DURGA

(This has been attempted as a transcription of a narration on Durga Puja that Professor Chattopadhyay delivered as part of a Durga Puja event of an Elder Support group in 2021. )

Introduction:

ত্রাহি দুর্গে দুর্গতিনাশিনি
Oh goddess Durga, protect us from all evils.
সর্বমঙ্গল-মঙ্গল্যে
শিবে সর্বার্থসাধিকে।
শরণ্যে ত্র্যম্বকে গৌরি
নারায়ণি নমোঽস্তু তে।।

Durga Puja is not just a religious festival of the Hindus but it has been transformed into a national festival of India.

It is known that in some states and countries e.g. Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet etc Durga Puja is performed from time immemorial. Besides, even in places outside India e.g. China, Japan, Tibet, Cambodia, Java, Durga puja is performed.

In Japan Durga puja commenced many many years back. Durga has been worshiped during the reign of queen সিনকো. Durga Puja has pervaded the consciousness of the Hindus in India of abroad for ages together.

Historians say that people in India, have been worshipping goddess Durga for more than 11,000 years!

Durga is considered to be the goddess of the universe. Durga possesses different forms and aspects. For example, Parvati, spouse of Siva is a form of Durga.

Again, it believed that according to the prayer of the devotees this Devi assumes diverse forms. She is worshipped in 64 forms as Adyadurga, Vedagarbha, Ambika, Bhadrakali Bhadraa, Ksemaksemakari, Naikabahu, আদ্যাশক্তি, কাত্যায়নী, Kalaratri, Chandraghanta etc.

In south India she is worshipped more in her fierce and terrible forms.

Devi in her gentle aspects and moods assumes the forms of Kanya, Kamaksi and Mukamba.

In Kerala the Devi is called Bhagavati also, in Andhra Jokulambika and in Tamilnadu Kannaki.

Worship of the Devi is supposed to be more than 4000 to 11000 years old in India.

In religious literature, from Vedic times upto today, Devi occupies an important place. In modern India, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, guru of Swami Vivekananda, was a great devotee of Durga.

In the Mahabharata there are various reference to the Devi. When the Pandavas entered the capital of Virata for their life incognito they worshiped Durga, who appeared to them and granted them certain boons.

At the commencement of the great war, Arjuna, at the advice of Krishna, prayed to Durga, who appeared in the sky and granted him boons, for victory in war.

Nomenclature:

The nomenclature applied to the divine shakti Durga, whether in hymns, or in prayers or in any religious text e.g দেবীপুরাণ or মর্কেণ্ডেয়পুরাণ or ব্রহ্মবৈবর্তপুরাণ is truly worthy of special attention. The word Durga has two components – দুর্গ and আ, or দুর গ আ, or Dur-gama etc. Durga is She who is very difficult to go against. Now ‘দুর্গ’ has a good many connotations.

1. দুর্গ Means different demons
2. দুর্গ Means disease
3. দুর্গ Means মহাবিঘ্ন
4. দুর্গ Means শোক or grief
5. দুর্গ Means নরক or hell

and আ means slayer or হন্তা.

So Durga destroys many different demons or evils. Thus she slays many different demons like Chandamunda, Mahisasura, Durgama, Durgo, Dhumrolochana, Rakta Beejo and many more. She is the ultimate demon slayer.

She kills the demon ‘দুর্গ’, she kills ‘দুর্গম’ – the dangerous demon. In ব্রহ্মবৈবর্তপুরাণ, the slaying of Durgama is described vividly. There, Durga, herself, says-

অদ্য প্রভৃতি মে নাম দুর্গেতি খ্যাতিমেষ্যতি।

দুর্গ-দৈত্যস্য সমরে পাতনাদতিদুর্গমাৎ।।

In দেবীভাগবত also, almost in the same tone ‘দুর্গা’ says-

অত্রৈব বধিষ্যামি

দুর্গমাখ্যং মহাসুরম্।

দুর্গা দেবীতি বিখ্যাতং

তন্মে নাম ভবিষ্যতি।।

(Which means from today onwards I will be called Durga since I have killed দুর্গম the notorious demon.)

Many battles with demons have been described in detail in the numerous myths in religious texts e.g. ব্রহ্মবৈবর্তপুরাণ, দেবীপুরাণ, দেবীভাগবত, স্কন্দপুরাণ and specially in the মার্কণ্ডেয়পুরাণ।

Among the many many battles the two episodes are most important – one is where she fights against মহিষাসুর— the buffalo demon. It is by slaying him that she receives her most well-known epithet – মহিষাসুরমর্দিনী- the buffalo-trumpler.

