About Goddess Durga
Durga, in Sanskrit means "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." Goddess Durga is a form of Sakti worshiped for her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Mother of the Universe, she represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism. The manifestation of Goddess Durga is said to emerge from Her formless essence and the two are inseparable.
She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. Destroyer of demons, she is worshiped during an annual festival called Durga puja, especially popular among Bengalis.
Her Appearance
There are endless aspects of Durga described in the Puranas and Agamas and the iconography is consequently very varied. She is usually pictured as having ten arms holding Sword, Conch, Discus, Rosary, Bell, Winecup, Shielf, Bow, Arrow, and Spear. She is most often shown riding a lion from which comes Her august name, Simhavahini, "She who stands astride the king of beasts". She is gorgeously dressed in royal red cloth and has several ornaments decorating Her personage. Her hair is dressed up in a crown (karandamukuta) which then flows out in long luxuriant tresses that are darkly luminous and soothing to the eye. The various tools reflects the eminent supremacy that helps in controling the universe and obey Her will.
Weilding Energy
Goddess Durga exists eternally, always abiding in her own sweet nature and inhabits the hearts and minds of her ecstatic devotees. As Shakti power, she shapes, nurtures, and dissolves names and forms, while as subtle spiritual energy called Kundalini, She lights the lotuses fo the seven centres of awareness in the sacred human body. Goddess Durga killed the powerful demon Mahish and all his great commanders. When demonic forces create imbalance all god unite becoming one divine force called Shakti or Durga.
DURGA MYTH
Nabadurga
Sailaputri:
Goddess Durga’s first form amongst the nine is Sailaputri. She was nomenclatured as Sailaputri after being born in the house of the king of the mountains, Himalaya. In this mold the mother is seen holding a trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left and she is mounted on an ox. In the past life she was the daughter of Daksha, the son of Lord Brahma. She was known as Sati then. As the daughter of Daksha she was married to the God of Gods, Mahadeva. Daksha once arranged for a ceremony of the holy fire (Yagna), and chose not to invite his daughter and son-in-law. Sati was restless to join the ceremony at her father’s place and even defied her husband’s advice of not attending the Yagna without an invitation.On going uninvited to the ceremony, she felt that everyone was giving her a cold shoulder except her mother who greeted her with a hug. Her siblings too were no exception and were sarcastic in their remarks. The guests too present in the function were uttering disrespectful comments about her husband. To her surprise her father too was harsh and rude in his approach. She was dejected and was so heart broken that she burnt herself to ash in the holy fire. Shiva, on hearing this incident was enraged and ordered his followers to immediately demolish the Daksha Yagna.
After burning herself to death, Sati was reborn as the daughter of the king of the mountains, Himalaya and became known as Sailaputri. Thus amongst all the nine forms of Devi Durga, Sailaputri is the most powerful and glorified of all. She is worshiped in the first day of the Navratri celebrations. According to the Upanishads this form of Durga broke the pride of the Gods by assuming the mold of Haimabati.
Brahmacharini:
Durga’s second appearance is in the form of Brahmacharini. Here "Brahma" means meditation. That is, the Goddess is the meditator or a practitioner of penance. She is seen here holding a string of rosary beads in her right hand and a Kamandul (an urn containing holy water) in her left hand. In her previous life, when she was reborn as the daughter of Himalaya, she performed severe penance to have Mahadeva as her husband. The sage God Narad advised her to take up meditation to win Shiva.
Five Day Puja:-
Day 1:-
Sasthi Accessories:-
Sasthi, the sixth day of the moon when Goddess Durga is welcomed with much fanfare and gusto. The 'Bodhon' rituals include the unveiling of the face of the idol. Bodhon, Amontron and Adibas are the important rituals of Sasthi apart from Kalparambho.
