Invocation of mother goddess Durga

 

Ya Devi svarbhabhuteshu Shaktirupena sangstitha" |
"namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaH" ||
"Ya Devi svarbhabhuteshu Matrirupena sangstitha" |
"namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaH" ||
"Ya Devi svarbhabhuteshu Shantirupena sangstitha" |
"namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaH" ||

With the chanting of this invocation during early morning, Goddess Durga is invited to the earth plane on the day of Mahalaya during the autumn season (called Sorot ritu in Bengali and thusit is also known as Sharodia). Mahalaya is the first day of new moon & last day of waning moon (known as Amavasya) and occurs seven days before the commencement of actual Durga Puja ceremonies. The dark fortnight of Aswayuja (September-October) is known as theMahalaya Paksha. Mythologically, this period is considered auspicious by the Hindus as during the ‘dark/waning phase’ of the moon is also called the ‘Shradh period’. It is said that Karna of Mahabharata fame had ascended to the heaven plane and being a righteous person was accorded place amongst the gods. However, during his stay on earth he had failed to perform one important task of offering food & water charity and thus was offered all the gold & wealth but no food or water. Therefore, on his request made to the Yama (God of Death) he was permitted to return to earth plane to complete his obligations and during this phase of fourteen days he fed the Bramhins & the poor with food & water to get rid of the deficiency. Thus, this period is observed as a period of oblations by devout Hindus whereby they offer water (Tarpan) to the departed souls along with food. The poor & needy alongwith the Bramhins are also fed as gesture of goodwill for the departed souls. In northern parts of Indiathis period is considered inauspicious for undertaking any auspicious work.

 

Durga Pratima - ek chali

With the end of this waning phase of moon, invocation of the above chant of Mahalaya is undertaken to invite the Mother Goddess Durga along with her children to the earth plane and a fortnight of festivities also known as the Navratras in North India commence therewith. According to the Krittibas Ramayana, Rama invoked the goddess Durga in his epic battle against Ravana. Although Goddess Durga was traditionally worshipped in the late spring, due to contingencies of battle, Lord Rama had to invoke her in the autumn and thus is known as akaal bodhan (invoking out of scheduled time). This Rama's date for the puja has now gained ascendancy and culminates with Dusherra in North India. The pujas are held over a ten-day period, which is traditionally viewed as the home coming of the married daughter,Durga, to her father, Himalaya's home. It is the most important festival in Bengal but is celebrated with equal fervor all over India but in different forms. The spring puja also continues but has become nondescript, known as Basanti Puja. This is juxtaposed to the celebrations inSouth India where during the ten days of festivity, the devout perform Puja on Navami day, wherein blessings of Goddess Saraswati is sought by worshiping the books and household records at home. Thousands throng the Saraswati temple at Kottayam. Large gatherings are also seen at the famous temples at Thekkegram (Palghat), Goddess Durga in traditional form is worshipped at the Thrikkavu temple at Ponnani in Malapuram District of Kerala and this auspicious day is known as Vidyarambham. Whereas, in Jammu & Kashmir, each Hindu house-hold does the pooja at home. All the adult members of the household fast on water. In the evenings, fruit may be taken. As elsewhere, Kashmiris grow barley in earthen pots. They believe that if the growth in this pot is good, there is prosperity all year.The most important ritual for Kashmiri Pandits is to visit the temple of guardian goddess Kheer Bhawani on all nine days. On the last day of Navratri, an aarti is held at the temple after which people break their fast. Some of them have fruit or a complete meal once a day, and intoxicating drinks or meat and other forms of entertainment are completely avoided. At the end of the fast devotees feed beggars or worship little girls who spell the Shakti of the Mother Goddess. This is the traditional practice in most of North India but in addition on the eighth day (Aastami), the worshipping of little girls is considered immensely auspicious. The festival is famous in Gujrat where the whole night Garbha dance takes place during this auspicious period. As Shanta Durga or Santeri in Goa & parts of Maharashtra and also in South Karnatka District. This period which essentially imbibes the spirit to triumph of good over evil is celebrated with great fervor throughout Nepal & India.

  Ma Durga with her children

As per the traditional Hindu scriptures of the Devi Mahatya of the Markendya Puran, the form of Goddess Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight a demon. The demon's fatherRambha, king of the demons, once fell in love with a water buffalo and the demon KingMahishasur was born out of this union. He was therefore able to change his appearance between human and buffalo form at will (mahisha means "buffalo"). Through intense prayers toLord Bramha, the demon Mahishasura had obtained the boon that he could not be defeated by any man or god. Subsequently, he unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds and none of the humans or Gods could destroy or defeat him. Dismayed at their continued failure to reign in Mahishasura and in order to restore peace on earth,the Gods joined hands in creating Goddess Durga, since only a woman could kill him. Therefore, the trinity comprising of Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge & learning), Laksmhi (Goddess of Wealth) &Parvati (Consort of Lord Shiva – the destroyer) bestowed a dazzling beam of energy upon the celestial figure transforming her into the goddess Durga. Her form was blindingly beautiful with three lotus-like eyes, eight powerful hands, lush black hair with beautiful curls, a red-golden glow from her skin and a quarter moon on her forehead. She wore shimmering oceanic blue attire emitting fierce rays. Her ornaments were carved beautifully of gold, with ocean pearls and precious stones embedded in it. Her face was sculpted by Shiva, torso by Lord Indra (King of Gods), breasts by Moon Good (Chandra), teeth by Lord Brahma, posterior part by the Earth, thighs and knees by Lord Varuna (the Water God), and her three eyes by Agni (the Fire God). Each God also handed over to her their most powerful weapons, Rudra's (Lord Shiva) trident (trishul), Lord Vishnu's discus (Chakra), Lord Indra's thunderbolt (Vajra), Lord Brahma's Lotus (Kamal), Lord Kuber's (God of Wealth) mace (gada), Varuna handed over to her his Conch (Shankh) & noose, from Vayu or Wind God she received the arrows (tir), from the God of deathYama she received her Sword (talwar) & spear, Vishwakarma the celestial architect gifted her his axe & armour and Himvat the God of Himalayas gifted her a fierce whitish golden lion. The White Elephant of Lord Indra (Ahirawat) gifted her with the bell and thus bedecked in all her finery she descended on earth plane to challenge the might of Mahishashura. On the end of the 8th day and beginning of the 9th day of the waxing moon, Chanda and Munda came to fight the goddess. She turned blue with anger and from her third eye a goddess with fierce form leaped out and decimated the two demons, pleased at her success this goddess was named asChamunda, for conquering the two demons. Her form as Chamunda was the most powerful one with three fiery red eyes, blood-filled tongue and dark skin. This form of the divine goddess is worshipped during the sandhikshan of the Durga Puja festival, as sandhi/chandi puja. Dismayed at the immense loss inflicted by Goddess Durga upon his soldiers, Mahishashuratook to the battle field in form of Buffalo and with his whip like tail started inflicting injuries upon the celestial forces. The Lion of Goddess Durga immediately pounced upon the Buffalo form ofMahishashura and he then assumed the form of a Lion and Goddess Durga immediately put the noose around his neck. However, clever as Mahishashura was he escaped in form of a man but was pursued by a barrage of arrows shot by Goddess Durga. Enraged, Mahishashura took the form of a rouge elephant and gored the Lion carrying Goddess Durga with his huge tusks, but she immediately cut off his tusks with her Sword. Finally on the tenth day of waxing moon, goddess Durga finally killed Mahishashura, who had once again taken the form of the wild Buffalo, with her trident (trishul) gifted to her by Lord Shiva or Maheswar (one who defies death or indestructible), thus signifying the victory of good over the evil.

  

Durga Puja in progress

 © S Roy Biswas., all rights reserved.