জয় জয় হে মহিষাসুরমর্দিনি রম্যকপর্দিনি শৈলসুতে।।

So Durga is impassable–

She is the unattainable–

She is the Goddess, the unfathomable–

the invincible and She is the one beyond reach.

According to some scholars, Durga literally means lady of difficult terrain – either because she is considered inaccessible or because she has a preference for inaccessible dwelling places. Myths associate her with mountains – either the Himalayas or the Vindhyas– or the forests.

However these mountainous regions were areas that were considered geographically peripheral to civilised society because they were considered fairly inaccessible except through heroic efforts. The Vindhyas, in particular, were regarded as dangerous because of the violent and hostile tribes inhabiting the area. Thus her epithet বিন্ধ্যবাসিনী becomes appropriate. It is also possible that the goddess was originally conceived of as the protectress of forts or Durgas.

So Devi Durga killed Durgama, who was the demon of drought.

Once Durgama, by his sincere prayer and penance, was blessed by Brahma. He became so powerful that he locked up all the four Vedas in his prison. So no prayers or penance could be conducted in Debaloka. The situation become so bad that Varuna (the god of rain) and Indra (the god of thunder) could not create any rain or thunder.

With no rain, slowly all the water on পৃথিবীলোক dried up. All plants animals and humans were in a sad state when it looked like the drought would never end. The people could do one thing only – they earnestly prayed to the gods.

In turn the gods in heaven cried

“O Adi Shakti (Durga) – we are powerless – please help us – we are really powerless and can’t help the people of the earth.”

Durga alias Adi Shakti saw the state of মর্ত্যলোক and পৃথিবীলোক, that is this earth, and she was so moved that 100 eyes appeared on her body – she took the form of শতাক্ষী – tears gushed out from all her eyes like thick waterfalls for nine days and nine nights. This made the dry rivers, lakes and oceans here – in this mortal world – overflow with water.

After giving back water, শতাক্ষী became শাকম্ভরী, the goddess of vegetation and gave them grains, fruits and vegetables.

Durgama was very angry and he fumed, “How dare someone act more powerful than I – Durgama, the ruler of the three world স্বর্গ, মর্ত্য and পাতাল?” And immediately he came with a large army to fight her.

Now seeing him ready for a fight, the goddess Durga, appeared in her warrior form, and after a long battle the goddess attained victory.

Now the Vedas were freed from দুর্গম’s prison. Four of the Vedas came back to Brahma, and the sages were able to read, chant and recite the Vedas. So once again the gods could do their duties as they had done before.

So Devi Durga killed দুর্গম who was the demon of drought. For that matter, she killed even মহিষ and শুম্ভ and নিশুম্ভ who are all seen as the personifications of drought.

Nava Durga:

Goddess Durga possesses many many forms and aspects. Nine of these are together known as Nava Durga. In Sanskrit, Nava means nine. So Nava Durga means nine forms of Durga. Each of these nine forms, stands for one Shakti or powerful quality of the goddess. Actually it is in the form of these shaktis that Durga or আদিশক্তি lives inside of everyone. These nine forms are as follows:

1. শৈলপুত্রী- শৈল means mountain and পুত্রী means daughter. So Durga is the daughter of mountain – either of Himalayas or of Vindhyas.

শৈলপুত্রী the guardian of the earth, represents the girl power. শৈলপুত্রী or Durga here represents the princess who set out on an adventure, keeping aside her fears.

2. ব্রহ্মচারিণী– The young lady who meditated for many many years. Here, Durga represents the “conqueror of the mind” or the “patience of mind”.

In Kalidas’s great মহাকাব্য কুমারসম্ভব this austere penance has been described vividly .

3. চন্দ্রঘণ্টা- Here Durga is the angry bride who wore a deadly bell.

In Gangaur Festival of Rajasthan, this form চন্দ্রঘণ্টা, is worshipped and enjoyed. Here people enjoy the wedding of Durga (শিব & পার্বতী).

4. কুষ্মাণ্ডা- The BrightBeacon. Here the Durga is the happy one whose smile becomes her jewel. In this form of কুষ্মাণ্ডা, Devi says – ‘I live inside you as creativity’.

5. স্কন্ধমাতা– A mother of everyone. স্কন্ধ is কার্ত্তিক- the heroic son– দেবসেনাপতি। Durga is the brave mother of a heroic son কার্ত্তিক।

6. কাত্যায়নী- In this form দুর্গা is worshipped as the slayer of a difficult demon. In this form, Durga symbolizes determination.

