Worship of Goddess Durga in Navaratri
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Odisha Review October - 2013 Worship of Goddess Durga in Navaratri Om Prakash There are many forms of Goddess Durga. To Sun. Uma is another form of the goddess. The eliminate the evil forces and to protect Her Golden Dawn represents Uma or the primordial devotees She takes these forms. During Navaratri form of Energy from whom everything else has devotees perform Puja for 9 days. Each day of evolved. Goddess Kali represents a different form Navaratri is devoted to one form. Navaratri of the goddess. celebrations may vary but the purpose of worshipping Goddess Durga remains intact Haimavati Uma, another form of the everywhere. goddess is surrounded in a golden haze, as it were, Brahma, the Supreme and Absolute, and has in In one form, She became the daughter of Her power the divine gift of revealing Him to those Daksha Prajapati and was known as Sati; in who are the real and earnest seekers after the another, She became the daughter of Himalaya truth. and was known as Haimavati Uma. In both these forms, She became the consort of Lord Mahakali came into being to kill two Shiva to serve celestial purposes, resulting in the Rakshyasa like Madhu and Kaitabh. After the ultimate favour of the Universe. deluge (Pralay) a lotus grew out of Narayana’s navel with Brahma seated on it. But along with In all the forms the goddess has the him these two demons were also born and they creative, protective and destructive energies wanted to kill Brahma. In answer to Brahma’s combined in Herself. She represents all these frantic prayers, Mahakali, who stayed in Lord energies wherever they may be found to exist. Vishnu’s eyes, left him and he rose to fight these The goddess or the Devi had manifested Herself demons for five thousand years. Mahakali in a different form when Her divine help was changed the demon’s mindset and instead of needed to kill the Asuras. fighting they sought Vishnu’s blessings. Chandi or Chandika is another form of Once, Mahishasura defeated the gods the Divine Mother. Usha is another form of the and began ruling in heaven. The gods prayed to goddess. She has all the features of the Goddess Lord Vishnu and Shiva. These gods emanated Durga. Even in the Rig Veda Usha has been very strong light from their bodies which turned described as the Mother of the Devas and of the into Mahalakshmi and killed Mahishasur. 60 October - 2013 Odisha Review Mahasaraswati or Chamunda Navadurga, are the nine forms of Durga eliminated Shumbha and Nishumbha. She was collectively worshipped by Shakta devotees. conceived from the powers of Lord Vishnu. Scriptures differ in naming the nine forms. Pictures Chamunda also killed another demon, and paintings of Nava-Durga also vary from Raktabeej, who could reproduce as many more region to region. The most widely accepted of himself from each drop of his blood that fell to account of the nine forms of Durga is the one the ground. But Raktabeej was vanquished with found in Devi Mahatmya; Sailaputri, the help of Mahakali who collected his blood on Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Her tongue to stop this senseless reproduction. Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Maha Gouri and Siddhidayini. The nine forms of The fourth form safeguarded Krishna Durga are worshipped during the nine days of from his cruel uncle, Kansa. Yogamaya was Navaratri. brought to Mathura from Gokul in place of Krishna. In future wars She helped Krishna with Sailaputri: In this form Durga is two-armed and Her yogic powers, and killed powerful Rakshasas carries a trident and lotus. Her mount is an ox or like Chadoor. bull. Sailaputri is believed to be the rebirth of Sati, the daughter of Daksha and the wife of Lord Then came the ferocious Rakta Dantika Shiva. In Her second birth She is Parvati, the Who killed Veprachiti Rakshasa. She drank the daughter of Himalaya and later She became the demon’s blood, hence this name. For a change, consort of Shiva. Shailaputri is worshipped on the sixth form was not incarnated to save the the first day of Navaratri. usually clumsy demigods. For 100 years, there was a drought on earth. So the sages performed Brahmacharini: In this form Durga is two-armed penance and pleased Devi Bhagwati Who was and carries a rosary and sacred water pot born as Shakambhari. She brought rain to the (Kamandalu). She is in a highly pious and parched land. peaceful form or is in meditation. This form of Durga is related to the severe penance undertaken A demon named Durgam had created by Sati and Parvati in their respective births to mayhem. So Lord Vishnu created a goddess. attain Lord Shiva as husband. Some of the most Since She killed Durgam, She was called Durga. important Vratas observed in different parts of She rides a tiger. India by women is based on the strict austerities A demon named Arun had evil designs followed by Brahmacharini. She is also known on the wives of the demigods so they changed as Tapasyacharini and is worshipped on the into a wasp and prayed to Durga. Durga changed second day of Navaratri. herself into a wasp and killed the demon. So She Chandraghanta: In this form Durga is 10 armed came to be known as Bhramari. and rides a tiger. She carries pot, bow, arrow, The last form is Chandika, She came to lotus, discus, rosary, trident, mace and sword. kill two demons, Chanda and Munda. Some of This is a terrible aspect and is roaring in anger. the other forms in which the goddesses are This form of Durga is completely different from worshipped by the Hindu rituals are Kali, earlier forms and shows when provoked She can Bhagvati, Bhavani, Ambika, Lalita, Gauri, be the terrible or malevolent. Chandraghanta is Bhubaneswari and a lot more other forms. worshipped on the third day of Navaratri. 61 Odisha Review October - 2013 Kushmanda: In this form Durga is eight-armed She is dark and repulsive in appearance. She is and rides on a tiger. She holds kamandalu, bow, cruel and excited. This form primarily depicts that arrow, lotus, pot containing wine, discus, rosary life also has dark side. Kalaratri form of Durga and a club. She is very happy in this form and it is is worshipped on seventh day of Navaratri. believed that the eternal darkness ended when Maha Gouri: In this form Durga is four armed She smiled. And this led to the beginning of and She rides on a bull or a white elephant. She creation. Kushmanda form of Durga is carries a trident and hand-drum. Two hands are worshipped on fourth day of Navaratri. in blessing posture. She is pure and is believed to Skanda Mata: In this form Durga is four-armed have been in the form of Mata Parvati when and rides on a lion. She carries lotus, kamandalu She did penance to get Shiva as Her husband. (pot) and bell. Her one hand is in blessing posture. Purity is depicted in this form of Durga. In this form She is the mother of Lord Muruga Mahagouri form of Durga is worshipped on the or Subrahamniya or Kartik, Who is also known eighth day of Navaratri. as Skanda. This is the motherly form of Durga Siddhidayini or Siddhidatri: In this form Durga and She is benevolent. Skanda Mata form of is seated on a lotus and is four armed. She holds Durga is worshipped on the fifth day of a lotus, mace, discus and book. In this form Durga Navaratri. removes ignorance and provides the knowledge Katyayani: In this form Durga is four-armed and to realize Brahman. She is surrounded by She carries a sword, shield and lotus. One hand Siddhas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Demons and is depicted as giving blessing. She rides a lion. It Gods who are worshipping Her. The Siddhi that is believed that in this form She was born as a She provides is the realization that only She exists. daughter to Sage Katya of Katya clan. This is Siddhidayini form of Durga is worshipped on the daughter form of Durga. She is epitome of the ninth day of Navaratri. love also won’t hesitate to rise up in anger. Katyayani form of Durga is worshipped on the sixth day of Navaratri. Kalaratri: In this form Durga is four-armed and Om Prakash, Sr. Journalist & Columnist, Qrs No:E/208, rides a donkey. She carries sword, trident and Unit-8, Bhubaneswar-751012, E-mail: ommpti@gmail. noose. With one hand She blesses. In this form com. 62.