Bodhon:
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A stem of wood apple with 2 bel (wood apples), Ghat (pot)/ Kundohari An earthen bowl full of atop (a type of rice). 4 arrows, Green coconut with stalk, Gamcha-To cover the ghat a piece of cloth, A Dhoti for wood apple tree. Here the wood apple tree is worshipped, but instead many perform this ritual with 10 rituals (Dashopochar). A Sari for bodhon. 2 Ashonanguriuk (a finger ring made of kush), 3 bowls of madhupakka (a mixture |
of honey, curd, ghee, sugar for oblation) Panchapallab (5 leaves), Pancha ratna (5 gems), Panchashasha (5 grains), Panchagobbo (5 extracts of the cow), Tekatha- a triangular frame work of 3 pieces of wood. Til (Sesame), Horitoki(myrobalan), Flowers, Chandmala (dangler with circular sponge decorations), Curd, Honey, Ghee, Sugar, 3 big noibiddos, 1 small noibiddo, Bhoger drobbadi (materials for the feast), Aaratir drobbadi. |
Amontron: Sari for amontron-1, 1 Ashonanguriuk (a finger ring made of kush), 1 bowl of Madhupakka (a mixture of honey, curd, ghee, sugar for oblation), Flowers, Big noibiddos-1, Small noibiddo-1, Til (Sesame), Horitoki (Myrobalan)-1 |
Adibas: Oil, Turmeric, River soil from the Ganges, Perfume, Stone, Grain, Durba (a type of grass required), Flowers, Fruits, 1 dozen bananas in one stem, Curd, Ghee, Sindur, Swastik Pituli, Conch Shell, Kajol (corrilium), Gorachana (cow urine), White mustard seeds, Gold, Silver, Copper, Mirror, Alta, Yellow thread, Iron metal, Chamor (a kind of fan, a fly-whisk made of yak's tail used for fanning), Deep (Earthen Lamps), Arrows, Panch pradip (for aarati). |
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Day 2:-
Saptami Accessories:-
Saptami features the first day of Durga puja. Commencement of rituals; predawn bathing of 'Kola Bow' or nabapatrika and the main saptami puja apart from the Kalparambho and Mahasnan are part of this day.
Nabapatrika: Kolabou
"Kola Gaach" (Banana plant)-1, "Kochu Gaach" (Colacassia plant)-1, "Halud Gaach" (Turmeric plant)-1, "Jayanti Dal" (Jayanti stem)-1, "Bel Dal" (Wood apple stem)-1, "Daalim Dal" (Pomegranate stem)-1, "Maankochu" (Arum plant)-1, "Dhan Gaach" (Rice plant)-1, "Ashok Dal" (Ashoka stem) -1, ''Aparajita Lata" (Twigs of white aparajita plant), Jute ropes, Red thread, Alta, Banana stems-2.
Mahasnan:
Kalparambho (Beginning of the pujas):
Saptami Puja:
Baran bastra(clothes) for guru,Purohit, pujak, acharya- 8, Baran angorio (finger rings)-4 Yagna pobita -4, Til (Sesame), Horitoki (Myrobalan), Flowers. Ghat (pot) & Kundohari-1 Mirror, Two earthen bowl full of atop (a type of rice) and chaff. Tekatha- a triangular frame work of 3 pieces of wood. Green coconut with stalk-1, Belpata(wood apple leaves), One big earthen lamp. Handi. Panchapallab (5 leaves), Pancha ratna (5 gems), Panchashasha (5 grains), Panchaguri, Sindur, Sandalwood, 2 Gamchas -To cover the ghat, Gamcha for arati, White mustard, Mashkolai, Hibiscus flower, Small noibiddo, Ashonanguriuk (40 or 22 finger rings made of kush), Madhupakka(40 or 22 bowls), Honey, Sugar, Noibiddos (40 or 22), Main noibiddo-1, Saree for nabapatrika-1, Sarees for nabapatrika-9, or 1 Saree for main puja, Saree for Durga -1, Clothes for Lakshmi, Saraswati, Chandi, Kartik, Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu. Clothes for 9 planets or 1 single planet, Clothes for peacock, mouse, lion, asur, buffalo, ox, snake, Jaya, Bijoya, Vishnu, Shiv, Ram. Offerings Chandmala, Plate -1, Ghoti -1, Nosering -1, Iron metal, Conch shell -2, Sindur box, Flower garland, Belpata garland, Fruits, Things for Bhog, Things for aarati, Things for sacrifice, Homn (fire for yagna)- sand, Wood, Khorke (one type of dry grass), Cowdung, Kush, Ghee(1 bottle), Bel leaves-108, Bowl-1
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Day 3:-
ASHTAMI ACCESSORIES:-
Most important day of Durga Puja. Devotees recite the mantras and offer flowers to Devi Durga (pushpanjali) and pray for her blessings. Kalparambho, Mahasnan, the main Ashtami puja and the Sandhi Puja is performed.
