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Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being

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Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being

durgaface.jpg



O Mother!
Thee, who is present everywhere,
thee who is the embodiment of power and Energy!
I Bow to Thee! I Bow to Thee! I Bow to Thee!

Durga - the goddess of power and strength, is perhaps the most important goddess of the Hindus. She is a multi-dimensional Goddess, with many names, many personas, and many facets. As Mahishasuramardini or Shakti, she is the destroyer of evil - with her ten mighty arms carrying lethal weapons she triumphantly slays the demon Mahishasura. As Sati, beloved daughter of King Daksha and Queen Menaka she gives up a kingdom and earns her father's wrath. As Kali, she turns black as the night and omnipotent, terrible in rage and fury, with just a string of skulls as her garland and her only garb. As Parvati, she is serene, the pretty consort of Lord Shiva by his side in the snowy peaks of the Kailash mountain.

She is Bhawani, symbol of life. She is Sati, the object of death. She is Basanti, the heralder of springtime. She is also Amba, Jagadhatri, Tara, Ambika, Annapurna.

Durga, through all her forms, encompasses the essence 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 (Hindu goddesses of wealth and knowledge, respectively).

The highest form of truth present in any being or Jiva is known as "Aatman" or supreme consciousness. This supreme consciousness or the absolute soul is infinite, birthless, deathless, beyond time and space, and beyond the law of causation. Goddess Durga is the inherent dynamic energy through which this supreme consciousness manifests itself.

Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the universe. She is the energy aspect of the Lord. Without Durga, Lord Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no existence. Lord Shiva is only the silent witness. He is motionless, absolutely changeless. He is not affected by the cosmic play. Shiva has no direct connection with the tangible elements in the universe and is obliged to emanate a manifestation, an emission of energy, shakti, through the goddess. It is Durga who is the doer of all actions. Shiva and Durga are regarded as the twofold personalization of Brahman, the primeval substance.



The Sanskrit word Durga means a fort, or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach. Durga, also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and ego.

The projection of the stronger and fiercer side of womanhood is but obvious in the tales surrounding goddess Durga. According to certain mythological tales, Durga is thought to be the skin of Parvati, which slips off and fights the demon brothers - Shumbha and Nishumbha. Sometimes Durga is supposed to have created helpers to fight for her, Kali being the most famous. In other versions she is supposed to have created the Saptamatrikas, the Seven Mothers, who were originally Yaksha gods.

The absence of any male influence as well as of any male assistance, in Durga's fierce battles with male demons, is worth noting. The most interesting facet of the tales of her origin is not that she is presented as Shakti - the divine power - but rather, that she assumes the powers of the male gods to save the universe.


Hindu mythology tells an interesting tale of the fierce battle of Durga with Mahishasura, a demon who earned the favour of Lord Shiva after long and hard penance. Lord Shiva, pleased with the devotion of the demon, blessed him with a boon that no man or deity would be able to kill him.

Empowered with the boon, Mahishasura started his reign of terror over the Universe and people were killed mercilessly. He even attacked the abode of the gods. The war between gods and demons lasted a hundred years, in which Mahishasura was the leader of the Asuras or demons and Indra was the chief of the gods. In this contest the army of the gods was defeated by the more powerful demons. When Mahishasura conquered the gods, he became their leader.

The gods, utterly defeated, took refuge under Lord Brahma, who took them to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Having heard of the misdeeds of the demons, pure energy blazed forth from Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the trinity forming the pure energy of Godhood. As the gods witnessed this fiery crest of energy pervading all the directions and blazing forth like a mountain peak aflame with the sun, this matchless energy that sprang from the bodies of all the gods, its light illuminating the three worlds, became concentrated in one spot and took form of the Goddess. Her face was from the light of Shiva. Her ten arms were from Lord Vishnu. Her feet were from Lord Brahma. The tresses were formed from the light of Yama (god of death) and the two breasts were formed from the light of Somanath (Moon God), the waist from the light of Indra (the king of gods), the legs and thighs from the light of Varun (god of oceans), and hips from the light of Bhoodev (Earth), the toes from the light of Surya (Sun God), fingers of the hand from the light of the Vasus (the children of Goddess river Ganga) and nose from the light of Kuber (the keeper of wealth for the Gods). The teeth were formed from the light of Prajapati (the lord of creatures), the Triad of her eyes was born from the light of Agni (Fire God), the eyebrows from the two Sandhyas (sunrise and sunset), the ears from the light of Vayu (god of Wind). Thus from the energy of these gods, as well as from many other gods, was formed the goddess Durga.

The gods then gifted the goddess with their weapons and other divine objects to help her in her battle with the demon, Mahishasura. Lord Shiva gave her a trident while Lord Vishnu gave her a disc. Varuna, gave her a conch and noose, and Agni gave her a spear. From Vayu, she received arrows. Indra, gave her a thunderbolt, and the gift of his white-skinned elephant Airavata was a bell. From Yama, she received a sword and shield and from Vishwakarma (god of Architecture), an axe and armor. The god of mountains, Himavat gifted her with jewels and a lion to ride on. Durga was also given many other precious and magical gifts, new clothing, and a garland of immortal lotuses for her head and breasts.


The beautiful Durga, bedecked in jewels and golden armor and equipped with the fearsome weaponry of the gods, was ready to engage in battle with the fierce and cruel Mahishasura. Her lion's thunderous roars shook the three worlds. Oceans boiled and surf poured overland. Continents were torn at their granite foundations as whole new chains of mountains rose, while older ranges crumbled, cracked, and gave way to dust in a thousand landslides. Mahishasura and his demon allies found their attention drawn from heaven to Earth, as Durga's power moved its way towards heaven. Though confident of their power and control in heaven, the demons could not help being awestruck.


As Mahishasura's armies were struck down effortlessly by Durga, it became obvious to him that he was not as secure in heaven as he had thought. No demon could fight her and win. Her breath would replenish her armies - bringing back to life all of her soldiers who fell. From Airavata's gift, the bell, came a confusing clamor. The demons were in chaos and were easily defeated and captured. The ground was left littered with the broken limbs and body parts of the defeated demon army.


Mahishasura then assumed the form of a lion and when Durga beheaded the lion, Mahishasura escaped in the form of a man who was immediately face to face with a volley of arrows from Durga. The demon escaped yet again and then having assumed the form of a huge elephant, battered Durga's lion with a tusk. With her sword Durga hacked the tusk into pieces.

The demon reverted once more to the form of the wild buffalo. He hid himself in the mountains from where he hurled boulders at Durga with his horns. Durga drank the divine nectar, the gift of Kuber. She then pounced on Mahishasura, pushing him to the ground with her left leg. She grasped his head in one hand, pierced him with her sharp trident 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 scattered surviving remnants of his once invincible army fled in terror.

The Gods bowed to the goddess and showered their praises on the goddess following her victory:


"Mother, you have created this universe. You are the strength of all. Devatas (Gods), Rishis (sages), Yakshas (demi-gods), Kinnaras (heavenly musicians with human bodies and heads of horses) all bow to you. Even Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar (Lord Shiva) do not know you fully. For the Dharmik (righteous) you are Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth), for the adharmiks (evil) you are Alakshmi (she who brings misfortune). You are buddhi (knowledge), you are lajja (modesty), you are shraddha (respect). You were there always and will be there forever. You are the adhar (source) for all, You are Prakriti (nature). You save the earth by killing the numerous asuras (demons)."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=442ewPgXHQ0


Published on Sep 25, 2014


'Aigiri Nandini Nanditha Medhini' is a very popular Durga Devi Stotram. Mahishasur Mardini is an incarnation of Goddess Durga which was created to kill the demon Mahishasur. 'Aigiri Nandini' is addressed to Goddess Mahishasur Mardini. Mahishasur Mardini is the fierce form of Goddess Durga where she is depicted with 10 arms, riding on a lion and carrying weapons.


TO BE CONTINUED



http://www.dollsofindia.com/library/durga/



 
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Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being- Continues

Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being- Continues


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The tale of Durga continues beyond Mahishasura, through the tale of goddess Kaushiki, another form of goddess Durga. After Mahishasura, two more demon brothers, Shumbha and Nishumbha forcibly drove the gods out of heaven. The gods then started praying to Mahamaya - the mother Goddess - to help them. At that moment, Goddess Parvati - wife of Lord Shiva - was going to take a bath in the river. After Parvati heard their tale of woe, a beautiful woman emerged from Parvati's body. She was named Kaushiki. Upon the emergence of Kaushiki, Parvati's body turned black and she then became known as Kalika.

