Devi Durga is the embodiment of Shakti (power). Let’s first understand why she is called “Durga.”
This is mentioned in the Sri Sri Chandi. The Devi herself says:
“Tatraiva cha badhishyami durgamakhyam mahasuram,
Durga Deviti vikhyatam tanme nama bhavishyati.”
-At that time, | will defeat the great demon ( Mohasur ) named Durgam, and hence | will become
famous as Durga Devi.
In the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana, the significance of the name ‘Durga’ is explained:
“Durgaasi durgabhavasagaranoura-sanga” (Sri Sri Chandi 4.11)
You are Durga, who helps cross the difficult ocean of worldly life, unparalleled and unique in your c
ompanionship
“Durge smrita harasi bhitimashe-shajantoh” (Sri Sri Chandi 4.17)
— O Durga, when remembered in distress, you remove the fear of all living beings.
The Goddess ( Devi ) is all-pervading, representing the ultimate, supreme power. She is the sole
cause of creation, preservation, and destruction. The Devi is both exceedingly gentle and
immensely terrifying. She is as beautiful as she is fearsome. The Devi resides as the consciousness
in every living
being.She exists in all of creation as the mother, sleep, hunger, strength, thirst, peace, memory, com
passion, thought, and illusion within us. In other words, she is omnipresent. She governs the senses
and is the ruler of the entire universe. She is the supporting power of this world and the giver of
liberation. Thus, the sage Medha, explaining her nature to King Surath and the merchant ( Vaisya )
Samadhi, says:
“Saa vidyaa paramaa mukterhetubhoota sanaatanee,
Samsaara-bandha-hetushcha saiva sarveshwareswaree.” (Sri Sri Chandi, 1.58)
— She is the supreme knowledge that leads to ultimate liberation, the eternal one, the cause of
worldly bondage, and the ruler of all rulers.
It is by her illusion that beings, overwhelmed by the world, forget the peaceful and blissful Lord and
become attracted to temporary material things, thus experiencing sorrow. The Devi, Mahamaya, is
both the cause of the bondage of attachment and, when prayed to with devotion, the one who
grants freedom from this bondage. She is ignorance that causes attachment, but sheis also the
supreme knowledge that leads to liberation. She is the eternal, supreme power. She creates the
world as Brahma, preserves it as Vishnu, and destroys it as Rudra. The Devi herself tells Shumbha:
“Ekaivaaham jagatyatra dwiteeyaa kaa mamaaparaa.” (Sri Sri Chandi, 10.5)
— “In this world, only | exist; there is no second apart from me.”
In the Mahabharata, there is mention of worshiping Devi Durga. Before the battle of Kurukshetra,
Krishna instructed Arjuna to recite the praises of Devi Durga for victory:
“Paraajayaaya shatrunaam durgastotramudeeraya” (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva, 23.2)
Likewise, before entering Virat Nagar for their secret stay, the Pandavas worshipped Durga Mata
following the advice of the sages. According to legend, during the Treta Yuga, Lord Ram first
invoked the Devi during autumn for Ravana’s destruction, which is why the Sharadiya Durga Puja is
celebrated.
However, the Sri Sri Chandi clearly states that Durga Puja is celebrated in autumn:
“Sharad kaale mahaapuja kriyate yaa cha barshikee.” (Sri Sri Chandi, 12.12)
Adi Shankaracharya speaks about the supreme nature of Mahamaya beyond the three qualities
(gunas) in the Soundarya Lahari:
“Giraam-aahur-deveem druhina-grhiniim-aagamavido
Hareh patnim padmaam harasahacariim-adritanayaam;
Turiyeem kaapi tvaam duradhigam-nissima-mahima
Mahaamaya visvam bhramayasi parabrahmamahishi.” (Soundarya Lahari, 97)
According to Achyutananda’s commentary: ‘O Supreme Spirit’s consort! The scriptures refer to
Brahma’s wife as Saraswati, Vishnu’s wife as Lakshmi, and Parvati, the daughter of the mountains,
as Maheshwara’s companion. O Great Illusion! Who are you beyond these three powers, beyond the
three qualities? We are unable to determine this. The extent of your profound glory cannot be
ascertained. You enchant the entire universe.’
The worship of the Devi is called Maha Puja (Great Worship). Every woman is born as part of the
Devi, and all women are living embodiments of Jagadamba, the Mother of the World:
“Striyah samastaah sakalaa jagatsu.” — (Sri Sri Chandi, 11.6)
Therefore, the highest worship of Mahamaya is to revere and respect every woman as the living
representation of the Devi.
— Projjwal Mandal
