NAURATRI FESTIVAL is one of the most important Hindu festivals of India celebrated with great religious fervor throughout the country and also abroad where Hindus reside. Nauratri means Nine Nights; Nau means nine and ratri means night. In this festival the nine forms of the Hindu Goddess is worshipped during a period of nine nights and ten days. Three days is devoted to worship of Goddess Durga - the Goddess of courage; three days to Goddess Lakshmi - the Goddess of Wealth and three days to Goddess Saraswati - the Goddess of Knowledge.Nauratri Festival is celebrated twice a year. Firstly in March-April, and secondly in October-November. On the 10th day after the October-November Nauratri the festival of Dussehra or Vijayadasami is celebrated. This festival is called Dussehra in Northern India while in Southern India, it is called as Vijayadasami.
This year the festival of Nauratri starts on the 5th October and culminates on the 13th October followed by Dussehra or Vijayadashmi on the 14th October.
Mythology
According to mythology the most popular legend associated with Nauratri is the slaying of the demon king, named Mahishasura by Goddess Durga.
Mahishasura was a powerful demon king who obtained a boon from God that his death should be only at the hands of a woman and not by any other living being. After receiving this boon he started performing violent acts on the beings of the earth.
Due to his violent acts, people started to pray to Goddess Durga to save them from this demon. Durga entered a war with him lasting nine days. The Goddess Durga eventually killed Mahishasura on the tenth day. The nine nights of Nauratri denote the nine nights of the war between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura.
The ninth day of Nauratri celebrations is special in that a special puja [ritual]called Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls, who have not yet reached the stage of puberty, are worshipped. These girls are said to symbolize the nine forms of Goddess Durga or Nau Durga.
SIGNIFANCE OF THE NAME DURGA
The Sanskrjt word 'Durga', is derived from 'Durg' which means 'Fort'. In the DEVI PURANA,one of the books of Indian Mythology, it has been said that she had destroyed a formidable demon whose name was 'Durg' and it was because of this that she was given the name 'Durga'.
In another scripture, entitled DURGA SAPTASHATI, very popular with the devotees of Durga and in the form of a litany, she has been described as DURGATI NASHINI—the destroyer of the factors that lead to one's moral and spiritual downfall. She is regarded as Divine Mother, who, out of her motherly love and kindness, acts as protector to her spiritual children and ends the hurdles and obstacles in their path of spiritual progress. She ends their weaknesses and supplements their efforts with her benign motherly grace.
IN THE DEVI BHAGWAT
It is stated in the DEVI BHAGWAT that that demons had defeated the devas or gods and turned them out of heaven. These gods were now moving about on the earth as ordinary beings. These now ordinary men approached Brahma to help them re-gain their heavenly happiness. Brahma took them to Shiva.
With the blessings of the SUPREME GOD and the divine Trinity- Brahma,Vishnu and Shankar Durga appeared.
She was blessed with many weapons by God and the divine Trinity for destruction of the demons.
THE WEAPONS OF DURGA
Parasu[axe]; Gadda (Mace),Baan(Arrow),Vajra(Thunderbolt), Padma[Lotus], Dhanush(Bow);Asi [sword],Shul[The central part of the Trident of Shiva], Dhala[Shield], Swadershan Chakra [Wheel, depicting knowledge of the World and the self ].
Durga is shown on the background of a battlefield, riding a lion. She is shown crushing and slaying Mahishasura, the buffalo-bodied demon.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LION AND BUFFALO DEMON
THE riding of a lion, killing a buffalo-bodied demon all have a meaning other than the literal.
Mahishasura the demon is shown with the body of a buffalo.
A buffalo represents dullness, lack of intelligence and foresight, Tamoguna, i.e. ignorance and Ego.
It is also said about a buffalo that if we take a piece of cloth unto it, it begins to fight, presuming the cloth to be another buffalo.
It also represents meanness, jealousy and hatred. Therefore, killing of Mahishasura means destroying all the bad qualities it represents. The word 'Asura' [demon] means one who has qualities which are opposite of what deities have.