Kaushiki was spotted by Chanda and Munda, the two trusted assistants of Shumbha and Nishumbha. They reported to their masters, that they had spotted a beautiful woman. Shumbha then sent a messenger to Kaushiki. The messenger, Sugriva, went to Kaushiki and informed her of the desire of their masters, Shumbha and Nishumbha, who were also the rulers of the heavens, that Kaushiki marry either of the two demon brothers. Kaushiki, feigning innocence replied that she was very foolish and that she had pledged that she would marry only that person who would defeat her in warfare. She asked Sugriva to convey to his masters that whoever could defeat her in battle could win her. On hearing this, Shumbha sent Dhumralochana to capture the goddess. Initially the asura (demon) tried to persuade the Devi to accompany him, but when she refused, he rushed to capture her. The goddess uttered a mantra and the asura was reduced to ashes. On hearing this, Shumbha sent Chanda and Munda to capture the Devi. On seeing Chanda and Munda coming, Kaushiki wriggled her eyebrows. From the eyebrows emerged a ferocious looking goddess with a sword and a noose in her hands. She wore a tiger skin around her body. Her big eyes were red and from her tongue saliva dribbled. She was goddess Kali. Kali jumped among the asuras (demons) and started killing them. She killed Chanda and Munda and dragged their bodies to Kaushiki. This gave Kali the name of Chamunda.

The asuras, after the death of Chanda and Munda, attacked the goddesses Kaushiki and Kali from all sides. At that moment, from the bodies of the various gods, women forces began emerging. These goddesses started fighting along with Kaushiki. Kali then approached Shiva and requested Lord Shiva to ask Shumbha and Nishumbha to surrender. This act of Kali requesting Lord Shiva to be her messenger earned her the name Shivaduti - (she whose messenger is Shiva). Hearing Shiva's message, the asuras became even more ferocious. Among the asuras there was one named Raktabija.

If a drop of his blood, dropped on the ground, another asura would spring forth from that drop of blood. Unknowingly, the goddesses attacked Raktabeeja and from his flowing blood numerous Raktabeejas emerged. Following this, Kali swallowed up Raktabeeja and the asuras which emerged from his blood.


Upon Raktabeeja's death, Nishumbha was killed by Kaushiki after he attacked her. After Shumbha too was defeated, he asked if so many goddesses fighting against a solitary demon was fair. In response, all the goddesses merged into Kaushiki and thereafter she killed the evil Nishumbha.


Durga is also equated with Mahamaya - the supreme creator of illusions and attachment - the one whose spell even the gods cannot elude. There is an interesting tale related to Mahamaya. Before the creation of the universe, water pervaded all space. In that water, Lord Vishnu rested in Yoga Nidra (deep slumber), which was a result of a divine spell cast by Mahamaya on Lord Vishnu. From the navel of Lord Vishnu appeared Lord Brahma, the creator, seated on a lotus. From the wax in Lord Vishnu's ear were formed two demons, Madhu and Kaitabha.

Madhu and Kaitabha were supposed to be companions of Brahma but being demons they indulged in naughty acts, which disturbed Lord Vishnu's slumber and he ordered them to limit their fun and frolic in the depths of the ocean so that his cosmic slumber wouldn't be disturbed. Though the demons went away they pledged vengeance on Lord Vishnu.

They propitiated the Mahamaya and appeased her into giving them a boon of choice of their own death, which she granted them. The demons then decided to come back to where Brahma and Vishnu resided and started scaring Brahma. Seeing this Lord Vishnu decided to kill the two demons but he could do little since they were protected by Mahamaya's boon. Brahma and Vishnu then propitiated Mahamaya. Mahamaya used her powers of illusion and cast spells on the two demons, which made them grant a boon to Lord Vishnu. They granted Lord Vishnu the boon of being able to kill them, on the condition that he did so only where there be no earth or water, no air or ether, neither mind nor intelligence and not even false ego. Taking this opportunity, Lord Vishnu squashed the two demons on his thigh, which was neither of earth, water, air, ether, fire, mind, intelligence or false ego, since Lord Vishnu's was a transcendental body. Thus the Mahamaya using her skills at illusions brought the evil demons to their own end.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMVyjqruAlU


Sri Durga Ashtothram


TO BE CONTINUED




http://www.dollsofindia.com/library/durga/
 
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Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being Continues

Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being Continues


durgaface.jpg



Durga is also equated with two other popular Indian goddesses - Sati and Parvati - both consorts of Lord Shiva, though at different points in time. Though all three are worshipped separately, they are seen to be the form of the same goddess Durga.


sati3.jpg
KING DAKSHA RESTORED TO LIFE
WITH GOAT'S HEAD AFTER SHIVA
SLAYS HIM AFTER SAT'S DEATH
Sati was the first-born daughter of king Daksha, one of the progenitors of mankind. Sati, right from her childhood, started worshipping Lord Shiva as her would-be husband. Shiva, being pleased with the worship of Sati, came to marry her. Daksha did not like this tiger-skin clad groom with ash and dirt over all of his body.


Sati however got married to Shiva against her father's wishes. King Daksha, later on, arranged for a yagna (Hindu form of penance where offerings are made to a holy pyre which represents the fire god) where everyone except Shiva was invited. Sati, despite Shiva's objections went to attend the yagna and was subsequently subjected to insulting remarks made by her father.

Not being able to bear this insult, Sati immolated herself in sacrificial fire. Hearing this news Shiva flew in a rage and reached there with his blazing trident and along with his followers of demi-gods, destroyed the sacrificial altar and beheaded king Daksha. Then, lifting up Sati's body, he started his violent dance, Tandava -the dance of destruction. As the entire creation looked on with fear as the earth shook and winds roared and the oceans heaved, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra (divine disc) to cut off Sati's body into pieces while Shiva held on to it and kept dancing. As the last of her pieces fell from Shiva's shoulder, he was finally pacified. Shiva then restored life to Daksha using a goat's head as a replacement for Daksha's own. The spots where the pieces of Sati's body fell are now known as Shaktipeeths and are spread over 51 places in the Indian subcontinent.



In her next life, Sati appeared as Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya. After the loss of Sati, Lord Shiva had lost interest in worldly matters and marriage did not interest him anymore. Parvati, however, being Sati reincarnate, wanted to marry Lord Shiva, and identical to Sati, Parvati too practiced severe austerities for a thousand years to appease Lord Shiva, who eventually agreed to marry Parvati. The wedding of Shiva and Parvati is described in a very colorful manner in ancient Hindu Puranic literature, describing the merry-making procession of the followers of Lord Shiva - mendicants, wanderers and the lot - following him to Parvati's home for his wedding.


There is an interesting tale about how Parvati came to be called Durga. On one occasion the sage Agastya asked Lord Kartikeya why Parvati, his mother, was called Durga. Kartikeya replied that once there was a demon, named Durga, the son of Ruru. He with his austerities pleased Lord Brahma and with his blessings, became very powerful. He conquered the three worlds and even dethroned Indra, the king of Gods. He abolished all religious ceremonies. Brahmins were terrified and stopped reading Vedas.

All the gods assembled and prayed to Lord Shiva to protect them from the tyranny of this demon. Shiva took pity on them and asked goddess Parvati to go and destroy the evil demon. She calmed the Gods and agreed to slay the evil Durga. There was long and fierce battle. As soon as the demon came near with his evil followers, Parvati assumed thousand arms and also brought out a number of weapons out of her body. Just as in the legend of Durga and Mahishasura, here too, Goddess Parvati, with her trident, killed the evil Durga, who had assumed the form of a buffalo. The Gods, pleased with the goddess, honored her by naming her Goddess Durga.



Origins of Durga as a Deity


Traces of origin of Durga as a deity have been found in wild regions such as the Vindhya Mountains and with old tribes such as the Sabaras and Pulindas. Probably these roots associate her with the non-Aryan habits of drinking alcohol and non-vegeterianism. Durga is first mentioned in the Mahabharata as a virgin delighting in wine, flesh, and animal sacrifice. Durga's association with agriculture, especially in her major festival, the Durga Puja, may arise from her early origins. She is thought to be the power inherent in the growth of crops and in all vegetation.



ishtar.jpg
GODDESS ISHTAR OF
MESOPOTAMIA

The origin of goddess Durga can be, very strangely, traced back to the Mesopotamian culture. The depictions and form of goddess Ishtar, worshipped in Mesopotamia, hold a striking resemblance to those of goddess Durga in Hindu religious texts. Mesopotamia of ancient times is an area, which is mostly covered by present day Iraq. The goddess Ishtar was worshipped by the Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and even Romans and Egyptians, since about 2000 B.C. and probably even before that, since an epic called the descent of Ishtar was already traced to an old tale of that time. Ishtar is described as an independent goddess who roamed the forests and deserts at will and was a constant seeker of battle. She was depicted as riding a lion and had multiple arms holding many weapons. She was thought to have had many lovers from all sorts of backgrounds and probably this was seen as a probable cause of her immense popularity with the common man of those days since he preferred her raw energy to pretensions and pomposity often associated with most other gods. This feeling of her transcending class division was emphasized by the wide-ranging profile of lovers from all social classes.


Buy this sculpture
JAPANESE DURGA
(JUNTEI KANNON)
Courtesy Exotic India



Possibly through trade routes and ancient cross-cultural contacts, goddess Ishtar found her way into ancient Hinduism. However, the nature of promiscuity of Ishtar did not probably find favor with the ancient Hindus and hence those characteristics of hers, which alluded to promiscuity, were discarded and thus goddess Durga took form in ancient Hindu religion. Other forms of Durga have been found in other regions, cultures and religions too - with evidence of similar deities in Japanese-Buddhist art forms.

Widespread worship of goddess Durga is found in texts of the 4th and 7th centuries A.D., with the resurgence of goddess worship during those times. She is the only female deity after whom an entire Upanisad is named. At the close of the Vedic era there were apparently several goddesses acknowledged as wives of Shiva while other goddesses were worshiped by different castes throughout India. These diverse deities eventually coalesced into the one great goddess, Mahadevi, whose ultimate origin may have been the Mother Goddess of the Indus valley civilization. In the ancient Indus Valley civilization it is obvious that the worship of female deities had a very prominent place in society. The many seals and figurines found provide evidence for the apparently highly important place of female deities in the religion of the time. There is evidence of a Mother or Earth goddess cult being in existence in the period.





The post-Vedic period saw the rise of several goddesses hardly mentioned in the epic period (Mahabharata and Ramayana and Vedas) rising to a dominant position in worship. Durga and Kali were such goddesses and each gathered a following of devotees who held them as the supreme divinity. Durga and Kali were essentially independent but they were still often linked to powerful gods but in a drastically different role than the subservient, model partners played by the goddesses of the epics.


Durga came to be seen as the supreme deity by her devotees and in many aspects was supposed to have a similar role to the highest held male deities. She took on the role of leader of the gods in their struggle against the demons and also, as does Vishnu, comes down to earth to defeat evil. Durga was thought to be particularly pleased with blood offerings. Though associated to Lord Shiva, Durga is still essentially seen as independent.

DEVI DURGA KILLING
THE BUFFALO-DEMON
Courtesy Exotic India

In the early Medieval period appeared the Great Goddess or Mahadevi. She was to her devotees indisputably the highest manifestation of the divine. The emergence of Mahadevi is evidence of the acceptance by a large section of the population of the highest manifestation of the divine being feminine. Portrayals of Mahadevi can be found in the Devi Mahatmya, Saundaryalahari and the Devi-bhagavata Purana. The Devi Mahatmya is perhaps the most significant, illustrating the emergence and establishment of Devi as the ultimate reality of the universe within the Sanskritized Hindu tradition. As has been mentioned earlier, goddess Durga is essentially equated with the Mahadevi.


Around the fourth century A.D., images of Durga killing a buffalo become common throughout India. After the sixth century and into the medieval period, Durga was well-known and popularly worshipped. In the classical texts, the Puranas, dating from the third to the fifteenth centuries, her mythological exploits are recounted. An entire Purana, the Devibhagavatam, is dedicated to Durga. The most important text is the section of the Markandeya Purana called the Devi Mahatmya, of possibly the seventh century, which is also known as the Durgasaptasati or Chandi Mahatmya. This text is so venerated that every verse is considered a mantra (sacred utterance) of the Goddess.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CF6agcwMdg


Lalitha Sahasranamam Full (Stotra & Meaning)


TO BE CONTINUED


http://www.dollsofindia.com/library/durga/
 
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Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being Continues

Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being Continues
durgaface.jpg




Various Forms of Goddess Durga


Goddess Durga is propitiated as various forms, as have been mentioned in various holy Hindu texts. Some of these sets of forms overlap partially. All of these forms however mark an independent Goddess who is intricately involved in the protection of nature and cosmic order and in destruction of evil forces who try to overturn this balance.


The Markandeya Purana places the ten forms of Durga in the following order:


Durga: The Goddess who first received and showed her beautiful face to entice the demons.


Dashabhooja: In this fierce ten-armed form of hers, she destroyed a part of the army of demons.


Singha-Vahini: In this form atop a lion, she fought with Raktabeeja, the general of Shumbha and Nishumbha whose drops of blood created thousands of demons.


Mahisha-Mardini: In this form she slew Shumbha, the demon, who had taken the form of a buffalo.


CHHINNAMASTA
ONE OF THE FORMS OF
GODDESS DURGA

Courtesy Exotic India
Jagadhatri: In this form she overcame the army of demons.


Kali: In this form she destroyed Raktabeeja by drinking his drops of blood and not allowing them to fall on the ground thus disallowing the further creation of demons from his blood.



Muktakeshi: In this form with flowing hair she overcame another army of demons.


Tara: In this form she killed Sambhu.

Chinnamastika: In this form she killed Nishumbha.


Jagadguree: In this form she was worshipped by all the gods on their salvation from the demons.


Goddess Durga is also intricately associated with three distinct aspects of the cosmos as seen in the Hindu thought process. Durga is said to be associated with Shakti, Maya and Prakriti.
Shakti

Shakti, the Basis, is the underlying power of the divine, the aspects of the divine that permits and provokes creative activity, a creative force, personified as goddess.
Goddess as Shakti: the male gods contribute their strength and vigor to the goddess, who epitomizes power, action and strength in the battle with demons. Durga is action and power personified and as such is a fitting representation of the idea of Shakti.
Maya

Maya, the Delusion, is the power that deludes an individual into thinking oneself to be the center of the world, the power that prevents an individual from experiencing the ultimate truth. It impels individuals into self-centered, egotistical actions and thus hides the underlying unity of reality and masks one's essential identity with Brahman. Maya can be as either a positive or a negative energy.


Goddess as Maya : In the battle with Madhu and Kaitabha, she deludes the demons so that Vishnu can slay them. In the battle with Mahishasura, she enters into the battle more of leela (divine play), fighting with the demons because it pleases her, not out of sense of compulsion.
Prakriti

Prakriti is the physical world as well as the inherent rhythms within this world that impel nature to gratify and provide itself in its manifold species. She is both primordial matter, from which all material things come, and the living instincts and patterns, that imbue the material world with its proclivities to sustain and recreate itself in individual beings.


Goddess as Prakriti: In Devi Mahatmaya - a Hindu text on goddess Durga - it is stated that Durga is the world, and as the earth itself, she conveys cosmic stability. She is Sakambhari (she who provides the world with food from her own body). She is the foundation of all creatures and that, which nourishes all creatures. In her role as the cosmic queen, warrior goddess and demon slayer, Durga in effect protects herself in her aspect as the earth itself.


Hindu religious texts also talk about the existence of the Ten Great Feminine Cosmic Powers (Dasha Mahavidyas) which basically can be thought to be the ten fundamental aspects of the Supreme Cosmic Mother's personality. Nevertheless, each Goddess has a specific cosmic function in the universal harmony. The traditional sequence of the ten Goddesses is:



THE TEN MAHAVIDYAS
Courtesy Exotic India
Kali : The Power of Time and The Night of Eternity
Tara : The Power of Void and The Night of Anger
Tripura Sundari : The Power of Absolute Splendor
Bhuvaneshwari : The Power of Space and The Night of Perfect Realization
Tripura Bhairavi : The Power of Death and The Night of Destiny
Chhinnamasta : The Power of Sacrifice and The Night of Courage
Dhumavati : The Power of Deprivation and The Night of Frustration
Bagalamukhi : The Power of Instantaneous Stopping
Matangi : The Power of Domination and The Night of Illusion
Kamalatmika : The Power of Perfect Happiness and The Night of Paradise



Another such classification of the mother Goddess based on the various functions in protecting the cosmos and keeping the divine cosmic cycle running is the basis of the Nava Durga or the Nine Durgas. These nine goddesses, who actually are forms of Goddess Durga are propitiated on each day of a popular Hindu festival called the Navaratri.


Shailputri: As daughter (putri) of the Himalaya mountains (Shail), Parvati or Hemvati represents the first of the nine Durgas. She is depicted as holding a trident and a lotus in each of her two hands and is shown mounted on a bull.


Brahmacharini: The name indicates the phase of Parvati's life when she was indulging in severe austerities to appease Lord Shiva into marrying her. She had pledged that she would remain unmarried (Brahmacharini) till Lord Shiva gives his consent to marrying Parvati. She is shown as holding a water pot (Kumbha) in one hand and a rosary in the other. She is considered as a holder of knowledge and wisdom. Rudrakhsa (rosary beads) form her favorite ornamentation.


Chandraghanta: As Chadraghanta, the goddess is depicted as having golden skin and with a moon-crescent near her forehead. She is shown as having three eyes and ten hands, eight of which carry weapons and two of which form gestures of giving boons and stopping harms. She is shown as sitting on a tiger. She is usually associated with the giver of knowledge, bliss and serenity.


Kushmanda: The fourth Durga is known as Kushmanda. She is depicted as emanating a cosmic aura and is depicted as having eight hands, seven of which carry weapons while the eighth carries a rosary.


Skanda Mata: Skanda Mata literally means the mother of Skanda. Skanda was the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati and was the leader of the army of gods.The goddess is shown as having four hands, two of which carry lotuses while two are in defending and granting gestures. She is shown sitting on a lion with her son Skanda in her lap.


Katyayani: Katyaynai is so named because of her stay at the hermitage of sage Katyayan for the purpose of penance. She is sometimes also said to be the daughter of sage Katyayan. She also is shown astride a lion and has three eyes and four arms. In one hand she holds a lotus and in another a weapon. The third and fourth hands show defending and granting gestures.


Kaalratri: The seventh Durga, Kaalratri, is depicted as having black skin with bountiful hair, four arms and astride a donkey. In one hand she holds a cleaver and in another a burning torch. With the other two hands she forms gestures of granting and defending. She represents the enemy of darkness and ignorance.


Maha Gauri: Maha Gauri is depicted as the fairest of the nine Durgas and is often dressed in white or green. She emanates peace and compassion and is shown with three eyes and as riding a bull. She also has four arms, one of which carries a tambourine and another a trident.

The other two form defending and granting gestures. It is said that when Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva, became dirty while observing penance, Lord Shiva bathed her with the holy waters of river Ganga. Parvati's body turned lightning bright and thus she came to be known as Maha Gauri (Gauri means fair).


Siddhidatri: Siddhidatri means the giver of siddhis (magical or spiritual powers for the control of self, others and the forces of nature). It is said in Devipuran that the Supreme God, Lord Shiva received all of these powers by propitiating the Maha Shakti.

The Goddess is sometimes shown atop a lion and sometimes atop a lotus. She is shown as having four arms, which hold a club, a conch shell and a lotus. The fourth hand forms a gesture of granting. Siddhidatri is considered to be the most powerful of all the nine forms of Durga.


Durga is said to be extraordinarily beautiful; she does not use her beauty for seduction, but rather entrapment. She entices her victims and then defeats them. She rides a lion, and it appears whenever her strengths are needed. Her role is not that of creator, but rather that of a maintainer: she maintains cosmic order by defeating demons that plague the universe.


Durga is not only a powerful force for cosmic order but also a protector of her devotees. She listens to her devotees and attends to their needs. The Devi Mahatmya describes her as a personal savior who will save her devotees from forest fires, wild animals, robbers, imprisonment, execution, and battle.


Goddess Durga keeps up the play of the divine universal God through the three attributes of Nature, namely, Satva (equilibrium and serenity), Rajas (dynamism and kinesis) and Tamas (ignorance and inertia). Knowledge, peace, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride, all are Her forms. Maha Saraswati is Her Sattviki Shakti or power of equilibrium. Maha Lakshmi is Her Rajasik Shakti or power of activity. And Maha Kali is Her Tamsik Shakti the power of destruction. All these are feminine forms.






Shiva's power is Shakti, the dynamic creative mother aspect of the Godhead. It is she who creates and at the time of dissolution, it is she who swallows her own creation. Shakti cannot exist without Shiva and Shiva cannot personify without Shakti.


Therefore Hinduism proclaims the highest personification of God, the supreme energy, to be feminine. Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which conceptualizes the supreme form of Divinity to be a woman. This demonstrates the elevated status of women in Hinduism as a religion.




TO BE CONTINUED


http://www.dollsofindia.com/library/durga/
 
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Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being Continues

Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being Continues


Festivals associated with Goddess Durga

An important festival of the Hindus associated with goddess Durga is that of Durga Puja, which has been celebrated for ages by Hindus. In the Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana there are various references to goddess Durga. When the Pandavas entered the capital of Virata for their period of one year in disguise they propitiated Durga who appeared before them and granted them boons. Again, at the commencement of the great war of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna advised Arjuna to worship Goddess Durga to ensure victory in battle.

COURT OF LORD RAMA ALONG WITH
WIFE SITE, BROTHER LAKSHMANA
AND DEVOTEE - MONKEY GOD, HANUMAN
AFTER DEFEATING DEMON KING RAVANA
The festival of Durga Puja is popularly attributed to a tale from the Hindu epic, Ramayana. Lord Rama went to Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana - the demon king, to rescue his abducted wife, Sita. Before starting for his battle with Ravana, Rama wanted the blessings of goddess Durga. He came to know that the goddess would be pleased only if she is worshipped with one hundred eight 'Neel Kamal' or blue lotuses. Rama, after travelling the whole world, could gather only one hundred seven of them. He finally decided to offer one of his eyes, which resembled a blue lotus. Durga, being pleased with the devotion of Rama, appeared before him and blessed him. The battle with Ravana started on the 'Saptami' (the seventh day after the new moon night just prior to the Autumn festival of Durga Puja) and Ravana was finally killed on the 'Sandhikshan' i.e. the crossover period between Ashtami (the eighth day after new moon) and Navami (the ninth day after new moon). Ravana was cremated on Dashami (the tenth day after new moon). Since the period of this worship was different from the conventional period of worship of Durga (during the spring - 'Basanta'), this puja is also known as 'Akal-Bodhan' or worship (Bodhan) at an unconventional time.



Durga Puja is a Hindu festival observed in Ashwin Navaratri (month of October) and is celebrated all over India with great joy especially in West Bengal. The festival is also popular by other names like Dusshera and Navaratri. The ten days of festivity are dedicated to the supreme mother goddess Durga.




DURGA PUJA

Courtesy Exotic India

Worship of goddess Durga signifies the process by which the divine potential within every being removes its layers of ignorance and achieves the state of self-realization. Hindus celebrate this occasion at an auspicious time every year to constantly remind themselves of the significance of this very process. They contemplate the progress made on their spiritual journey and celebrate with great joy the victory of the supreme consciousness over the demons of ignorance. The festival is also a reminder that evil can never triumph over the power of truth.



Durga Puja is the greatest Hindu festival in which God is adored as Mother. Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which has emphasized to such an extent the motherhood of God. Perhaps the greatest testament to the power of Durga Puja is that even today the Mother is worshipped by billions of Hindus world wide in exactly the same manner as she was thousands of years ago.

durgaface.jpg
DEVI DURGA WITH HER
DIVINE THIRD EYE


Images of Durga usually have an extra divine eye in the middle of the forehead. There can be four, eight, ten, eighteen, or twenty arms. The most common objects held in the hands are a conch, discus, trident, bow, arrow, sword, dagger, shield, rosary, wine cup, and bell. Her hair is in Karandamukuta, a crown style of hairdo. She wears gorgeous red clothes and several ornaments, and stands on a lotus or the head of a buffalo or rides a lion. There are endless aspects of Durga described in the Puranas and Agamas (ancient Hindu texts) and the iconography is consequently varied.



durga_composite.jpg
FESTIVAL OF DURGA PUJA
DURGA, SARASWATI, LAKSHMI,
GANESHA AND KARTIKEYA
The most important form of Durga is as Mahishasuramardini or the slayer of Mahishasura (the demon king). The image is of the Goddess cutting off the head of the buffalo-demon. This image usually most commonly is shown with eight or ten arms, and the hands hold weapons and a lotus. Mahishasura, the demon, may be shown half emerging in his human form from the carcass of his former buffalo form.
At the Durga Puja, the most important festival of Durga, she is shown with four other deities - usually smaller in size than that of goddess Durga. Two deities are placed on each side of the main idol of goddess Durga. These deities are Kartikeya, Ganesha, Saraswati, and Lakshmi, who are commonly identified as her children. The festival of Durga Puja usually involves beautiful and larger than life clay idols of Durga and her accompanying deities.



In eastern India Durga Puja is celebrated with enormous vigor. Enormous tents spring up in practically every locality and an amazing array of idols of Durga, crafted from the special clay of river Ganga, are installed. These idols are crafted by skilful idol makers using a wide array of alternative materials, the range limited only by imaginative creativity. The most common of these of course is clay. However, other innovative media like shola pith, coconut husk, cloth, and flowers, amongst others are popularly used. Legend has it that the idol of the goddess is incomplete without a pinch of clay from a prostitute's courtyard. This probably was society's attempt to include and accord status to its most alienated beings.
The four days (beginning with the sixth day after the last new moon before the festival) of the festival is actually representative of the home-coming of goddess Durga along with Kartik, Ganesha, Saraswati and Lakshmi. These four days are marked by celebration and merry-making. The deities are presented with offerings throughout the festivities. On Vijayadasami, the "Victorious Tenth Day," the idols are taken in a parade to a river or tank and immersed as a representation of bidding a tearful goodbye to the deities. This is usually a very emotional time for devout Hindus who accompany the idols to the immersion spot.




LORD RAMA BATTLES AND SLAYS
DEMON KING RAVANA

Courtesy Exotic India

The same day sees millions of Hindus also celebrate the festival of Dusshera which marks the end of evil, as depicted by the burning of huge effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad - the three demon brothers, Ravana being the king of demons. All three were defeated by Lord Rama on this day.
Other forms of festivities during the period preceding Dussehra or Vijayadashami also exist, the most popular being that of the Navaratri festival, which involves the propitiation of Goddess Durga in nine different forms called the Nava-Durga (explained in an earlier section), over the nine days preceding Dussehra and starting on the first day after the last new moon preceding Dusshera. During Navaratri, one of each of these nine forms of goddess Durga is worshipped on a particular night for the destruction of evil and for the preservation of Dharma (religion).

Conclusion

The Devi Mahatmya indicated that Durga, in the form of Mahamaya or Mahashakti, pervades the universe in both its forms as material and thought. She creates, maintains, and periodically destroys it. When the balance of the universe is disturbed, Durga assumes various forms to restore order and balance. She is thus also, the guardian of dharma or cosmic order. This nature of hers makes her akin to a female form of Lord Vishnu since the concept of a deity assuming a separate form for maintaining the cosmic order is central to Vaishnavism - the Hindu sect which follows Lord Vishnu as the sole universal power.
The Devi Mahatmya talks about three such cosmic interventions by Durga on behalf of the gods: the battle with Madhu and Kaitabha, the battle with Mahishasura - the buffalo-demon, and the battle with Shumbha and Nisumbha.


The Devimahatmya states that Durga is the universe. "As immanent in the world Durga is equated with the earth. As transcendent, she is the heavenly queen who descends from time to time to maintain harmony on earth." (Kinsley 1986, 105)

GODDESS DURGA AS
MAHISHASURAMARDINI

The Divine Mother is beyond all material attributes, eternal and ever omniscient. She is beyond any change, immutable and unattainable but by yoga. She is the refuge of the universe and her nature is of pure consciousness.


Durga, the Mother Goddess is the symbol of all the auspicious and true qualities which define the Supreme Being. Of all her forms, Devi Durga is the ultimate representation of infinite power, purity and strength of purpose, which resides within the divine essence of every being.






Om. She Who Conquers Over All,
All-Auspicious, the remover of Darkness,
the Excellent One Beyond Time,
the bearer of the Skulls of Impure thought,
the reliever of difficulties, loving, forgiving,
supporter of the Universe,
accept the oblations of the devotee who is one with you,
accept the oblations of ancestral praise,
We bow to you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KULtHuLG9Us

Published on Jan 3, 2013
Ambe/Durga Maa Aarti, Jai Ambe Gauri



 
Shri Mathurakali Amman temple has the Sri Chakra installed by His Holiness Swami Brahmmendra. The temple is open only on Mondays and Fridays when pujas are conducted and during the festival days like Navaraatri. All the Nine days pujas are performed and everyday different alankarams are performed in the Temple. Laksharchanai is also performed during this period. The temple is not opened on other days continuously like this. Lighting the flour lamp Maa Vilakku is the main form of prayer commitment for Siruvachur Kaliamman. This is offered for chest, hands and legs. Angapradakshinam – rolling round the temple is another important event here. Devotees also perform milk abishekam, archanai and organize anna dhanam during all these days. As flour lamp lighting is the main form of prayer commitment in the temple. The devotees neither buy the flour outside nor bring it prepared from their homes for this purpose. They bring only rice, soak it in the water taken from the temple and then pound it in the temple premises only. They add ghee and prepare the paste for making the lamp. These lamps are placed before the shrine of Ambal, preferably in Garbagraham. The temple has special space for pounding the rice to make the flour. There are people who can be hired for pounding the rice.

Shri Madurakaliamman idol is about 4 feet tall facing northward. She has weapons and an Akshayapatra – a vessel always full of food – besides soolam and damaru in her four hands. The mother is sitting with left leg bent and the other on the lion, the vehicle of Shakti. The absence of demon under the feet of Kaliamman which is usually found in Kali temples denotes that the deity is Shantaswaroopy.
 
Additional information is furnished about the temple :

பிரம்மேந்திர சுவாமிகளால் பிரதிஷ்டை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ள ஸ்ரீ சக்கரம் இங்குள்ளது. திங்கள், வெள்ளி ஆகிய இருநாட்கள் மட்டுமே திறக்கப்பட்டு பூஜை நடைபெறுகிறது. திருவிழா மற்றும் சில குறிப்பிட்ட பண்டிகைகளின் போது மட்டும் பிற நாட்களிலும் ஆலயம் திறக்கப்படுகிறது. மற்ற நாட்களில் கோயில் திறக்கப்பட மாட்டாது. காலை 8 மணிக்கு சன்னதி திறக்கப்படும். காலை 11 மணிக்கு மேல் அம்மனுக்கு அபிசேகம் நடைபெறும். பிற்பாடு தங்கக் கவசம் அணிவிக்கப்படும். இரவு 8 மணி வரை தொடர்ந்து தரிசனம் செய்யலாம். குலோத்துங்க சோழனால் திருப்பணி செய்யப்பட்ட கோயில். கல்யாண வரம், குழந்தை வரம் வேண்டுவோர் இத்தலத்தில் பெருமளவில் வந்து வழிபடுகின்றனர். நோய்கள், மற்றும் உடல் உபாதைகள், வழக்கு சிக்கல்கள், காணாமல் போன பொருட்கள், வியாபார சிக்கல் முதலியவற்றுக்கு இங்குள்ள அம்மனை வழிபட்டால் தீர்வு கிடைக்கிறது. மிகவும் சக்தி வாய்ந்த தெய்வமாக் இருப்பதால் இங்கு வரும் பக்தர்களின் அனைத்து வேண்டுதல்களையும் நிறைவேற்றுகிறாள் என்பது இக்கோயிலுக்கு வரும் பக்தர்களின் அசைக்க முடியாத நம்பிக்கை. மாவிளக்கு ஏற்றுதல் இத்தலத்தின் முக்கிய நேர்த்திகடன் ஆகும். அங்கபிரதட்ணம் செய்வதும் பக்தர்களால் செய்யப்படும் புகழ்பெற்ற நேர்த்திகடன் ஆகும். நான்கு திருக்கரங்கள் இவற்றில் உடுக்கை, பாசம், சூலம், அட்யபாத்திரம் ஆகியவற்றை ஏந்தியுள்ளாள். இடது திருவடியை மடித்த நிலையில் வைத்து வலது திருவடியை சிம்மத்தின் மீது ஊன்றி அமர்ந்த திருக்கோலம். மந்திரவாதியை அன்னை எதிர்கொண்டு அழித்து விடுகிறாள். செல்லியம்மன், அன்னை திறம் கண்டு இனி அவளே சிறுவாச்சூர் ஆலயத்திலிருந்து அடியார்கட்கு அருள் பாவித்து வர வேண்டுகிறாள். தான் அருகிருக்கும் பெரியசாமி மலை சென்று விடுவதாகவும் ஆனால் கோயிலில் எப்பொழுதும் தனக்கு முதல் மரியாதை வேண்டுமெனவும் கூறுகிறாள். மதுரைக் காளியம்மனும் அதற்கு ஒப்புக் கொண்டு ஆலயத்தில் அமர்கிறாள். சிறுவாச்சூருக்கு வெள்ளிக்கிழமை வந்த மதுரைக் காளியம்மன் பக்தர்களுக்கு திங்கள் கிழமை காட்சி தருகிறாள். எனவேதான் திங்கள் வெள்ளி மட்டும் ஆலயம் திறந்திருக்கும். மற்ற நாட்களில் மதுரகாளியம்மன் செல்லியம்மனுடன் பெரியசாமி மலையில் தங்குவதாகக் கூறுகிறார்கள்.

