Myth about Durga pooja

September 23, 2006

According to Markandeya Purana and Devi Purana, Mahishasura was a

buffalo demon. After severe penance lasting many years, he procured a

boon from Brahma granting that he would not be slain by Gods, men,

spirits or any aspect of nature. Convinced that he was invincible, he

tyrannised the entire world, vanquished the Gods and ruled in their

place. The Gods appealed to Shiva for help. He suggested that the three

great Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and himself should combine their energies to

create a woman. She would be powerful enough to vanquish the demon, as

he had foolishly forgotten the name women while asking for the boon. The

three Gods then combined the energies to create Durga, a beautiful woman

with 18 arms. Her eyes shone like sun rays and her smile was as cool as

moon. Each God presented her with his special weapon and a lion was to

be her vehicle.

When Mahishasura heard of Durga's beauty, he wished to marry her and

sent across the proposal. Durga replied that she would marry him on

condition that he defeat her in battle first. Enraged Mahishasura

accepted the challenge and a fierce battle ensued. The demon fired a

barrage of deadly arrows at her, used a variety of weapons and

transformed himself into various animals to attack her. But Durga

repulsed every attempt. Finally, using the discus Vishnu had given her,

she sliced off his head. Flowers rained on the Goddess as Gods rejoiced.

Then Shiva declared that the ninth day of the bright half of the month

of Ashvina would be celebrated as the great day of victory over evil.

According to a belief, Durga comes to earth, her parental home, during

this time. She arrives on the sixth day of the month and returns to the

heavenly abode on the 10th day. For the four days that she is here, she

is given a grand welcome.

Preparations for this festival begin many months in advance. Local

artisans are involved in making beautiful clay images of the Goddess.

Traditionally the images are carved out of white Indian cork. The idol

is then adorned in a traditional red sari and ornaments. Chadmala, a

garland of white lotus-like flowers made using white cork, is an

essential adornment.

Celebrations for this festival is a community affair and almost every

colony or locality in Bengal erect tents for the grand puja. Artisans

dole out all their artistic and creative talents to create beautiful

tents.

On the first day of the festival, hymns are recited to invoke the

Goddess in the heavens. This special recital is known as Mahalaya. The

next five days are spent preparing for the grand yearly visit of Ma or

mother as Durga is affectionately called in Bengal. Sixth day, known as

Mahashashti, the idol of the Goddess is placed on a raised platform in a

previously erected enclosure. The Goddess is also believed to arrive on

the same day, accompanied by her children Ganesha, Kartikeya, Lakshmi

and Saraswati. The priest ceremoniously establishes life in the clay

image and from now on till the tenth day, the image is treated as the

Goddess herself. It is obligatory for all worshippers to clean their

houses, take a purificatory bath and offer prayers to the Goddess

adorned in new clothes.

Many devotees also observe a fast on this day and break the fast after

the evening aarti.

For the next three days, devotees come in thousands for darshan of the

Goddess. Every morning flowers are offered to the Goddess. Between the

eight and the ninth day, Sandhi Puja is performed in which animals are

sacrificed in honour of the Goddess in many places in Bengal. The ninth

day is considered doubly auspicious as the Goddess is believed to have

been conceived and sent to earth by the Gods on this day. The tenth day

or Vijayadashmi is a day of both joy or sorrow. It was on this day that

the Goddess slew the demon and rid the earth of his devil, but it is

also the day when she returns home. The idol of the Goddess is taken to

a river and immersed in water.

Before the idol is lifted from its home, the priest symbolically

immerses the idol, by capturing its reflection in a bowl of water. This

is known as darpan visarjan or mirror immersion. Married women now take

their last darshan of the Goddess. They use the huge amount of specially

consecrated sindoora lying around the Goddess to anoint the head and the

forehead of their married friends and relatives. This is believed to

grant long life to their husbands.

Regards

Prasanna Kumar

September 23, 2006

Hello All,

Do anyone know any 20 slokas are there for Duga Saptashati Scripture to be

effective. I heard its called Saapon Dwar ke Slok....... Do anyone know abt

it ....... please write back.

