DURGA PUJA - HEART & SOLE OF BENGAL FESTIVAL
Durga Puja is a celebration of Hindu goddess Durga. It is the greatest festival of Bengal and is one of the greatest festivals in India. In most of Northern India the festival is celebrated as Navratri (nine nights). It is a celebration varying from 6 days in some parts of India to 10 days in others. Regardless of these variations, the last four days of Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijay Dashami, are particularly important and accordingly celebrated with much splendor around the country. Durga Puja's first day is Mahalaya, which heralds the advent of the goddess. Celebrations begin from Panchami (fifth day) and worship begins on Sasthi, the sixth day.
Durga, (Sanskrit: “the Inaccessible”) in Hinduism, a principal form of the Goddess, also known as Devi and Shakti. Goddess Durga is considered to be the physical form of 'Shakti' or 'Universal Energy'. According to legend, she was created to annihilate the notorious buffalo demon king Mahisasura by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the lesser gods, who were otherwise powerless to overcome him. Embodying their collective energy (shakti), she is both derivative from the male divinities and the true source of their inner power.
This festival's origin is not clear, yet it is said that a family in Kolkata started this celebration of Durga Puja in 1411 CE. Some also say that Kamsanarayan, a Bengali landlord, started the Durga Puja festival in the 16th century. The first Barowari Durga Puja was organized in Kolkata by Bhowanipore Sanatan Dharmotsahini Sabha in 1909 at Balaram Bose Ghat Road, Bhowanipore. On this occasion, Sri Aurobindo published the famous Durga Stotra in his Bengali journal, Dharma, issue one "Kartika" dated 1316 AD.
Durga puja is a widely celebrated festival in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and Odisha. It is celebrated over a five-day period. Streets are decked up with festive lights, loudspeakers play festive songs as well as recitation of hymns and chants by priests, and pandals are erected by communities. Durga Puja is mostly celebrated in West Bengal, particularly in the city of Kolkata. It's the biggest and most important occasion of the year in Bengal. Bengali communities in other locations across India and World celebrate Durga Puja as well.
Durga Mantra
In Sanskrit: सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते
In English: Sarva Mangala Mangalye Sive Sarvartha Sadhike Saranye Trayambike Gauri Narayani Namostute
Meaning: I bow down to the Goddess Narayani, who makes everything auspicious as she is the most auspicious one and also fulfills all the desires of those who come for the shelter to the Three-eyed Gauri.
Devi Stuti Mantra
In Sanskrit: या देवी सर्वभुतेषु क्षान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता या देवी सर्वभुतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता या देवी सर्वभुतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः
In English: Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, shanti rupena sangsthita Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, shakti rupena sangsthita Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, matri rupena sangsthita Yaa devi sarva bhuteshu, buddhi rupena sangsthita Namastasyai, namastasyai, namastasyai, namo namaha
Meaning:
The goddess who is omnipresent as the personification of the universal mother The goddess who is omnipresent as the embodiment of the power The goddess who is omnipresent as the symbol of peace Oh Goddess who resides everywhere in all living beings as intelligence and beauty I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her again & again
Shakti Mantra
(Chanting this Durga Mantra pleases Durga Maa, which as a result protects the devotees from all the evils and miss-happenings and will be in our favor in every aspect of life.)
In Sanskrit: शरणागत दीनार्तपरित्राण परायणे। सर्वस्यातिहरे देवि नारायण नमोस्तुते सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वेशक्तिसमन्विते । भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते रोगनशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा। रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां। त्वमाश्रिता हृयश्रयतां प्रयान्ति सर्वाबाधा प्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि। एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्दैरिविनाशनम् सर्वाबाधा विर्निर्मुक्तो धनधान्यसुतान्वित:। मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशय जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी । दुर्गा शिवा क्षमा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते
In English:
Sharnaagat deenaart paritraan paraayaney, servasyarti harey devi naaraayani namostutey
Sarvasvaroopey sarveshey sarvshakti samanvietey, bhayebhyah traahi no devi durge devi namostutey
Rogaan shoshaan pahansitushtarushtatu kaamaan saklaan bhishtaan, tvaam aashritaanaam na vipannaraanam, tvaamaashritaahya shraytaam prayaanti
Sarva badha prashmanan trailokya syakhileshwari, evamevmev tvayaa kaaryam sma dveri vinaashnam
Sarvaa baadha vinirumk to dhan dhaanya sutaan vitah. Manushyo mat prasaaden bhavishyati na sansha yah
Dehi saubhaagyam aarogyam dehi devi param sukham Rupam dehi jayam dehi yasho dehi dvisho jahi
Jyanti mangalaa kaali bhadra kaali kapaalinee durgaa kshamaa shivaa dhaatree swaahaa svadhaa namo stutey
Meaning :
You who are perpetually endeavoring to protect the weak and the poor and remove their misery. Oh Narayani, I pray to you.
Oh Goddess Durga, please protect us from all kinds of fear. Oh omnipotent Durga, I pray to you.
Oh, Goddess, when you are pleased, remove all ailments and when you are angry, destroy everything that a person desires for. However, those who come to you for sanctuary never have to confront any catastrophe. Instead, such people secure enough merit to provide shelter to others.
Whoever listens to the story of the Goddess during the great Puja that is organized in the winters succeeds in overcoming all obstacles and is blessed wealth and progeny.
Oh Goddess, bless me with good fortune, good health, good looks, success, and fame. Oh Vaishnavi, you are the very basis for the world. You have mesmerized the World. When you are pleased with someone you ensure his salvation from the cycle of life and death.
Oh Goddess, you who are known by the names of Mangala, Kali, Bhadra Kali, Kapalinee, Durge, Kshama, Shivaa, Dhatri, Swahaa, Swadha, I pray to you.’
Maa Durga Sarvbaadha Mukti Mantra
In Sanskrit: सर्वाबाधाविनिर्मुक्तो धन धान्य सुतान्वित मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यती न संशय
In English: Sarvaa baadhaa vinirmukto dhan dhaanya sutaanvitah Manushyo matprasaaden bhavishyati na sanshayah
We are usually bogged down by obstacles and delays in life, most call it bad luck. For such instances, Durga Sarv Baadha Mukti Mantra is an important mantra for our rescue. Thus, this Durga mantra is protection against miseries and other misfortunes. It is popularly believed that the ones unable to conceive a child, should also chant this mantra to have a child.