Kalparambho (Beginning of the pujas):
Mahasnan:
Ashtami puja:
Dantakashto -1, Saree for Durga -1, Clothes for Lakshmi, Saraswati, Chandi, Kartik, Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu. Clothes for 9 planets or 1 single planet, Clothes for peacock, mouse, lion, asur, buffalo, ox, snake, Jaya, Bijoya, Vishnu, Shiv, Ram or 1 Saree for main puja. Flowers, Ashonanguriuk (40 or 22 finger rings made of koosh), Madhupakka (40 or 22 bowls ), Honey, Sugar, Curd, Ghee, Noibiddos (40 or 22), Small noibiddo-4, Chandmala-1 Plate-1, Ghoti-1, Nosering-1, Iron metal, Conch shell-2, Sindur box, Flower, Garland, Belpata garland, Fruits, Things for Bhog, Things for aarati.
Sandhi Puja:
Flowers, Gold ring, Bronze bowl for madhupakka, Small saree, Main noibiddo-1, Small noibiddo-1, Plate-1, Pitcher-1, Iron metal-1, Nose ring-1, Saree, Pillow, Mat, Chandmala, Plate-1, Earthen lamps-108, Things for Bhog, Things for aarati.
Details of KUMARI PUJA:-
Goddess Durga arrives to her earthly abode with her four children, Laskhmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh. We worship her as the Goddess of Shakti who overpowered the evil to establish peace and prosperity on earth. She is also the daughter making her yearly visits at her parents place along with her children for four days. The Goddess is worshipped in various forms during her stay here. One of those forms is the "Kumari", the Virgin form. This mould is the most powerful form of Mahashakti.A girl aged between one to sixteen, symbolising the Kumari form of Devi is worshipped in front of the idol of Goddess Durga. The Kumari form of the Goddess was emphasised as the most dynamic form by the devotees since yester years as Kumari Shakti is the basis of all creations. Our scriptures have emphasised Kumari Puja particularly to evolve the purity and divinity of the women of the society. Diminishing the larger than life stature of the Goddess to someone much nearer and closer is the real reason for this form of worship. Sri RamKrishna had said that Kumari is another form of Devi Durga and he himself worshipped Sarada Maa as Kumari. To imagine the Goddess in the mould of a Kumari is an age old concept. In Mahabharata Arjuna had performed Kumari Puja. The Puranas mention the Kumari form of Chandika.
Selection of Kumari:
The scriptures mention the great care with which the Kumari is selected to be worshipped as the earthly representative of Devi Durga. The qualities required in the girl has to match the dynamism, purity and serenity of the Goddess. A calm, serene and an unmarried girl with a bright disposition between one to sixteen years, who has not yet reached her puberty and is bereft of desire, worldly pleasures and anger is the right requisite for the Kumari Puja. Depending on the age of the girls they are worshipped in the various forms of the Goddess. A one year old girl is worshipped in the Sandhya form of the Devi while a two year old is worshipped in the Saraswati mould of the Devi. A three year old girl is worshipped in the Tridha form of Durga and a four year old is worshipped in the Kalika mould of the Devi. Subhaga and Uma are the forms of Durga for a five and a six year old respectively. Malini form of the Goddess represents a seven year old while Kujjika represents a eight year old girl. Kalsondarbha and Aparajita stands for a ten year old girl and an eleven year old girl. Bhairavi is represented by a twelve year old girl and Mahalakhmi by a thirteen year old girl. Pitnayika, Khetragya and Ambika by a fourteen, fifteen and sixteen year old girl respectively.
