The Origin of Bhadrakali: Bhadrotpatti Story from the Markandeya Purana

The Bhadrotpatti

Listen! Listen, O King!
Thus spoke the sage to Chandrasena of Kashmir —
The tale of Bhadrakali, the fierce one, the protector, the slayer of Daaruka!

Once upon a time – 

The gods and the demons met in battle!
The earth shook! The heavens trembled!
Maha Vishnu raised his discus!
He hurled it! He cut them down!
The daityas fell! The daityas perished!

Yet four couples fled! Four couples escaped!
They entered the netherworld, carrying the seed of vengeance!

Among those four couples, two women Danavi! Darumati –
Their hearts filled with grief, eyes burning with rage!
They went to Gokarna! They stood in penance!
Long, hard, unyielding penance!

And Brahma appeared! Brahma granted!
“Two sons shall be born! Two sons to restore your race!”

And thus were born Danava and Daruka!
But when Daruka was born — O listen, O listen!
Inauspicious signs filled the earth!
Storms raged! Fires blazed! Beasts howled!

Daruka grew! Pride swelled! Vengeance burned!
He went to Gokarna! He stood in tapas!
Long, long tapas! Yet Brahma did not come!

In fury he drew his sword! When he tried to cut his own throat!
A drop of blood touched the earth!
And Brahma appeared!

“O Daruka! From one drop, a thousand demons shall rise!
What more do you seek?”

And Daruka replied!
“Let none kill me but women!
Give me Brahmadanda! Give me mantras Mayavati, Tamasi!
Give me the strength of ten thousand elephants!”

And Brahma granted!
But Brahma warned!

“O Daruka, death may still come — through that very path you despise!”

Daruka was sure that women are weak & so, no harm they shall cause him.

So, he remained firm in his boon.

Brahma granted the very boon & disappeared.

Daruka returned! He called the architect of demons, Mayan!
A city was built! A fortress rose!
He married Manodari, daughter of Mayan!
He captured the gods! He chained mankind!
He made them sweep his floors, carry his water, and serve at his table!

The gods cried out! The gods went to Brahma!
Brahma trembled! Brahma called Vishnu, called Shiva!

The Trimurti created the Six Mothers (not to be confused with sapta-matrs or ashta matrs which the pre-occupied mind may think of)!
The Mothers rose, weapons flashing!
They stormed the city!
They killed Mahakapala! They killed eight ministers! They killed Danava!

But Daruka came forth with Brahmadanda!
Flames shot out! Power burned!
The Mothers trembled! The Mothers fled into the forest!

Shiva grew furious! His third eye blazed!
From that fire leapt Bhadrakali!
Dark as night! Tongue lolling! Teeth bared!
Armed with weapons! Mounted on Vetala!

She rushed to battle! She clashed with Daruka!
Steel against steel! Thunder against thunder!
The heavens roared! The earth shook!
At last, Daruka fled!

Bhadrakali rested — and Durga appeared!
“Listen, O Fierce One! Listen!
You cannot slay him unless you break his boons!
Mayavati! Tamasi!
Only by this can you prevail!”

Daruka, filled with doubt, turned to Manodari!
He gave her two spells!
“If I fall, bring me back! Use these spells! Keep me alive!”

But Durga went to Manodari! Durga seized the spells!
Durga broke their power!

Daruka returned! His heart trembled!
Yet he boasted, he lied!
“I cannot be slain! Even if I fall, I will rise again!”

He rushed forth! He raised Brahmadanda!
But it slipped! It fell! Bhadrakali seized it!
Daruka fled to the netherworld!

And then — O listen, O listen!
A bodiless voice commanded!

She shook her hair!
Loose and wild, it spread across the worlds!

She covered her eyes!
The light of creation was veiled!

Darkness spread! Darkness spread!
Artificial night swallowed the sun and moon alike!

Her tongue stretched wide!
Her laughter thundered across the heavens!

Step by step, step by step —
Daruka crept from the netherworld!
Searching, seeking, blind in the dark!
Straight into her mouth he came!

With a flick of her tongue!
He was hurled aloft!

With a rise of her trident!
He was impaled! Pierced! Slain!

Bhadrakali lifted him with her trident! She carried him to Kailasha!
And Shiva beheld her!
Shiva was pleased!

“O Fierce One, remain with me for a while!
Then descend to earth, to bless mankind!”

And so it was declared!
Whatever Bhadrakali desires would be given!
Songs of praise! Blood offerings! Flesh!
No caste! No class! No barrier in her worship!

To her devotees — protection! To her devotees — peace!
To her devotees — welfare and victory!

Jaya Jaya Bhadrakali! Jaya Jaya Daruka-vinashini!
Jaya Jaya Jaya!!

Like Devi Mahatmyam, she also has her own Mahatmyam which is highly potent in blessing her devotees & sooner, this will get released..