Wednesday, 13 April 2005 - 7:39 AM EDT

Goddess Durga


In Hindu mythology, Durga is a fierce form of Devi, the Mother Goddess, the all-powerful almighty goddess. According to a legend the gods could not defeat the buffalo demon Mahish, who was threatening the existence of the universe. They begged Shiva for his assistance, and Shiva advised all the gods to release their shaktis.

The shaktis of the gods emerged in female form. These goddesses fused together in blinding light from which arose a magnificent goddess with many arms. She was as beautiful as she was deadly. Durga was born fully-grown and is depicted as extremely beautiful and full of rage.

The gods called this goddess Durga, the invincible one, and they armed her with all their weapons. Thus armed, Durga rode to the top of a mountain on a lion. In a bloody battle, she defeated Mahish and his army of demons and thus saved the Universe from this demon?s menace.

Wednesday, 13 April 2005 - 7:43 AM EDT

Forms of Durga


She comes every year to Calcutta in autumn bringing with her, mellow days and festivity. The Mother goddess returns to earth and, during this season, rising food prices, sit-down strikes, overflowing gutters are pushed into the background as, for one brief and glorious moment Calcutta becomes Camelot.

When a goddess is as splendour as Durga, it becomes increasingly difficult to unveil the thousand mysteries that surrounded her. Who can catch the roaring wind and imprison it in mere words? Who can give shape and form to the thrashing of ocean waves or fetter the gurgle of mountain streams? Try and pluck a humble star and the firmament will tremble. Set adrift an unknown planet and the universe will never be the same again. Durga is indeed unfathomable and the myths that surround her have changed like the fabled moon from shield to sickle through aeons of light and darkness.

For five fevered days, every autumn, she is worshipped in Bengal. The frenzy is maddening even as the images of the mother-goddess get installed on the day of shashti and after the reverence and fervour of shaptami, ashtami and navami, they are set adrift on the bosom of the Ganga when the sun streaks the sky in gold and evening comes a-tumbling on Vijayadashami. The craftsmen in Kumartuli set to work when the monsoon clouds thin in August and the first rusk of kash blossoms wave their feathery white heads in fecund fields that roll into distant horizons.

Durga idols are crafted with much love and care. And the day the artisans breathe life into her, that particular dawn when they actually paint in her large, beautiful eyes, the almanac must be consulted to decide the precise auspicious moment when the goddess will finally look upon the world of mortals. She is shakti, the destroyer of evil. Armed with lethal weapons in her ten mighty hands she rides a ferocious lion and is the triumphant slayer of Mahishasur, the demon king. She is Uma, beloved daughter of King Daksha and Queen Menoka who, for the sake of love, forsaked a kingdom and earned her father?s wrath. She is Kali, black as the night and omnipotent, terrible in rage and fury, with just a string of skulls as her garland and her only garb. She is Parvati, serene, pretty consort of the mad, half-naked Lord Shiva cooling her heels on the snow-bound peaks of Kailash. She is Bhawani, symbol of life. She is Sati, the object of death. She is Basanti, the heralder of springtime. She is Mahishasurmardini, the vanquisher of evil in autumn. She is the epitome of salvation and sacrifice. She is the mother of bounty and wealth, as also of beauty and knowledge, for her daughters are Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Wednesday, 13 April 2005 - 7:43 AM EDT

Durga & Mahish



According to Hindu mythology, a demon named Mahish had threatened gods out of heaven and established his evil dominion there and this devil was a constant threat to the existence of the universe.



Origin of Goddess Durga

Threatened by mahish, a buffalo demon all gods approached Shiva for his assistance. Shiva advised them to release their energies(spiritual powers) locked within their bodies.When these powers were united, Goddess Durga was born. Gods praised her and gave to her their divine gifts. The 'Devatas also contributed their share of energy to form the various limbs of the goddess and armed her with the best jewellery and deadly weapons - thus Durga represented an awesome combination of supreme beauty and deadly power Now equipped with the fearsome weaponry of the gods and dressed in golden armour and jewels she set off, seated gracefully upon that lion. All the demons were destroyed in a great battle as with her divine sword she cut them to bits.


The Death of Mahish, the buffalo demon

Mahish, the demon king was completely enraged by the events of the battlefield, where his army of demons was slaughtered by Durga. He reverted to his own form, a buffalo, and charged about on the battlefield. He ran wildly at Durga's divine soldiers goring many, biting others and all the while beating them with his long, whip-like tail. Durga's lion, angered by the presence of the demon-buffalo, attacked him. Durga jumped on Mahishasura pushing him to the ground with her left leg. She grasped his head in one hand, pierced him with her sharp spear held in another, and with yet another of her ten hands she wielded her bright sword, beheading him. At last he fell dead, and the gods returned to heaven, and along with the sages of the earth, they sang praises of the Goddess Durga. After that day Durga is worshipped by all the gods in heaven and by all the human beings on earth, she is considered as an eternal mother who resolves all hardships of her devotees. Mahishasura is there too, impaled by Durga's spear and prostrate beneath her left foot.

