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Symbolic 8 hands of Goddess Durga

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A Hindu festival symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, Navratri takes place at the beginning of October around harvest time and, as the name implies, is celebrated for 9 days. On the 10th day is Dussera which celebrates the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. An effigy of Ravana is burnt; often giant dummies of Ravana stuffed with fireworks are shot with arrows until it blows up. Navratri in Gujarat is celebrated with dandiya, and garba-raas.

Amr's of Durga

Goddess Durga symbolizes the divine forces (positive energy) known as divine shakti (feminine energy/ power) that is used against the negative forces of evil and wickedness. She protects her devotees from evil powers and safeguards them. It is believed that Goddess Durga is the combined form of powers of Goddesses Lakshmi, Kali and Saraswati.
It is also believed that Goddess Durga was created by Lord Vishnu as a warrior goddess to protect good people (devas) for fighting the demon, Mahishasur. Her divine shakti contains the combined energies of all the gods in the form of weapons and emblems (mudras).

Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the creation. 

The Sanskrit word durga means fort or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach

Durga, also called Divine Shakti, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces (negative energy and vices—arrogance, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, greed and selfishness).

Goddess Durga is depicted as a warrior woman with eight hands carrying weapons of different kinds assuming mudras, (symbolic hand gestures) that represent her teachings.
Chakra in her 1st upper right hand symbolizes dharma (duty/righteousness). We must perform our duty/responsibilities in life.

Conch in her first upper left hand symbolizes happiness. We must perform our duty happily and cheerfully and not with resentment.

Sword in her second right lower hand symbolizes eradication of vices. We must learn to discriminate and eradicate our evil qualities.

Bow and arrow in her second left lower hand symbolizes character like Lord Rama.  When we face difficulties in our life we should not lose our character (values).

Lotus Flower in her third lower left hand symbolizes detachment. We must live in the world without attachment to the external world. Just like the lotus flower stays in dirty water yet smiles and gives its beauty to others. This is the only way to receive Her blessings.

Club in her third right lower hand is the symbol of Hanuman and symbolizes devotion and surrender. Whatever we do in our life we do with love and devotion and accept the outcome as the Almighty’s will.

Trident/Trishul in her fourth left lower hand symbolizes courage. We must have courage to eliminate our evil qualities and face the challenges in our life.

Fourth Lower Right Hand symbolizes forgiveness and Her blessings. We must forgive ourselves and others for mistakes and/or any hurt we may have caused.

Durga Maa is depicted as riding on a lion or a tiger. A tiger symbolizes unlimited power. Durga riding a tiger indicates that She possesses unlimited power and uses it to protect virtue and destroy evil.  The lion is a symbol of uncontrolled animalistic tendencies (such as anger, arrogance, selfishness, greed, jealousy, desire to harm others etc.) and Her sitting on it reminds us to control these qualities, so that we are not controlled by them.

Maa Druga

She is usually shown wearing a red sari.  The color red symbolizes action and the red clothes signify that She is destroying evil and protecting mankind from pain and suffering.

Thus, Goddess Durga symbolizes the Divine forces (positive energy) that is used against the negative forces of evil and wickedness. She represents pure energy (positive), known as divine light or jyoti that is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy.

This month we must pray to Maa Durga, the Universal Mother, asking Her to use Her destructive power to remove the vices within us (anger, selfish desires, greed, ego and undue attachments), imperfections and faults; and purify us to become a receptacle of her Divine Shakti—Anandamayi Shakti.

 “Om Sri Durgaya Namah.” 

posted Oct 5, 2016 by Sunita

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The colour assigned to each day has its auspicious significance. So follow these color code to make this year Navratri Colourful.

9 color to wear on durga puja

Day

Name

Colour

Navratri Day 1

Pratipada

Red

Navratri Day 2

Dwitiya

Royal Blue

Navratri Day 3

Tritiya

Yellow

Navratri Day 4

Chaturthi

Green

Navratri Day 5

Panchami

Purple

Navratri Day 6

Sashti

Orange

Navratri Day 7

Saptami

White

Navratri Day 8

Ashtami

Pink

Navratri Day 9

Navami / Vijayadasami

Sky Blue

 

  1. Red – 1st Day of Navratri (Pratipada) 

    The first day is the day of Shailaputri Devi. Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila). Variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, the daughter of Hemavana – the king of the Himalayas, she is the first among Navadurgas. Her worship takes place on the first day of Navaratri – the nine divine nights. The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.
    red
  2. Royal Blue – 2nd Day of Navratri (Dwitiya)

    The second day is the day of Bharmachirini. She is the second form of Mother Goddess. Bharmacharini means one who practices devout austerity. She enlightens us in the magnificent embodiment of Durga with great powers and divine grace. She holds a rosary in her right hand and a water utensil in her left hand. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees who worship her. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to emancipation – Moksha.
    royal blue
  3. Yellow – 3rd Day of Navratri (Tritiya)

    The third facet of Goddess Durga is ‘Chandraghanta’, who is worshipped on the third day of Navaratri, for peace, tranquility and prosperity in life. She has a ‘chandra’ or half moon in her forehead in the shape of a ‘ghanta’ or bell. That is why she is called ‘Chandraghanta’. She is charming, has a golden bright complexion and rides a lion. She has ten hands, three eyes and holds weapons in her hands. She is the apostle of bravery and possesses great strength to fight in the battle against demons.
    Yellow
  4. Green – 4th Day of  Navratri (Chaturthi)