சிறுவாச்சூர் காளியம்மன் என்றாலே, மிக பிரசித்தி பெற்ற திருக் கோயிலாகும், அம்பிகை என பக்தர்கள் கூறவே மக்களால் குலதெய்வமாக வணங்கப்படும் , பேசும். பேசியது…பேசிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறது – இன்னும் பலருக்கு சூக்ஷ்ம வடிவில். ஒரு நடமாடும் தெய்வம் - மிகவும் சக்தி வாய்ந்த தெய்வம். நம் துயர் களைவதற்காகவே - கருணையே தவிர - அம்பாளை பார்த்து விட்டோம் என்ற பக்தர்களின் அசைக்க முடியாத நம்பிக்கை, பிரார்த்தனையை நிறைவேற்றிக் கொள்கிறார்கள். .அடியார்கட்கு அருள் செய்ய, வேண்டுதல்களையும் நிறைவேற்ற அமர்ந்துள்ளாள். அருட்காட்சி தருவது வேறு தலங்களில் இல்லாத சிறப்பாகும். குடும்ப தீராத வழக்குகளை, பிரச்னை தீர, தம்பதியர் ஒற்றுமைக்காகவும், குழந்தை பாக்கியம் கிடைக்க, தொழில் விருத்தியடைய, வாழ்வில் நன்மைகள் பல பெற்று, திருமண தடை நீங்கவும், பூர்வஜென்ம வினை பிணிகள் தீர, மாங்கல்ய பாக்கியத்திற்கும், தோஷ சாப நிவர்த்திக்காகவும், ஐஸ்வர்யம் பெருகவும், இங்கு வேண்டிக்கொள்கிறர்கள். அம்மன் வடக்கு திசை நோக்கி அருளும் நிலையிலேயே காட்சி. திருமணமான தம்பதியர் இக்கோயிலுக்கு வந்து வழிபட்டால் அடுத்தாண்டு அவர்களுக்கு குழந்தை பாக்கியம் நிச்சயம் என்பது நம்பிக்கை. இது ஒரு சக்தி பீடமாகும்.

வெள்ளி கிழமைகளில் மாலை பக்தர்கள் தங்க தேர் இழுத்து தங்கள் பிரார்த்தனையை நிறைவேற்றுகிறார்கள். பிரார்த்தனை நிறைவேறியதும் அம்மனுக்கு புடவை சாத்தியும், அபிஷேகம் செய்தும் நேர்த்திக்கடன் நிறைவேற்றுகின்றனர். சிறப்பு அபிஷேகம், எலுமிச்சை தீபம், மாவிளக்கு

ஏற்றலாம். கரங்களில் சூலம், உடுக்கை ஏந்தி காட்சியளிக்கிறாள். . மாங்கல்ய பாக்கியத்திற்கு, மாங்கல்யத்தை அம்பிகைக்கு அணிவிப்பர். அமாவாசை, பவுர்ணமி நாட்களில் விசேஷ பூஜை உண்டு.
இங்கு தேர்த்திருவிழா நடத்தப்படுகிறது.
 
Shri Mathurakali Amman songs are composed by the undermentioned Trust and the songs
are sung by Carnatic Musician Smt Nithyashri Mahadevan. They are available in the form of CDs.
Those who are interested can buy it from the following address :

Sri.D.Subramanian (Trustee)
I/3, Sneha Apartments,
New No.53 / Old No.27, First Main Road,
R.A.Puram, Chennai - 600028
Phone: +91-44-24356949
Email: [email protected]
Enquiries through email can be sent to: [email protected]
 
Goddess Durga: Mother India as the World Mother

Goddess Durga: Mother India as the World Mother

Sep 13, 2015

durga.jpg



Since ancient Vedic times, India has been regarded by its people as a sacred land, the very land of the Goddess or Divine Mother. The subcontinent geographically is shaped like a woman with Kashmir as her head and Sri Lanka at her feet.

The region holds the mighty Himalayas, the world’s highest mountains, in the north, from which flow what is perhaps of the largest and most fertile group of great rivers in the world. India is the image of Mother Nature at her grandest from the mountains to the sea.

India has defined itself historically not in terms of conquests but in terms of spiritual teachings as a land of Yoga and meditation, which themes pervade its great national epics, the Mahabharata and Ramayana. It has produced the world’s greatest abundance of religious and spiritual paths; form and formless, personal and impersonal, theistic and non-theistic.

India has developed its civilization not out of mere human invention or according to any special historical revelation, but from the concept of dharma, a recognition of cosmic law as the prime factor in life. India has remained a land of both nature and the spirit, a land of the Gods and the yogis, not simply a place of human habitation or a ground for worldly progress.


In the Rigveda, the oldest teaching of the region, India is already lauded the land of the great Goddess Sarasvati, who represents Divine knowledge, power and beauty. Sarasvati was the name of the great river in North India, which flowed from beyond the Ambala hills to the Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat, on which Vedic civilization first emerged after the end of the last Ice Age.

Sarasvati, however, is not simply the outer river but represents the inner stream of wisdom and inspiration, what was later called the Sushumna or central channel of the subtle body.

After the Sarasvati River dried up in a series of geological and climate changes during the third millennium BCE, the civilization of India shifted its center east to the more certain waters of the Ganga, but it never lost contact with its Vedic roots.





In classical India, Goddess Durga, the martial form of Shiva’s consort, came to symbolize the country, perhaps owing to the need to defend the land from the many outside invaders.

It was Goddess Durga who, in a vision of his, gave the great Hindu King Shivaji his sword to resist the oppression of the Moguls under Aurangzeb and restore Hindu rule in the country in the seventeenth century. Durga is the protective form of the Mother Goddess.

She saves her children from danger, slaying all the demons (negative forces) outwardly and inwardly that might assail the body and soul. Even today, Hindus worship Mother India in the form of Goddess Durga.


Durga is dressed in red, rides a lion and has a majestic form. She is royal power of the Gods that should be the true ruling power in the world. She represents the defense of Dharma, not an aggressive force of worldly expansion. This, particularly during the current information age, is as much an intellectual and spiritual defense as a military one.

For those who wish to understand India and its characteristic civilization, they should examine the image of Goddess Durga. Why has Durga, the image of feminine and maternal power, come to symbolize India? Because India is the land of Shakti, the Divine evolutionary and transformative force, and embodies higher feminine qualities of patience, tolerance and synthesis. It is because India is “karma bhumi”, the land of spiritual work for the soul, which is also the land of the spiritual battle, Kurukshetra, where humanity’s spiritual aspiration is both developed and tested.







Yet Mother India, “Bharat Mata” in Sanskrit, has many names. She is Bharata Bharati, the solar voice (Bharati) that carries the Divine fire. She is Bharata Bhavani, Mother India as the source of life, in which form the great modern rishi, Sri Aurobindo, lauded her.

She is Sita, the Goddess of fertile rivers and fields, humble before the Divine solar light of Rama.

She is Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas, wedded to Shiva, the transcendent.

She is Lakshmi, the beauty and fertility that is wedded to Vishnu, the Divine force that sustains life. To understand India, we must first recognize the Goddess that is her personification in different forms.


India as the World Mother

India is like Mother Earth, reflecting her in a tropical abundance and carrying her secret will for the evolution of consciousness. India is like the Divine Mother incarnate holding the world Shakti in order to uplift humanity. She is like the caring cow that the culture has always afforded the highest reverence, providing nourishment for all.

India, in many respects, is the mother of humanity and the mother of civilization, particularly for the spiritual and yogic life. The great dharmic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism arose through the power of this land, its sages, culture and peoples. These sages have left their imprint on the country by the power of their tapas, their yogic force which one can still feel in the many temples and tirthas of the region, giving the region a palpable spiritual presence.

