifests as Lakshmi, empowering creation and happiness
The verses of this story also outline a philosophical foundation wherein the ultimate reality (Brahman in Hinduism) is female
The text is one of the earliest extant complete manuscripts from the Hindu traditions which describes reverence and worship of the feminine aspect of God
The Devi Mahatmyam is often ranked in some Hindu traditions to be as important as the Bhagavad Gita
The Devi Mahatmyam has been particularly popular in eastern states of India, such as West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Assam, as well as Goa and Nepal
It is recited during Navratri celebrations, the Durga Puja festival, and in Durga temples across India
Tulunadu, located in Coastal Karnataka draws inspiration from the Devi Mahatmyam for several plays in the form of Yakshagana that are conducted throughout the year at most of Shakti temples to depict the glorious powers of Devi to people of all generations since many centuries
The booking for Yakshagana troupes, not months but years in advance proves the devotion and importance of Devi Mahatme storyline