On 9/23/06, prasanna kumar <groupowner.prasanna > wrote:

>

> *Myth about Durga pooja*

>

> According to Markandeya Purana and Devi Purana, Mahishasura was a buffalo

> demon. After severe penance lasting many years, he procured a boon from

> Brahma granting that he would not be slain by Gods, men, spirits or any

> aspect of nature. Convinced that he was invincible, he tyrannised the entire

> world, vanquished the Gods and ruled in their place. The Gods appealed to

> Shiva for help. He suggested that the three great Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and

> himself should combine their energies to create a woman. She would be

> powerful enough to vanquish the demon, as he had foolishly forgotten the

> name women while asking for the boon. The three Gods then combined the

> energies to create Durga, a beautiful woman with 18 arms. Her eyes shone

> like sun rays and her smile was as cool as moon. Each God presented her with

> his special weapon and a lion was to be her vehicle.

>

> When Mahishasura heard of Durga's beauty, he wished to marry her and sent

> across the proposal. Durga replied that she would marry him on condition

> that he defeat her in battle first. Enraged Mahishasura accepted the

> challenge and a fierce battle ensued. The demon fired a barrage of deadly

> arrows at her, used a variety of weapons and transformed himself into

> various animals to attack her. But Durga repulsed every attempt. Finally,

> using the discus Vishnu had given her, she sliced off his head. Flowers

> rained on the Goddess as Gods rejoiced. Then Shiva declared that the ninth

> day of the bright half of the month of Ashvina would be celebrated as the

> great day of victory over evil.

>

> According to a belief, Durga comes to earth, her parental home, during

> this time. She arrives on the sixth day of the month and returns to the

> heavenly abode on the 10th day. For the four days that she is here, she is

> given a grand welcome.

>

> Preparations for this festival begin many months in advance. Local

> artisans are involved in making beautiful clay images of the Goddess.

> Traditionally the images are carved out of white Indian cork. The idol is

> then adorned in a traditional red sari and ornaments. Chadmala, a garland of

> white lotus-like flowers made using white cork, is an essential adornment.

>

> Celebrations for this festival is a community affair and almost every

> colony or locality in Bengal erect tents for the grand puja. Artisans dole

> out all their artistic and creative talents to create beautiful tents.

>

> On the first day of the festival, hymns are recited to invoke the Goddess

> in the heavens. This special recital is known as Mahalaya. The next five

> days are spent preparing for the grand yearly visit of Ma or mother as Durga

> is affectionately called in Bengal. Sixth day, known as Mahashashti, the

> idol of the Goddess is placed on a raised platform in a previously erected

> enclosure. The Goddess is also believed to arrive on the same day,

> accompanied by her children Ganesha, Kartikeya, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The

> priest ceremoniously establishes life in the clay image and from now on till

> the tenth day, the image is treated as the Goddess herself. It is obligatory

> for all worshippers to clean their houses, take a purificatory bath and

> offer prayers to the Goddess adorned in new clothes.

>

> Many devotees also observe a fast on this day and break the fast after the

> evening aarti.

>

> For the next three days, devotees come in thousands for darshan of the

> Goddess. Every morning flowers are offered to the Goddess. Between the eight

> and the ninth day, Sandhi Puja is performed in which animals are sacrificed

> in honour of the Goddess in many places in Bengal. The ninth day is

> considered doubly auspicious as the Goddess is believed to have been

> conceived and sent to earth by the Gods on this day. The tenth day or

> Vijayadashmi is a day of both joy or sorrow. It was on this day that the

> Goddess slew the demon and rid the earth of his devil, but it is also the

> day when she returns home. The idol of the Goddess is taken to a river and

> immersed in water.

>

> Before the idol is lifted from its home, the priest symbolically immerses

> the idol, by capturing its reflection in a bowl of water. This is known as

> darpan visarjan or mirror immersion. Married women now take their last

> darshan of the Goddess. They use the huge amount of specially consecrated

> sindoora lying around the Goddess to anoint the head and the forehead of

> their married friends and relatives. This is believed to grant long life to

> their husbands.

>

> *Regards*

>

> *Prasanna Kumar*

>

--

Sumit Bajaj

Contact: +91-98300-84593

September 23, 2006

Dear Prasanna Kumar,

Sai Ram. Thanks for posting. I would have preferred "The story behind Durga Puja" in the subject line. The word myth has a negative connotation. The mythological story is another better word.

