Durga Puja

[Guest guest]

The creation of the images of the Goddess and her

children goes through several complex phases before they

are ready to be taken to individual pandals for

worshipping. The artisans of Kumartuli in North Calcutta,

famous for keeping alive the age-old tradition of

creating the awesome idols of the Goddess by hand, regard

the task of creating the idols of the Goddess,

sacred, thus carrying it out with great seriousness and

reverence.<br>Even before the process of creating the images begin,

many quaint rites and rituals are observed which form

very much a part of Durga Puja tradition. The task of

making the idols is considered as sacred as the actual

Puja itself. As such, an auspicious date is chosen for

commencing this very significant work. Sometimes, work on

moulding the images is begun as early as on the day of

Ratha Yatra in the month of Ashara in the Bengali

calendar (July). Before actual shape is given to the

'murti' of the Goddess, the rough structure made of straw

and bamboo dust is worshipped. This is called

'Kathamo Pujo', in which even the womenfolk of the

artisans' families, participate. A simple clay image of

Lord Ganesha is also worshipped as a part of 'Kathamo

Puja', as it is considered propitious according to Hindu

shastras. Later, this small image is inserted into the

belly of the final image of Ganesha.<br>Another very

beautiful custom performed by the priest at dusk on

Mahashasthi, is 'Bodhan'. The images of the Goddess, crafted

with care, and made of clay, is not yet regarded

divine. During 'Bodhan', when the 'Purohit' performs

'Chakhkhudan', which involves touching the eyes of Durga with

'kajal', the clay image is invested with holy spirit and

is transformed from a mere clay idol to a figure of

divinity.<br>It is these peculiar, yet highly meaningful

practices that make the worship of the Goddess so unique

and awe-inspiring. <br> There are two splendid Golden

Durga images in Calcutta. Both of them are of solid

gold and worth seeing. First, the famous

'Singhabahini' of 'Mallikbari'. The height is approximately one

and half feet. The goddess is sitting upon a

'Ghoradaba Singha' [The body of a lion having the face of a

horse]. She is one of the oldest extant deities of

Calcutta, dating back almost 500 years ago. But to see her

during the Puja, you must know first under whose 'Pala'

she is being worshipped. The Malliks are scattered at

many places. Naturally, the Goddess also travels a

lot.<br>The other one is at Manton, Behala. This is an

established Durgamandir. The 'Sevayet'(caretaker) is

Sachchidananda Chatterjee. He is Sourav Ganguly's maternal

grandfather. Sourav is the captain of the Indian Cricket team.

[Guest guest]

The Myth

 

Aeons ago, Mahishasura, the king of demons, through years of

austerities, was once granted a boon by Lord Shiva, that no man or

deity would be able to kill him. The immense power filled in him the

urge to rule over the world. He started to terrorize heaven and

it's inhabitants. He pervaded the world with his battalion of

Asuras (demons) and plundered and ruthlessly killed the people. Chaos

and anarchy reigned everywhere. Gods were driven from heaven and

Mahishasura usurped the throne. The Gods scared and unable to combat

him, requested Lord Shiva, Lord Bramha, Lord Vishnu to stop

Mahishasura's tyranny.

 

Angered by the atrocities committed by Mahishasur, the Trinity

unleashed their rage in the form of luminous energy. Great flames

issued forth in all directions, the fires illuminating all three

worlds: heaven, earth and the nether-world in penetrating light. The

energy of their fires coalesced at a single point to take the form of

a young woman. Her face was from the light of Shiva. Her ten arms

were from Lord Vishnu. Her legs were from Lord Brahma. All the Gods

present contributed their share of energy to this Goddess, and thus

Durga, the eternal mother, was born. Despite her grace she bore a

menacing expression, for Durga was born to kill. Fully grown and

beautiful Durga was immediately armed by the gods and sent forth

against Mahishasura bearing in each of her ten hands, symbols of

their divine power. Vishnu's discus; Shiva's

trident;Varuna's conch

shell; Agni's flaming dart; Vayu's bow; Surya's quiver

and arrow;

Yama's iron rod; Indra's thunderbolt; Kubera's club and a

garland of

snakes from Shesha; Viswakarma's axe and a lion as a charger from

Himalayas. The demons had little time to admire the radiant visage of

Durga before she engaged them on the battlefield.

 

She first met the army of Chikasura and then that of Chamara,

Mahishasura's chief commanders, destroying both in great battles.

At first, confident of his overwhelming power, Mahishasura held in

reserve his personal demon-army. However, it soon became obvious to

him that even his personal guard must be completely committed or he

would surely be cast out of heaven. A fierce battle took place.

Amidst this chaos, Durga roamed the battlefield on her mighty lion.

