"Jayanti mangala kali,  bhadra kali kapalini

Durga Kshama Shiva dhatri, Swaha Swadha namostute" 

Salutations to Jayanti (Who is Ever-Victorious), Mangala (Who is the bestower of Auspiciousness), Kali (Who is beyond Kala or Time), Bhadrakali (Who is the controller of Life and Death, being beyond Kala or Time), Kapalini (Who wear a Garland of Skulls),

Salutations to Durga (Who is Durgati-Nashini), Shiva (Who is Ever-Auspicious and One with Shiva as His Consort), Kshama (Who is an embodiment of Forbearance), Dhatri (Who is the Supporter of all Beings), Swaha (Who is the final receiver of the Sacrificial Oblations to Gods) and Swadha (Who is the final receiver of the Sacrificial Oblations to Manes); Salutations to You.

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I love the above sloka, it somehow seems profound and powerful. However, during the last Durga pujas, I could not help but ponder on the irony of us fellow Indians, who worship Maa Durga and other Goddesses. Surprised to read irony with devotion? Do read on.

The word 'Durga' in Sanskrit means 'She who is insurmountable or incomprehensible'. Durga is a form of Shakti, the consort of Lord Shiva. However, unlike Sati or Parvati (other names of Shakti) she has a terrifying aspect as well. She protects the virtuous and destroys the wicked. This makes Durga different from other Goddesses like Lakshmi, Parvati or Saraswati. They only bestow blessings. They don't wage war on the wicked. Durga does that. Actually, the very purpose of her existence is to punish the wicked.

For Hindus, Durga is the Mother Goddess. She is the ultimate symbol of female energy and dynamism. In fact, she is regarded as the Supreme Power. She is thought to be more powerful than even the three Gods of the Hindu Trinity. Durga has numerous names and each name denotes a certain aspect of the Goddess. Some of her very popular names include Parvati, Sati, Ambika, Chamundeswari and Kali. 

During the Vasant and Sharat Navaratris (the spring and autumnal nine day festivals) the Goddesses are worshipped in three forms, during the first three nights, Kali or Parvati is revered, then Lakshmi on the fourth, fifth and sixth nights, and finally Saraswati until the ninth night.

And here is the irony:

She is Durga – the punisher of the wicked - in a land where a girl is punished for just being born as a girl

She is Saraswati – the personification of knowledge - in a country where girls are denied basic education

She is Lakshmi – the bestower of wealth in a society where daughters are burnt for dowry

She is Annapurna – the giver of food and nourishment - for a populace where farmers die of hunger

She is Jagatmata – the mother of the universe - in a nation where women are rarely respected and the news is full of rape incidents

She is Uma - the radiant one - for a population deprived of the light of progress and still dwell in the dark superstitious world

She is Shyamala – the dusky one - for people who are obsessed with fairness

She is Ananta – the one who is infinite and beyond measure – and who has been relegated to pictures, who is entrapped in clay and consigned to an annual six day festivities.

And in growing despair, I asked, "Maa Durga – Are you really there or have you given up on us?"

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