Navratri

Today is the last day of Navratri. Every year we celebrate Navratri at home by offering bhog to a painting of Durga, wearing different colored dresses(each with its significance), and playing Dandiya on the last day. However, for me, the true meaning of Navratri is beyond the festivities. It's a chance to remember and worship Maa Durga’s inner strength and courage.

 

I recalled the stories of Goddess Durga and thought about what I had learned from her. It was to always be brave and ambitious but at the same time humane and ready to sacrifice. 

I had tried once to fast(sacrifice food) for a day and it turned out to be a flop show because I ate so many fruits and still had a meal at the end of the day! But the sacrifice Goddess Sati had done was very different. Goddess Sati was nothing but Goddess Durga but in her previous life. Sati’s father was Daksh Prajapati who was the son of Lord Brahma and devotee of Vishnu. However, he loathed Lord Shiva. Still, his daughter, Sati went against his wish and married him. The next day Daksh had arranged a Yagya and invited all the devas except Lord Shiva. With Lord Shiva convincing her not to go, Sati still went to the Yagya. Sati was so dejected about how Daksh treated Lord Shiva that in the pain Sati sacrificed her life and burned herself in a fire. While I think in today’s day and age, such sacrifices are not required, I do feel that having control in all walks of life is something I want to nurture.

 
I condemn the ancient practice of Sati where a woman jumps into the funeral pyre of her husband(whether by will or by force) To me it seems irrational to take such a harsh step. But for me, the power of Shakti is to invoke compassion, sacrifice, and penance within oneself to be focused on the purpose. Not to go astray with so many distractions available around. To control the small temptations before I achieve a milestone- be it in school, music, art, is what is to invoke the Shakti within you. 

To stay righteous, to destroy evil, and to be courageous to do all that it takes is what Durga symbolizes. To be compassionate to see the misery of people suffering and to invoke the courage within you. It's truly inspiring to me. Be it a boy or a girl, I think both can draw inspiration from Goddess Durga.

Now I’ll tell you the story of the ninth and the last avatar of Goddess Durga which is Mahishasur Mardini. Mardini means the one who kills and Mahishasur was the name of a demon. Once there was a demon named Mahishasur who was really bad. He wanted to become immortal so that he could rule everyone including Dev Loka. That’s why he meditated and chanted the name of Lord Brahma. After many years of continuous meditation, Lord Brahma appeared and asked him what boon he wanted. He asked for a boon that no animal, man or God could kill him. Lord Brahma granted him the boon and left. Mahishasur first attacked Dev Loka which was where the Devas live. They got into a war and quickly the Devas realized that they couldn’t face Mahishasur. The horrified Devas left Dev Loka and went to Lord Vishnu to ask for help. Meanwhile, Goddess Parvati was outraged with Mahishasur so she went to speak with him. When she went there, Mahishasur was awestruck by her beauty. And forcefully asked her to marry him. Parvati furiously left Dev Loka in anger. While Lord Vishnu told the Devas about the boon Mahishasur had and that even he couldn't kill him. Parvati went to her husband Shiva and told him what happened. Shiva was of course sad and angry about how Mahishasur had behaved with his wife. But he knew that he couldn’t do anything because of his boon. Despite knowing that he couldn’t kill Mahishasur, Shiva still went on Parvati’s insistence. Shiva went to Deva Loka and fought with Mahishasur but he turned Shiva into a stone. Parvati was despaired on hearing this. That's when all the Devas and Lord Vishnu reminded her about all her powers and that she alone could kill Mahishasur easily. Then Parvati took the avatar of Goddess Durga and all the gods gave her their weapons. And her father gave her a lion as a vehicle and she proceeded to kill Mahishasur. Parvati went to Dev Lok and struck Mahishasur. They began a war and in the end, Parvati killed Mahishasur and came out victorious.

I am inspired by the way Goddess Durga has displayed bravery and used her emotions in the right direction. I believe all females have these powers within them and we need to activate them. Durga epitomizes bravery, love, and compassion for others. I wish and pray during this Navratri,  that all girls of the world are able to enlighten the Durga in them.