What is Navratri, DurgaAshtami and Dussehra?

Navratri, DurgAshtami, Dussehra

As many people in different parts of the world celebrate Durga Ashtami it is important to understand the significance of Durga Pooja or Durga Ashtami.

“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 Sakti 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.

1. Durga, the mother of Lord Ganesa, is the first form representing the underlying principle of all the
vegetable and other lives.

2. Lakshmi is the second form representing the glories observable in heaven and earth.

3. Saraswati is the third form representing the real knowledge that removes all doubts.

4. Savitri or Gayatri, the mother of the Vedas, Sandhya, Mantras and Tantras, is the fourth form
representing the Brahmaic lustre and energy.

5. 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. Sakti 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 Sakti pertaining to the Gurus or masters, namely Siva and Krishnaa. 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 Sakti of Hari that destroys fear, enemies, diseases and sins. The Sakti that bestows the highest bliss is called Sivaa. Abhaya refers to the destruction of fear. The Sakti that bestows prosperity and liberation is called Maya and Vishnu-Bhakti. Narayani means born from half the body of Narayana. Jaya means granting victory.”

Durga also refers to knowledge. The four arms of Durga refers to managing the aham (ego), Gunas, the sword or mace to ward off evil and lower desires.

Similarly “Para-Sakti verily signifies Samvit or Gnana and nothing else. Therefore, she should ever be worshipped by man. Everything misconceived by man as different from her or as not belonging to Her, is technically styled Samsara. For the purpose of removing the miseries of this Samsara therefore, man should worship this goddess who is in the form of Atma and is free from the illusion of this ephemeral Jagat.

This goddess represents in reality the purified Budhi ( intellect) of a human which discerns correctly that the illusory Jagat in itself is but the manifestation of Siva or Atma.  She is technically known as Sivaa and Samvit.  No doubts should be entertained of this fact.”

Asuras and Rakshasas are not the so called demons or cannibals (Annie Besant’s mis interpretations in Sanatana Dharma) who eat the flesh of human beings and rule the nether world.  They are our lower desires which need to be destroyed by Pranayama (breathing out of the Asuras & 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 Ashtami refers to the knowledge acquired to kill ignorance to ward off lower desires. (Mahisasura-mardhini)

The Ten days of the festival or Pooja refers to the purification of the ten Indriyas- Five Karma Indriyas and Five Gnana Indriyas of human beings by the necessary spiritual practices symbolically pointed out during the festivities for the ten days.

Five Karma Indriyas (active expressions): eliminating, reproducing, moving, grasping, and speaking– Five Gnana Indriyas (cognitive senses): smelling, tasting, hearing, touching, seeing) 

The Vigraha of Durga or any ‘Vigraha’ refers to deep analysis and understanding that all that is here is Ishwara/Brahman and that Ishwara is "you".

• Trident represents the three Gunas; 
• Four hands signify Satwa, Rejas, Tamas and Ahamkara.  
• 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, 
• Sarang (bow) represents Satwic Maya, 
• Mace ( gadha) which is always (to battle the  ignorance), 
• Lotus in the hand represents Viswam ( the 24 Tatwams), 
• Two  bright ear rings refers to the eternal regions.  

Unless this exact technical significance is understood at the time of performing Pooja, 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 Deva.  The vigrahas are thus an artistic concretization of the extremely philosophical principles expounded in the Gnana-Kanda of the Vedas.

In the highest mental worship the Manas itself serves as a Vigraha.

Several names of the Devi are here explained mostly by their root meanings. They refer to the various stages of religious (read dharmic) development in human, each of them being technically important and distinct in its use. It is not therefore enough to explain, like the Pundit that all these terms apply to any physical Devi or a woman Goddess.

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…………                           

Source: Brahma Vaivartha Purana*

*Puranas refer to the technical commentaries of the Vedas and does not refer to any meaningless mythology or absurd Indian history.

To read more in details get a copy of the book  Inside  Out – a  philosophical enquiry of Hindu Dharma

https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Out-Philosophical-Enquiry-Dharma-ebook/dp/B0847Q81JQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=inside+out%2C+a+philosophical+enquiry+of+hindu+dharma&qid=1603559533&s=books&sr=1-1

Wishing you a very happy Navratri, Durga Ashtami and Dussehra.

K V Vishwanathan

11th October 2024