Regards.

Swamy

prasanna kumar <groupowner.prasanna > wrote:

Myth about Durga pooja

According to Markandeya Purana and Devi Purana, Mahishasura was a buffalo demon. After severe penance lasting many years, he procured a boon from Brahma granting that he would not be slain by Gods, men, spirits or any aspect of nature. Convinced that he was invincible, he tyrannised the entire world, vanquished the Gods and ruled in their place. The Gods appealed to Shiva for help. He suggested that the three great Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and himself should combine their energies to create a woman. She would be powerful enough to vanquish the demon, as he had foolishly forgotten the name women while asking for the boon. The three Gods then combined the energies to create Durga, a beautiful woman with 18 arms. Her eyes shone like sun rays and her smile was as cool as moon. Each God presented her with his special weapon and a lion was to be her vehicle.

When Mahishasura heard of Durga's beauty, he wished to marry her and sent across the proposal. Durga replied that she would marry him on condition that he defeat her in battle first. Enraged Mahishasura accepted the challenge and a fierce battle ensued. The demon fired a barrage of deadly arrows at her, used a variety of weapons and transformed himself into various animals to attack her. But Durga repulsed every attempt. Finally, using the discus Vishnu had given her, she sliced off his head. Flowers rained on the Goddess as Gods rejoiced. Then Shiva declared that the ninth day of the bright half of the month of Ashvina would be celebrated as the great day of victory over evil.

According to a belief, Durga comes to earth, her parental home, during this time. She arrives on the sixth day of the month and returns to the heavenly abode on the 10th day. For the four days that she is here, she is given a grand welcome.

Preparations for this festival begin many months in advance. Local artisans are involved in making beautiful clay images of the Goddess. Traditionally the images are carved out of white Indian cork. The idol is then adorned in a traditional red sari and ornaments. Chadmala, a garland of white lotus-like flowers made using white cork, is an essential adornment.

Celebrations for this festival is a community affair and almost every colony or locality in Bengal erect tents for the grand puja. Artisans dole out all their artistic and creative talents to create beautiful tents.

On the first day of the festival, hymns are recited to invoke the Goddess in the heavens. This special recital is known as Mahalaya. The next five days are spent preparing for the grand yearly visit of Ma or mother as Durga is affectionately called in Bengal. Sixth day, known as Mahashashti, the idol of the Goddess is placed on a raised platform in a previously erected enclosure. The Goddess is also believed to arrive on the same day, accompanied by her children Ganesha, Kartikeya, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The priest ceremoniously establishes life in the clay image and from now on till the tenth day, the image is treated as the Goddess herself. It is obligatory for all worshippers to clean their houses, take a purificatory bath and offer prayers to the Goddess adorned in new clothes.

Many devotees also observe a fast on this day and break the fast after the evening aarti.

For the next three days, devotees come in thousands for darshan of the Goddess. Every morning flowers are offered to the Goddess. Between the eight and the ninth day, Sandhi Puja is performed in which animals are sacrificed in honour of the Goddess in many places in Bengal. The ninth day is considered doubly auspicious as the Goddess is believed to have been conceived and sent to earth by the Gods on this day. The tenth day or Vijayadashmi is a day of both joy or sorrow. It was on this day that the Goddess slew the demon and rid the earth of his devil, but it is also the day when she returns home. The idol of the Goddess is taken to a river and immersed in water.

Before the idol is lifted from its home, the priest symbolically immerses the idol, by capturing its reflection in a bowl of water. This is known as darpan visarjan or mirror immersion. Married women now take their last darshan of the Goddess. They use the huge amount of specially consecrated sindoora lying around the Goddess to anoint the head and the forehead of their married friends and relatives. This is believed to grant long life to their husbands.

Regards

Prasanna Kumar

in search of truth and with prayers to Govinda to help reach that goal in this life itself, and with best wishes to you that your goals may be reached,

yours sincerely,

Everyone is raving about the all-new Mail.

September 23, 2006

DURGA PUJA OR NAVARATRI

By

SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA <http://www.dlshq.org/saints/siva.htm>

SALUTATIONS to the Divine Mother, Durga, who exists in all beings in the

form of intelligence, mercy, beauty, who is the consort of Lord Shiva, who

creates, sustains and destroys the universe.

