Murti Rahasya – The Sacred Secrets of Devi’s divine forms

This section called 'Murti Rahasya' from Markandeya Purana reveals the inner forms of Devi Chandika. The Rishi describes how the goddess appears in different divine shapes like Nanda, Raktadantika, Shakambhari, Bhima, Bhramari. Each form grants protection, food, victory, and liberation when worshipped with devotion.

अथ मूर्तिरहस्यम् । ऋषिरुवाच ।

The Rishi begins revealing the secret doctrine of the divine forms of the mother goddess.

नन्दा भगवती नाम या भविष्यति नन्दजा । सा स्तुता पूजिता ध्याता वशीकुर्याज्जगत्त्रयम् ।

The goddess named Nanda, born in Nanda's house, when praised and meditated upon, brings the three worlds under control of the devotee.

कनकोत्तमकान्तिः सा सुकान्तिकनकाम्बरा । देवी कनकवर्णाभा कनकोत्तमभूषणा ।

She shines with golden radiance, wears golden garments and ornaments, reflecting supreme divine beauty.

कमलाङ्कुशपाशाब्जैरलङ्कृतचतुर्भुजा । इन्दिरा कमला लक्ष्मीः सा श्री रुक्माम्बुजासना ।

With four hands holding lotus, goad and noose, she is Lakshmi herself seated on the golden lotus.

या रक्तदन्तिका नाम देवी प्रोक्ता मयाऽनघ । तस्याः स्वरूपं वक्ष्यामि शृणु सर्वभयाऽपहम् ।

The Rishi introduces the form called Raktadantika and promises to describe her fear-removing nature.

रक्ताम्बरा रक्तवर्णा रक्तसर्वाङ्गभूषणा ।

She is clothed in red and adorned completely with red ornaments symbolizing fierce power.

रक्तायुधा रक्तनेत्रा रक्तकेशातिभीषणा ।

Her weapons, eyes and hair are red, showing her terrifying aspect against evil.

रक्ततीक्ष्णनखा रक्तदशना रक्तष्ट्रिका ।

Even her nails and teeth are red and sharp, expressing unstoppable strength.

पतिं नारीवानुरक्ता देवी भक्तं भजेज्जनम् ।

The goddess loves her devotee like a faithful wife loves her husband.

वसुधेव विशाला सा सुमेरुयुगलस्तनी ।

She is vast like the earth with majestic breasts compared to mount sumeru.

दीर्घौ लम्बावतिस्थूलौ तावतीव मनोहरौ ।

Her form is grand, heavy and beautiful, captivating the mind of devotees.

कर्कशावतिकान्तौ तौ सर्वानन्दपयोनिधी ।

Her breasts are described as oceans of bliss nourishing all beings.

भक्तान् सम्पाययेद्देवीसर्वकामदुघौ स्तनौ ।

From them she grants all desires to her devotees like a divine cow.

खड्गपात्रं च मुसलं लाङ्गलं च बिभर्ति सा ।

She holds sword, skull-cup, mace and plough as symbols of protection and punishment.

आख्याता रक्तचामुण्डा देवी योगेश्ववरीति च ।

This form is known as Raktachamunda and also Yogeshwari.

अनया व्याप्तमखिलं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् ।

The entire moving and unmoving universe is pervaded by her.

इमां यः पूजयेद्भक्त्या स व्याप्नोति चराऽचरम् ।

Whoever worships her with devotion attains mastery over the whole world.

अधीते य इमं नित्यं रक्तदन्त्यावपुःस्तवम् ।

One who daily recites this hymn of Raktadantika gains her grace.

तं सा परिचरेद्देवी पतिं प्रियमिवाङ्गना ।

She serves such a devotee like a loving wife serves her beloved.

शाकम्भरी नीलवर्णा नीलोत्पलविलोचना ।

Shakambhari is dark blue with lotus-like eyes.

गम्भीरनाभिस्त्रिवलीविभूषिततनूदरी ।

Her waist is slender with graceful three folds.

सुकर्कशसमोत्तुङ्गवृत्तपीनघनस्तनी ।

Her breasts are round, firm and full showing motherhood of the world.

मुष्टिं शिलीमुखैः पूर्णं कमलं कमलालया ।

She holds arrows and lotus, residing in lotus.

पुष्पपल्लवमूलादिफलाढ्यं शाकसञ्चयम् ।

She bears heaps of vegetables, fruits and herbs.

काम्यानन्तरसैर्युक्तं क्षुत्तृण्मृत्युजराऽपहम् ।

Her gifts remove hunger, thirst, death and old age.

कार्मुकं च स्फुरत्कान्तिबिभ्रति परमेश्वरी ।

She holds a shining bow as supreme ruler.

शाकम्भरी शताक्षी स्यात् सैव दुर्गा प्रकीर्तिता ।

Shakambhari, Shatakshi and Durga are one and the same.

शाकम्भरीं स्तुवन् ध्यायन् जपन् सम्पूजयन् नमन् ।

By praising and worshipping Shakambhari with mantra and devotion,

अक्षय्यमश्नुते शीघ्रमन्नपानादि सर्वशः ।

One quickly receives endless food, drink and prosperity.

भीमाऽपि नीलवर्णा सा दंष्ट्रादशनभासुरा ।

The form Bhima is also dark blue with shining fangs.

विशाललोचना नारी वृत्तपीनघनस्तनी ।

She has large eyes and motherly form.

चन्द्रहासं च डमरुं शिरःपात्रं च बिभ्रती ।

She holds sword, damaru and skull-cup.

एकवीरा कालरात्रिः सैवोक्ता कामदा स्तुता ।

She is called Ekavira and Kalaratri, giver of desires.

तेजोमण्डलदुर्धर्षा भ्रामरी चित्रकान्तिभृत् ।

Bhramari shines with radiant aura impossible to defeat.

चित्रभ्रमरसङ्काशा महामारीति गीयते ।

She appears like countless bees and is called Mahamari.

इत्येता मूर्तयो देव्या व्याख्याता वसुधाधिप ।

Thus the king is told the various forms of the goddess.

जगन्मातुश्चण्डिकायाः कीर्तिताः कामधेनवः ।

These forms of Chandika are like wish-fulfilling cows.

इदं रहस्यं परमं न वाच्यं यस्य कस्यचित् ।

This secret should not be told to the unworthy.

व्याख्यानं दिव्यमूर्तीनामभीश्वावहितः स्वयम् ।

The divine explanation must be heard with reverence.

देव्या ध्यानं तवाऽऽख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं महत् ।

The meditation of devi is the greatest of all secrets.

तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन सर्वं कामफलप्रदम् ।

Therefore practice it with effort to obtain all desires.

मार्कण्डेयपुराणेऽखिलांशे मूर्तिरहस्यम् ।

This completes the section called Murti Rahasya in Markandeya Purana.

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं सप्तशतिचण्डिके उत्कीलनं कुरु कुरु स्वाहा।

The closing mantra unlocks the power of Chandika for the devotee.

Murti Rahasya shows that devi is not one fixed image but a living ocean of forms. she becomes Food as Shakambhari, Terror as Raktadantika, Protection as Bhima, and Cosmic energy as Bhramari. The message is simple – whoever approaches her with sincere devotion receives safety, nourishment, and inner freedom.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi