Durga Puja

Rama, Sita, and Durga

There are many stories that influence Durga Puja, causing it to be celebrated in different ways in different regions.

One story is the Ramayana. Rama loses his kingdom and wife through deception. In order to gain strength to conquer Ravana, he turns to Durga and completes "chandi-puja". Durga tells him the secret of how to accomplish the killing, he succeeds, and he, Sita, and Lakshmana return to his kingdom of Ayodhya. This is celebrated at Diwali.

The creation of Durga is also celebrated. A demon named Mahishasura, because of his devotion, was given a blessing by Shiva that only a woman could kill him. Armed with this, he began a reign of terror over the universe and defeated the gods. The only solution left for the gods was to create a woman who could defeat him. The Trimurti focussed their power at one point, and Durga was created.

Her face reflected the light of Shiva, she had ten arms from Vishnu, and feet from Brahma. Shiva gave her a trident, Vishnu gave her a disc, and Agni gave her a spear. Other gods contributed other weapons and powers. One of the more iconic images of Durga is her standing on the lifeless Mahishasura.

Durga Puja also celebrates the winning of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata.

Another story is that of Kautsa, the son of a Brahmin called Devdatt. After being educated by a guru, Varatantu, he wanted to give him a present. Instead, the guru told him to succeed, and that would be the best gift possible. Kautsa felt this unsufficient and so the guru said he would accept 140 million gold coins - 10 million for each of the sciences he had taught him. Kautsa went to a king known for his generosity, however, he had spent all his money on Brahmins. The god of wealth, Kuber, commanded that gold coins fall around Ayodhya. Varatantu only took 140 million and gave the rest back to Kautsa. Kautsa offered them to the king, but he refused, so instead he shared them with the public.

To remember this, leaves are taken from trees and given as gifts.

Spiritual significance of Durga Puja

Durga Puja or Navaratri starts on the 1st and ends on the 10th day of the bright half of Awsin (September-October).

This is because the mother of Durga - wife of the King of the Himalayas - was only permitted to see her daughter by Shiva for 9 days a year. Durga Puja marks this brief visit and ends with the Vijaya Dassami, when Durga leaves for her return to Mount Kailas.

In Bengal, her image is worshipped for nine days and then cast into water. The tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami or Dussera (the "10th day").  Processions with her image take out along the streets. It is a significant festival in Bengal, with all those who live away returning home. The goddess is welcomed with a mother's love and on the last day her image is sent away with motherly tears, representing Durga's leaving of her own mother.

On Mahalaya, Durga is invoked into her image. 6 days later, the main festival begins. On Mahashasthi (the 6th day) Durga is decorated with weapons. The image of Durga with the demon at her feet has become the symbol of Bengal.

The following days Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami start with a setting of the banana plant believed to bring Durga to life. Ashtami (the 8th day) was the day when the demon was killed by Durga, therefore playing a very important part. On Navami, artis are held offering Durga conches, mirrors, silver hand fands, and other festive items. On the last day, Vijaya Dashmi (the 10th day) it is believed Durga returns to her husband, Lord Shiva, on Mount Kailash.

Women of the house offer vermillion, sweets, and tears. Durga is led ceremoniously to the banks of the Ganga and is immersed to allow her to return to Shiva.

Dancing is done around Durga's  shrine, built especially for the festival. Many Hindus fast, eating only one meal of fruit and sweet foods made from milk each day Prayers are offered for protection of health and property.

Durga Puja is also seen as a good time for starting a new venture. It concludes with the Kanya Puja where nine girls representing the nine forms of Durga are worshipped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for Durga, and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshipper.

Durga Puja is a celebration of goodness over evil, taking more significance during the period of the British Raj in India as it became a symbol for Hindu and Indian identity and independence. 

Durga is worshipped as the Motherly face of G-d, representing the power of Shakti (cosmic energy). Hinduism is the only religion in the world that has emphasised to such an extent the motherhood of G-d. She is the energy of Shiva.

She cares for and protects her children, often associated with the suffix "Ma" meaning mother - Durga Ma.

Durga means "one who is difficult to approach" however, as mother of the universe, she personifies tenderness, wealth, power, beauty, and every virtue. It is thought the worship of Durga gives material prosperity and spiritual freedom. Everyone is blessed with her loving mercy and is protected by her.

Some divide Navaratri into sections of 3 days to celebrate different aspects, with the first 3 celebrating her power to destroy evil, the next celebrating her as Lakshmi, the giver of wealth, and the last three as Saraswati, giver of wisdom. In order to have success, blessings of all 3 are needed.

Durga represents the belief that to become divine necessitates the control of material desires - to stand on our demons. Worshipping Durga paves the way for ridding oneself of desire.

In Southern India, an alter known as Kolu is used for worship during 9 days of Durga Puja. It is decorated with a stepped platform and filled with small images of gods, animals, birds, and other beings. During the festival, people rededicate themselves to their dharma.

Children begin to learn the alphabet in a ceremony known as aksharabhyasam, celebrated as any beginning of learning is. Gifts are offered to teachers and prayers are offered for success in any new projects.

QUOTE BANK!!

Encyclopaedia Britannica: "Embodying their collective energy (shakti), she is both derivative from the male divinities and the true source of their inner power. She is also greater than any of them."

Guin: "Durga Puja is the greatest Hindu festival in which G-d is adored as Mother."

Jamison: "Some goddesses are always portrayed in isolation and these are the forms believed to be the closest representations of Shakti. A good example of this is the goddess Durga."

Sivananda: "Durga Puja is celebrated in various  parts of India in different styles. But the one basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate Shakti, the Goddess in her aspect as power, to bestow upon man all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers. Whatever be the particular or special request that everyone may put before the Goddess, whatever boon may be asked of her, the one thing behind all these is propitiation, worship and linking oneself with her. There is no other aim. This is being affected consciously or unconsciously. Everyone is blessed with her loving mercy and is protected by her."

BG: “I am the Father of this Universe. I am the Mother of this universe, and the Creator of all. I am the Highest to be known, the Purifier, the holy Om, and the three Vedas.”