Mother Durga

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Salutations to Sri Durga (Mother Divine) Who exists in all beings in

the form of intelligence, mercy, beauty; Who is the consort of Lord

Siva; who creates, sustains and destroys the universe.

 

Dussera is the greatest Hindu festival of adoring God as Mother.

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

Lord. Without Durga, Siva has no expression and without Siva, Durga

has no existence. Siva is the soul of Durga. Durga is identical with

Siva. Lord Siva is only the silent witness. He is motionless,

absolutely changeless. He is not affected by the cosmic play. Durga

does everything.

 

Mother-worship is the worship of God as the Divine Mother-Sri Mata.

Sakti is the power of the Lord or the cosmic energy. The Divine

Mother in Her aspect of Durga is represented as having ten different

weapons in her hands. She is sitting on a lion. She keeps up the

Lila of the Lord through the three Gunas-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

Vidya, Santi, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride are all Her forms.

 

The Upasana or worship of Devi or Universal Mother leads to the

attainment of knowledge of the Self. The story of the Kena Upanishad

known as the " Yaksha Prasna " supports this view. Uma taught the

Truth to the Devas. Goddess Sakti sheds wisdom on Her devotees.

 

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

because she is very kind, loving, tender, affectionate and looks

after the wants of the child. In the spiritual field also the

aspirant or the devotee-the spiritual child-has intimate relationship

with the Mother Durga than with the Father Siva. It behoves,

therefore, that the aspirant should approach the Mother first and

She will introduce Her spiritual child to the Father for his

illumination or Self-realisation.

 

Mother's grace is boundless. Her mercy is illimitable. Her knowledge

is infinite. Her power is immeasurable. Her glory is ineffable. Her

splendour is indescribable. She gives you Bhukti or material

prosperity and Mukti (liberation) also.

 

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

frankness and humility. Be as simple as a child. Kill ruthlessly

egoism, cunningness, selfishness and crookedness. Make total,

unreserved, ungrudging surrender to Her. Sing Her praise. Repeat

Her name. Worship Her with faith and unflinching devotion. Do

special Puja on Navaratri days. Navaratri or Dussera is the most

suitable occasion for doing intense Sadhana. These nine days are

very sacred to Devi. Plunge yourself in Her worship. Do Anushthana.

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

nights. The war ended in the evening of the tenth day known as

Vijaya Dasami day or the day of victory. Aspirants are initiated on

this day. Akshara Abhyasa for children is done on Vijaya Dasami day.

The beginning of learning of any science is done on this most

auspicious day. It was on this day that Arjuna worshipped the Devi

before starting the fight against the Kauravas on the field of

Kurukshetra.

 

May Durga give the milk of divine wisdom to Her children and lift

them to the magnificent heights of divine splendour and glory, the

imperishable state of Kaivalya and eternal Sunshine!

 

(Source:http://www.divyajivan.org/dussera_celebration.htm)