DURGA---THE PRIMODIAL SHAKTI

                                  

There are conflicting versions of the origin of goddess Durga—the primitive and  the  advanced! In the  primitive form she was considered as a mountain goddess worshiped by the dwellers of the Himalayas and the Vindhyas. She was worshiped by the nomadic ‘ abhira’ shepherds. She was worshiped as a war goddess As  civilization advanced this war goddess was transformed into the personification of the all destroying time KALI—the vegetation spirit—into primordial energy—Adya Shakti. Gradually she was brought into the line with the Brahmanical mythology and Philosophy.

     Maya or delusion of the Supreme Soul is called shakti. She is responsible for the generation of  all  forms of knowledge. She is accepted as the cause of creation, protection and destruction. According to Sri DURGA SAPTASATI RAHASYAM the original  power Mahalakshmi created three pairs of supreme powers! Male powers were Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva. Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvathi were female powers. Saraswathi is Brahmi, Lakshmi is Vaishnavi, and Mahakali is Maheswari. Durga shakti is called  Adya Shakti—Paramatma shakti and Prakruthika Shakti. This creates general energy called  JADA SHAKTI or Thamasika Shakti. It is believed that Man gets emancipation through the blessings of  Durga Shakti. Man without shakti or power is a zero! He will be incapable of lifting even a blade of grass! Sage Vyasa in his great work DEVI BHAGAVATA says “  rudrahinam Vishnu hinam na vadanti janasthatha  Shakti hinam thathas sarve prabodhanti naradhame” Powerless people are despised as mean persons!

        The origin of Durga is described in SIVA PURANA. Lord Siva invokes Durga, the primordial energy from his left half for the purpose of creation. Together they create their eternal abode, SIVALOKA known as KASI! Later they created Vishnu and Brahma. Sri Lalitha Sahasra Nama Sthothra refers to  DEVI creating Vishnu and all his ten avatars from the nails of her ten fingers! "Karanguli nakhothpanna Narayana dasakrthyai namo namaha”

         According to SIVA PURANA  and DEVI MAHATMYA  Mahishsura  was the son of the demon Rambha. He was a terror on earth and heaven. He defeated the Devas and drove them away from heaven. Having no power to contain him, all the Devas appealed to the Trimurthies for help and protection. Even as they were appealing, a brilliant beam of light emanated from the enraged face of Vishnu and all other gods! This brilliant light  transformed itself into a woman! Wondering at this the Devas gave away their weapons to her! This shakti once again  rmanifested  itself  into Sri DURGA DEVI to kill Mahishasura! With her original energy and that she derived from the weapons provided by the Devas, Durga challenged Mahishasura’s army led by demons like Chiksur, Chamar, Asiloma, Vidalaksha,  Durdhura, Durmukha, Mahamanu and others! She killed them all with unparalleled cruelty!

            Mahishasura attacked Durga disguised as a buffalo. Durga bound it with ropes. Then it changed  into a lion and pounced on Durga! But she beheaded it with her sword! The demon took the form of a swordsman but she pinned him down with a torrent of arrows! Soon he changed into a giant elephant and tugged at Durga’s lion! But Durga lopped off its trunk with her sword and freed her lion!  Mahishasura again changed himself into a buffalo and charged at DURGA DEVI. Sipping from her wine cup Durga flung her trident and beheaded Mahishsura, finally killing him. Mahisha represents thamasic nature, the evil force detrimental to itself and humanity! It also represents ignorance. By destroying Mahisha, Durga has destroyed the evil and thamasic forces in human nature!

             That is why we celebrate NAVARATRI as the victory of Good over Evil. It is the biggest annual festival in Bengal, all over Odisha, Jharkand, and Nepal. The day of Durga’s victory is celebrated as VIJAYA DASAMI which literally means ‘ victory on the Tenth Day’ In Andhra Pradesh there are gala celebrations in Vijaywada at the temple of KANAKA DURGA by the side of river Krishna. In Karnataka,  goddess Chamundeswari  on the hills is the form of Durga and grand DASARA celebrations are held annually. In short, NAVARATHRI  is a period of great spiritual, cultural and traditional fervor!