This festival is observed twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra and

then in Aswayuja. It lasts for nine days in honour of the nine

manifestations of Durga. During Navaratri (the word literally means "nine

nights") devotees of Durga observe a fast. Brahmins are fed and prayers are

offered for the protection of health and property.

The beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important

junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as

sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother. They are

indicated respectively by the Rama-Navaratri in Chaitra (April-May) and the

Durga Navaratri in Aswayuja (September-October). The bodies and minds of

people undergo a considerable change on account of the changes in Nature.

Sri Rama is worshipped during Ramnavmi, and Mother Durga during Navaratri.

The Durga Puja is celebrated in various parts of India in different styles.

But the one basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate Shakti, the

Goddess in Her aspect as Power, to bestow upon man all wealth,

auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all

other potent powers. Whatever be the particular or special request that

everyone may put before the Goddess, whatever boon may be asked of Her, the

one thing behind all these is propitiation, worship and linking oneself with

Her. There is no other aim. This is being effected consciously or

unconsciously. Everyone is blessed with Her loving mercy and is protected by

Her.

Durga Puja or Navaratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of

the bright half of Aswayuja (September-October). It is held in commemoration

of the victory of Durga over Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. In

Bengal Her image is worshipped for nine days and then cast into water. The

tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami or Dussera (the "tenth day"). Processions

with Her image are taken out along the streets of villages and cities.

The mother of Durga (that is, the wife of the King of the Himalayas) longed

to see her daughter. Durga was permitted by Lord Shiva to visit her beloved

mother only for nine days in the year. The festival of Durga Puja marks this

brief visit and ends with the Vijaya Dasami day, when Goddess Durga leaves

for Her return to Mount Kailas. This is the view of some devotees.

In Bengal, Durga Puja is a great festival. All who live away from home

return during the Puja days. Mothers reunite with their sons and daughters,

and wives with their husbands.

The potter shows his skill in making images, the painter in drawing

pictures, the songster in playing on his instrument, and the priest in

reciting the sacred books. The Bengalis save money throughout the year only

to spend everything during the Puja days. Cloth is freely distributed to the

Brahmins.

The woman of Bengal welcomes the Goddess with a mother's love and sends away

the image on the last day, with every ceremony associated with a daughter's

departure to her husband's home and with motherly tears in her eyes. This

signifies the parting of Durga from Her beloved mother.

Durga Puja is the greatest Hindu festival in which God is adored as Mother.

Hinduism is the only religion in the world which has emphasised to such an

extent the motherhood of God. One's relationship with one's mother is the

dearest and the sweetest of all human relations. Hence, it is proper to look

upon God as mother.

Durga represents the Divine Mother. She is the energy aspect of the Lord.

Without Durga, Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no

existence. Shiva is the soul of Durga; Durga is identical with Shiva. Lord

Shiva is only the silent witness. He is motionless, absolutely changeless.

He is not affected by the cosmic play. It is Durga who does everything.

Shakti is the omnipotent power of the Lord, or the Cosmic Energy. The Divine

Mother is represented as having ten different weapons in Her hands. She sits

on a lion. She keeps up the play of the Lord through the three attributes of

Nature, namely, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Knowledge, peace, lust, anger,

greed, egoism and pride, are all Her forms.

You will find in the Devi Sukta of the *Rig Veda Samhita* that Vak,

symbolising speech, the daughter of the sage Anbhirna, realised her identity

with the Divine Mother, the Power of the Supreme Lord, which manifests

throughout the universe among the gods, among men and beasts and among the

creatures of the deep ocean.

In the *Kena Upanishad*, you will find that the Divine Mother shed wisdom on

Indra and the gods and said that the gods were able to defeat the demons

only with the help of the power of the Supreme Lord.

The worship of Devi, the universal Mother, leads to the attainment of

knowledge of the Self. The story in the *Kena Upanishad* known as the

"Yaksha Prasna", supports this view. It tells how Uma, the Divine Mother,

taught the Truth to the gods. Goddess Shakti thus sheds wisdom on Her

devotees.