Wednesday, 13 April 2005 - 7:43 AM EDT

Durga Aarti
JAI AMBE GAURII MAIYAA JAI SHYAAMAA GAURII NISHADINA TUMAKO DHYAAVATA HARI BRAHMA SHIVAJII MAANGA SINDUURA VIRAAJATA TIKO MRIGA MADAKO UJJVALASE DAUU NAINAA CHANDRAVANA NIIKO KANAKA SAMAANA KALEVARA, RAKTAAMBARA RAAJE RAKTAPUSHPA GALAMAALAA, KANTHAHAARA SAAJE KEHARI VAAHANA RAAJATA, KHADAGA KHAPPARA DHAARI SURA NARA MUNIJANA SEVATA, TINAKE DUKHA HAARI KAANANA KUNADALA SHOBHITA, NAASAAGRE MOTII KOTIKA CHANDRA DIVAAKARA, SAM RAAJATA JYOTII SHUMBHA NISHUMBHA BIDAARE, MAHISHAASURA GHAATII DHUUMRA VILOCHANA NAINAA, NISHADINA MADAMAATII BRAHMAANII RUDRAANII, TUMA KAMALAA RAANII AAGAMA-NIGAMA BAKHAANII, TUMA SHIVA PATARAANII , CHAUSATHA YOGINII GAAVATA, NRITYA KARATA BHAIRON BAAJATA TAALA MRIDANGA, AURA BAAJATA DAMARUU TUMA HO JAGA KII MAATAA, TUMA HII HO BHARTAA BHAKTANA KII DUKHA HARTAA, SUKHA SAMPATI KARTAA BHUJAA CHAARA ATI SHOBHITA, VARA MUDRAA DHAARII MANAVAANCHITA PHALA PAAVATA, SEVATA NARA NAARII KANCHANA THAALA VIRAAJATA, AGARU KAPUURA BAATII BHAALAKETU MEIN RAAJATA, KOTIRATANA JYOTII


Translation
Glory to you, O divine Mother Gauri, glory to you, O Parvati, who are so rich in maiden grace , the object of daily meditation by brahma,vishnu and shiva.
O Ambe! On your forehead is a mark of vermilion along with a mark of musk . Your twin eyes are bright and your face beautiful as the moon.
Your body with a tinge of gold is beautifully dressed in red attire; on your throat there is a wreath of red blossoms like a beautiful necklace.
Your vehicle, the lion, is, O Mother in keeping with your majestic form; you hold a sword and a skull in your hands, and on you attend the gods, hermits, men and your devotees, whose grief you drive away.
You are adorned with rings on your ears and with pearl on the tip of your nose, your radiance looks as beautiful as that of myriad of moons and suns.
O slayer of the demon Mahish, you tore apart the bodies of Shumbha, Nishumbha and Dhuumravilochana. Your eyes reflected a frenzy of wrath everyday and night.
You are the beloved companion of Brahma, Rudra and Vishnu. The Vedas and the Shastras describe you as the queen companion of Shiva
Sixty-four Yoginis chorus your glory and glorify you, while Shiva dances in tune to the accompaniment of the sound of tambour and drum .
You are mother of the universe, the almighty, its sustainer, reliever of your devotees' hardships and bestower of prosperity and happiness
The four arms you have adorned your person, while the hand raised in benediction reveals your compassionate aspect. Those among men and women who wait on you and worship you have all their wishes fulfilled.
In a golden platter are beautifully laid aloe and camphor, both of which have lighted; and the radiance of your forehead is reflecting the splendour of gems.

Wednesday, 13 April 2005 - 7:44 AM EDT

Bhajans
Durga Saptashati - Shakradi Stuti R^ishhiruvaacha ..

1. shakraadayaH suragaNaa nihate.ativiirye tasminduraatmani suraaribale cha devyaa . taa.n tushhTuvuH praNatinamrashirodharaa.nsaa vaagbhiH praharshhapulakod.hgamachaarudehaaH .

2. devyaa yayaa tatamida.n jagadaatmashaktyaa nishsheshhadevagaNashaktisamuuhamuu{tyaa}.r . taamambikaamakhiladevamaharshhipuujyaa.n bhaktyaa nataaH sma vidadhaatu shubhaani saa naH ..

3.. yasyaaH prabhaavamatula.n bhagavaanananto brahmaa harashcha na hi vaktumala.n bala.n cha . saa chaNDikaakhilajagatparipaalanaaya naashaaya chaashubhabhayasya mati.n karotu ..

