Lovely Durga

[Guest guest]

I get a catalog out of Arizona called "T-Shirt Planet." These people

make available an assortment of baseball caps, T-shirts, yoga clothing,

etc. imprinted with Om-symbols, Shree Yantras, Hatha-yoga asanas, and

other items of interest to the spiritually curious. They also sell

books, prayer beads, Om-jewelry... and a small assortment of Hindu and

Buddhist statues.

 

There was advertised for several editions a bronze of Durga, the Goddess

of Power and defender of the Gods. She was very nice, but larger and

more expensive than I'd ordinarily splurge for. Then the new edition of

the catalog came in the mail -- no Durga! Was she sold out? I phoned

the 800 number, no, there were a few statues left, not many...

 

I ordered the statue, which arrived last Thursday in a huge box full of

styrofoam peanuts. She's a bronze about a foot tall, solid (not hollow)

and heavy. The style is Nepalese -- meaning the Goddess is less

pneumatic than more southern Hindu styles. Long-legged and flat-chested,

the Goddess wears a long skirt with an apron of carved bones (very

Tantric!), and lots of jewelry above the waist. Her right foot is on a

puppy-sized lion (it's actually a mythical Himalayan snow lion,

resembling a Maltese doggy with a mane). Her left foot is crushing

the larger quadruped body of her opponent, the greedy (Water-)

Buffalo

Demon, whom she's beheaded, and is pulling his human form out the

buffalo's neck, and peircing him with a spear.

 

Especially of interest to me is that this Durga has the traditional 18

(count 'm! eighteen!) arms, each with a different toy (as Rita calls em):

sword, discus, trident, bow, arrows, spear, shield, noose, and so on. I

lit a candle before her, and the shadows of the arms spread across the

walls of my room like some (benevolent?) giant spider. Truly "many-armed

and splendid," as some songwriter's lyric describes her.

 

Durga is associated with the waxing cycle of the Moon, as Kali is

associated with the Moon's waning cycle. All the Goddesses are contained

within Durga's field of energy, so one can use Durga's image to

substitute for any other Hindu goddess (although the slayer of the

Buffalo Demon is especially seen as an incarnation of Lakshmi).

 

As my given name is Leonard (meaning "like a lion"), I have a special

attunement to this Goddess who often uses the Lion as her vehicle.

 

Chanted this <shloka> many times before the statue: When pleased, you

remove all illnesses and infirmities. When displeased, you will not

grant anyones' desires. Those who resort to you will find refuge at your

feet, and those who are granted your refuge invariably become a refuge

for others as well.

 

In these days when greedy men despoil the planet, we need the protection

of a powerful Lady whom no man can defeat. Jai Durga ma!

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

 

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