Sunday, October 1, 2000		Article

MOST of us go to temples during navratras to worship Goddess Durga, but not many of us are aware of the philosophical significance behind it.

It is believed that there are 40 navratras in a year (40x9=360), out of which Chaitra - Sukla (March - April) and Asvin - Sukla (September - October) are the most important for devi worship. According to Devi Bhagwat Puran, "The two seasons, autumn and spring, are known as the teeth of Yama, the God of Death". The beginning of summer and beginning of winter have the right weather and solar influences and are taken as sacred opportunities for worship.

Durga Puja or Navratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of Asvin Sukla. It celebrates the victory of Durga over Mahisasura, the buffalo-headed demon. The tenth day is called Vijayadashmi or Dasehra and is also the day when Rama defeated Ravana. Das means ten sins and Hara means to remove, and so Dasehra celebrates the cutting of ten heads of Ravana associated with passion, pride, anger, greed, lust, infatuation, hatred, jealous, selfishness and crookedness. Because of its auspicious character, Hindu kings in ancient times used to undertake ambitious expeditions on this day. In Rajasthan, even now, people arrange mock attacks on some forts on Vijayadashmi.

Religious observances, festivals and traditional worship are more important than the adoration of the Divine. Apart from commemorating important events in history, they are allegorical when interpreted from a mythological standpoint.

On a spiritual level, navratras symbolise the stage of man’s evolution into God-- from Jivahood (state of individualisation) to Sivahood (state of self realisation).

Navratras can be divided into three sets of three days each, dedicated to the three different aspects of the Goddess. First, she is adorned as Durga, the Terrible, where she fights against and overcomes the base animal qualities of the individual. It marks the destruction of impurity and evil tendencies in one’s mind. The next step is to acquire positive qualities and build a sublime spiritual personality by worshipping Lakshmi, who bestows the divine wealth on her devotees. The worship of Saraswati in the last three days is to receive the light of supreme wisdom. Vijayadashmi, on the tenth day, marks the triumph of the soul at having attained liberation while living in this world.

Even the images, their various forms, attributes, symbols and weapons have a esoteric meaning with deep philosophical significance. The worship of the image of Durga indicates the victory of the soul over animal passions -- the demon personifies passions, desire, anger, pride, jealousy and attachment. This victory is achieved with the help of Saraswati (higher knowledge) Ganesha (determination for success) and Lakshmi (good fortune). They are the companions of Durga.

The various weapons in the hands of Durga also have their significance. The trident given to her by Shiva represents satva, rajas and tamas qualities, the discus given by Vishnu represents rotation of the world, the conch given by Varun relates to sound and symbolises the sky. Similarly, the bow and arrow given by Maruta represents Sankhya and Yoga, and the danda given by Yama is the Rod of Fate. Sun gave her red rays which is the source of all lust. Destiny presented her with a sword and a spotless shield, which is symbolic illusion, necessary for the creation of the world. Similarly, the elephant-headed Ganesha represents inflated ego or consciousness. ‘I’, Saraswati’s two eyes stand for the sun and moon, her four arms represents the four Vedas, rosary represents time and the veena in her hand stands for all achievements. Lakshmi’s pot of nectar represents the essence of water, while lotus in her hand represents wealth, and the bilva fruit in her hand symbolises the whole world.

This truth should inspire devotees to graduate from idol worship to Para-Vidya — the highest knowledge in life.