4.. yaa shriiH svaya.n sukR^itinaa.n bhavaneshhvalakshmiiH paapaatmanaa.n kR^itadhiyaa.n hR^idayeshhu buddhiH . shraddhaa sataa.n kulajanaprabhavasya lajjaa taa.n tvaa.n nataaH sma paripaalaya devi vishvam.h ..

5.. ki.n varNayaama tava ruupamachintyametat.h ki.n chaativiiryamasurakshayakaari bhuuri . ki.n chaahaveshhu charitaani tavaadbhutaani sarveshhu devyasuradevagaNaadikeshhu ..

6.. hetuH samastajagataa.n triguNaapi doshhai\- rna GYaayase hariharaadibhirapyapaaraa . sarvaashrayaakhilamida.n jagada.nshabhuuta\- mavyaakR^itaa hi paramaa prakR^itistvamaadyaa ..

7.. yasyaaH samastasurataa samudiiraNena tR^ipti.n prayaati sakaleshhu makheshhu devi . svaahaasi vai pitR^igaNasya cha tR^iptihetu\- ruchchaaryase tvamata eva janaiH svadhaa cha ..

8.. yaa muktiheturavichantyamahaavrataa tva.n abhyasyase suniyatendriyatattvasaaraiH . mokshaarthibhirmunibhirastasamastadoshhai\- rvidyaasi saa bhagavatii paramaa hi devi ..

9.. shabdaatmikaa suvimala{gya}.rjushhaa.n nidhaana\- mudgiitharamyapadapaaThavataa.n cha saamnaam.h . devii trayii bhagavatii bhavabhaavanaaya vaa{ttaa}.r cha sarvajagataa.n paramaa{tti}.r hantrii ..

10.. medhaasi devi viditaakhilashaastrasaaraa durgaasi durgabhavasaagaranaurasaN^gaa . shriiH kaiTabhaarihR^idayaikakR^itaadhivaasaa gaurii tvameva shashimaulikR^itapratishhThaa ..

11.. iishhatsahaasamamala.n paripuurNachandra\- bimbaanukaari kanakottamakaantikaantam.h . atyadbhuta.n prahR^itamaattarushhaa tathaapi vaktra.n vilokya sahasaa mahishhaasureNa ..

Bhajans
12.. dR^ishhTvaa tu devi kupita.n bhrukuTiikaraala\- mudyachchhashaaN^kasadR^ishachchhavi yanna sadyaH . praaNaanmumocha mahishhastadatiiva chitra.n kairjiivyate hi kupitaantakadarshanena ..

13.. devi prasiida paramaa bhavatii bhavaaya sadyo vinaashayasi kopavatii kulaani . viGYaatametadadhunaiva yadastameta\- nniita.n bala.n suvipula.n mahishhaasurasya ..

14.. te sammataa janapadeshhu dhanaani teshhaa.n teshhaa.n yashaa.nsi na cha siidati dharmavargaH . dhanyaasta eva nibhR^itaatmajabhR^ityadaaraa yeshhaa.n sadaabhyudayadaa bhavatii prasannaa ..

15.. dha{myaa}.rNi devi sakalaani sadaiva karmaa\- NyatyaadR^itaH pratidina.n sukR^itii karoti . svarga.n prayaati cha tato bhavatiiprasaadaa\- llokatraye.api phaladaa nanu devi tena ..

16.. durge smR^itaa harasi bhiitimasheshhajantoH svasthaiH smR^itaa matimatiiva shubhaa.n dadaasi . daaridr{}yaduHkhabhayahaariNi kaa tvadanyaa sarvopakaarakaraNaaya sadaa.a.a{dra}.rchittaa ..

17.. ebhirhatairjagadupaiti sukha.n tathaite kurvantu naama narakaaya chiraaya paapam.h . sa.ngraamamR^ityumadhigamya diva.n prayaantu matveti nuunamahitaanviniha.nsi devi ..

18.. dR^ishhTvaiva ki.n na bhavatii prakaroti bhasma sarvaasuraanarishhu yat.hprahiNoshhi shastram.h . lokaanprayaantu ripavo.api hi shastrapuutaa ittha.n matirbhavati teshhvapi te.atisaadhvii ..

19.. khaDgaprabhaanikaravisphuraNaistathograiH shuulaagrakaantinivahena dR^isho.asuraaNaam.h . yannaagataa vilayama.nshumadindukhaNDa\- yogyaanana.n tava vilokayataa.n tadetat.h ..

20.. durvR^ittavR^ittashaman.n tava devi shiila.n ruupa.n tathaitadavichintyamatulyamanyaiH . viirya.n cha hantri hR^itadevaparaakramaaNaa.n vairishhvapi prakaTitaiva dayaa tvayettham.h ..

