Markandeya Purana

The Markandeya Purana is one of eighteen major collections (Maha Puranas) of ancient Hindu texts dealing with Indian history, philosophy and traditions. The Markandeya Purana, believed to have been composed between 250 CE and 550 CE, consists of 137 chapters and is narrated by a sage (rishi) called Markandeya, who is a well-known character in the ancient Puranas.

The Markandeya Purana is written in Sanskrit and is considered to be "Smriti" (remembered by ordinary human beings and attributed to an author). Other Hindu scriptures such as the Vedas are considered to have been heard and transmitted through direct knowledge by accomplished and enlightened sages and seers (called "rishis"); those texts are not "Smriti" but instead are categorized as "Śruti".

Durga Saptashati (700 Verses)

Thirteen of the Markandeya Purana's chapters( 81-93) are known as the Durga Saptashati (English: 700 Verses), also called the "Devi Mahatmya", "Chandi Paath", or "the Chandi". The 700 Verses describes the victory of the Goddess Durga (symbolic for a person's innermost power) over various evil influences. Because all of it is in verse, the 700 Verses has been referred to as a divine song. A ritualistic reading of the 700 Verses is part of the Navratri celebrations in India. Chapter 8 of the 700 Verses consists of the well-known 32 Names of Durga mantra. The 700 Verses also includes the Devi Argalā Stotram (Hymn to Goddess to Remove Impediments), whose first verse is the well-known Om Jayanti Maṅgalā Kālī mantra.