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Journalism of Courage
Durga is, perhaps, the most widely worshipped aspect of Sakti. An entire Purana, the Devibhagavatam, has been dedicated to her. Another work, more well known than the Devibhagavatam, but containing practically the same material in a concise form, is the Devimahatmyam. It is also known as the Durgasaptasati or Chandi and forms a part of another well known Purana, the Markandeya Purana. This work is so highly venerated that every verse of it is considered to be a mantra of the Devi and its repetition is believed to confer whatever boons the votary prays for.
Literally 8216;Durga8217; means one who is difficult to approach or difficult to know. Being the personification of the totality of the powers of the gods, she is naturally difficult to approach or to know. However, being the Mother of the universe, she is the personification of tender love when supplicated.
The next is Mahisasuramardini, the deity who took shape as a result of the pooling together of the powers of all the gods, who had been oppressed by the demon Mahisasura. Vishnu Siva and Brahma were incensed by hearing of the misdeeds of Mahisasura and the Devi was born out of their wrath, followed by the wrath of the lesser divinities. The powers of these gods formed her limbs and exact duplicates of their weapons and riding on a fierce lion, she challenged Mahisasura and destroyed him along with his army.
Durga8217;s power is inscrutable, by which the whole universe is permeated and energised. She is the embodiment of Yajna sacrifice, Paravidya the highest knowledge concerning the spirit as well as Aparavidya knowledge of the secular sciences. It is she who bestows wealth, both material and spiritual, dispels difficulties and annihilates evil.
Once, when the gods were overpowered by the demons Sumbha and Nisumbha, they had to run to the Himalayas and supplicate the Devi. This hymn, well known as the 8216;Aparajitastotra8217;, praises her as the 8216;unconquered.8217; The powers and activities of all beings are only manifestations of her power.
Extracted from 8216;Hindu Gods 038; Goddesses8217;, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai
