Navaratri - fascinating legends
The practice of Goddess worship has been prevalent in India since times
immemorial and Navaratri is the time when nine consecutive days are devoted
to the propitiation of the mother goddess.
Dr. Aparna Pradhan brings you some legends of this festival
DEMOLITION OF THE DEMON
KING- MAHISHASURA VADHA
Mahishasura, a demon king, worshipped Lord Shiva and pleased by his
dedicated worship, Lord Shiva granted him boon of power of eternity.
Empowered by this gift, the demon king decided to conquer the world and
started harassing and killing innocent people and saints. Mahishasura then
set out to conquer all the lokas including Swarga loka. All the Gods in
heaven became worried and pleaded to Lord Shiva to tame the demon. The three
supreme Gods- Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva) united their powers and
created a divine energy called Shakti or Durga, the warrior Goddess.
The divine beauty of Durga mesmerised Mahishasura and he asked her to marry
him. Goddess Durga agreed to marry him on the condition that he wins over
her in a fight. Proud of his powers, Mahishasura readily agreed to the duel.
The fight continued for nine nights and at the end of the ninth night,
Goddess Durga beheaded Mahishasura. The nine nights for which the Goddess
fought and finally demolished the demon are celebrated as Navaratri. The
tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashmi.
STORY OF GODDESS SATI
According to this legend, King Daksha of Himalayas had a beautiful daughter
Uma who wished to marry Lord Shiva. She worshipped Lord Shiva and pleased
him. Lord Shiva pleased with her worship married her and accepted her as his
wife. After marriage, Uma visited her parents for a 'yagna' arranged by her
father king Daksha. To her utter surprise, she found everyone except her
husband was invited. Uma, ashamed of this behavior and insult inflicted by
her father towards her husband Lord Shiva, ended her life by jumping into
the agnikund- yagna fire. Henceforth, she was known as Sati.
Lord Shiva came to know of this gruesome incident and was extremely furious.
Reaching King Daksha's place, Lord Shiva wrecked havoc and lifted Uma's body
and started dancing -the dance of destruction. Lord Vishnu intervened and
pacified Lord Shiva. Uma was reborn again as Parvati. King Daksha was
extremely sorry for his behavior and misdeeds and prayed for mercy and was
finally forgiven. Peace was restored between Uma and her parents. In this
birth also she married Lord Shiva and lived happily. It is believed that
every year, Uma comes to visit her parents in the month of Ashwin for nine
days with Ganesh and Kartika and Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. That
time of the year is celebrated as Navaratri.
WORSHIPPING OF DURGA BY
LORD RAMA
There is another legend which narrates that Lord Rama wanted to get Sita
back from the clutches of demon king Ravana. Lord Rama worshipped the nine
manifestations of Goddess Durga for nine nights to gather strength, powers
and courage to kill Ravana. Those nine nights came to be known as Navaratri.
On the tenth day, Lord Rama killed the demon king Ravana and that day is
celebrated as Vijaya Dashmi. (ENDS)
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The above article appeared in the October 9, 2008 edition of The Times of
India, Goa