21.. kenopamaa bhavatu te.asya paraakramasya ruupa.n cha shatrubhayakaaryatihaari kutra . chitte kR^ipaa samaranishhThurataa cha dR^ishhTaa tvayyeva devi varade bhuvanatraye.api ..

22.. trailokyametadakhila.n ripunaashanena traata.n tvayaa samaramuurdhani te.api hatvaa . niitaa diva.n ripugaNaa bhayamapyapaasta\- masmaakamunmadasuraaribhava.n namaste ..

23.. shuulena paahi no devi paahi khaDgena chaambike . ghaNTaasvanena naH paahi chaapajyaaniHsvanena cha ..

Bhajans
24.. praachyaa.n raksha pratiichyaa.n cha chaNDike raksha dakshiNe . bhraamaNenaatmashuulasya uttarasyaa.n tatheshvari ..

25.. saumyaani yaani ruupaaNi trailokye vicharanti te . yaani chaatyarthaghoraaNi tai rakshaasmaa.nstathaa bhuvam.h ..

26.. khaDgashuulagadaadiini yaani chaastraani te.ambike . karapallavasaN^giini tairasmaanraksha sarvataH ..

27.. R^ishhiruvaacha ..

28.. eva.n stutaa surairdivyaiH kusumairnandanodbhavaiH . architaa jagataa.n dhaatrii tathaa gandhaanulepanaiH ..

29.. bhaktyaa samastaistridashairdivyairdhuupaistu dhuupitaa . praaha prasaadasumukhii samastaan.h praNataan.h suraan.h ..

30.. devyuvaacha ..

31.. vriyataa.n tridashaaH sarve yadasmatto.abhivaaJNchhatam.h ..

32.. devaa uchuH ..

33.. bhagavatyaa kR^ita.n sarva.n na ki.nchidavashishhyate . yadaya.n nihataH shatrurasmaaka.n mahishhaasuraH ..

34.. yadi chaapi varo deyastvayaa.asmaaka.n maheshvari . sa.nsmR^itaa sa.nsmR^itaa tva.n no hi.nsethaaH paramaapadaH ..

35.. yashcha ma{tya}.rH stavairebhistvaa.n stoshhyatyamalaanane ..

36.. tasya vitta{ddhi}.rvibhavairdhanadaaraadisampadaam.h . vR^iddhaye.asmatprasannaa tva.n bhavethaaH sarvadaambike ..

37.. R^ishhiruvaacha ..

38.. iti prasaaditaa devairjagato.arthe tathaa.atmanaH . tathetyuktvaa bhadrakaalii babhuuvaantarhitaa nR^ipa ..

39.. ityetatkathita.n bhuupa sambhuutaa saa yathaa puraa . devii devashariirebhyo jagattrayahitaishhiNii ..

40.. punashcha gauriidehaatsaa samud.hbhuutaa yathaabhavat.h . vadhaaya dushhTadaityaanaa.n tathaa shumbhanishumbhayoH ..

41.. rakshaNaaya cha lokaanaa.n devaanaamupakaariNii . tachchhR^iNushhva mayaa.a.akhyaata.n yathaavatkathayaami te ..

42.. iti shrii maarkaNDeyapuraaNe saavarNike manvantare deviimaahaatmye shakraadistutirnaama chaturtho.adhyaayaH ..

43.. yA devI sarvabhUteSu shAntirUpeNa saMsthitA namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaH.

Wednesday, 13 April 2005 - 7:52 AM EDT

The Festival
What makes Durga Puja intoxicating is the tension between calm spirituality and ecstatic sensuality, the twin poles of Hindu religious worship. The festival of Durga Puja is celebrated all over India with different festivities and rituals. Durga Puja is celebrated in the autumn, in the month of September/October. It is the time when the weather remains at its best giving the atmosphere a festive mood. The advent of autumn is impossible to overlook in any corner of the land. It arouses one from bed at dawn, with the sound of high-pitched, ululations, the frantic blowing of conch shells and bell metal cymbals. This simple ceremony marks the arrival of the Mother Goddess Durga, for the festival of Durga Puja.

Common rituals and Some Important Facts
Durga Puja is basically a festival with a long series of rituals followed on every day of the Puja. Starting from the day of the Mahalaya, the days of Sashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami or Bijoya Dashami every day has its own unique rituals to follow. But it is not only the festival that has rituals associated with it, but also the making of Durga idols is governed by a series of rituals. These rituals are closely related with the holy river Ganga. The elemental ritual, which is most commonly followed, is that the ingredients that are used to make the idol of goddess Durga come from the holy river. The activity of immersing the idol in the Ganga at the end of the festival this way points to a theme of cyclical regeneration too. Generally, the idol of Durga is flanked by the idols of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh, all of whom are believed to be her children. The goddess sits atop a lion, which is her vahan. The favourite tableau is of her stabbing Asura, the demon. It is symbolic of the victory that she had achieved for the gods over the demons