India has best preserved the type of spiritual civilization that once dominated the ancient world from Egypt to China, Indochina, Peru and Mexico. It continues the ancient traditions of temple worship and carries on the old solar religion of enlightenment and self-realization, linking us to the ancient spiritual humanity from which we digressed. It is not in the deserts of the Middle East, with their few or meager rivers that could not sustain significant populations, where civilization arose but in India, the world’s most fertile subcontinent.




The greater Himalayan Mountains, which ring the plateau of Tibet, mark the crown chakra of the globe. Not surprisingly, the most lofty philosophies and meditation traditions have come from this region. While India has taken the greater portion of the Himalayan Rivers, others flow to Indochina, China and Central Asia carrying the influence of these great mountains and their sages in different directions.

The Divine Mother is the source all evolutionary transformations, of all life and creation itself. It is not we human beings who determine or guide history, progress or evolution. It is not our scientists, politicians, economists or intellectuals who consciously create our destiny as a species or as a planet. We are mere pawns in the hands of forces we that we do not even see. India with its yogic culture holds the key to these transformations, if we would but recognize and honor her cultural potential for all humanity and all time.








http://www.indiadivine.org/goddess-durga-mother-india-as-the-world-mother/
 
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Navadurga – The 9 Forms of Maa Durga

Navadurga – The 9 Forms of Maa Durga



October 16, 2015

The word “Navaratri” is a conjunction of two words “Nava” (meaning “nine”) and “ratri” (meaning “night”). Spread over 9 nights and 10 days, it is one of the most sacred festivals in Hinduism where we worship Goddess Durga or Shakti, which represents the energy of the universe, in her 9 beautiful forms with great reverence.
There are various reasons why Navaratri is celebrated, and each has its own significance in different parts of India.

South India

In TamilNadu, it is called Golu. We buy 100s of idols and try to create various settings that portray our culture and heritage. These idols & dolls are arranged in wood/steel stair specially built for this purpose. It is like a mini-museum at home. Some of these settings will talk about mythology and others about the lives during ancient times. Few others get more creative and set more modern scenes (such as a Cricket field or contemporary Indian life).

On the 9th day, we stop all work and decorate the stuff that is essential for our professions. These are then put to use on the 10th and final day. Little kids begin their kindergarten at the end of this festival and in most south Indian homes you would find the kids from neighbors’ homes singing and getting a gift.

East India

In the east, this festival is celebrated as “Durga Pooja” where the goddess Durga wins over a demon. It celebrates both the victory of truth and the greatness of feminism. If you end up in the eastern city of Kolkata at this time, you will see swarms of Durga idols dotting all over the city and people of all walks celebrating in the street. It is a happy time.

West India

In Western India, the festival is celebrated as the dance festival – Garba. This is absolutely fun and you will find people dancing in the streets with two decorated sticks. Many universities in the US organize this event in October and if you are around a major university, do take your time to attend this event.

Killing of Mahishasura

One of the fiercest daemons, Mahishasura undertook severe penance to obtain a boon that he cannot be killed by a male, underestimating at his own cost the power of the female form, and started creating havoc everywhere. To stop him, Shakti took a very beautiful form of Durga and told him that she would marry him if he defeats her in a battle. It is believed that they battled for 9 days, and on the 10th day, Durga killed Mahishasura. Therefore the 10th day is called Vijayadashmi, day of the victory. One of the most famous idols that you see in temples depicts this scene where Mahishasura, in the form of a half bull, is being slayed by Mother Durga.

Different forms of Durga


As the ten-armed Goddess, Goddess Durga presents a radiantly beautiful form that is bewitching to behold. The nine different forms of Devi are worshiped over the nine days. These are the most popular forms under which she is worshiped:

Durga Shailputri (Daughter of Mountain) She is a daughter of Himalaya and first among nine Durga’s. In previous birth she was the daughter of Daksha. Her name was Sati – Bhavani. I.e. the wife of Lord Shiva. Once Daksha had organized a big Yagna and did not invite Shiva. But Sati being obstinate, reached there. Thereupon Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not tolerate the insult of husband and burnt herself in the fire of Yagna. In other birth she became the daughter of Himalaya in the name of Parvati – Hemavati and got married with Shiva. As per Upanishad she had torn and the egotism of Indra, etc. Devtas. Being ashamed they bowed and prayed that, “In fact, thou are Shakti, we all – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv are capable by getting Shakti from you.”

Brahmacharini

The second Durga Shakti is Brahmacharini. Brahma that is who observes penance (tapa) and good conduct. Here “Brahma” means “Tapa”. The idol of this Goddess is very gorgeous. There is rosary in her right hand and Kamandal in left hand. She is full with merriment. One story is famous about her. In previous birth she was Parvati Hemavati the daughter of Himavan. Once when she was busy in games with her friends. Narada ji came to her and predicted seeing her Palm-lines that, “You will get married with a naked-terrible ‘Bhole baba’ who was with you in the form of Sati, the daughter of Daksh in previous birth. But now you have to perform penance for him.” There upon Parvati told her mother Menaka that she would marry none except Shambhuh, otherwise she would remain unmarried. Saying this she went to observe penance. That is why her name is famous as tapacharini – Brahmacharini. From that time her name Uma became familiar.

Chandraghanta

The name of third Shakti is Chandraghanta. There is a half-circular moon in her forehead. She is charmful and bright. She is Golden color. She has three eyes and ten hands holding with ten types of swords – etc. weapons and arrows etc. She is seated on Lion and ready for going in war to fight. She is unprecedented image of bravery. The frightful sound of her bell terrifies all the villains, demons and Danavas.

Kushmanda

Name of fourth Durga is Kushmanda. The Shakti creates egg, i.e. Universe by mere laughing .She resides in solar systems. She shines brightly in all the ten directions like Sun. She has eight hands. Seven types of weapons are shining in her seven hands. Rosary is in her right hand. She seems brilliant riding on Lion. She likes the offerings of “Kumhde.” Therefore her name “Kushmanda” has become famous.

Skanda Mata

Fifth name of Durga is “Skanda Mata”. The daughter of Himalaya, after observing penance got married with Shiva. She had a son named “Skanda.” Skanda is a leader of the army of Gods. Skanda Mata is a deity of fire. Skanda is seated in her lap. She has three eyes and four hands. She is white and seated on a lotus.


Katyayani

Sixth Durga is Katyayani. The son of “Kat” as “Katya”. Rishi Katyayan born in this “Katya” lineage. Katyayan had observed penance with a desire to get paramba as his daughter. As a result she took birth as a daughter of Katyayan. Therefore her name is “Katyayani”. She has three eyes and eight hands. These are eight types of weapons missiles in her seven hands. Her vehicle is Lion.



Kalratri

Seventh Durga is Kalratri. She is black like night. Durga hairs are unlocked. She has put on necklaces shining like lightening. She has three eyes which are round like universe. Her eyes are bright. Thousands of flames of fire come out while respiring from nose. She rides on Shava (dead body). There is sharp sword in her right hand. Her lower hand is in blessing mood. The burning torch (mashal) is in her left hand and her lower left hand is in fearless style, by which she makes her devotees fearless. Being auspicious she is called “Shubhamkari.”

Maha Gauri

The Eighth Durga is “Maha Gauri.” She is as white as a conch, moon and Jasmine. She is of eight years old. Her clothes and ornaments are white and clean. She has three eyes. She rides on bull She has four hands. The above left hand is in “Fearless – Mudra” and lower left hand holds “Trishul.” The above right hand has tambourine and lower right hand is in blessing style. She is calm and peaceful and exists in peaceful style. It is said that when the body of Gauri became dirty due to dust and earth while observing penance, Shiva makes it clean with the waters of Gangas. Then her body became bright like lightening. Therefore, she is known as “Maha Gauri”.


