Durga - The Goddess of Energy (Navarathri Special 2)

In the Hindu mythological literature, energy, as different from matter, is always pictured as a female deity, Shakti.
Durga, is, perhaps, the most widely worshipped aspect of Shakti. An entire purana, Devibhagavatam is dedicated to her. Yet another well-known work is Devi-mahathmyam, which is specially chanted during navaratri. It is also known as Durga saptasati or chandipat. It is a part of the great Markandeyapurana. This is held in such high respect that every verse is considered a mantra of the Devi.
The literal meaning of Durga is, one who is difficult to approach or to know. It is true because she is the personification of the totality of the powers of gods. But she is the benovalent Mother of the Universe and the personification of love.

Some aspects of the Shakti are
Yoganidra – the mysterious power, the very personification of knowledge, wisdom and memory. She is the power of sleep, taking recourse to which, Vishnu rests between two cycles of creation.

Mahishasuramardini - the deity who took shape as a result of the pooling together of all the powers of gods who were oppressed by the demon Mahishasura. Devi was born out of the wrath of Vishnu, Siva and Brahma who were incensed by hearing the accounts of the misdeeds of Mahishasura. Armed with formidable weapons, Devi challenged him, riding on a fierce lion and destroyed him. She is the inscrutable power, energizing the entire Universe. She personifies, wealth, power, beauty and all virtues.

Parvati – the power and consort of Shiva.
Some aspects of Parvati are Annapurna, Aparajitha, Bala, Bhadrakali, Bhutamata, Chamunda, and Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati the presiding deieties of the famous Gayatri Mantra, Indrakshi, Jagad-dhatri, Kameswari, Katyayani, Manonmani, Rajarajeswari, Sivaduti

Vindhyavasini - one who lives in the Vindhyas

Raktadanta – having red teeth

Satakshi - one with hundred eyes

Shakambari – sustainer of vegetables

Durga – slayer of a demon called Durgama

Bhramari – having the form of bees

Kali – the power of time (kala); she is the power of God in all His aspects. We always abhor at the Kali imagery found in scriptures, pictures and icons. Since she is the supreme energy responsible for the dissolution of the created universe, her form as depicted naturally strikes awe and fear. But then She is the Creatrix, the mother also.

Images of Durga can have four or eight or ten or eighteen or even twenty hands. The eyes are usually three. She is gorgeously dressed with red cloth and several ornaments.
Some of the common objects, she holds in hand are conch, trident, bow, arrow sword, dagger, rosary, wine-cup and bell. She may be shown as standing on a lotus or on a buffalo’s head or as riding a lion, when she is called Simhavahini. The lesson we draw from this is, to become divine one should keep one’s animal instincts under complete control.

Some important shlokas for Durga are:
http://www.indusladies.com/forums/12167-post21.html
http://www.indusladies.com/forums/pujas-prayers-and-slokas/1999-special-shlokas-for-specific-purposes-7.html#post13296
Navarathri Shlokas (daily chanting)
Navaratri Shlokas (Durga)
Rahukala Durga Ashtakam & Dukha Nivarana Ashtakam
Mahishasuramardhini Shlokam
Devimahatmiyam 21 shlokas

For the p[hoto of Durga in pdf file, please go to
Exclusive pdf files for deity-pictures

Love,
Chithra.

Dear Mom,
Again this post is a varaprasadam for me. I last week only I got to record the caseette of Devi Mahathmyam 3 volumes especially to play it during this time. I do not find the same in tamil in any website, Still I can not chant full slokas as I do not know also do not have the book but I am thinking of playing the full cassette during navarathi. I made a point to read devi kavacham and devi stuthi everyday. one Mama told me if I read the devi stuthi, the palan for that will be reading entire Devi mahatmayam. Anyhow I am reading argala stothram too. Again good to know about this topic during this aspicious time.

Love you more and more for your enthu.

Birundha

Dear Birundha,
Your interest at this young age is amazing !
Pray Devi blesses you with all the best in life, now & always.
Love,
Chithra.