Golu Padi festival of South India may be mentioned where this form is worshipped.

7. কালরাত্রি- Here Durga is the feisty fighter who gave Asuras a fright. কালরাত্রি is worshipped on the seventh day. কালরাত্রি form of Durga symbolises courage.

8. মহাগৌরী- The peace-loving goddess who is compared to all things white i.e. pure.

Durga did a lot of amazing things besides creating new selves and defeating evils such as অসুরs. She loved changing colours or skin-tones. Like the form in Chandraghanta has skin colour golden, while Ambika and কালরাত্রি are dark skinned. মহাগৌরী represents fairness – as pure as nature. This fairness is not connected to the external skin tone. But this fairness teaches us to treat everyone and everything around equally and with respect just like nature does.

In Telangana and in some regions of Andhra Pradesh, বথুকাম্মা (Bathukamma Panduga)বথুকাম্মাপাণ্ডুগা Festival is celebrated during নবরাত্রি। In Telugu বথুকাম্মা পাণ্ডুগা means “Mother goddess, come alive”. By saying this devotees request ‘Sati’, (a form of পার্বতী in previous birth) to come alive. Sati was reborn as পার্বতী, but the people here believe ‘Sati’ appears every year in the form of flowers too.

So during the Festival the women carry stacks made of seasonal flowers.

Chrysanthemum, lotus, selesia, senna, marigold and some more seasonal flowers stacks, brightly coloured flowers in circular rows over a large place. Then they offer the stack to Durga (who is in the form of মহাগৌরী)।

On the last day of the পাণ্ডুগা, the women carry these stacks and clay-idols of the goddess on their heads to a water body and immerse them.

9. সিদ্ধিদাত্রী- In this form Durga bestows your\ everything and fulfils your desire.

She is সর্বার্থসাধিকা।

সিদ্ধিদাত্রী- means the giver of super natural powers. The goddess ‘Durga’ is worshipped in this form on the ninth day of নবরাত্রি. In south India and Orissa সরস্বতী and আয়ুধ (weapon) পূজা are performed on that day. The সরস্বতী is the goddess of knowledge, learning, wisdom, arts and music.

For this pooja people place books writing tools are materials, musical instruments and weapons in front of and idol. Durga in the form of সিদ্ধি-দাত্রী symbolises knowledge inside you.

Ten Hands, Ten Weapons:

Durga, in eastern India, is worshipped as Dashabhuja. Dasha means ten and Bhuja means arms/hands. So Durga is worshipped as a ten-handed Devi. These ten hands hold ten weapons. Each of the weapons in her ten hands was gifted to her by different gods of heaven.

Ten weapons symbolise ten good qualities inside. The Asuras too live inside human being, as bad habits, bad qualities, and bad elements. So Durga lives inside human beings as good qualities and Asuras also live inside human beings as bad qualities, bad habits.

Now the weapons are given by the gods – first one is the Sudarshan Chakra (that is the spinning disc) was gifted to Durga by Vishnu or Narayana. And Sudarshan Chakra also helps to differentiate between good and bad.

Second one is Trishula (so Durga is Shulini) which was gifted by Shiva. Trishula gives the power to destroy and create.

Third weapon is Sankhya (so Durga with this Sankhya is Sankhini). Sankhini binds you and the Universe through the sound “Om”.

Then She is Vanavarshini (vana means arrows) and her (vanas) arrows and bows (Dhanush dharini) have been gifted by Vayu (Pavana Deva). And this Dhanurvana gives strength to face problems.

Then Durga is Kamala or Kamala-lochana. Kamala or lotus builds humility.

She is Khargini too and Kharga or sword gives knowledge and sharpens the mind. This Kharga has been gifted by Kala Deva.

She is Sarpini too. Sarpa or snake keeps you alert and aware always. Snake was gifted by Ananta Naga.

And Gadini Durga, means She has Gada which means loyalty.

And last but not the least, She is Parashu-dharini. Parashu means axe, and this axe gives us courage, and this was gifted to Her by Vishwakarma Deva.

Navaratri:

From time immemorial, Durga has been worshipped and Durga Puja, that is worship of Durga, goes by various names, such as, Durga Puja, Navaratri, Maha Navaratri, Saraswati Puja, Rama Navaratri etc.

নবরাত্রি (Navaratri) is the time when people around the world, especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharastra, নবদুর্গা is worshiped for nine days and nine nights. As if that’s not enough, people celebrate Navaratri not once, not twice, but five times a year. চৈত্র নবরাত্রি, রাম নবরাত্রি and মহানবরাত্রি are well known.

