Request information on Nava Durga

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

 

Namaste. May I request some clarification on the differenti forms of

Durga (usually attributed as Nava Durga)? Different texts seem to

give differing accounts of the same.

 

a. The nine forms of Durga as per the Kalpokta Navadurga Pujavidhi

are Moola Durga, Arya Durga, Shulini Durga (also referred to as

Bhagavati), Kumari Durga, Ambika Durga, Vana Durga, Maha Chandika

Durga, Saraswati and Vagvadini(Vagishwari).

b. In the book title "Thuyar Neekkum Durga Devi" by Bharadwaja

Swamigal, the Nava Durga List contains actually 12 forms (11 if

Mookambika is excluded) - Moola Durga, Vana Durga, Shulini Durga,

Jatavedo Durga, Shanti Durga, Shabari Durga, Lavana Durga, Deepa

Durga, Asuri Durga, Jaya Durga, Dhrishti Durga, (and Mookambika). He

even gives moola mantra for each.

c. According to Shulini Kalpam, Agni Durga, Maha Durga, Jala Durga,

Vana Durga, Shula Durga, and Shulini Durga are given as Kriya Shakti

Durgas - which means there could be more Ichha/Jnana Shakti forms.

 

I would appreciate if any one can shed more light on the above,

specific mantras for each form and special remarks about worshipping

specific Durga form - including any astrological reasons.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

K. Muralidharan

[Guest guest]

, "kmurali_sg" <kmurali_sg> wrote:

> Dear all,

> Different texts seem to

> give differing accounts of the same.

 

One should follow that version, his Guru teaches.

 

> a. The nine forms of Durga as per the Kalpokta Navadurga Pujavidhi

> are Moola Durga, Arya Durga, Shulini Durga (also referred to as

> Bhagavati), Kumari Durga, Ambika Durga, Vana Durga, Maha Chandika

> Durga, Saraswati and Vagvadini(Vagishwari).

> I would appreciate if any one can shed more light on the above,

> specific mantras for each form and special remarks about

worshipping

> specific Durga form - including any astrological reasons.

 

 

Shri Harsha posted the puja vidhi for these durgas here

 

/message/3646

 

Chandi kavacha gives another version of Nava Durgas like

Shailaputri, Katyayani, MahaGauri etc.

 

Rgds

[Guest guest]

Thank you Ganapathyji for this devotional post on Durga Mata right

before Vaant Navaratri.

 

Please allow me to also add some more thoughts on this subject.

 

There are many meanings for the name Durga

 

Durga - " durdukhena gamyate" - meaning one who helps us to

overcome "dukha" or misery or even obstacles.

 

Durga - "durgati nashini" meaning one who helps us to destroy 'bad

fate' (dur gati)

 

there are many more meanings listed in Devi bhagvata or durga

saptashati.

 

The divine mother killed the demon by name Durgama .... she is

depicted as a ship that sails us safely through the ocean of samsara -

"durgasi durga-bhava-sagara naurasangha"

 

The divine mother rescues us all difficulties- she is 'durgayai'

or 'durgaparayai.'

 

Another meaning of Durga is "fort" -a place that is protected and

difficult to reach.

 

Mother Durga protects us from negative tendencies like

 

1)greed

 

2) jealousy

 

3) arrogance

 

4)false pride

 

5) selfishness

 

6) hatred

 

7)lust

 

8) anger

 

9)attachments

 

and False Ego.

 

Mother DURGA is generally shown with 18 arms and in some temples with

32 arms.

 

How was Durga created ?

 

The combined energies of all the Gods created the Beauttiful and

powerful form of DEVI DURGA.

 

 

Each god created a different part of the goddess. ShivA created her

radiant face; Chandra, created her breasts; Indra, her torso; Varuna,

her thighs and knees; the Earth, her hips and bottom; Brahma, her

feet; Surya, her toes and Agni opened her three lotus eyes. Yama, the

god of death, gifted her the dark cloud of long hair.

 

Now Durga had to be armed with the most powerful weapons and each god

presented her with his own. She received Shiva's trident, the

Trishula; Vishnu's discus, the Sudarshan Chakra and Brahma's

Rudraksha prayer beads and Kamandalu bowl. Varuna gave her his

Shankha and his noose, the Pasha. Agni's gift was a dart and her

Shakti or power. Indra handed her his thunderbolt, the Vajra and

Vishwakarma, his battle axe. The bell was given by Airavat, the

elephant and the shield and Kharag by Surya. Durga was offered

Indra's Airavat elephant and Vishnu's Garuda bird to mount upon, but

dEVI dURGA chose to ride Himalaya's lion. (in some icons, she is

shown riding a Tiger).

 

Thus armed , Devi Durga went on to slay the buffalo headed

demon 'Mahisa' ; hence she is known as mahisamardini. What

does 'mahisa' represent - the 'stubborness' in human beings. have you

ever seen how a buffalo behaves? once they lie down, it is hard to

make them get up ! hence the tamizh expression "erumai maadu." (one

who is stubborn.) \

 

Durga's weapons are symbolic. For example, the "sword" .... by

cutting the 'ego' , it teaches you how to use the power

of 'discrimination' (viveka) .... so and so forth.

 

Finally, why is Devi durga worshipped in the Spring season ? (vasant

navaratri) - it is called 'akhal bodhan' - untimely worship. It is

believed Rama was asked to Worship Goddess Durga by his guru before

undertaking the war on Ravana . The myth goes that Rama had to offer

108 lotus flowers to the goddess and she had intentionally removed

one of the blossoms to test Rama. On realising that a flower was

missing, Rama had resolved to offer his own eye and at the moment

when he was about to pierce his eye with an arrow the goddess had

appeared in her resplendent beauty and blessed him with the secret to

slay Ravana.

 

Please join me in offering prayers to the lotus feet of Maa Durga.

the embodiment of female life force - shakti !

 

Yaa devi sarva bhutesh *shakti* rupena sansthita

namastasya namastasya om namo namaha

 

Salutations to the divine mother who resides in all beings as

the 'divine life force'!

 

On the eve of vasant navaratri, salutations to Maa 'BASANTI' ( THE

GODDESS who heralds the advent of spring- spring means'hope and

optimism' )

 

Jaya Ambe Bhavani Devi Durge, mokshadatri!

 

(compiled from different sources)

 

visit http://www.musicindiaonline.com to listen to Mhaperiyavaal's

compostion on Durga Pancharatnam in the melodious voice of smt. m.s.

subbalakshmi.