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Durga’s Divine Triumph: An Aithchudi Epic

 

An Aithchoodi or Aithikudi is a complex, traditional Tamil poetic form consisting of 109 lines. Also known as Aitkudi or Aezhuthuchudi in Tamil, it is an alphabetic poem where each line begins with the consecutive letter of the Tamil script. Here is an English adaptation of the Aithchudi to celebrate the Durga story.

 

Ambika, the great goddess, was the answer to Devas’ call

Brahma’s lotus she sat on, Indra’s vajra she did wield!

Chandika spun Vishnu’s chakra, her tiger ready to maul

Durga, armed with Agni’s spear, entered the battlefield

Enraged, asuras charged with all their dark powers

Ferocious, cosmic forces clashed, both benign and ill!

Goddess wielded her gada as earth and sky cower.

Hail to mighty Devi– evil she had vowed to kill!

Invincible was she, this force driven by Devas divine

Joyous were they, vanquished, yet of victory hopeful

Kali’s fury unleashed, her eyes ablaze, ashine

Lightning-like, her arrows pierced the vile and deceitful

Mahishasura shape-shifted, Chanda -Munda couldn’t prevail

Nishachars and demons alike to her swift Khadga fell!

Overwhelming was Sharvshakti– She who cannot fail:

Parvati’s aspect Maa Kalika, sounded asuras’ death knell!

Quaking, decimated, the demons fled from her sight

Raktabija’s blood spawned rakshasas no more

Shumbha and Nishumbha trembled in fright

Trishul of Shiva she wielded to pierce the deffalos’ very core!

Ultimately, Katyayini slayed Mahishasur on the tenth day

Victorious Rannchandi restored peace to realms three!!!

Wielding Vishwakarma’s divine axe, she kept evil at bay

Xtraordinary courage against adversity is indeed Stree shakti!

Yield not to fear, all ye mortal souls – but draw strength from divine mangala Maa!

Zeal for justice and perseverance, is our eternal gift from Durgatinashini Durga!

 

Aparnaa Laxmi, ‘Hina’        

 P.S. “deffalo” is a portmanteau that combines ‘demonic’ and ‘buffalo’, to refer to Mahishasur.

                                                 

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