Devi worship is, therefore, worship of God's glory, of God's greatness and

supremacy. It is adoration of the Almighty. It is unfortunate that Devi is

ignorantly understood by many as a mere blood-thirsty Hindu Goddess. No!

Devi is not a vicious demoness nor is She the property of the Hindus alone.

Devi does not belong to any religion. Devi is that conscious power of God.

The words Devi, Shakti, etc., and the ideas of different forms connected

with these names are concessions granted by the sages due to the limitations

of the human intellect; they are by no means the ultimate definitions of

Shakti.

The original or Adi Shakti is beyond human comprehension. Bhagavan Krishna

says in the *Gita*: "This is only My lower nature. Beyond this is My higher

nature, the life-principle which sustains the universe".

The *Upanishad* also says: "The supreme power of God is manifested in

various ways. This power is of the nature of God, manifesting as knowledge,

strength and activity".

Truly speaking, all beings in the universe are Shakti-worshippers, whether

they are aware of it or not, for there is no one who does not love and long

for power in some form or other. Physicists and scientists have now proved

that everything is pure, imperishable energy. This energy is only a form of

divine Shakti which exists in every form.

A child is more familiar with the mother than with the father, because the

mother is very kind, loving, tender and affectionate and looks after the

needs of the child. In the spiritual field also, the aspirant or the

devotee--the spiritual child--has an intimate relationship with the Mother

Durga, more than with the Father Shiva. Therefore, it behoves the aspirant

to approach the Mother first, who then introduces Her spiritual child to the

Father for his illumination.

The Mother's Grace is boundless. Her mercy is illimitable; Her knowledge

infinite; Her power immeasurable; Her glory ineffable; and Her splendour

indescribable. She gives you material prosperity as well as spiritual

freedom.

Approach Her with an open heart. Lay bare your heart to Her with frankness

and humility. Be as simple as a child. Kill ruthlessly the enemies of

egoism, cunningness, selfishness and crookedness. Make a total, unreserved,

and ungrudging self-surrender to Her. Sing Her praise. Repeat Her Name.

Worship Her with faith and unflinching devotion. Perform special worship on

the Navaratri days. Navaratri is the most suitable occasion for doing

intense spiritual practices. These nine days are very sacred to the Divine

Mother. Plunge yourself in Her worship. Practise intense repetition of the

Divine Name, having a regular "quota" of repetitions per day, and the number

of hours spent on it.

Devi fought with Bhandasura and his forces for nine days and nine nights.

This Bhandasura had a wonderful birth and life. When Lord Shiva burnt Cupid

with the fire of His "third eye", Sri Ganesha playfully moulded a figure out

of the ashes, and the Lord breathed life into it! This was the terrible

demon Bhandasura. He engaged himself in great penance and on account of it

obtained a boon from Lord Shiva. With the help of that boon, he began

harassing the worlds. The Divine Mother fought with him for nine nights (the

demons have extraordinary strength during the night), and killed him on the

evening of the tenth day, known as the Vijaya Dasami. The learning of any

science is begun on this highly auspicious day. It was on this day that

Arjuna worshipped Devi, before starting the battle against the Kauravas on

the field of Kurukshetra.

Sri Rama worshipped Durga at the time of the fight with Ravana, to invoke

Her aid in the war. This was on the days preceding the Vijaya Dasami day. He

fought and won through Her Grace.

In days of yore, kings used to undertake ambitious expeditions on the day of

the Vijaya Dasami. Those kings who did not go on such expeditions used to go

out hunting in the deep forests. In Rajputana, India, even up to this date,

people arrange mock attacks on some fort on Vijaya Dasami.

This day, however, has much to do with the life of Sri Rama. Nowhere in the

history of the world can we find a parallel to the character of Sri Rama as

a man, son, brother, husband, father or king. Maharishi Valmiki has

exhausted the entire language in describing the glory of Sri Rama. And, we

shall be rightly celebrating the Dussera if we make honest efforts to

destroy the demon of our ego, and radiate peace and love wherever we go. Let

us all resolve to become men of sterling character. Let us resolve and act.

The story of Sri Rama is known in almost all parts of the globe, and if we

but succeed in following even a hundredth part of His teachings, we shall

make our lives more fragrant than the rose and more lustrous than gold!

