ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Bijaya Dasami-the Victory of Good Over Evil Dr. Dina Krishna Joshi Introduction: Mythology : All Hindus celebrate this festival at the Mahishasura, the king of Asuras, through same time in different ways in different parts of years of austerities, was once granted a boon by India as well as around the world. In the northern Lord Brahma, that no man or deity would be able part of the country, the first nine days of this to kill him. The immense power filled in him urge festival, called Navaratri, is commonly observed to rule over the world. He started to terrorize as a time for rigorous fast, heaven and the followed by celebrations inhabitants. He pervaded on the tenth day. In the world with his western India, throughout battalion of Asuras and the nine days, both men plundered and ruthlessly and women participate in killed the people. Chaos a special kind of dance and anarchy reigned. around an object of Gods were driven from worship. In the south, heaven and Mahishasura Dussehra or the tenth day usurped the throne. The is celebrated with a lot of Gods scared and unable fanfare. In the east, people to combat him requested go crazy over Durga Puja, Lord Shiva, Lord from the seventh till the Brahma and Lord Vishnu tenth day of this annual to stop Mahishasura’s festival. Although, the tyranny. In answer, the universal nature of the three Gods combined festival is often found to transcend regional their divine energy and summoned up a feminine influences and local culture, the Garba Dance of form so brilliantly glaring that it illuminated the Gujarat, Ramalila of Varanasi, Dussehra of heavens. This combined power fell on the Mysore, and Durga Puja of Bengal need special residence of Sage Kattyana in the Krishna mention. Chaturdashi in the month of Ashwin (Sep-Oct). 10 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER - 2019 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 From the glow emerged Devi Durga, a beautiful The time he worshipped was spring season so yellow woman with ten arms riding a lion. Despite from that time onwards Durga Puja is being Her grace She bore a menacing expression, for celebrated. Durga was born to kill. Fully grown and armed by the gods, beautiful Durga was named Legend: “Kattyayani” as She was born in the Ashram of Another legend, which is associated with sage Kattyana. The sage worshipped Her during Suklasaptami, Asthami and Navami Tithi then on the celebration of Durga Puja, is the story of the the Tithi of Dashami She killed Masishasura. She defeat of the demon king, Mahishasura at the was sent forth against Mahishasura armed by hands of Goddess Durga, the incarnation of Shakti symbols of divine power; Vishnu’s discus; Shiva’s (the power). This demon was almost invincible trident; Varuna’s conch shell; Agni’s flaming dart; because of a boon granted by Lord Shiva Vayu’s bow; Surya’s quiver and arrow; Yama’s whereby no male could defeat him. So to find a iron rod; Indra’s thunderbolt; Kubera’s club and solution to this all the God amalgamated their a garland of snakes from Shesha and a lion as a power and gave birth to Shakti (the power) in charger from Himalayas. the form of Goddess Durga. She defeated the demon king and killed him. That’s why She is History: called Mahishasuramardini (the slayer of The festival of Durga Puja comes with its Mahishasura). The holy battle symbolizes the own retinue of mythological stories. There are victory of Good over Evil. However, according various legends associated with its origin but the to another legend about Durga, She was a most important and prevalent among them is the manifestation of Parvati, Shiva’s wife. legend of Lord Rama (the incarnation of Lord The history of Durga Puja is dated back Vishnu). When Lord Rama was fighting a battle in the ancient period. However, there is much with Ravana (the demon king) to rescue his wife debate regarding the origin of Durga Puja. The Sita whom Ravana abducted and held as hostage most popular story is found in the Ramayana in Lanka, his kingdom. That time a fierce battle ensued. In that battle Ravana could not be where Lord Rama of Ayodhya invoked the defeated. So Lord Rama decided to seek the goddess Durga in his battle against Ravana. blessings of Shakti (Goddess Durga) in order to Although the goddess was traditionally defeat the demon. For that Puja, which Lord worshipped in the spring, due to contingencies of Rama was performing 108 blue lotus were needed battle, Rama had to invoke Goddess Durga in for the worship of Goddess Durga but Rama the autumn; hence the Akaalbodhan was could manage only 107. But without that one lotus performed by him. In fact, the term Akaalbodhan his Puja would be incomplete, so he was on the can