Last chapters of Devī Māhātmya form its longest part and praise the Goddess as Mahāsarasvatī, the great giver of wisdom, who is seated in between our eyebrows, within third eye chakra, and helps us transcend sattva guna or attachment to happiness, comfort zone or intellect. First 2 chapters of the last part (5-6) are traditionally recited and contemplated upon on the third day of Navaratri.

The last and the most evolved part of our brain, which is also 76% of it, is neocortex. It is here that all the higher functions of our brain take place — such as analytical & abstract thinking, creativity, cognitive empathy, curiosity and ability to learn and process information. This is also the part of our brain that helps us control our lower impulses coming from limbic system (most rajasic part of our brain), establish true connection with others and act selflessly.

In other words: this is the most sattvic part of our brain. It helps us to approach any life situation in the most mature way possible. Yet, the very same part of our brain, when we become too attached to its byproducts, can lead us to over-intellectualisation, excessive self-suppression and disconnection. It is also this part of our mind that we are usually most attached to: the voice of logic within us which often wants us to believe that we are always right and that our way of thinking is the only correct one. And precisely because this part of ourselves is the most subtle and thus the hardest to transcend, the battle of Goddess Mahāsarasvatī, who helping us rise above sattva guna, is the longest and the most exhausting one. It culminates in the final battle between the Goddess and the two demons Śumbha and Niśumbha — representing the attachments to “I” and “mine”.