DEEPER MEANING OF THE LEGEND:
So, the whole legend, when deciphered, implies that Durga, the Divine Mother, destroyed the demoniac qualities in human souls when this world which was formerly the veritable heaven was turned into hell and when the deities of heaven had become ordinary men because of their subjugation to the demoniac or evil forces.
The other part of the legend which says that the deities who had now become ordinary men, approached Brahma, who led them to Shiva, means that, it was Shiva who through Prajapita Brahma, liberated human beings from their sorrows and sufferings, caused by their ignorance and demoniac qualities.
GOD SHIVA THROUGH PRAJAPITA BRAHMA, gave great spiritual power to women in India that they became the strong fortress [Durga] of divine might. These spiritual imbibed sisters and mothers liberated those who were formerly gods [and now had become ordinary men] from the travail and torture inflicted by the evil qualities.
DURGA is, called Shakti because of the spiritual might inherited from Shiva and Brahma. She was the chief among BRAHMA KUMARIS the virgin daughters of Brahma, and protected them from the onslaughts of Maya.
She led them fearlessly and gave them all the guidance and supplemented their efforts out of love and compassion.
THE LION, on which she is riding, is symbolic of courage and of the ability of conquering difficult situations. Lion is also taken as a symbol of royal grace. It represents qualities that one requires to meet a challenge with courage, resoluteness and majesty. These are the qualities which embodies the chief of the spiritual daughters of God Shiva THE BRAHMA KUMARIS and Brahma.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EIGHT ARMS AND WEAPONS
Durga is generally shown to have eight arms. These are representation of the eight spiritual powers.
Each arm is shown with a divine gift or a weapon.
The SwadarshanChakra represents the Knowledge of the different lives lived in the World Wheel of time;
The mace is the symbol of victory or control over one's physical senses;
THE SHUL, the pointed spike which the demon of body-consciousnss;
THE AXE is symbolic of cutting the root of attachment.
THE DAND OR RULE stands for strict spiritual discipline or observance of divine laws.;
THE SWORD represents the power of knowledge to cut sex lust and ignorance;
THE SHIELD stands for tolerance and protection of the self from the attacks of Maya the forces of evil;
THE THUNDERBOLT can destroy or burn anything on which it falls. It is symbolic of Tapasya which can destroy evil wherever it isand burn away one's evil sanskaras effectively.
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This year the festival of Nauratri starts on the 5th October and culminates on the 13th October followed by Dussehra or Vijayadashmi on the 14th October.
Mythology
According to mythology the most popular legend associated with Nauratri is the slaying of the demon king, named Mahishasura by Goddess Durga.
Mahishasura was a powerful demon king who obtained a boon from God that his death should be only at the hands of a woman and not by any other living being. After receiving this boon he started performing violent acts on the beings of the earth.
Due to his violent acts, people started to pray to Goddess Durga to save them from this demon. Durga entered a war with him lasting nine days. The Goddess Durga eventually killed Mahishasura on the tenth day. The nine nights of Nauratri denote the nine nights of the war between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura.
The ninth day of Nauratri celebrations is special in that a special puja [ritual]called Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls, who have not yet reached the stage of puberty, are worshipped. These girls are said to symbolize the nine forms of Goddess Durga or Nau Durga.
SIGNIFANCE OF THE NAME DURGA
The Sanskrjt word 'Durga', is derived from 'Durg' which means 'Fort'. In the DEVI PURANA,one of the books of Indian Mythology, it has been said that she had destroyed a formidable demon whose name was 'Durg' and it was because of this that she was given the name 'Durga'.
In another scripture, entitled DURGA SAPTASHATI, very popular with the devotees of Durga and in the form of a litany, she has been described as DURGATI NASHINI—the destroyer of the factors that lead to one's moral and spiritual downfall. She is regarded as Divine Mother, who, out of her motherly love and kindness, acts as protector to her spiritual children and ends the hurdles and obstacles in their path of spiritual progress. She ends their weaknesses and supplements their efforts with her benign motherly grace.
IN THE DEVI BHAGWAT
It is stated in the DEVI BHAGWAT that that demons had defeated the devas or gods and turned them out of heaven. These gods were now moving about on the earth as ordinary beings. These now ordinary men approached Brahma to help them re-gain their heavenly happiness. Brahma took them to Shiva.