Siddhidatri

Ninth Durga us Siddhidatri. There are eight Siddhis, they are- Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva & Vashitva. Maha Shakti gives all these Siddhis. It is said in “Devi Puran” that the Supreme God Shiv got all these Siddhis by worshipping Maha Shakti. With her gratitude the half body of Shiv has become of Goddess and therefore his name “Ardhanarishvar” has become famous. The Goddess drives on Lion. She has four hands and looks pleased. This form of Durga is worshiped by all Gods, Rishis-Munis, Siddhas, Yogis, Sadhakas and devotees for attaining the best religious asset.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbpu7PNrrio


Uploaded on Apr 18, 2009

Devii Shailaputrii | vande vaanchhita laabhaaya chandraardha kRita shekharaa | vRiShaarUDhaa shuuladharaa shailaputrii yashasvinii ||


Devii BrahmachaariNii | dadhaanaa karapadmaabhyaam akShamaalaa kamaNDaluu | devii prasiidatu mayi brahmachaariNyanuttamaa ||


Devii ChandraghaNTeti | piNDajapravaraa rUDhaa chanda kopaastrakairyutaa | prasaadaM tanute mahyaM chandraghaNTeti vishrutaa ||


Devii KuShmaanDaa | suraasampuurNa kalashaM rudhiraa plutameva cha | dadhaanaa hastapadma abhyaaM kuuShmaaNDaa shubhadaastu me ||


Devii Skandamaataa | siMhaasanagataa nityaM padmaashritakaradvayaa | shubhadaastu sadaa devii skandamaataa yashasvinii ||


Devii KaatyaayaNii | chandrahaasoj jvalakaraa shaarduu lavaravaahanaa | kaatyaayanii shubhaM dadyaa devii daanava ghaatinii ||



Devii Kaalaraatri | ekaveNI japaakarNapuura nagnaa kharaasthitaa | lamboShThii karNikaakarNI tailaabhyaktashariiriNii || vaamapaadol lasalloha lataakaNTa kabhuuShaNaa | vardhanamurdhadhvajaa kRiShNaa kaalaraatrir bhayaNkarii ||


Devii Mahaagaurii | shvete vR^iShe samaarUDhaa shvetaambaradharaa shuchiH | mahaagaurii shubhaM dadyaan mahAdevapramodadaa ||


Devii Siddhidaatri | siddhagandharva yakShaadyai rasurairamarairapi | sevyamaanaa sadaa bhuuyaat siddhiidaa siddhiidaayinii ||


http://www.templepurohit.com/navadurga-the-9-forms-of-maa-durga/




 
The nine day period from the New Moon day to the ninth day
of this tamil month Purattasi is considered to be the most important
period of our Hindu Calendar and hence during this period Durgai
is worshiped in different forms.
8-armed-durga.jpg


Durga (the Goddess of Power) is seated on a lion is a fearless view
signfiying freedom from fear. Lion represents power, will and determination.
She uses her weapons to destroy evil and to produce an environment conducive
to the growth of righteousness.

One can find in Devi Mahatmayam the following.

॥ नव-दुर्गा स्तोत्र ॥
॥ nava-durgā stotra ॥

ब्रह्मोवाच ।
brahmovāca ।
Lord Brahma said:



प्रथमं शैलपुत्रीति द्वितीयं ब्रह्मचारिणी ।
तृतीयं चन्द्रघण्टेति कूष्माण्डेति चतुर्थकम् ॥ ३ ॥

prathamaṁ śailaputrīti dvitīyaṁ brahmacāriṇī ।
tr̥tīyaṁ candraghaṇṭeti kūṣmāṇḍeti caturthakam ॥ 3॥

"First is the Goddess of Inspiration, and second the Goddess of Sacred Study;
third is the Goddess of the Delight of Practice, the Goddess of Purifying Austerity is fourth."

पञ्चमं स्कन्दमातेति षष्ठं कात्यायनी तथा ।
सप्तमं कालरात्रिश्च महागौरीति चाष्टमम् ॥ ४ ॥

pañcamaṁ skandamāteti ṣaṣṭhaṁ kātyāyanī tathā ।
saptamaṁ kālarātriśca mahāgaurīti cāṣṭamam ॥ 4॥

"Fifth is the Goddess who Nurtures Divinity,
sixth is the One Who is Ever Pure; seventh is the Goddess of the Dark Night of Overcoming
Egotism, the Goddess of the Great Radiant Light is eighth."

नवमं सिद्धिदात्री च नवदुर्गाः प्रकीर्तिताः ।
उक्तान्येतानि नामानि ब्रह्मणैव महात्मना ॥ ५ ॥

navamaṁ siddhidātrī ca navadurgāḥ prakīrtitāḥ ।
uktānyetāni nāmāni brahmaṇaiva mahātmanā ॥ 5॥


"Ninth is the Goddess who Grants Perfection, the nine Durgas, Relievers of Difficulties,
have been enumerated, and these names have been revealed by the great soul of the
Supreme himself."
Lord Brahma said: I have with extreme happiness sung the fame of
the nine mothers, Śailaputrī (Daughter of the Himālayas), Brahmachāriṇī (One who observes
the state of celibacy doing study and penance), Chandraghaṇṭā (One who bears the crescent
moon in her necklace), Kūṣmāṇḍa (the mother of the universe), Skanda-Mātā (The mother of
Skanda, Kārttikeya), Kātyāyanī (The daughter of sage Kātyāyana), Kālarātrī (black as night,
destroyer of Kālī), Mahāgaurī (the wife of Lord Shiva, doing great penance) and Siddhidātrī
(Provider of Siddhis, giver of mystic powers). The great God has told these in the Vedas.

He who remembers these nine mothers will not suffer even if he is burnt in fire, even if he
has gone to war, even if he is very sad, even if he is terribly afraid of war. Anyone who
remembers those names with devotion is also are free of these fears and sorrows.

http://www.harekrsna.de/artikel/nava-durga.htm
 
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Durga - The Goddess of Energy

Durga - The Goddess of Energy

In the Hindu mythological literature, energy, as different from matter, is always pictured as a female deity, SakthiDurga, is, perhaps, the most widely worshipped aspect of Shakti. An entire purana,Devibhagavatam is dedicated to her. Yet another well-known work is Devi-mahathmyam,which is specially chanted during navaratri. It is also known as Durga saptasati or chandipat. It is a part of the great Markandeyapurana. This is held in such high respect that every verse is considered a mantra of the Devi.

The literal meaning of Durga is, one who is difficult to approach or to know. It is true because she is the personification of the totality of the powers of gods. But she is the benovalent Mother of the Universe and the personification of love.

Some aspects of the Shakti are

Yoganidra –

the mysterious power, the very personification of knowledge, wisdom and memory. She is the power of sleep, taking recourse to which, Vishnu rests between two cycles of creation.

Mahishasuramardini -

the deity who took shape as a result of the pooling together of all the powers of gods who were oppressed by the demon Mahishasura. Devi was born out of the wrath of Vishnu, Siva and Brahma who were incensed by hearing the accounts of the misdeeds of Mahishasura. Armed with formidable weapons, Devi challenged him, riding on a fierce lion and destroyed him. She is the inscrutable power, energizing the entire Universe. She personifies, wealth, power, beauty and all virtues.

Parvati –

the power and consort of Shiva.
Some aspects of Parvati are Annapurna, Aparajitha, Bala, Bhadrakali, Bhutamata, Chamunda, and Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati the presiding deieties of the famous Gayatri Mantra, Indrakshi, Jagad-dhatri, Kameswari, Katyayani, Manonmani, Rajarajeswari, Sivaduti

Vindhyavasini - one who lives in the Vindhyas

Raktadanta – having red teeth

Satakshi - one with hundred eyes

Shakambari – sustainer of vegetables

Durga – slayer of a demon called Durgama

Bhramari – having the form of bees

Kali – the power of time (kala); she is the power of God in all His aspects. We always abhor at the Kali imagery found in scriptures, pictures and icons. Since she is the supreme energy responsible for the dissolution of the created universe, her form as depicted naturally strikes awe and fear. But then She is the Creatrix, the mother also.

Images of Durga can have four or eight or ten or eighteen or even twenty hands. The eyes are usually three. She is gorgeously dressed with red cloth and several ornaments.

Some of the common objects, she holds in hand are conch, trident, bow, arrow sword, dagger, rosary, wine-cup and bell. She may be shown as standing on a lotus or on a buffalo’s head or as riding a lion, when she is called Simhavahini. The lesson we draw from this is, to become divine one should keep one’s animal instincts under complete control.

Some important shlokas for Durga are:
http://www.indusladies.com/forums/12167-post21.html
http://www.indusladies.com/forums/pujas-prayers-and-slokas/1999-special-shlokas-for-specific-purposes-7.html#post13296
Navarathri Shlokas (daily chanting)
Navaratri Shlokas (Durga)
Rahukala Durga Ashtakam & Dukha Nivarana Ashtakam
Mahishasuramardhini Shlokam
Devimahatmiyam 21 shlokas




http://www.indusladies.com/forums/c...ess-energy-navarathri-special.html#post154734
 
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