NAVARATRI DURGA PUJA

The primeval absolute cosmic energy for creation, sustenance and dissolution is revered as Adi-Shakti.  Adi-Shakti first manifested as Goddess Sati.  Goddess Sati marries with Mahadev.  But just like the life of Radha with Krishna, the life of Sati with Mahadev did not last. 

Goddess Sati is worshipped only in her ten manifestations called Das Maha Vidya, the ten wisdom Goddesses. 

Adi Shakti again manifested as Goddess Parvati.  Goddess Parvati marries with Mahadev; attains ultimate perfection and eternally unites with Shiva.

Goddess Durga is the divine form of Goddess Parvati and she is the presiding Goddess of the pantheon. 

The myriad of manifestations of Goddesses in both peaceful and wrathful forms are the different forms of Goddess Durga. 

In different eons, Goddess Durga has taken different forms to subdue Mahishasura, the embodiment of pride, prejudice, anger, hatred, jealousy, revenge, and all other negative emotions.

Goddess Durga subdues the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, the embodiment ignorance and inertia in the form of Mahamaya.

The demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, the embodiment of greediness and possessiveness are subdued in the form of Chandi.

As Bhairavi, Goddess Durga subdues the demon Dhumralochana, the embodiment of obscuration and unclear vision.

The demons Chanda and Munda, the embodiment of attraction, aversion, lustfulness and selfish consciousness are also subdued by Bhairavi.

The demon Raktabija, the embodiment of fleeting thought and desire which multiplies endlessly in the egoic mind is subdued in the form of Goddess Kali. 

Das Maha Vidya, the ten wisdom Goddesses

1...Goddess Kali

Goddess Kali represents time.  She embodies both, the creative and destructive nature. 

Goddess Kali reflects attitude, intention, and emotion.  If Goddess Kali is approached with love, she assumes the form of Goddess Laxmi.  If she is approached for knowledge and wisdom, she assumes the form of Goddess Saraswati.  But if she is approached with evil intension; she assumes the wrathful form and destroys the persons having evil intent.

2...Goddess Tara

Goddess Tara embodies protective qualities, loving kindness and compassion.  She ferries distressed being cross Samsara -the ocean of physical and psychological world and guides along the creative path like a guiding star of our aspiration. 

She removes ignorance that ties us to Samsara and obstacles that make us suffer.  She saves from Urga -radical dangers and unforeseen miseries, and hence she is revered as Ugra-Tara. 

As Nila Saraswati, she imparts knowledge and as Ek-Jata, she unites the beings with absolute. 

3...Goddess Tripur Sundari

Goddess Tripur Sundari embodies pure perception, compassion and knowledge.  She symbolizes the three-fold process of creation, sustenance and destruction which involves body, mind and consciousness.

Goddess Tripur Sundari shares her attributes with Goddess Saraswati.  She represents Swaha –the life beyond all fallacies, thoughts and descriptions.

4...Goddess Bhuvaneswari

Goddess Bhuvaneswari is the Cosmic Mother of all existence.  In the vast expanse of space, Goddess Bhuvaneswari creates, sustains and nourishes her creations. 

Goddess Bhuvaneswari reminds us not to fall into illusions but see across and beyond to oneness among all beings.  She bestows blessing for equanimity and assists in connecting our heart and mind with the world of divinity.

5...Goddess Bhairavi

Goddess Bhairavi personifies fire that burns imperfections. 

Goddess Bhairavi is Chamundeshwari who kills the demons Chanda and Munda -the embodiment of aversion, lustfulness and unclear vision.

Goddess Bhairavi is Goddess Kalratri who subdues the demon Raktabeej, the embodiment of fleeting thoughts ad desire.

6...Goddess Chinnamasta

Goddess Chinnamasta signifies that consciousness alone is absolute.  She is the embodiment of rare courage needed to make highest sacrifice.

Goddess Chinnamasta, in a single frame, makes a stunning presentation of varying and conflicting aspects of life and death; the joy of transcending the body and not the pain of losing it; and the joy of giving up the ego to attain wisdom and freedom.  

She symbolizes self-control and self-sacrifice, and the courage to face death without fear.  

7...Goddess Dhumavati

Goddess Dhumavati personifies extreme poverty, troubles and tribulations one may encounter in life.  

Goddess Dhumavati reminds us for being aware of potential extremes and signifies the importance of awareness and being mindful of negative forces. 

Goddess Dhumavati directs us to look beyond all desires and develop a sense of detachment.  She guides us along the spiritual path and rescues from extreme ill fates.

8...Goddess Bagalamukhi

Goddess Bagalamukhi is the manifestation of divine speech.  She symbolizes the removal of impurities associated with speech and the tongue involved in telling lies or concealing the truth.  

Goddess Bagalamukhi signifies failure hidden in success, death hidden in life, joy hidden in sorrow, and vice versa.  

9...Goddess Mantangi

Goddess Mantangi is the embodiment of thought, talent and skills.  She signifies the importance of inner purity over external cleanliness.  

