PARAKUNNATH SREE VETTAKKORUMAKAN PAYYAN KSHETHRAM (TEMPLE), AROLI, KANNUR, KERALA: Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the universe.

Wednesday, 4 October 2017

Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the universe.

Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the universe. She is the energy aspect of the Lord. Without Durga, Lord Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no existence. The Sanskrit word Durga means a fort, or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach. Maa Durga protects mankind from evil and misery. Durga is thought to be the skin of Parvati, which slips off and fights the demon brothers - Shumbha and Nishumbha.

The absence of any male influence as well as of any male assistance, in Durga's fierce battles with male demons, is worth noting. She is not only presented as Shakti, the divine power, but rather, she assumes the powers of the male gods to save the universe. Having heard of the misdeeds of the demons, pure energy blazed forth from Brahma, Shri Vishnu and Lord Shiva, and it took form of the Goddess. Her face was from the light of Shiva. Her ten arms were from Lord Vishnu. Her feet were from Lord Brahma. The tresses were formed from the light of Yama (god of death) and the two breasts were formed from the light of Somnath (Moon God), the waist from the light of Indra (the king of gods), the legs and thighs from the light of Varun (god of oceans), and hips from the light of Bhoodev (Earth), the toes from the light of Surya (Sun God), fingers of the hand from the light of the Vasus (the children of Goddess river Ganga) and nose from the light of Kuber (the keeper of wealth for the Gods). The teeth were formed from the light of Prajapati (the lord of creatures), the Triad of her eyes was born from the light of Agni (Fire God), the eyebrows from the two Sandhyas (sunrise and sunset), the ears from the light of Vayu (god of Wind). Thus from the energy of these gods, as well as from many other gods, was formed Maa Durga.

The gods then gifted Maa with their weapons and other divine objects to help her in her battle with the demon, Mahishasura. Lord Shiva gave her a trident while Lord Vishnu gave her a disc. Varuna, gave her a conch and noose, and Agni gave her a spear. From Yama, she received a sword and shield and from Vishwakarma, an axe and armor. The god of mountains, Himavat gifted her with jewels and a lion to ride on. The beautiful Durga, bedecked in jewels and golden armour and equipped with the fearsome weaponry of the gods, was ready to engage in battle with the fierce and cruel Mahishasura. Her lion's thunderous roars shook the three worlds. As Mahishasura's armies were struck down effortlessly by Durga, it became obvious that No demon could fight her and win!