be found in Krittibas’ Ramayan and not in verge of laying one of his eyes that was lotus- the Valmiki Ramayan (the original Ramayan). The shaped and blue in colour at the Goddess’s feet term “Akal” means “untimely” and the term when Goddess Durga appeared and being “Bodhan” means “awakening” or "invocation". satisfied with his devotion, granted Her blessing Maa Durga was untimely awakened from Her and eventually he won the battle against Ravana. peaceful slumber by Lord Rama at the time of SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER - 2019 11 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Ashwin (Autumn) which is considered as an stand erect and say that whenever this was done, inauspicious time in Hindu mythology. some unexpected incident had occurred in the district. In the village, the demon king has been According to Hindu mythology, the time worshipped as a symbol of prosperity for over period between 23rd December and 21st / 22nd 600 years by Kanyakubja Brahmins, a Brahmin June or Spring Equinox (Summer Solstice) is sub-sect to which Ravana was believed to have the perfect or the auspicious time for worshipping belonged. He is regarded as a scholar and people Gods and Goddesses as they remain awake and worshipping him believe burning the learned king, active during this time. This is the time of Uttarayan who knew all the Vedas (ancient Hindu scriptures) and is popularly known as the Days of the Gods. and was a devotee of Lord Shiva, is not justified. During this time the days are longer and nights This is not restricted to Ravangram village. are shorter. The actual worship of the Goddess Ravana is also worshipped in Ravana Rundi in Durga as stipulated by the Hindu scriptures hence Mandsaur district and Shajapur district’s falls in the month of Chaitra, which roughly Bhadkhedi. overlaps with March or April. On the other hand autumn or the time of Dakshinayan is the resting Durga Puja: The festival of Durga Puja starts time for Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Scientifically with Mahalaya, the first phase of the waxing moon speaking it is the time for autumnal equinox (Winter in Aswin. Thousands offer prayers to their Solstice) or the time period between 22nd /23rd ancestors at the city’s river banks, a ritual called June and 22nd December when the sun shines in Tarpan. The inauguration of the Goddess idol the southern hemisphere and so it is winter in the starts on Mahashasthi. The main puja is for three northern hemisphere. Days are shorter and nights days - Mahasaptami, Mahaastami, Mahanavami. are longer. It is popularly known as the Nights of The puja rituals are long and very detailed and the Demons. And since Goddess Durga is invoked complicated. Three days of Mantras, Shlokas, at the wrong time, it is called “Akal Bodhan” in Arati and offerings - need an expert priest to do Bengali. this kind of Puja. Because of these facts, the number of Pujas held in the family has reduced Dussehra: While most Hindus end their Dussehra and Durga Puja has mostly emerged as a celebrations by burning the effigy of Ravana to community festival. symbolise the victory of good over evil, the ten- headed demon king of Hindu mythology is Mahashasthi: On this day Goddess Durga worshipped in different places. When temples arrives to the mortal world from Her heavenly across the nation will resonate with prayers to abode, accompanied by Her children. She is Lord Rama, a small temple to Ravana in Vidisha welcomed with much fanfare amidst the beats of district’s Ravangram village will echo with the dhak. Unveiling the face of the idol is the main prayer, “Ravana Baba Namah”. The temple has ritual on this day. an ancient idol of Ravana in a reclining position believed to have been constructed between the Mahasaptami: Saptami is the first day of Durga ninth and fourteenth century. The villagers believe Puja. Nabapatrika is given a pre-dawn bath. This it would be a bad omen to have the ten-foot idol is an ancient ritual of worshipping nine types of 12 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER - 2019 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 plants. They are together worshipped as a symbol immersing into the water the idol is worshipped of the goddess. by the women with sindur (vermilion powder). Sweets are distributed among each other to mark Mahaastami: The day began with a recital of the mood of festivity and the occasion. The male Sanskrit hymns in community puja pandals as of the species greet each other with warm thousands of devotees offered anjali to the embraces while the juniors of the family show goddess. Kumari Puja or the worship of little girls respect to elder by bending down to touch their as the mother goddess was a special part of the feet.