Dussera can also be interpreted as "Dasa-Hara", which means the cutting of

the ten heads of Ravana. So, let us resolve today to cut the ten

heads--passion, pride, anger, greed, infatuation, lust, hatred, jealousy,

selfishness and crookedness--of the demon, Ego, and thus justify the

celebration of Dussera.

Religious observances, traditional worship and observances at times have

more than one significance. Apart from being the adoration of the Divine,

they commemorate stirring events in history, they are allegoric when

interpreted from the occult standpoint and, lastly, they are deeply

significant pointers and revealing guides to the individual on his path to

God-realisation.

Outwardly, the nine-day worship of Devi is a celebration of triumph. This

nine days' celebration is offered to the Mother for Her successful struggle

with the formidable demons led by Mahishasura. But, to the sincere spiritual

aspirant, the particular division of the Navaratri into sets of three days

to adore different aspects of the Supreme Goddess has a very sublime, yet

thoroughly practical truth to reveal. In its cosmic aspect, it epitomises

the stages of the evolution of man into God, from Jivahood (the state of

individualisation) to Shivahood (the state of Self-realisation). In its

individual import, it shows the course that his spiritual practice should

take.

Let us, therefore, examine in detail the spiritual significance of

Navaratri.

The central purpose of existence is to recognise your eternal identity with

the supreme Spirit. It is to grow into the image of the Divine. The supreme

One embodies the highest perfection. It is spotless purity. To recognise

your identity with That, to attain union with That, is verily to grow into

the very likeness of the Divine. The aspirant, therefore, as his initial

step, has to get rid of all the countless impurities, and the demoniacal

elements that have come to cling to him in his embodied state. Then he has

to acquire lofty virtues and auspicious, divine qualities. Thus purified,

knowledge flashes upon him like the brilliant rays of the sun upon the

crystal waters of a perfectly calm lake.

This process demands a resolute will, determined effort, and arduous

struggle. In other words, strength and infinite power are the prime

necessity. Thus it is the Divine Mother who has to operate through the

aspirant.

Let us now consider how, on the first three days, the Mother is adored as

supreme power and force, as Durga the Terrible. You pray to Mother Durga to

destroy all your impurities, your vices, your defects. She is to fight with

and annihilate the baser animal qualities in the spiritual aspirant, the

lower, diabolical nature in him. Also, She is the power that protects your

spiritual practice from its many dangers and pitfalls. Thus the first three

days, which mark the first stage or the destruction of impurity and

determined effort and struggle to root out the evil tendencies in your mind,

are set apart for the worship of the destructive aspect of the Mother.

Once you have accomplished your task on the negative side, that of breaking

down the impure propensities and old vicious habits, the next step is to

build up a sublime spiritual personality, to acquire positive qualities in

place of the eliminated demoniacal qualities. The divine qualities that Lord

Krishna enumerates in the Gita, have to be acquired. The aspirant must

cultivate and develop all the auspicious qualities. He has to earn immense

spiritual wealth to enable him to pay the price for the rare gem of divine

wisdom. If this development of the opposite qualities is not undertaken in

right earnest, the old demoniacal nature will raise its head again and

again. Hence, this stage is as important in an aspirant's career as the

previous one. The essential difference is: the former is a ruthless,

determined annihilation of the filthy egoistic lower self; the latter is an

orderly, steady, calm and serene effort to develop purity. This pleasanter

side of the aspirant's Sadhana is depicted by the worship of Mother Lakshmi.

She bestows on Her devotees the inexhaustible divine wealth or Deivi

Sampath. Lakshmi is the wealth-giving aspect of God. She is purity itself.

Thus the worship of Goddess Lakshmi is performed during the second set of

three days.

Once the aspirant succeeds in routing out the evil propensities, and

develops Sattwic or pure, divine qualities, he becomes competent to attain

wisdom. He is now ready to receive the light of supreme wisdom. He is fit to

receive divine knowledge. At this stage comes the devout worship of Mother

Saraswathi, who is divine knowledge personified, the embodiment of knowledge

of the Absolute. The sound of Her celestial *veena* awakens the notes of the

sublime utterances of the *Upanishads* which reveal the Truth, and the

sacred monosyllable, Om. She bestows the knowledge of the supreme, mystic

sound and then gives full knowledge of the Self as represented by Her pure,

dazzling snow-white apparel. Therefore, to propitiate Saraswathi, the giver

of knowledge, is the third stage.

The tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, marks the triumphant ovation of the soul at

having attained liberation while living in this world, through the descent

of knowledge by the Grace of Goddess Saraswathi. The soul rests in his own

Supreme Self or Satchidananda Brahman. This day celebrates the victory, the

achievement of the goal. The banner of victory flies aloft. Lo! I am He! I

am He!

This arrangement also has a special significance in the aspirant's spiritual

evolution. It marks the indispensable stages of evolution through which

everyone has to pass. One naturally leads to the other; to short-circuit

this would inevitably result in a miserable failure. Nowadays many ignorant

seekers aim straight at the cultivation of knowledge without the

preliminaries of purification and acquisition of the divine qualities. They

then complain that they are not progressing on the path. How can they?

Knowledge will not descend until the impurities have been washed out, and

purity is developed. How can the pure plant grow in impure soil?

Therefore adhere to this arrangement; your efforts will be crowned with sure

success. This is your path. As you destroy one evil quality, develop the

virtue opposite to it. By this process you will soon bring yourself up to

that perfection which will culminate in identity with the Self which is your

goal. Then all knowledge will be yours: you will be omniscient, omnipotent

and you will feel your omnipresence. You will see your Self in all. You will

have achieved eternal victory over the wheel of births and deaths, over the

demon of worldliness. No more pain, no more misery, no more birth, no more

death! Victory, victory be yours!

Glory to the Divine Mother! Let Her take you, step by step to the top of the

spiritual ladder and unite you with the Lord!

At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the following are the regular features

during the Durga Puja celebrations:

1. A special ritualistic worship of the Mother is conducted daily,

which includes the recitation of the *Durga Saptashati*.

2. Laksharchana for the Mother in the temple, with recitation of the *Sri

Lalita Sahasranama*, is also conducted.

3. All are exhorted to do the maximum number of Japa of the Navarna

Mantra, *Aim hreem kleem chaamundaayai vichche*, or the Mantra of

their own tutelary Deity.

4. An elaborately decorated altar is set up for the evening Satsangs,

with the picture of Mother Durga for the first three days, Mother Lakshmi

for the next three days, and Mother Saraswathi for the last three days. Many

sacred verses from the scriptures are recited and many Kirtans are sung. The

*Durga Saptashati* or the *Devi Mahatmya* is recited and explained in

discourses. The function concludes with the formal floral worship and Arati.

Sometimes scenes from the *Devi Mahatmya* are also enacted.

5. Earnest spiritual aspirants fast with milk and fruits only on all

the nine days, or at least once in each of the three three-day periods.

6. Besides the books representing Saraswathi, all instruments and

implements like typewriters, printing machinery, etc., are also worshipped

on the ninth day.

7. On the Vijaya Dasami day, all aspirants *en masse* are given

initiation into various Mantras according to their tutelary Deities.

Deserving aspirants are initiated into the holy order of Sannyas. Initiation

in the study of the alphabets is given to young children, and to the old

children also! New students commence their lessons in music, etc. During the

morning Satsang the books which were worshipped on the ninth day are again

worshipped and a chapter from each of the principal scriptures like the

*Gita, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Ramayana,* and *Srimad

Bhagavatam*is recited.

8. On the Vijaya Dasami day, there is Kanya Puja also. Nine girls

below the age of ten are worshipped as the embodiment of the Divine Mother.

They are fed sumptuously and, amongst other things, presented with new

clothes.

9. On this last day a grand *havan* is conducted in the temple, with

recitation of the *Durga Saptashati* and other verses in praise of the

Divine Mother.

On 9/23/06, Swarna Venkateswara Swamy <truthseeker123x > wrote:

>

> Dear Prasanna Kumar,

>

> Sai Ram. Thanks for posting. I would have preferred "The story behind

> Durga Puja" in the subject line. The word myth has a negative connotation.

> The mythological story is another better word.

>

> Regards.

>

> Swamy

>

> *prasanna kumar <groupowner.prasanna >* wrote: