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Vakra-Tunndda Maha-Kaaya Surya-Kotti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryessu Sarvadaa
II AUM Sri Ganeshaya Namaha II
सर्वमंगलमंगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
sarva maṇgala māṇgalyē
śĭvē sărvārtha sādhĭkē
śaranyē tryambakē Gauri
Nārāyanī namostŭtē
Yaa Devii Sarva-Bhutessu Buddhi-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||8||
Yaa Devii Sarva-Bhutessu Shakti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||12||
Yaa Devii Sarva-Bhutessu Shaanti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||17||
Yaa Devii Sarva-Bhutessu Shraddhaa-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||18||
Yaa Devii Sarva-Bhutessu Maatr-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |
Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||25||
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Ya Devi Sarvabhutesu
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- from Devi Mahatmyam]
Pitr-Paksh (Bangla: Pitri Pakkho; literally: fortnight of the ancestors) - a time to perform Tarpan (Torpon) - ancestral rituals - has ended. Devi Paksha (Debi Pakkho) has commenced. It is Mahalaya today.
... Maa aaschhen. Maa is on her way.
And therefore, I will begin this sure-to-be-cherished (by moi at least) post with the link to an audio-visual presentation of an All India Radio (AIR) recording: "Mahalaya - Mahisasuramardini" (The subjugation of the negative or aasuricforces, represented by Mahisasura):
It is an oratorio - invoking the Goddess Durga (a manifestation of Maa Shakti - the feminine force behind the cosmos, through Sanskrit chants and Bengali devotional songs). The near-perfect rendition of the shlokas courtesy the great Birendra Krishna Bhadra, also the magical voice behind the "Mahishashura Mardini"; the enchanting music composed by the peerless Pankaj Kumar Mallick.
In Mahalaya - Mahisasuramardini, the legendary narrator (Bhadra) recites the sacred verses and tells the story of the descent of Debi Durga to earth, and goes on to describe the epic battle fought between Maa Durga and the negative or aasuric forces, represented by Mahisasura. All this: in his inimitable style, mesmerizing every household with the divine aura of his narration, as Bengalis everywhere submerge their souls in quiet moments of prayer. It is divine, it is enchanting and it is an experience in itself. One gets transported to another realm of the universe... while listening to this recitation. As the recital begins, the serene morning air resonates with the long-drawn sound of the sacred conch shell, immediately followed by a chorus of invocation, melodiously setting the stage for the recitation of the "Chandi Mantra". Do not miss out.
"Mahisasura Mardini" is a remarkable piece of audio drama matchless in Indian culture. Though the theme is thought to be mythical and the mantras Vedic, this program is a landmark composition. But then, beneath every myth there lies a true story, one only needs to peel off the many layers in order to get to it, isn't it? [The Sanskrit word véda "knowledge, wisdom" is derived from the root vid - "to know".]
... After all, what is God or what is the divine?
I see it this way: When the finite meets the infinite, the mortal meets the immortal, the created meets the uncreated - then that formless force or energy, also known as God, Parmaatma, Parameshwar or the divine, is manifested.
To me, the Shiv-Parvati stories represent the comprehensive itihasa(history) of the Satya Yug - the first era. And though due to the passage of time, many myths have crept in and various people and entities have given full vent rather gigantic wings to their imagination too, yet once we try and clear the mist, we can salvage this ancient and enthralling story beneath it all.
There clearly was a mortal Shiv and a mortal Parvati; the latter salvaged the lives of the people (of the Satya Yug) from the stranglehold of certain aasuric or negative forces; and saved their crops (and thereby their livelihood) from the attacks of gigantic-sized (daitya) ferocious, wild animals as well - Mahisasura symbolizes all of this.
Parvati fearlessly stood up to and then fought against the aasuricforces when (perhaps) no one else was willing to take them on. Though triumphant, she lost her life. ...And this not only shattered (her consort) Shiv, but also elicited from the until-then-complacent-Shiv a soul-stirring vow - to wreck revenge on her killers (perhaps: the remnants of the earlier mentioned aasuric forces).
Due to her remarkable deeds, her Karm Yog, the people of the first era (the Satya Yug) revered Parvati as a devi, a manifestation of the divine, more precisely that of Maa Shakti - the feminine force behind the cosmos. Parvati's actions helped preserve the way of life (as it ought to be) and restored peace and balance in society; her efforts helped civilization to flourish well. Her story has since been passed on from one generation to the next, and even after the passage of thousands of years, eras to be precise, colonization and much else, we still revere her and worship her. She remains etched in our memory. And so does Shiv.
Though mere mortals, Shiv and Parvati triumphed death by the sheer force and greatness of their deeds and actions (keerti), it transcended time and eras. They became mritunjay; they will live forever. They are Amar.
During Navaratri or Durga Puja, we not only bow to and invoke the divine mother (Maa Shakti), but also acknowledge her many manifestations. Temples dedicated to Maa Shakti dot the country, but the deities within bear a different name. A silent yet clear testimony: that legions of women have confronted the forces of darkness - since time immemorial. We bow to them all.
Sri Sri Chandi Path (1 of 22) Part 1 (Chapter-1): LINK.
Sarvamangala Mangalye - from Devi Mahatmyam (Chandi)
Srsstti-Sthiti-Vinaashaanaam Shakti-Bhuute Sanaatani |
Gunna-[A]ashraye Gunnamaye Naaraayanni Namo[ah-A]stu Te ||9||
Sharannaagata-Diina-[A]arta-Paritraanna-Paraayanne |
Sarvasya-[A]arti-Hare Devi Naaraayanni Namo[ah-A]stu Te ||10||
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Argala Stotram - Jayantii Manggalaa Kaalii - from Devi Mahatmayam
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Jayantii Manggalaa Kaalii Bhadrakaalii Kapaalinii |
Durgaa Shivaa Kssamaa Dhaatrii Svaahaa Svadhaa Namostu Te ||2||
Raktabiija-Vadhe Devi Canndda-Munndda-Vinaashini |
Ruupam Dehi Jayam Dehi Yasho Dehi Dvisso Jahi ||6||
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Sri Durga Saptashloki - Seven shlokas from Devi Mahatmyam.
Mahalaya takes me back to my childhood and to the luxuriant kash phool - those white wispy grasses that have been lovingly elevated to the status of flowersa long time ago. They are found in abundance during this season, as if to welcome the goddess.
I am also reminded of the fragrant shiuli phool - the white and orange flowers of the Parijaat tree. I have many a time stood bare-feet on the dew-soaked grass, underneath the Parijaat tree (in our garden) and inhaled the heavenly fragrance of the shiuli. These tiny flowers make a beautiful carpet on the green grass beneath the tree – early in the morning. ...The only thing one has to do is to gently pick them up, put them in the flower-basket and give them pride of place in one's home. They continue to emanate their divine fragrance for several hours thereafter. It is an experience in itself.
Mahalaya is a Sanskrit word derived from Maha meaning "Great" and Alaya meaning "the abode" or "Soul of the World". Together it translates as "The Great Abode, The Grand Residence, or The Dwelling of the Great Souls."
Devi Paksha falling on Mahalaya is a reminder to prepare oneself for the subjugation of the ego (ahamkara) during Durga Puja. It instills the spirit of surrender, to offer oneself to Maa Durga for the final destruction of the ego. She simply strikes the ego of the surrendered soul to bless with the bounty of eternal bliss of self-realization (Sat-cit-ānanda, pronounced as: sach-chid-ānanda. Satdescribes an essence that is pure and timeless; cit is consciousness; ānandais absolute bliss).
Let us thus surrender to the divine Mother - to realize the bliss of the being.
I would like to end this post by quoting a mantra from the Brhadāranyaka Upanisad:
असतोमा सद्गमय। तमसोमा ज्योतिर् गमया। मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय॥ ॐ शांति शांति शांति - बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद् 1.3.28.
Aum Asato mā sad gamaya
Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya
Mrtyormā amrtam gamaya
Aum śānti śānti śāntih"
(Brhadāranyaka Upanisad 1.3.28)
Meaning: "Aum From ignorance, lead me to truth
From darkness, lead me to light
From death, lead me to immortality
Aum peace, peace, peace."
[Aum is the sound of primal energy, the sound of the universe itself.]
Shubho Mahalaya. Maa aaschhen.
Pictures: Found while trawling the net, don't remember the link :(