With the blessings of the SUPREME GOD and the divine Trinity- Brahma,Vishnu and Shankar Durga appeared.
She was blessed with many weapons by God and the divine Trinity for destruction of the demons.
THE WEAPONS OF DURGA
Parasu[axe]; Gadda (Mace),Baan(Arrow),Vajra(Thunderbolt), Padma[Lotus], Dhanush(Bow);Asi [sword],Shul[The central part of the Trident of Shiva], Dhala[Shield], Swadershan Chakra [Wheel, depicting knowledge of the World and the self ].
Durga is shown on the background of a battlefield, riding a lion. She is shown crushing and slaying Mahishasura, the buffalo-bodied demon.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LION AND BUFFALO DEMON
THE riding of a lion, killing a buffalo-bodied demon all have a meaning other than the literal.
Mahishasura the demon is shown with the body of a buffalo.
A buffalo represents dullness, lack of intelligence and foresight, Tamoguna, i.e. ignorance and Ego.
It is also said about a buffalo that if we take a piece of cloth unto it, it begins to fight, presuming the cloth to be another buffalo.
It also represents meanness, jealousy and hatred. Therefore, killing of Mahishasura means destroying all the bad qualities it represents. The word 'Asura' [demon] means one who has qualities which are opposite of what deities have.
DEEPER MEANING OF THE LEGEND:
So, the whole legend, when deciphered, implies that Durga, the Divine Mother, destroyed the demoniac qualities in human souls when this world which was formerly the veritable heaven was turned into hell and when the deities of heaven had become ordinary men because of their subjugation to the demoniac or evil forces.
The other part of the legend which says that the deities who had now become ordinary men, approached Brahma, who led them to Shiva, means that, it was Shiva who through Prajapita Brahma, liberated human beings from their sorrows and sufferings, caused by their ignorance and demoniac qualities.
GOD SHIVA THROUGH PRAJAPITA BRAHMA, gave great spiritual power to women in India that they became the strong fortress [Durga] of divine might. These spiritual imbibed sisters and mothers liberated those who were formerly gods [and now had become ordinary men] from the travail and torture inflicted by the evil qualities.
DURGA is, called Shakti because of the spiritual might inherited from Shiva and Brahma. She was the chief among BRAHMA KUMARIS the virgin daughters of Brahma, and protected them from the onslaughts of Maya.
She led them fearlessly and gave them all the guidance and supplemented their efforts out of love and compassion.
THE LION, on which she is riding, is symbolic of courage and of the ability of conquering difficult situations. Lion is also taken as a symbol of royal grace. It represents qualities that one requires to meet a challenge with courage, resoluteness and majesty. These are the qualities which embodies the chief of the spiritual daughters of God Shiva THE BRAHMA KUMARIS and Brahma.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EIGHT ARMS AND WEAPONS
Durga is generally shown to have eight arms. These are representation of the eight spiritual powers.
Each arm is shown with a divine gift or a weapon.
The SwadarshanChakra represents the Knowledge of the different lives lived in the World Wheel of time;
The mace is the symbol of victory or control over one's physical senses;
THE SHUL, the pointed spike which the demon of body-consciousnss;
THE AXE is symbolic of cutting the root of attachment.
THE DAND OR RULE stands for strict spiritual discipline or observance of divine laws.;
THE SWORD represents the power of knowledge to cut sex lust and ignorance;
THE SHIELD stands for tolerance and protection of the self from the attacks of Maya the forces of evil;
THE THUNDERBOLT can destroy or burn anything on which it falls. It is symbolic of Tapasya which can destroy evil wherever it isand burn away one's evil sanskaras effectively.
Your Divine Friend
DR.BK.Satyanarayan
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Enjoy your stay at Rukhsana Group.
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Moderators Rukhsana Group:
Kazakhstani1303 & Mumtaz Ali.
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Rukhsana-owner@yahoogroups.com
**********************************
**********************************
Moderators Rukhsana Group:
Kazakhstani1303 & Mumtaz Ali.
Contact us at: kazakhstani1303@gmail.com
Rukhsana-owner@yahoogroups.com
**********************************
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