Each of these nine days and nine nights is devoted to one form of the Nava Durga. Devotees across the world worship goddess Durga in their own unique ways–

some offer her special foods, some sing special songs related to Durga, some sing her songs, some perform dances, some make her idols, some right their wrongs.

In Gujarat Garba dance performances, is very well-known. This dance is performed on all the nine nights. Thus, in Gujarat, Navaratri festival means world’s longest dance festival.

In the fourth form of Durga, Kushmanda, is worshipped in South India. কুষ্মাণ্ড means Pumpkin and কুষ্মাণ্ডাসুর means a demon with a pumpkin head. People in Tamil Nadu hang a pumpkin painted with a demon face at the entrance of their homes, to keep jealousy, sickness and other bad things away.

This festival is called দৃষ্টি পুসনিক্কাই। In Tamil পুসনিক্কাই (poosanikkai) is pumpkin. দৃষ্টি পুসনিক্কাই means the pumpkin that wards off the evil eyes. To make sure no evil spirits harm them, the people pray to the goddess Durga and smash such demon face on the ground during Navaratri Puja.

Durga Puja in eastern India especially in West Bengal is celebrated with great pomp and grandeur: grand Pandals are built; larger-than-life clay idols of various forms of Durga– depict different stories of Puranas; the slaying of মহিষাসুর by কাত্যায়নী form of Durga is a popular theme here, because Durga Puja begins on the sixth day of নবরাত্রি, which is called Shashthi.

In West Bengal, Kumartuli area in North Kolkata, is known for its idol makers. Kumor has been derived from Kumbhakara – meaning clay-maker.

Dussehra:

Dussehra or Dasra or Vijaya-Dasami is a festival celebrated every where in India. And it literally means ‘the tenth day of Puja which indicates victory of Durga over evils’.

Especially on this day, in South India, Saraswati is considered to be the transfiguration of Durga.

As people became less superstitions, they began to consider the story of killing Mahisasura as a metaphorical saying, to mean the killing of ignorance.

So the day of victory of Devi Durga (the same as Saraswati) is considered to be the auspicious moment for the beginning of learning.

The warrior places his weapons, the man of literature his books and pen, the musician his musical instruments (like harmonium, tabla, tanpura, sitar, flute etc.), at the feet of Devi Durga and with devotion and worship, and receives them back from Devi on the Vijayadasami day at an auspicious moment.

In several native states this festival used to be celebrated under the sponsorship of the royal family as a state festival. As it is believed that Mahisasura had lived in Mysore the celebration of the Dasra in that state generally is on the grand scale. In Kerala, from olden times this festival was celebrated under the patronage on the Vanci (বাঞ্চি) Royal family.

In West Bengal also this is a state festival and there is a grand carnival on the day of Vijaya Dasami. Also, on Vijaya Dasami, there is Sindur Khela – that entails putting kumkum (sindur) on the idol and each other’s cheek (specially of married women) for good luck.

Then there is Darpan বিসর্জন – usually turmeric water is mixed in a bowl, Darpan or mirror is placed in it, the devotees see the reflection in the water and pray to it.

After this, the actual immersion takes place.

Ram Leela:

In Delhi, Varanasi and other regions of North India, a folk drama called Ram Leela is performed during Navaratri and especially on the day of Dussehra. Dressed up as epic characters, people act out the Ramayana. On Dussehra, the character plalying prince Rama shoots a lit up arrow towards a huge effigy of Ravana. This dummy is stuffed with hay and fire crackers, so as it burns down, it leaves behind a trail of fireworks, crackling and sparkling.

Kota Dussehra Mela:

This is found in Rajasthan. In Kota city of Rajasthan, Rama’s victory is celebrated by burning down effigies of Ravana. Not only Ravana, Ravana and his brothers, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna, their effigies are also burnt. With a height of around 75 feet each, these effigies are amongst the tallest in the country. For twenty five days after Dussehra, crowds throng the Kota-Dussehra Mela, the longest Dussehra Fair in India, and participate in various competitions.

Hanuman Swaroop celebration:

In Punjab and Haryana, Hanuman Swaroop celebration takes place. People dress up like Hanuman, from the 7th day of Navaratri until Dussehra. These Hanuman Swaroops roam the streets of Punjab and Haryana, which is a rather difficult task since their masks and head gears together weigh around 20 kg. On Dussehra, as Ravana’s effigy crumbles, the Hanuman Swaroops cheer and dance.