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After Kali comes Durga!

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After Kali comes Durga! Empty After Kali comes Durga!

Post by TruthSeeker Mon Sep 28, 2015 10:02 pm

The second in the series of “Process of Seeking Truth” – Mother Durga (Maa Sherawaali), who she really is, the real meaning behind what is an idol to the naked eye:
 
 
After Kali comes Durga! Clip_image002
 
Meaning of Durga
 
The word "Durga" in Sanskrit means a fort, or a place which is difficult to overrun. Another meaning of "Durga" is "Durgati nashini," which literally translates into "the one who eliminates sufferings." Thus, Hindus believe that goddess Durga protects her devotees from the evils of the world and at the same time removes their miseries.
 
Symbolism
 
Durga is depicted as a warrior aspect of Devi Parvati with 8 arms who rides a lion or a tiger, carries weapons and assumes mudras, or symbolic hand gestures. This form of the Goddess is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy (Shakti).
 
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 tiger represents power, will and determination. Mother Durga riding the tiger symbolizes her mastery over all these qualities.
 
This suggests to the devotee that one has to possess all these qualities to get over the demon of ego.
 
8 Hands holding following Objects of Symbolism
 
Durga is depicted as having eight or ten hands. These represent eight quadrants or ten directions in Hinduism. This suggests that she protects the devotees from all directions.
Other weapons in the hands of Durga such as a mace, sword, disc, arrow, and trident convey the idea that one weapon cannot destroy all different kinds of enemies.
Different weapons must be used to fight enemies depending upon the circumstances. For example, selfishness must be destroyed by detachment, jealousy by desirelessness, prejudice by self-knowledge, and ego by discrimination.
 
1.  Conch
 
The sound that emanates from a conch is the sound of the sacred syllable AUM (or Om), which is said to be the sound of creation.
 
A conch in one of the Goddess's hands signifies the ultimate victory of virtue over evil and righteousness over unrighteousness.
 
2.   Trident
 
The trident is a symbol associated with Shiva, and its three points symbolize the creation, protection and destruction of the universe.
 
Durga's trident or "trishul" is a symbol of three qualities - Satwa (inactivity), Rajas (activity) and Tamas (non-activity) - and she is remover of all the three types of miseries - physical, mental and spiritual.
 
3.   Bow and Arrow
 
The bow and arrows represent energy. By holding both the bow and arrows in one hand "Mother Durga" is indicating her control over both aspects of energy - potential and kinetic.
 
4.   Thunderbolt
 
The thunderbolt signifies firmness.
The devotee of Durga must be firm like thunderbolt in one's convictions. Like the thunderbolt that can break anything against which it strikes, without being affected itself, the devotee needs to attack a challenge without losing his confidence.
 
5.   Lotus
 
The lotus in Durga's hand is not in fully bloomed, It symbolizing certainty of success but not finality.
The lotus in Sanskrit is called "pankaja" which means born of mud. Thus, lotus stands for the continuous evolution of the spiritual quality of devotees amidst the worldly mud of lust and greed.
 
6.  Sudarshan Chakra
 
The "Sudarshan-Chakra" or beautiful discus, which spins around the index finger of the Goddess, while not touching it, signifies that the entire world is subservient to the will of Durga and is at her command. She uses this unfailing weapon to destroy evil and produce an environment conducive to the growth of righteousness.
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7.   Sword
 
The sword that Durga holds in one of her hands symbolizes knowledge, which has the sharpness of a sword.
Knowledge which is free from all doubts is symbolized by the shine of the sword.
 
8.   Palm
 
One of her hands opens up the palm to indicate Her blessings.
 
Three Eyes
 
Like Shiva, Mother Durga is also referred to as "Triyambake" meaning the three eyed Goddess.
 
The left eye represents desire (the moon),
the right eye represents action (the sun), and
the central eye knowledge (fire).
 

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