Goddess Mantangi enables to discern purity and impurity; auspicious and inauspicious; and puritanical notion and unrestrained indulgence with sense objects. 

10…Goddess Kamala

Goddess Kamala is the embodiment of prosperity and good luck.  She shares her attributes with Goddess Laxmi.  

Goddess Kamala is the removal of poverty, both material and spiritual.  She grants divine support for success on worldly activities and aspirations.  

Goddess Kamala tells us that the pursuit of material wealth and success should be for seeking divinity within us. 

Manifestations of Goddess Durga

In Navaratri Durga Puja the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga are worshipped in the following sequential order to which all divine powers are interconnected. 

1…Shailputri Durga

Shailputri Durga is the embodiment of primeval purity.  She is inner consciousness, who is unborn and resides deep in our inner consciousness. 

Human consciousness is characterized by constantly outward flowing energy.  With deep dedication and concentration on Shailputri Durga, the out flowing energy turns inward in search of perfection and eventually gets stilled. 

By taking refuge is in Shailputri Durga, the devotees are able awaken her and with her begins the spiritual journey and progress through successive steps in pursuit of eternal peace and happiness. 

2…Brahmacharini Durga

Brahmacharini Durga is the embodiment of purity of mind. 

Brahmacharini Durga bestows self-confidence and resolute determination.  She is the giver of spiritual wisdom for moving into the boundless space of pure awareness.  She personifies love and loyalty, and provides knowledge and wisdom. 

With the blessing of Brahmacharini Durga our mind becomes pure.  With the purity of mind devoid of Ego, we are able accept things or situations as they are with humility. 

3…Chandraghanta Durga

Chandraghanta Durga is the embodiment of inner vibration of the accumulated energies.  She signifies the inner call of pure consciousness, the pure state of mind.

By contemplating on the divinity of Chandraghanta Durga, we are able to purify our body, speech, mind and action, and liberate from worldly sorrows. 

4…Kushmanda Durga

Kushmanda Durga is the core of our inner consciousness, referred as Surya Loka.  She is our deepest inner consciousness.  She embodies Sankalpa, the mental projection, and the underlying energy, and the phenomenon that continue without end.

Kushmanda Durga liberates from sorrows and bestows with long life, good health, name and fame, and strength. 

5…Skandamata Durga

Skandamata Durga is the embodiment of energy that accelerates the single-pointed yearning for liberation.  It is in this manifestation Parvati gives birth to Skanda or Kartikeya, who destroys the formidable demon Tarakasura -the impeder of liberation.

With the blessing of Skandamata Durga, our mind becomes pure, bereft of thought waves.  At the purest state of mind, the devotees of Skandamata Durga are liberated from illusion. 

6…Katyayani Durga

Katyayani Durga is the embodiment of faith and confidence. 

Katyayani Durga bestows confidence and decisive in our actions.  Being confident and decisive, we get rid of fear and doubt, the root causes of defeat and failure. 

Katyayani Durga is worshiped for self confidence and victory. 

7…Kalratri Durga

Kalratri Durga is the wrathful form of Goddess Durga.

Goddess Durga manifests in the form of Kalratri Durga out of love and compassion to protect all beings taking refuge is her from negative influences causing suffering by opposing peaceful co-existence, harmony and happiness.

Kalratri Durga destroys the demon Raktabija, the embodiment of fleeting thoughts and desire. 

With the blessings of Kalratri Durga, we become fit to earn virtues. 

8…Mahagauri Durga

Mahagauri Durga is the embodiment of the perfection, the purity of our inner consciousness and inherently resides in our heart. 

Mahagauri Durga signifies soaking our mind in the eternal light of Supreme Being after crossing over the utter darkness of the deepest level of our unconsciousness where our Ego in all its denominations are considered dead. 

It was in this form Goddess Parvati married Lord Shiva as her eternal consort. 

9…Siddhidhatri Durga

Siddhidhatri Durga is the wish fulfilling goddess and giver of all forms of successes.  She is the giver of Siddhi –perfections, and Riddhi –supernatural powers. 

With Siddhis and Riddhis bestowed by Siddhidhatri Durga, her devotees transcend all material desires and propensity.  The absolute nearness of the perfect Supreme Being becomes the only aim of her devotees. At that state, the only intension that remains is to help and free others from illusion and influence of negativities. 

On Maha Navami, Durga Puja culminates and Dassain festivities begin. 

On the tenth day Dassain is celebrated which is an auspicious occasion to festively celebrate the victory of good over evils, the victory of Goddess Durga, the divine power over the evils that manifest in our mind, speech, behavior and action. 

It was on this day Lord Ram; the incarnation of Lord Vishnu had subdued Ravan, the king of evils.

Dassain is the occasion for embracing righteousness to live a meaningful life.

Dassain is an occasion to receive blessings of Goddess Durga, parents and elders of the family.  It is an occasion to rejuvenate hope and aspiration, self-confidence and instill values. 

May we continue to cherish the value of Dassain.