Durgashtami Celebration

On October 8, 2005, students, teachers, and friends gathered to celebrate

Durgashtami in the Vidyapith Prayer Hall. The celebration began with the Panchopachara worship.  The main bhajans were lead by Jyotiben Shah, with Tilak Jani accompanying the singing on tabla.  The program included Pranam Mantras, Manasa Puja, Veda Mantras, Aratrikam, a beautiful hymn – “Shakradaya” from the Durga Saptashati, flower offering by Lina Sivadasan on behalf of all the devotees, a dhun – “Prema Rupini Shyama Maa” sung by Mahendra Uncle, Prabhu Smaran, reading and discussion by Mahendra Uncle, a bhajan - “Durgatinashini” by Vivek Kocharlakota, presentations  by students, a hymn - “Devi Aparadh Kshamapan Stotra,”  Presentations II (students), a bhajan – “Jaya Sarade Devi” by Latha Tatapudy, Devi Arati, Veda Mantras, and Pranam Mantras.  Sheela Krishnan did the concluding arati.       

            Mahendra Uncle read from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and pointed out what a great devotee of the Universal Mother Sri Ramakrishna was. Even after attaining Nirvikalpa Samadhi, Sri Ramakrishna considered himself a child of the Universal Mother.  In the Gospel he said, "Brahman and Shakti are identical. If you accept one, you must accept the other. It is like fire and its power to burn… You cannot think of the milk without the whiteness, and again you cannot think of milk’s whiteness without thinking of milk.  Thus, one cannot think of Brahman without Shakti, or Shakti without Brahman… When we think of It as inactive, that is to say, not engaged in the acts of creation, preservation, and destruction, the we call It Brahman.  But when It is dynamic and engages in activities, then we call It Kali or Shakti.  The Reality is one and the same; the difference is in name and form."               

            In the student’s presentations, Rishi Dhar presented the two aspects of the Universal Mother. On one hand, she is very loving and caring towards her devotees, like a mother. On the other hand, she is the embodiment of all the powers of gods. She destroyed many demons, like Raktabeeja, Chanda and Munda. Another student, Aneri Rokad, explained how Mother Durga took Her form from the combined powers of  the gods, adorned with their divine weapons. Sonali Tatapudy then told that the first three days of the nine days celebration of the Universal Mother is the worship of Mother Durga as the purifier of our minds. The next three days are for Mother Laxshmi who gives us good values and prosperity. The last three days are for Mother Sarawati who gives us knowledge.  Arvind Krishnamurthy read a heart warming poem by Helen Steiner Rice, depicting a mother's love and her simplicity and compassion. Latha aunty's 4th grade class presented a song on Durga, called “Durga Devi Janani,” and Latha Aunty sang a bhajan, "Jay Sarada Devi.” The celebration concluded with distribution of Prasad. (Report prepared by Priya Parikh).