Orissa Review * September-October - 2007 Maa Durga Shakti : The Supreme Power Dinabandhu Dehury Ancient Indian culture is known as vedic culture. the three qualitative shapes. Mahashakti, the All scriptures or the recollection code of Hindu Supreme power, is called Durga Shakti. The laws follow the sense of sruti (veda). So abstract power has been imagined by the Hindus Kalidas, the eminent Sanskrit Scholar of India, as Durga Shakti. By the help of the Supreme mentions in the second canto of "Raghuvansam" soul (Adi Purusha) and the Supreme Power "Srutateribartham Smritiranuagatchhat i.e. (Adyashakti), three other shapes have been Smriti follows the sense of sruti. created from the Supreme According to those well Power. They are Brahma, conversant with the veda and Vishnu and Shiva, and from the Vedanta, the supreme soul is supreme power the shapes identified with knowledge, created are Maha Saraswati, pure and divine, and His Maya Maha Laxmi and Mahakali. (delusion) is religion. The Maha Saraswati is well known delusion of the supreme soul as Brahmani, Mahalaxmi as is otherwise called Shakti Vaishnavi and Mahakali as (power). From this power, Maheswari. Durga Shakti is generates all forms of the original cause of all the knowledge of the world and present or past worldly it is accepted as vital cause occurrences. It is said of creation, existence and Karmashyatmabhuta Shakti destruction. Hinduism believes, Shakterat-mabhutam God is the most vital object of Karyam. worship. He has delegated His Power to three creative The above cited Adipurusha shapes called Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. In God (The Supreme soul) has been 'G' means Generator (Brahma), 'O' means described in the purusha shukta of Yajurveda organizer (Vishnu) and D Destroyer (Shiva). as Rudrastadhayayaee - Sahasrapat" Mahamaya i.e. the power of Mahashakti He is God or Ishwara. The power of (The Suprme Power) plays a vital role in creating the supreme soul and the energy of supreme 1 Orissa Review * September-October - 2007 power combined together stands at the root of and atomic - all energies are produced from creation of the Universe. This supreme is the very the Nature. Without the help of water, the essence of all forms of worldly knowledge. So it electricity can not be produced and without air, is usually referred to as manifest something the sound energy can not be generated. So all beyond limits of manifestation, super knowledge, the energies are being produced and controlled inanimation, latent manifest or kinetic energy or by the Supreme power or Durga Shakti. potential energy. She is manifested and This power makes unmoven to move described in different shapes. and impossible to possible. In each work of According to the principles of three the world, there is supremacy of the supreme. qualities of Satwa, Raja and Tama, Durga She is always permanent and supreme Being. Shakti is the symbol of Satwa. Natural power is She is very kind hearted and cheerful. By the the symbol of Raja and General Energy is the blessings of Durga Shakti, the mother of the symbol of Tama. Durga Shakti is called as Universe, man is able to get his emanicipation Adhyashakti, Paramatma Shakti or Ati or salvation and indulge in enjoyments in Prakrutika Shakti. performance of his daily activities. So She is creating and controlling other two Vyasadev, the eminent poet of "Devi Bhagwat", powers : Natural and General. Natural Power is has aptly described "Rudrahinam Vishnuhinam called as Atma Shakti, Prakrutika Shakti, Pancha na vadanti janastatha Shaktihinam Mahabhuta Shakti etc. This Shakti creates and Yathasarbe probodhanti Naradhamam". controls the General Energy. General Energies are The powerless persons are despised as called Jada Shakti or Tamashakti. mean persons. So, by being devoted to the In the age of destruction, there is more Supreme, we should be strong and powerful by necessity of Jada Shakti and the people keep her grace. faith on Jadashakti. Shiva (The destroyer) and the Tamarupee Shakti Kali. The Pancha "Ya devi Sarbabhutesu Shaktirupen Sansthita Mahabhuta Shakti or Prakrutika Shakti is the Namastasyei Namastasyei, Namastasyei power of Panch Mahabhuta or the earth, water, Namonamah". fire or the sun, Air and Sphere. Earth is creative (Sri Sri Chandi) energy, water is energy of expression, sphere is preservative energy, Air is serpentine power. The fire is destructive energy. These energies are well known as Natural Energy. General Energies are based on the Natural Energy. Without the help of the Natural power, Dinabandhu Dehury is a Senior Doctoral Research the general energy can not be produced. Kinetic Scholar, P.G. Department of History, Utkal University, Energy, potential, electrical, magnetic, sound Vanivihar, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. 2.