As many people in
different parts of the world celebrate the Ten days Durga Puja/Dussehra / Durga
Ashtami let us understand the significance of Durga Puja or Durga Ashtami.
Let us understand the terms Prakriti, Shakti, Devi:
“The term Prakriti is explained as follows in accordance with its
root meaning. In the Vedas Pra means superior or first, and Kriti is creation.
Pra again means Satwa, Kri Reja and Ti Tama. Prakriti thus represents the
all-powerful Shakti possessing the three Gunas.
The Atma divided itself into two, the male on the right side and
the female on left which is known as Prakriti. The two stands in the relation
of fire and its heat, and the Yogis therefore do not recognize any difference
between male and female.
In her act of creation, Prakriti is distinguished as of five
forms.
- Durga, the mother of Ganesa, is the first form representing the underlying principle of all the vegetable and other lives.
- Lakshmi is the second form representing the glories observable in heaven and earth.
- Saraswati is the third form representing the real knowledge that removes all doubts.
- Savitri or Gayatri, the mother of the Vedas, Sandhya, Mantras and Tantras, is the fourth form representing the Brahmaic lustre and energy.
- Radha, residing in Go-loka in the form of a Gopi is the fifth form representing the five vital airs. She is seen by the Yogis by meditation according to the methods prescribed in the Vedas.
Sak means glory and Ti is valour. Shakti is the form of both.
Bhaga means prosperity and Buddhi and Bhagavati is their form. Radha and
Sarva-mangala allude to the power of granting liberation. Amba means mother of
the Jagat. Being created by Vishnu, she is Vaishnavi. Gowri means the Shakti
pertaining to the Gurus or masters, namely Siva and Krishna. Parvati refers to
the Parvas or the holy festive occasions on which she is worshipped. Sanatani
means existing without Gunas at all times and places. Kritika refers to the
Kalas of Prakriti representing the six Yogas. Durga refers to the Shakti of
Hari that destroys fear, enemies, diseases and sins. The Shakti that bestows
the highest bliss is called Sivaa. Abhaya refers to the destruction of fear.
The Shakti that bestows prosperity and liberation is called Maya and
Vishnu-Bhakti. Narayani means born from half the body of Narayana. Jaya means
granting victory.”
Several names of the Devi are explained
mostly by their root meanings. They refer to the various stages of religious
development in man, each of them being technically important and distinct in
its use. It is not therefore enough to explain, like some of the Pseudo Pundits that all
these terms apply to the Devi.
Every technical term in the sciences could
otherwise be explained by any ignorant person as simply applying to the
sciences. It will be clearly evident here that even single letters in the given
names are separated into consonants and vowels and their Vedic significance
explained. When such detailed explanations on doubtful points in the religious
literature are not forthcoming from the Pundit, the correct inference is that
he knows them not, and not that the texts are silent in the matter.
Asuras and Rakshasas
are not the so called demons or cannibals (Annie Besant’s ( sanatana dharma)
other western sanskritists' and some of our own Indian Authors' mis interpretations
) who eat the flesh of human beings and rule the nether world. They are
our lower desires which need to be destroyed by Pranayama through the strength
of "Bhīma" (breathing out of the Asuras and breathing in the
Devas).
Mahisham in Sanskrit
also refers to ignorance or lower desires. Rakshasas also denote the diminution
in the duration of the day and metaphorically refers to the sins of man that
obstruct the real knowledge of Brahman’.
Durga as mentioned
earlier refers to
the Shakti of Hari that destroys fear, enemies, diseases and sins and therefore
refers to knowledge. The four arms of Durga refer to
managing the aham (ego), Gunas, the sword or mace to ward off evil and lower
desires. Durga Ashtami refers to the knowledge acquired to kill ignorance to
ward off lower desires. (Mahisasura)
The Devi is here explained in the
plainest terms as referring to the highest philosophical knowledge. Her worship
is prescribed for the liberation of man from his bondage.
Which of the sects of modern
interpreters now stand in need of further information to be convinced of their
ignorance and mistake?