Dear Chithra
Thank you again for taking the time and effort to bring these classics for us.
More so because I can understand the subject matter if not i would ahev tried to run. I never knew that Durga is Goddess of energy. The more i read here the more i become aware of how less i know. I am glad atleast now I am being educated. never too late.
By this line ...Durga, is, perhaps, the most widely worshipped aspect of Shakti....I understand that Shakti and Durga are not seperate entities but Shakti as the female diety and Durga an aspect or representative form of Shakthi.
Someof the other aspects are not so known to me as Yoganidra.
Vindhyavasini, Raktadanta, (never ever heard of before by me), Satakshi,
Shakambari,..
It is very intersting to me you mention Kali and how we abhor the imagery associatedand thanks for explaining why.
Thanks to you I am now reliving the moment I went to see the Kali temple at
Calcutta. I had planned a trip to Calcutta when my son was young because I wanted to visit Ramakrishna Matt and the Kali temple. It was my luck that the trip took place during Navrathiri. It was the most spectacular celebration of Goddess I have ever seen. First there where these huge "pandals" and insde the Goddess and huge decorations.OMG you have to see to believe. and during saraswait puja day and all the streets will be filled with people all the time day and night. And ofcourse when I went to the kalitemple there were all these people pushing everyone around and when you get past them you see Kali and she took my breath away. I was stunned and can never forget those unique experiences. I can see I am going to bore everyone here and also getting distracted and carried away. sorry. But thank you again for explaining these
wonderful facts and I am going to remember all the new names I learnt today.

Dear AC,
Your post made very interesting reading.
I visited Calcutta Kali temple, when I went on an excursion to calcutta in my college days But the impact of seeing that deity was very deep. I fully agree with what you have written !
There are a few more names for Durga. But I omitted them because that will form a long list by itself !
Thakyou for joining this thread !
Love
To
Chitra
From
Chithra.

Originally Posted by anandchitra

Dear Chithra
Thank you again for taking the time and effort to bring these classics for us.
More so because I can understand the subject matter if not i would ahev tried to run. I never knew that Durga is Goddess of energy. The more i read here the more i become aware of how less i know. I am glad atleast now I am being educated. never too late.
By this line ...Durga, is, perhaps, the most widely worshipped aspect of Shakti....I understand that Shakti and Durga are not seperate entities but Shakti as the female diety and Durga an aspect or representative form of Shakthi.
Someof the other aspects are not so known to me as Yoganidra.
Vindhyavasini, Raktadanta, (never ever heard of before by me), Satakshi,
Shakambari,..
It is very intersting to me you mention Kali and how we abhor the imagery associatedand thanks for explaining why.
Thanks to you I am now reliving the moment I went to see the Kali temple at
Calcutta. I had planned a trip to Calcutta when my son was young because I wanted to visit Ramakrishna Matt and the Kali temple. It was my luck that the trip took place during Navrathiri. It was the most spectacular celebration of Goddess I have ever seen. First there where these huge "pandals" and insde the Goddess and huge decorations.OMG you have to see to believe. and during saraswait puja day and all the streets will be filled with people all the time day and night. And ofcourse when I went to the kalitemple there were all these people pushing everyone around and when you get past them you see Kali and she took my breath away. I was stunned and can never forget those unique experiences. I can see I am going to bore everyone here and also getting distracted and carried away. sorry. But thank you again for explaining these
wonderful facts and I am going to remember all the new names I learnt today.

Great Writeup on Durga! Enjoyed reading this post too!
When are your next posts going to be.....aavaludun ethirpaarkiren!

Dear Sudha,
Thankyou very much.
Adutha post on lakshmi !
Final post will be on Sarasvathi !!
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by sudhavnarasimhan

Great Writeup on Durga! Enjoyed reading this post too!
When are your next posts going to be.....aavaludun ethirpaarkiren!

hi chitmam,

Just read this post i missed this.... good one again...enlighting one....

i must mention ashta buja durgai pateeswaram..and then nanganallur santhi durgai.....

But i like the kanaka durga in vijayawada the most...I dont know the reason..but when i think durga..it is invariable kanaka durga...

Waiting for saraswathi.....

Dear Shanthi,
My navarathri posts have very few takers ! But I am glad you read it.
My sister's name is Durga ! So the mention of that name makes me think only of her, first !
Thanks for joining us here.
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by shanvy

hi chitmam,

Just read this post i missed this.... good one again...enlighting one....

i must mention ashta buja durgai pateeswaram..and then nanganallur santhi durgai.....

But i like the kanaka durga in vijayawada the most...I dont know the reason..but when i think durga..it is invariable kanaka durga...

Waiting for saraswathi.....

My dear Chithra

Another enlightening post from you. I enjoyed reading it, many thanks for your nice post. I am regularly chanting the Navarathri slokams posted by you.

Love and regards
Priya