Durga, the Matrikas and Navaratri

a Q&A with Laura Dakshayani Amazzone

Vac: Who is Durga?

Dakshayani: The South Asian Goddess Durga, whose name means the Invincible One, is a Great Goddess of justice and peace. As the remover of difficulty and fear, She is a Goddess of compassion and fiercely discriminating wisdom. To millions, Durga serves as a spiritual guide through the chaos and violence that threatens the precious equilibrium of our lives. She reminds us that while suffering and pain plague this planet – joy, well-being and love are always attainable by confronting that which we most greatly fear. We can experience Her states of grace by fully surrendering to the natural cycles and wisdom of Goddess. To know Her mysteries, we must become them.

V: What is Navaratri?

D: The Durga puja is one of the most important religious festivals in the Hindu world. Millions come together to worship God as Mother Durga. For nine days and nights Durga’s mythic battle is reenacted through ritual, storytelling, dance, and worship across the Hindu world in a festival known as Dashain in Nepal and Navaratri or Durga Puja in other parts of South Asia.

Each autumn around the dark of the September or October moon, the millennia-old harvest festival worshiping the power and bounty of this omnipotent Goddess begins.

At the most astrologically auspicious time, Durga re-appears in Her various manifest forms: womb-like vessel, barley plant seeds and later, sprouts, the red tikka mark on Her devotees’ third eyes (an ancient symbol of our menstrual blood!), and as a bevy of Goddesses who help Her fight demonic forces (greed, ignorance, racism, misogyny, violence) and liberate the oppressed.

V: How does Durga relate to the other Goddesses?

D: Throughout the lunar-based festival the Asta Matrikas (eight Mother Goddesses) and the Navadurga (nine Durgas) are worshiped as a collective form of Durga. Revered as protectors of space and time, they are danced at midnight in the main squares of the three medieval kingdoms of the Valley: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur.

While each of these Goddesses is honored on individual days of the festival, they are ultimately understood as the various forms of Goddess Herself. Each Matrika and Navadurga is associated with a plant, Navapatrika, as well as one of Navagraha, the seven planets and nodes of the moon, demonstrating Goddess’ governance over both earthly and cosmic existence. The Great Goddess’ epic text, the Sri Chandi, which dates back to the 6th century CE is recited, hymns to goddess are sung, and temporary shrines holding freshly constructed straw and clay murti (statues) of the Goddess and Her entourage are ritualistically placed throughout cities and towns.

The first three days of the nine are devoted to Kali, Goddess of death and transformation, and rites are performed for removing obstacles and letting go of the old.

On the next three days, Lakshmi, Goddess of spiritual and material abundance, is honored, and rites celebrating fruition and the vegetative world are enacted.

On the final three days Sarasvati, Goddess of wisdom and creativity is revered. Practitioners place their tools, books, work objects, and other daily utensils on the altar and ask for the Goddess’ blessing.

V: What is Vijaya Dashami?

D: The final day of the festival, Vijaya Dashami, celebrates Durga’s victory over the demonic forces. With Her victory a new cycle begins. Although Goddess will now return to Her mountain abode, before leaving She reminds Her devotees that She is always within reach. No matter how joyous or difficult a situation, Durga asks Her devotees to call on Her—and promises She will always come.

JAI MAA!

Laura Amazzone, M.A., is a yogini, independent scholar, and teacher who has recently completed a book on Durga and Navaratri: Goddess Durga: Empowering Women, Transforming the World. University Press of America, Spring 2010.

Share