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Day 4:-
NAVAMI ACCESSORIES:-
After the Sandhi puja starts the Nabami Puja. Kalparambho, Mahasnan and the main Nabami puja take place on this auspicious day.
Kalparambho (Beginning of the pujas):
Mahasnan:
Nabami puja:
Dantakashto-1, Clothes for Lakshmi, Saraswati, Chandi, Kartik, Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu. Clothes for 9 planets or 1 single planet, Clothes for peacock, mouse, lion, asur, buffalo, ox, snake, Jaya, Bijoya, Vishnu, Shiv, Ram or 1 Saree for main puja. Flowers, Ashonanguriuk (40 or 22 finger rings made of kush), Madhupakka(40 or 22 bowls), Honey, Sugar, Curd, Ghee, Noibiddos (40 or 22), Small noibiddo-4, Chandmala, Plate-1, Ghoti-1, Nosering-1, Iron metal, Conch shell-2, Sindur box, Flower garland, Belpata garland, Beetle leaves, Pan masala, Things for Homn (fire for yagna), Bel leaves, Kumari puja, Dakshina.
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Day 5:-
DASHAMI PUJA (Dashera)
Perfume, Flower, Durba, Tulsi, Bel leaves, Dhoop (Incense sticks), Earthen lamp, Noibiddo, Curd, Murki, Sweets, Sidhi, Aarati.
Sindur Utsav (Vermillion game)
It is a major event of Dashami. Married women apply vermilion to each other and greet each other with sweets. It is in the evening when Goddess Durga is immersed, bengalis greet each other with bijoya greetings and men follow the customary 'Kolakuli' (embrace each other). Durga Puja is a festival, Bengalis celebrates without religious inhibitions. It is more of a socio- cultural celebration that trends to renew kindship with friends and relatives.
VISARJAN
Dashami being the last day of the festival, Goddess Durga is sent away to Kailash, the abode of Shiva. This act of giving away the Goddess is Visarjan. Our shastra depart the Goddess in number of ways. Worshipping Mother Nature, a primitive form of reverence is reflected in our Puja rituals. In the Bodhon rituals Mahashakti is summoned to the bel (wood apple) tree. A branch is marked before the commencement of the Puja. This branch is then severed from the tree and tied to a mirror. The mirror is placed on a platter in such a way that the reflection of the devi is seen in the mirror. The Mahasnan (important bathing) ritual is performed symbolically by bathing the mirror with water. After the Dashami puja, visarjan is immersion of the mirror in a platterful of water and the shaking the idol. In the entire performance, ‘ghot’ puja is of primary significance. Four arrows are placed in a rectangular plot and their tips are tied with a red thread. The ‘ghot’, an earthen or brass pot is placed in the middle of the rectangular plot. The loose end of the red thread is then tied around the idol of the goddess and then is wrapped around the ‘ghot’. Before idol worship became prevalent ‘ghot puja’ was performed. It was the real form of reverence. Later to assimilate the idol in the puja, the red thread is also wrapped around the idol. After completion of the Dashami puja, the purohit first asks the goddess to forgive him for any faults he might have committed while performing the rituals. Later he invites her once again to visit us. The pandit takes a flower from the ghot and while chanting vedic mantras he throws it behind his back, shakes the ghot and tears off the thread. This concludes the visarjan.
It is in the evening when Goddess Durga is immersed, bengalis greet each other with bijoya greetings (Subbecha) and men follow the customary 'Kolakuli' (embrace each other). Durga Puja is a festival, Bengalis celebrates without religious inhibitions. It is more of a socio- cultural celebration that trends to renew kindship with friends and relatives.
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