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Devi Durga

Devi Durga is the invincible, fierce and all-powerful form of Goddess Shakti. She was born to destroy the forces of evil and ensure the victory of good. Devi Durga killed Mahishasura who was threatening the very existence of the Universe and restored peace, order and dharma in the world. Worshipping Devi Durga is seen as a way for the spiritual elevation of a person.

Devi Durga is supposed to have manifested when the trimurtis Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva concentrated their powers in a bid to create a divine form capable of killing Mahishasura. Thus from the primaeval form of Goddess Shakti arose Devi Durga. She was armed with the most powerful celestial weapons. She rode a lion and she was as deadly as she was beautiful.

Devi Durga is seen as a divine force of positive energy intended to neutralize negative energy. Devotees view her as the almighty mother who will protect and shield them from all adversities. She extends the awareness of the devotees from darkness to light and improves spiritual awareness between death and immortality. Devi Durga is depicted with eight hands. One hand shows Abhaya Mudra, while all the other hands hold powerful weapons.

Devi Durga Mantra

Mantras have a very special place in Vedic astrology. Chanting mantras when done rightly can unlock cosmic vibrations that can open your body and mind to higher realms of spirituality. It can heal your soul and connect it with the frequency of the divine. Chanting mantras is the best way to amplify positive effects while nullifying the negative effects of cosmic energies. Mantras addressed to a specific god or goddess or planet will help the person connect with that divine body and reveal secrets otherwise unattainable in life.

Chanting mantras can bring better health, peace of mind and more quality to relationships. Mantras can be personal or general in nature. The purpose of a mantra is to free the mind and thoughts from the material sphere of consciousness and transcend the physical world. They have been formulated and evolved by saints, yogis, sadhus and maharshis over thousands of years. Chanting mantras produces harmony on all levels. It is believed that wealth, fortune and victory over enemies can be attained by chanting the right mantra.

The sound vibrations of a mantra can affect the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems of a human. The sympathetic nervous system influences the right and left side of the brain while the parasympathetic nervous system influences the other internal organs. Mantras can be changed silently in the mind or in a soft voice. The Durga Mantra is considered the most effective mantra and has the power to fulfil all suitable desires.

A few of the Durga mantras are given below:

Om Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini Durga, Shiva, Kshama, Dhatri, Svaha, Svadha Namostu Te Esha Sachandana Gandha Pushpa Bilva Patranjali Om Hreem Durgayai Namah

Om Mahishaghni Mahamaye Chamunde Mundamalini Ayurarogyavijayam Dehi Devi Namostu Te Esha Sachandana Gandha Pushpa Bilva Patranjali Om Hreem Durgayai Namah॥

Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha SadhikeSharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namostu Te Srishti Sthiti Vinashanam, Shaktibhute, Sanatani Gunashraye, Gunamaye, Narayani, Namostu Te Sharanagata Dinarta Paritrana Parayane Sarvasyartihare Devi! Narayani! Namostu Te

Om jataa jut samaayuktamardhendu krit lakshnam Lochanyatra sanyuktam padmendu sadya shan naam
Om Sarwa Swarupay Sareshey Sarwa Shakthi Samanwithey Bhayebhya Straahinoe Devi Durge Devi Namostuthey

Ripavah sankshayam yaanti kalyaanam chop padyate Nandate cha kulam punsaam maahaatmyam mam srinu yaanmam

Sarvaa baadhaa vinirmukto dhan dhaanya sutaanvitah Manushyo matprasaaden bhavishyati na sanshayah

Shanti karmani sarvatra tatha duh swapna darshane Grah pidaasu chograsu maahaatmyam srinu yaanmam
Sarva Mangala Mangalye Sive Sarvartha Sadhike Saranye Trayambike Gauri Narayani Namostute

Devi Durga worship rituals

On the day of Durga Dashami, or Vijaya Dashami, the Visarjan Puja of Devi Durga is carried out. After the worship of Devi Durga as per rituals, a final aarti is performed and sindur is smeared on the forehead and the feet of the goddess. The idol is then carried in the northeast direction in the third part of the day (evening). The Shami tree is worshipped as part of the ritual as the tree is believed to cleanse sins. Following this Devi Aparajitha is worshipped. Aparajitha is the destroyer form of Devi Durga.

On this day engineers, craftsmen, artists and such keep their tools for puja. This is called Ayudha Puja. Students and scholars keep their books for the same. In Kerala, Vidyarambam is observed on this day. Children are initiated into the world of letters.

Devi Durga story

Devi Durga took the form to defeat and kill Mahishasura who was wreaking havoc on the universe. She was formed as a result of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combining their powers to bring out the most formidable form of Goddess Shakti. All the devas took part in giving Devi Durga a bodily form, who arose as a spirit from the sacred waters of Ganga. They bestowed on her their most powerful weapons. As a result, Devi Durga became the ultimate warrior force with the combined abilities of all the devas. After a gruesome battle, Devi Durga ultimately slays Mahishasura using the trident.

Devi Durga significance

Devi Durga symbolises the divine force of good meant to nullify the forces of evil. Worshipping Devi Durga grants devotees protection from all kinds of negativities. Devi Durga has the combined power of Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati. Devi Durga is that power which preserves moral order and righteousness in the creation. She protects devotees by destroying all kinds of evil forces and vices like jealousy, hatred, greed, arrogance, selfishness etc.

The weapons that are seen in the hands of Devi Durga are each value that should be followed in life. The Chakra is adherence to dharma, the Conch is the need to find happiness, the Sword is cutting off vices, the Bow and Arrow is tenacity in face of adversities, Lotus is not getting too attached to material life, the Club is surrendering to the higher power and Trident is the courage to face challenges. Devi Durga is seen riding a lion or a tiger which indicates control over abilities and the power in oneself.

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