Happy Navrati !!! - Page 9

The eighth day of Navratri or Durga Puja celebrations is known as Durgashtami, or Durga Ashtami.It is also known as Mahashtami and is one of the most auspicious day according to hinduism. It falls on the Ashtami tithi of Chaitra month according to the Hindu calendar.

It is believed in some regions, that Goddess Kali appeared on this day from the forehead of Mother Durga and annihilated Chanda, Munda and Rakthabija (the demons who were associate of Mahishasura). The 64 Yoginis and Ashta Nayikas (the eight consorts of Goddess Durga ) are worshipped during the Durga Puja rituals on Mahashtami. The Ashta Nayikas also known as Eight Shaktis, are interpreted differently in different regions of India. But ultimately all the eight goddesses are incarnations of Shakti. They are the same powerful Divine Feminine, representing different energies.

The Ashta Nayikas worshipped during Durga Puja are Brahmani, Maheswari, Kameswari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasinghi, Indrani and Chamunda.

A tradition associated to Durga Ashtami originated in North India, is to honor the kanjaks in the home. A group of young, unmarried girls (a group of five or seven) are invited into the home to honor them. The tradition is based on the belief that each of these young girls( kanjaks ),represents the shakti (energy) of Durga on earth.The group of girls are welcomed by washing their feet (a common ceremonial in India to welcome someone) and then welcoming them into the home and then the rituals are being done as Alati and Puja.After the rituals the girls are feed sweets and foods and then honored with small gifts.

Mahagauri

The name Mahagauri means extremely white, as she was white in colour and very beautiful(Maha, = great; Gauri, = white). Mahagauri is usually depicted with four hands, the hands holding a trident, lotus and drum, while the fourth is in a blessing gesture. The lotus is sometimes replaced with a rosary. She rides a white bull, usually shown wearing white clothes.

The task for the assassination of demons after she has gotten her white complexion back runs as follows: For the killing of demonsShumbha and Nishumbha, it was important for Parvati to have an unborn female child, who would kill them. Hence, as advised byBrahma, Mahadev made her skin complexion black by his magic and also teased her as Kali. Getting agitated by this, Parvati did severe penance of Brahma to obtain her fair complexion. She succeeded in her penance and was advised by Brahma to take bath inMansarovar River in Himalaya. As she took a bath, her dark skin separated from her and took the form of a female. She wasKaushiki, being born from the cell of Parvati/Gauri. As a result of which Parvati got her white fair complexion back. Still, for the task of demons' assassination, she then and there, gave her fair complexion to Kaushiki and she(Parvati) again attained the form of Kali. Goddesses Saraswati and Lakshmi provided their powers to Kali as a result of which Kali transformed intoChandika(Chandraghanta). Chandika killed demon Dhumralochan. Chanda and Munda were killed by Goddess Chamunda who appeared out from the third eye of Chandika. Chandika had transformed into Kaalratri again to kill Raktabija and Kaushiki had killed Shumbh and Nishumbh, after which she got merged with Kali to transform her back into Gauri. Hence, Goddess Kaushiki too got merged with Parvati(Parvati), hence giving her the title of Mahasaraswati Ambika. It is believed that Kali/Durga incarnated as Parvati who was beautiful yet had a black complexion and once, she was teased by Mahadev as Kali. Infuriated by this, she began a great penance to please Lord Brahma and get the fair complexion and in this way, her name Maha Gauri got justified. According to another tale, it is believed that Parvati had got dark by Shiva's magic.

Another story tells that Parvati a dark complexion, but in a different version runs as follows: Goddess Parvati made up her mind to perform an austere penance as advised by Sage Narad so that she might beget Lord Shiva as her husband. So, she renounced all the comforts of the palace and started performing penance in the forest. Her severe penance continued for many years. She braved heat and cold, rains and drought and terrible storms. Her body was covered with dust, earth, soil and leaves of trees. She had developed a blackish skin over her body. At last, Lord Shiva appeared before her and gave his solemn word that he would marry her. He bathed her vigorously by the holy waters of the Ganga emanating from his matted hair. The holy and sacred waters of Ganga washed off all the dirt clinging to Parvati's person and she became white-complexioned and glorious. Thus by virtue of having acquired a white complexion, Parvati came to be known as Mahagauri(Extremely Fair).