DURGA PUJA OR NAVARATRI

SALUTATIONS to the Divine Mother, Durga, who exists in all beings in the form of
intelligence, mercy, beauty, who is the consort of Lord Shiva, who creates, sustains and destroys the
universe.
This festival is observed twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra and then in Aswayuja. It
lasts for nine days in honour of the nine manifestations of Durga. During Navaratri (the word
literally means “nine nights”) devotees of Durga observe a fast. Brahmins are fed and prayers are
offered for the protection of health and property.
The beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctions of
climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of
the Divine Mother. They are indicated respectively by the Rama-Navaratri in Chaitra (April-May)
and the Durga Navaratri in Aswayuja (September-October). The bodies and minds of people
undergo a considerable change on account of the changes in Nature. Sri Rama is worshipped during
Ramnavmi, and Mother Durga during Navaratri.
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DEEPAVALI
MOTHER DURGA
The Saviour from all Sorrows and Dangers
The 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 effected consciously or
unconsciously. Everyone is blessed with Her loving mercy and is protected by Her.
Durga Puja or Navaratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half
of Aswayuja (September-October). It is held in commemoration of the victory of Durga over
Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. In Bengal Her image is worshipped for nine days and then
cast into water. The tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami or Dussera (the “tenth day”). Processions
with Her image are taken out along the streets of villages and cities.
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HINDU FASTS & FESTIVALS
The mother of Durga (that is, the wife of the King of the Himalayas) longed to see her
daughter. Durga was permitted by Lord Shiva to visit her beloved mother only for nine days in the
year. The festival of Durga Puja marks this brief visit and ends with the Vijaya Dasami day, when
Goddess Durga leaves for Her return to Mount Kailas. This is the view of some devotees.
In Bengal, Durga Puja is a great festival. All who live away from home return during the
Puja days. Mothers reunite with their sons and daughters, and wives with their husbands.
The potter shows his skill in making images, the painter in drawing pictures, the songster in
playing on his instrument, and the priest in reciting the sacred books. The Bengalis save money
throughout the year only to spend everything during the Puja days. Cloth is freely distributed to the
Brahmins.
The woman of Bengal welcomes the Goddess with a mother’s love and sends away the
image on the last day, with every ceremony associated with a daughter’s departure to her husband’s
home and with motherly tears in her eyes. This signifies the parting of Durga from Her beloved
mother.
Durga Puja is the greatest Hindu festival in which God is adored as Mother. Hinduism is the
only religion in the world which has emphasised to such an extent the motherhood of God. One’s
relationship with one’s mother is the dearest and the sweetest of all human relations. Hence, it is
proper to look upon God as mother.
Durga represents the Divine Mother. She is the energy aspect of the Lord. Without Durga,
Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no existence. Shiva is the soul of Durga;
Durga is identical with Shiva. Lord Shiva is only the silent witness. He is motionless, absolutely
changeless. He is not affected by the cosmic play. It is Durga who does everything.
Shakti is the omnipotent power of the Lord, or the Cosmic Energy. The Divine Mother is
represented as having ten different weapons in Her hands. She sits on a lion. She keeps up the play
of the Lord through the three attributes of Nature, namely, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Knowledge,
peace, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride, are all Her forms.
You will find in the Devi Sukta of the Rig Veda Samhita that Vak, symbolising speech, the
daughter of the sage Anbhirna, realised her identity with the Divine Mother, the Power of the
Supreme Lord, which manifests throughout the universe among the gods, among men and beasts
and among the creatures of the deep ocean.
In the Kena Upanishad, you will find that the Divine Mother shed wisdom on Indra and the
gods and said that the gods were able to defeat the demons only with the help of the power of the
Supreme Lord.
The worship of Devi, the universal Mother, leads to the attainment of knowledge of the Self.
The story in the Kena Upanishad known as the “Yaksha Prasna”, supports this view. It tells how
Uma, the Divine Mother, taught the Truth to the gods. Goddess Shakti thus sheds wisdom on Her
devotees.
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