October 4, 2019 in Articles
I was nine years old when my mother brought out her Navaratri Golu, the first one that I remember. She set it up and drew up a beautiful Rangoli Kolam with peacocks. My mother loved the Golu, and yes I fell in love with it too. She called all her relatives and friends – Only ladies. They came with their children. Many of them sang songs in praise of Amba, Devi, Parvathi, Lakshmi, Saraswathi. I asked my father – he was fully involved in setting it up and then when the ladies came he just disappeared – Why Appa, only ladies come and why he disappeared in the evenings when they came? Then when we went to visit other Golus only ladies come there, all your men stay outside?. He used to say “ Athu Ladies function, Ma athula enakku, engallukku enna velai?” – That’s a lady’s function, and what role do we have there?.
Me –“ Appa, why?” –
Appa – “ There was an Asura king Mahisha, meaning buffalo, who had done great penance to Lord Brahma only to attain immortality but the Swyambhu Brahma refused to say that it is not even in his hands and immortality is impossible. So the arrogant Mahisha asked him a boon that if he were to die it should be only in the hands oh a girl. In his arrogance, he thought that there can be no girl who can be even half as strong, half as powerful as he is and that he had tricked the ultimate Creator himself. While he left, smug, happy, laughing- the All-Knowing Creator smiled to himself – Did he not know that the Devi is the embodiment of Shakthi And that no one even Lord Shiva cannot quell her in combat.
For years the Terrible Mahisha believing that he was invincible struck terror in all the Lokas. Those residing on the earth – humans and the heavens- the Devas were subjugated, killed, Rishis Yagnas destroyed, women abducted and wealth looted. He could turn himself into a buffalo at will and would destroy farmer’s produce and lands and gored many to death. The Devas ran to Lord Brahma to find a way to put an end to his reign of terror. The Lord looked gravely and said that it was now only in the hands of the Devi, Shakthi, Parvathi, Uma who is Brahmani, Vaishnavi and Shambavi – the embodiment of the strength and power of the Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and only she could save the Worlds. Then the Devas reached Mount Kailasa with folded hands and prayers on their lips beseeched Devi Parvathi to come down to the earth to finish off the demon. But she was hesitant, “ Why me, a woman unlike all you men, Cannot you all Devas together control one man? ” The Devas replied that Mahisha had a boon that only a female could stop him and there was no one other than the Devi herself who could do that. Lord Shiva then smiled at the Devi and told her to stop teasing the menfolk and get into action.
Then she and descended on the earth. She approached Mahisha in the form of a young girl and challenged him to defeat her if possible. Mahisha roared with laughter seeing the petite girl standing before her. He had forgotten Brahma’s words of the danger of a woman. He jumped in with his mace and tried to just throw her away but she stood there unmoved. And then she assumed her all-powerful form of the Durga riding a tiger with eighteen hands each with a weapon only to defeat and kill him. Mahisha remembered Brahma’s words now but he thought he could defeat her anyway, not realizing that she was the Devi herself. He attacked her with his mace and his entire army and she with only her trident They fought fiercely for nine days and nine nights without pausing.
Finally on the tenth day he figured he could not defeat her and he had lost his weapons. She, on the other hand, had vanquished his entire army of demons. Durga, now very angry, made herself a garland of the demons she killed in the battle and became the terrible, bloodthirsty Kali. Mahisha then changed himself into a buffalo and charged at her and with a terrible scream Mahakali pinned the buffalo down with her feet and destroyed him with her trident. She becomes the slayer of Mahisha – Mahishasuramardhini. The tenth day aptly called VijayaDasami – The Tenth Day of Victory. “
I was speechless, visualizing the scene. Then Appa asked me “ Do you know what you what is the message of this story my dear?”
Me “ We should be good and not hurt others. If we hurt others God will punish us”. Appa, smilingly tapped my head, “Is that all , Asadu ( Ignoramus}. The Devi resides in you, my Dear. You can be all that you want to be. That you are a girl cannot stop you. Because you are the Devi and Devi is Shakthi. You have all the strength in the world. Ichha Shakthi – Desire to do good, Kriya Shakthi – Strength to carry out rightful action, to work hard with passion to achieve the desired goal with Gnana Shakthi – with all the worldly knowledge required for intelligent action and most importantly – the knowledge of the Supreme, that is so important for detached action. All you need is to slay the buffalo that embodies Tamo guna – laziness, fear, feeling of lack of self-worth and every other block in your mind. ”
I prepare for this year’s Navaratri As the 10 day festival of Navaratri draws near I start counting the days. This year it starts on the 28th of October, Sunday. I find someone to set up my 7 steps Golu padis and I find that every carpenter is busy setting up Golu Padis for ladies across the city of Chennai. And then I unwrap all the dolls, beautiful ones – painted Terracota, Papier-mache, ceramic, wooden, in all sizes and shapes, Gods and Goddesses, Saints and musicians, village workers, farmers, patriotic freedom fighters, children, women, men, animals, birds, furniture, vessels – All of them beckon. I feel like a child again. But as I remember the story of Mahisha and his destruction by the Devi Mahishasuramardhini, I realize that the Navaratri every year is a Nine-day period of socializing with all the women in my life who inspire me, who support me, who energize me, who help me believe in myself, who help and support me in all my endeavors, in my worldly battles. It is a period that helps me re-affirm my self- belief and re-dedication to my avowed causes. It is also a duty for me to return the same favor to all the women I meet. To support the women who need it and to guide those less-experienced than me. I look forward to receiving strength from the Devi Mahishasuramardhini herself to slay my inner demons and also to share some of the strength she has given to me with others.
Written by Parvathi Anush Shanker, B.Com FCA