There are of course several
varieties of the modern editions of this Devi, specially manufactured to help
on the inclinations to drinks and animal food. The Devi of our ancient religion
is however clearly explained in the quotation, as having no jurisdiction over
this material world.
From the conception of Brahma
downwards, everything is classed under Prakriti and styled feminine. The story
of Mahisha is repeated in this quotation also, almost in the same words, and
explained in the same manner. Most of the names of Devi here given, such as,
Gnana, Kriya, Yoga, Satya etc are too plain to be misunderstood as referring to
beings in human form. Some of the Pseudo Pundits however would be glad to
manufacture concrete forms for every word in the text, as he is unable to
conceive anything useful without a tangible form for his artistic eye.
The Apsaras
represent different stages of attainment in the practice of Yoga and refer more
particularly to the Siddhis or powers resulting there from. They are not
therefore the common dancing girls in heaven, perhaps somewhat better looking
and better decorated. The religious heaven is certainly not the abode of
debauchery and concubinage.
The worship of Shakti is intended
for the advancement of those who have relinquished worldly desires and will
never prove useful or effective to the worldly inclined.
The religious texts
never treat of the means of satisfying man’s desires for women, animal food or
intoxicating drinks. They are naturally sought for without special
instructions. But the main object of religion is to rescue man from falling a
victim to their consequent evils, by checking and reducing his objectionable
propensities in that direction.
The knowledge of
Brahman as distinguished from Brahman itself although the Shakti is its own, is
the idea conveyed in the representations of Goddesses. The functions of the
ultimate Shakti comprising creation, preservation and destruction cannot
possibly therefore be mistaken for Agnana or ignorance with all its existing
paraphernalia, known as the material world and its varying cosmological
conceptions as formed by each individual. The Goddesses represented thus
clearly point to the latent powers of the Absolute which may be profitably
invoked for helping on in our march through the path of Gnana to the ultimate
goal.
Now coming back to
the Nine nights and ten days festival let us understand what these ten days
festival denotes.
The Ten days of the
festival or Puja refers to the purification of the ten Indriyas- Five Karma
Indriyas and Five Gnana Indriyas of man by the necessary spiritual practices
symbolically pointed out during the festivities for the ten days.
Five Karma
Indriyas (active expressions): eliminating, reproducing, moving,
grasping, speaking Five Gnana Indriyas (cognitive senses): smelling,
tasting, hearing, touching, seeing
The Vigraha of Durga
or any ‘Vigraha’ refers to deep analysis and understanding of the Paramatma
(Supreme Being) within us: The word Idol is not an equivelant English word for our superior Vigraha.
- The trident represents the three Gunas;
- the four hands signify Satwa, Rejas, Tamas and Ahamkara. Sometimes you will see multiple hands denoting all directions of the material universe.
- Sanka (conch) represents five subtle elements and is placed in the hand which denotes Rejas.
- Chakra ( discus) refers to "Manas" ( mind" which is unaltered like that of a child.
- The Sarang (bow) represents Satwic Maya
- The mace ( gadha) which is always (to battle the ignorance)
- The lotus in the hand represents Viswam ( the 24 Tatwams)
- The two bright ear rings refers to the eternal regions.
Unless this exact technical
significance is understood at the time of performing Puja, the
"Vigraha" cannot serve its purpose.
The different details
of a Vigraha are the technical doorways provided for are insight into the true
nature of the Devi. The Vigrahas are thus an artistic concretization of
the extremely philosophical principles explained in the Gnana-Kanda of the
Vedas.
In the highest mental
worship the Manas ( mind) itself serves as a Vigraha.
Wishing you a very
happy Navratri, Durga Ashtami and Dussehra.
Hariom.
Sources:
Devi Bhagavatam
Bhagwad Gita
Shaktiopanishad
Vayu Purana
Brahmanda Purana
This is an extract from the book Inside-Out- a Philosophical Enquiry of
Hindu Dharma© copyrighted by K V Vishwanathan. All rights reserved in all
media.
