Maa Durga and Durga Puja

PERSPECTIVE  OF  MAA  DURGA  AND  DURGA  PUJA

‘Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shakti Roopena Samasthita
Namastasyoi Namastasyoi Namastasyoi,Namo Namah’

‘My namaskar (esteem) to that devi who abides as ‘Shakti’ (power) in all the embodied souls. My namaskar be to that Shakti, namaskar to that shakti, again namaskar to that shakti’

According to Atharva Veda, even the devatas (demigods) could not understand the quintessential of Maa Durga therefore all the Devatas submitted before Devi and asked: "Oh Maha Devi! Who you are and what are you?"

Maa Durga said, “I am Absolute Brahman (astute). It is because of me that Purusha and Prakriti has evolved forth, which is void and non-void. I am bliss and non-bliss. I am physical as well as transcendental understanding. I am both Brahman and what is not Brahman. I am of the five cosmic elements and different from that five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space. I am whole universe. I am the Vedas and Agamas. I am vidya (knowledge) and avidya (ignorance). I alone abide in the Rudras-Shiva incarnation and the eight Vasus. I move in the Twelve Adityas and the Vishva Devas I raise all the Mitras Varuna, Indra , Agni and Ashvini Kumars. I hold Soma-tvashtaa, Pushaa and Bhag. The three potentials Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar function because of my will alone. I hold the Soma and Havi for the Yajmana, who makes the anushthana (rituals for Homa, Puja, Archana, Sangkirtana, Naam Smarana). I am Ishwvari, the Supreme Sovereign of this whole existence. I have created the whole space.”

          Maa Durga is known as the Goddess of Power. Durga, in Sanskrit means "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." Goddess Durga is a form of Shakti worshiped for her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. The manifestation of Maa Durga is said to emerge from her formless essence and the two are inseparable. Maa Durga exists eternally, always abiding in her own sweet nature and inhabits the hearts and minds of her ecstatic devotees.  

Maa Durga is also known as Mother of the Universe; she represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism.  She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, Mahishmardini and Kali. In the form of Parvati, Goddess Durga represents a united front of all divine forces against the negative forces of evil and wickedness.

 There are endless aspects of Maa Durga described in the Durgopanishad, Markandeya Puranas, Devi Bhagawatam, Tantra Shashtras, Agamas and the iconography is consequently very varied.

·                     The gods in heaven decided to create an all-powerful being to kill the demon king Mahishasur who was ready to attack them. At that very moment a stream of lightning dazzled forth from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar and it turned into a beautiful, magnificent woman with ten hands. Then all the gods furnished her with their special weapons. The image of Maa Durga, the eternal mother destroying the demon, Mahishasur is symbolic of the final confrontation of the spiritual urge of man with his baser passions.

·                     According to the mythology, when Asuras (demons) were creating troubles for the Devatas (Demigods) the latter went to Shiva and requested him to release them of their troubles. Lord Shiva promised to protect them by seeking help of Goddess Durga to act upon the Asuras. Then God Shiva asked Shakti Mata to take an incarnation and defeat Asuras who were creating troubles for the Devatas. Maa Durga (Shakti) fought with Asuras and killed them all. Devatas were thus made free of their troubles.

·                     Might of all seers and Gods were trifling before Mahishasur. They cried in despair as they were grieving. Ultimately, it was the power of these Gods and Seers that were accumulated and manifest in the form of a Goddess. Her stature was as magnanimous as the universe. She was pervading the entire universe with her profile. The Goddess carried all weapons belonging to all Gods and demigods. And the stupendous battle between righteousness and evil started. It took her only a while to eradicate all vicious demons that were subservient to Mahishasur, the embodiment of evil.

Maa Durga is usually pictured as having ten arms holding Sword, Conch, Disc, Noose, Bell, Wine-cup, Shield, Bow, Arrow, and Spear. She is most often shown riding a lion from which comes her august name ‘Simhavahini’ - She who stands astride the king of beasts. She is gorgeously dressed in royal red cloth and has several ornaments decorating her personage. Her hair is dressed up in a crown which then flows out in long luxuriant locks that are darkly luminous, gorgeous and soothing to the eye. The various tools reflect the eminent supremacy that helps in controlling the universe and obey her will.

People worship Maa Durga to invoke her blessings for materialistic gains such as name & fame, prosperity, energy, tranquility, happiness, position of power or wealth and also to win control over negative feelings and materialistic desires. Besides, people in search of Moksha or salvation also worship Maa Durga with full sincerity.

