BALANGIR: Everybody knew about Srimad Bhagwat, but a few had heard about Srimad Devi Bhagwat which is typically replete with hidden truths about Shakti worship. Swami Sakti Bhusanananda (56) of a non-descript ashram at Deogaon in Balangir district has translated the original Srimad Devi Bhagwat, written by Rishi Byasadeva in Sanskrit, into Oriya.
Swamiji took up the stupendous task of writing all the volumes of the book running into almost 2000 pages quietly sitting in his ashram in a secluded environment. What is interesting about the translation work of the Swami is that he derived the intricacies of Devi Bhagwat from Sanskrit, blended his own experience in it and then wrote the work using his own lexicon, which is unique. The form of composition is called Nabakshari Chhanda and Giti Kavya.
Swamiji says Devi Bhagwat too is one among the 18 essential Mahapuranas. It has two parts of which Srimad Bhagwat is one which was rendered into Oriya by Jagannath Das. The other part Devi Bhagwat remained untouched. Describing the essential feature of Devi Bhagwat, Swamiji said, ‘‘Nobody until today knew that Bhagwat too contains teachings regarding Shakti worship. Devi Bhagwat unfolds the intangible power of human being stemming from Shakti. Bhakti and Gyana, even these two essential characters of human being, are subdued in the absence of Shakti. And Devi Bhagwat contains the how and why of Shakti in poetic form which will go a long way in bringing about a spiritual revolution.’’ The book has 12 volumes. Swamiji took four years to complete the translation work.