>From her divine breath, her army was constantly replenished with new

warriors, each able, brave and resolute. With her bell she confused

the demons. As his army and commanders perished, Mahisasur reverted

once more to his own animal form, the wild buffalo. He retreated into

the mountains where he hurled boulders at Durga with his horns. The

Mother of the Universe drank the divine nectar, gift of Kuvera, and

transformed into Devi Chandika, the most ferocious form of the

Goddess. Finally when Mahishasura in the guise of a buffalo charged

against Durga, the Devi leaped at Mahishasura, pushing him to the

ground with her left leg, beheaded the buffalo and from it emerged

Mahishasura in his original form. Durga pierced his chest with the

trident and relieved the world from the evil power.

 

That is why she is `Durgatinashini Durga', our mother Goddess

who destroys the evil, protects her devotees and establishes peace

and prosperity on earth.

 

According to the Puranas (Hindu Scripture), Devi got her name

`Durga' after she killed a mighty demon named Durga. There

are other stories and anecdotes where Devi has appeared in different

times and in different names to abolish evil spirits and to

reestablish peace, love and prosperity on earth. In another

description, she defeated and killed `Raktabeeja', a tricky

demon, a

single drop of whose blood could create innumerable demons.

 

Akaal Bodhon

 

We (Bengalis) worship Devi Durga as the Mother Goddess, the epitome

of `Shakti' (divine power), to deliver us from the evil and

bring

peace and prosperity in our lives. But the most interesting part of

Durga Puja is that, instead of placing Durga on a high alter and

worshipping her from a distance the Bengalis embrace her in their

hearts and make her an inseparable member of the family. We welcome

Durga to the earth as our daughter who comes at her parents' home

for her annual visits. Durga stays for four days - Shashti, Saptami,

Ashtami and Nabami along with her children, Ganesha, Laxmi, Kartik

and Saraswati and sets for her husband's abode on Vijaya Dashami.

Durga's mode of journey to the earth is detailed in scriptures.

The

modes, an elephant, a horse, palanquin, boat all signify luck or

omen which influence the life on earth. The elephant signifies

prosperity and good harvest while journey on a horse back indicates

drought, a palanquin spells wide spread epidemic and the boat

suggests flood and misery.

 

The worship of Devi Durga however owes its origin to Sree Rama. He

hastily worships Durga, the Goddess of `Shakti', just before

he sets

for Lanka to rescue Sita from Ravana. Before his final battle with

Ravana, Rama seeked the blessings of Devi Durga for defeating Ravana.

He was given to understand that the Goddess would be pleased only if

she was worshipped with one hundred `Neel Kamal' (blue

lotuses).

 

After travelling and searching the whole world, Rama could gather

only ninety-nine `Neel Kamals'. So intense was his devotion

that he finally decided to offer one of his eyes, which resembled

blue lotuses. Devi Durga, being pleased with the devotion of Rama,

appeared and blessed him for the battle. The fierce and decisive

battle started on the day of `Saptami' and Ravana was finally

defeated and killed on the `Sandhikshan', the crossover

period

between Ashtami (the next day) and Navami (the day after). Ravana was

cremated on Dashami. According to Puranas, King Suratha, used to

worship the Goddess Durga in spring.

 

Thus Durga Puja was also known as Basanti Puja. But Rama prepones the

Puja and worships the Devi in autumn and that is why it is known

as `Akal Bodhon' or untimely worship. Over the years, this

Akal

Bodhon has become the tradition among Bengalis (Bangalis) and in

Bengal.

 

Mahalaya

 

Seven days before the Puja, from the day of Mahalaya starts

Devipaksha. The day is observed as `Mahalaya', the day of

invocation.

 

In the dark night of amabasya (new moon), people pray to Goddess

Durga to arrive in the earth to ward off all evils. People take a

holy dip in the river Ganga at dawn and pray for the departed souls -

the act is called `Tarpan'. The ritual of drawing the eyes on

the

image of the Goddess is called `chakkhu-daan'. Symbolising

the

process of infusing the image with the power of vision, this is done

on Mahalaya, the day of the new moon. Since the early 1930s , on the

dawn of `Mahalaya', homes in Bengal reverberate with the

immortal

verses from Chandipath - chanting of the hymns of Chandi Kabya in the

recorded voice of late Birendra Krishna Bhadra; and aired by All

India Radio in a programme termed as `Mahisasura Mardini',

narrating the birth of Goddess Durga and her eventual fight with

Mahisasura.

 

Chandipath narrates that She is the primeval source of power, all

qualities reside in her. She is one and yet known by many names. She

is Narayani, Brahmani, Maheshwari, Shivaduti and She is the

fierceful `Chamunda', decked with a garland of skulls. The

Goddess

Chandika is eternal. She has no birth, no definite physical form. She

assumes a manifestation of majestic might only to restore the process

of Creation from the terrible `asuras' or evil incarnates.

(http://www.kolkatabeckons.com/durga.html)

 

 

_/\_ Tat twam asi

 

Uma

 

 

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4445 "Tatwamasi" wrote:

> Mahalaya

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