    Kushmanda is the fourth form of the mother goddess and is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri. The meaning of the name ‘Ku-shm-anda’ is as follows: ‘Ku’ = a little; ‘ushma’ = ‘warmth’; ‘anda’ = ‘the cosmic egg’. So she is considered the creator of the universe. The universe was no more than a void full of darkness, until her light spreads in all directions like rays from the sun. Often she is depicted as having eight or ten hands. She holds weapons, glitter, rosary, etc., in her hands, and she rides a lion.
    green
  5. Purple – 5th Day of Navratri (Panchmi)

    The fifth aspect of the Mother Durga is known as ‘Skanda Mata’ – the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was chosen by gods as their commander in chief in the war against the demons. She is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri. She is accompanied by the Lord Skanda in his infant form. 
    purple
  6. Orange – 6th Day of Navratri (Sashti)

    The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as ‘Katyayani‘, who is worshipped on the six day of Navaratri. The legend behind her name goes thus: Once upon a time, there was a great sage called Kata, who had a son named Katya. Kata was very famous and renowned in the lineage of saints. He underwent long austerities and penance in order to receive the grace of the Mother Goddess. He wished to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. According to his wish and desire the Mother Goddess granted his request. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga. 
    orange
  7. White – 7th Day of Navratri (Saptami)

    This is the seventh form of Mother Durga and is worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri. She has a dark complexion, disheveled hair and a fearlessness posture. A necklace flashing lightning adorns her neck. She has three eyes that shine bright and terrible flames emanate from her breath. She is black like Goddess Kali and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand battle all evil.
    white
  8. Pink – 8th Day of Navratri (Ashtami)

    Maha Gauri is the eight form of Durga Maa. Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. It is said that due to her long austerities in the deep forests of the Himalayas her color transformed from white to black. However, later when Lord Shiva cleaned her with the water of the Ganges, her body regained its beauty and she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely white.
    pink
  9. Sky Blue – 9th Day of Navratri (Navami)

    Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Goddess Durga. She is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri. Siddhidatri has supernatural healing powers. She has four arms and she is always in a blissful happy enchanting pose. She rides on the lion as her vehicle. She blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. 
    sky blue
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Hello Everyone !

In my previous article I have written about torments and punishments one has to go through in hell.

In this Part I will write about the Signs of Sin(s) in the present life-forms of an Individual/animal.

Hinduism has the concept of Rebirth. According to Hinduism there are 84 Lacs of Life forms. We, human beings are one of them.

Whichever life form in which we are today, is the result of our Previous Birth (Previous life form),  similary whatever our deeds are in this birth, will decide our next birth or Life form.

 

Following are a few examples of what sin causes what, or the sins of the sin(s) that someone must have committed in his past life.

1. Who strikes a cow with his legs becomes lame and deformed.

2. Who bears false witness becomes dumb.

3. Who steals a book becomes blind.

4. Who commits illicit  intercourse becomes a eunuch.

5. Who speaks lies becomes a stammerer, who listens to them becomes deaf.

6. Who sells flesh becomes unlucky, who eats it becomes deseased.

7. Who steals jewels is born poor, who steals gold gets deseased nails.

8. Who steals food becomes a rat, who steals grains becomes a locust, who steals water becomes CHAATAK           BIRD (A bird fables to only live upon rain water).

9. Who steals poison becomes a scorpion.

10. Who steals vegetables and leaves becomes a Peacock; purfumes, a musk-rat; flesh, a vulture and salt, an ant.

11. Who steals betel, fruits and flower becomes a forest monkey; who steals shoes, cotton and grass, is born from the womb of a sheep.

12. Who lives by violence, robs and is fond of Hunting is certainly born as a Goat in Butcher's house.

13. Who dies by drinking poison becomes a black serpent on a mountain.

14. Who eat all foods without consideration becomes a tiger in a desolate forest.

15. The Brahmin who does not recite the Gayatri Mantra, who does nont meditate at twilight, who is inwardly wicked while outwardly pious, cirtainly becomes a Crane.

16. Thw pupil who does not serve his teacher becomes an animal - an ass or a cow.

17. Who deceives a friend becomes a mountain Vulture; who cheats in selling an owl.

18. Who destroy hopes and who destroys affection, who through dislike abandons his wife, becomes a ruddy Goose for a long time.

19. Who hates mother, father and teacher, who quarrels with sister and brother is destroyed when an embryo in           womb, even for thousand births.

20. The woman who abuses her mother and father-in-law, who causes constant quarrels becomes a Leech.

21. She, who scolds her husband becomes a Louse.

22. Who abandoning her own husband, runs after another man becomes a flying fox, a house Lizard or a kind of Female Serpent.

23. He who cuts of his lineage by emracing a woman of his own family, having become a hyena and a porcupine is born later fromthe womb of a bear.

24. Who consorts with an immature girl becomes a huge Snake in wood.

25. Who covets his teachers wife becomes a Chameleon; who goes with a friends wife, a donkey.

26. The murderer of a Brahmin goes into the womb of an ass, camel and she-buffalo. A drinker of intoxicants               enters the womb of a wolf, dog and a jackal.

Well, these are just a few examples, our Garuda Purana gives a detailed description of Signs of Sin(s).

 

Hence, its proved here that once we get life in the form of Human Beings, we must not commit sin or else the results will be as describes above :-(

 

Hope you all have loved this one too !

I will be back with some more amazing stuff from our Hindu Scriptures !

Thanks for reading and please do upvote and comment !

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