The worship of Devi Durga in the month of Ashwin is called 'Akalbodhan'- an uncustomary time for commencement of the worship. It is so called since the period of this worship differs from the conventional period of the spring, 'Basanta'. Ramayana says that when Rama was engaged in the fierce battle with Ravana, he wanted to secure the blessings of victory from Devi Durga. He held the Puja to evoke the goddess during autumn to his dire plight, thereby worshiping Durga untimely, ‘Akal’. Hence this Puja is called ‘Akalbodhon’ and ‘Sharodiyo’ as it is on the season of ‘sharat’, the autuman.

It was customary to worship Durga with 100 Neel kamals, ‘blue lotuses’. Rama could gather only 99 of them; he offered one of his eyes as a substitute of the 100th lotus. Pleased with his devotion Durga blessed him. The battle started on Saptami and Ravana was killed at the ‘Shandhikshan’ (in between) Ashtami and Navami; he was cremated on Dashami. Therefore the four days of the Puja that we celebrate ends in the triumph of the good over evil.

As per the perspective of Durga Puja in bengali culture, Sati, the consort of Shiva was the daughter of Daksha Prajapati a descendant of Bhrahma. Sati had married Shiva against the wishes of her father. Daksha was sponsoring a sacrifice and attendees came from various parts of the universe. He invited all of the gods and goddesses except his son in law Shiva. Against Shiva's wishes, Sati attended this sacrifice and was insulted by her father. Unable to bear this insult, Sati immolated herself. Enraged at the insult and the injury, Shiva destroyed Daksha's sacrifice, cut off Daksha's head and when pleaded by other gods, replaced it with that of a goat and restored him to life. Still berserk with grief, he picked up the remains of Sati's body, and danced the dance of destruction throughout the Universe. The other gods intervened to stop this dance, and ‘Sudarshan chakra’ the disc of Vishnu cut through the corpse of Sati, whose various parts of the body fell at several spots all through the Indian subcontinent and formed the sites of what are known as Shakti Peethas today. There are 51 ‘Shakti Peethas’ are in undivided India.

And finally Shiva was pacified when the last piece fell off from his shoulder. Lord Vishnu revived sati as Uma for a new life. Ever since peace was restored, Uma, with her children, Ganesh, Kartk, Lakshmi and Saraswati, comes to visit her parent's home each year during the season of autumn 'Sharat' when Durga Puja is celebrated. In this background Maa Durga is considered as a daughter coming to her natal home.

Durga Puja is identified by different regional names throughout India. This diversity across various states binds the people in a unique way. Durga Puja is one of the most important religious festivals of Hindus, celebrating the return of the goddess to her natal home. But, this great Hindu festival is recounted and celebrated slightly differently in various regions taking on different forms and names. The festival of Durga Puja is characterized by a variety of prayers and rituals. The name of the Durga Puja varies from locale to locale as common for most of the Hindu festivals. The various distinct regional names of this festival are Navratri Puja, Kullu Dussehra, Mysore Dussehra, Bommai Kolu, Ayudha Puja, Vidyaramba and many more.

For Bengalis, Durga Puja is the biggest and the most important festival of all. When the fragrance of ‘Shiuli’ seal the air and ‘Kaash’ swing with hilarity, ‘Shishir’ touches the small meadow, we know, it’s time to celebrate Durga Puja.  Durga Puja can be felt in, when sky is blue in color, the clouds are flying like seasonal snow white cotton and cheerfulness fills in the heart of devotees of Maa Durga. New clothes, Decorative Pujo Pandal, Sandhyaarati, Beats of Dhaak and Pujor Gaan adds to the fun of the festival. Dhaak beats and so does our hearts. It comes to dressing up for the grand Puja festival. Durga Puja is the time to look good and feel great.

Though we all are desperately missing the fun of Puja of our native city or may become nostalgic too for good old Kolkata but all you need to do is to immerse yourself in the spirit of Durga Puja - the festival of happiness, togetherness and a lot, lot more.

Durga Puja the time when friends and foes join together to celebrate this truly auspicious and authentic event. Occasions like these can bring people together, and diminish the raging violence in the world. We must simply embrace the moment.
These five days of celebration are a chance for us to mend our own wounds, to let free of our anger, and to share this tranquility and joy with all. Durga Puja is a chance for everyone to come together, to forget about past quarrels, and an opportunity for reunion of friends, relatives and family members.

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