Greeting the Mother - Akaal Bodhan :

This coming weekend we will celebrate Durga Puja. This her Akaal Bodhon, her Untimely Manifestation. Her real puja is the Basanti Puja. However faced with possible defeat in his battle to reclaim his beautiful wife Sita, in an eons later epic battle of the Ramayana, Prince Rama invokes the primal Shakti in the form of Durga-the warrior Godess. She has been created to vanquish the almost invincible Mahisha, a king of the dark world.Mahisha spent years praying for the boon of immortality, but eventually settled for a lesser boon that would allow him to die only at the hand of a woman. Satisfied that it was an impossible event, Mahisha being an extraordinary warrior, began to tyrannize all the three worlds.Thus there was the creation of Devi, in the form of a woman. The metaphor being that all are born of a mother, without whom life is not possible. Thus the giver of Life is the the strongest force known. However Mahisha in his arrogance paid no attention to this, and scoffed at this beautiful woman who came riding on a roaring lion to fight him. He did not notice that she was symbolically gifted every weapon known, including the ones symbolizing peace and mercy-the necessary qualities of the greatest warriors. Over eight terrifying days the Demon fought the Mother, shattering the three worlds, and was slain on the eighth (Mahashtami- the Great Eighth). Mahisha died at Her feet, but not before asking for Her forgiveness as an errant son would ask of his mother. Of course like every mother, Durga tenderly forgave Her son. Tradiditionally, this event was commemorated in Ma Durga's puja held in the spring time, and called Basanti Puja.
But then how did we start celebrating Durga Puja in Autumn (Shorot kaal).
Well, The Mother came to us in the season in her Akaal Bodhon- Untimely Manifestation- because of another great story of triumph of Good over Evil.

In the time of Sri Rama, the heroic Prince and King elect of Ayodhya, The rich and powerful King Ravana of Lanka Dwip succumbed to lust and abducted Sita, Rama's exquisitely beautiful wife Sita. Rama, Sita and Rama's younger brother Lakhsmana are serving an exile in the forest due to a debt of honour that Rama must pay to his dying father and his stepmother Kaikeyi. The brothers are hopelessly outdone in terms of armies and weapons against such an invincible foe; all they have is the power and courage of the Right Path. Rama invokes the power of Durga, to fight the mighty King Ravana, who has abducted Sita. His brother Lakshmana is mortally wounded and his allies are monkeys, and vultures. Rama is desperate. His puja must be completed before dawn, when he will attack. It is the eighth day of prayer, just like the eighth day of battle between Durga and Mahisha. His Sandhi Puja needs one hundred and eight blue lotuses, the rarest and the best, but he has only one hundred and seven lotuses. So he determines to sacrifice one of his eyes, as the hundred and eighth. Durga is touched. She blesses him. He goes on to victory.
So we celebrate Rama's puja today and pray to Ma Durga as She appeared to Rama in an untimely and desperate situation. After all, we feel we need the Mother's intervention at all those times when we are desperate. Wishing all readers of this account that they be blessed by their mothers, who are the representatives of the Divine Mother, on this earth.

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Matri Rupena Samstitha,
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namoh Namaha !

(O Devi , All pervasive, Who appears in the form of Mother,
we bow worshipfully , we bow worshipfully, we bow worshipfully)

Photograph courtesy : Internet





Devlina Sen
San Diego, USA
12th August, 2008