Nawratam Post

“MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DURGA MAATAA”. By Pr Roop Sukhram.

As investigated in Part I: Post 132 – Date: 06.13.2014, the question remains: “Since Durga Maataa being the manifestation of God, is it true that this Great and Merciful Mother had to rid the world of evil by chopping off heads and drinking blood?” Therefore, what is the true interpretation of the story of Raktabeeja and Ambikaa Maa?

Recently, the gross visual acts of ISIS decapitating goes against all decency and morals. Yet, we as a Hindu community are contended to accept that the Great Mother who is generally referred to as “Dayaa Saagar – Ocean of Mercy” (Dayaa – mercy, compassion, sympathy, loving kindness) removes a transgressor by ripping off his head and drinking his blood. Is this what we, the children of the Vedas, the Hindu community have been reduced to? That we take pride and revel in celebrating and teaching our children the gross and morbid act of violence from a Scriptural standpoint? Thus, it is imperative for us to understand that any attempt to interpret this sacred text must be done with absolute consideration for the explicitness of the story of Ambikaa Maa, as well as the grammatical explicitness and etymology of the Samskrita language, as it is quite easy for one to become lost in both “Vaachaka – the one expressing, and Vaachya – explicit meaning of the words expressed.” (See Post 135 – Date: 06.16.2014), and as mentioned in an earlier article, “Swaadhyaaya – Thorough and solid knowledge of the Scripture, which includes language, philosophy and psychology” is the key.

I cannot stress enough that this pattern of misunderstanding of Ambikaa Maa is a direct result of foreign influence, whose only interest was to create a distaste for Sanaatan Dharma (Post 149 – Date: 07.31.2014). Furthermore, it is even more stunning to recognize that Hindu educators, lecturers, Pandits and most of the Hindu Diaspora, without any consideration to correct the misconception are quite content to accept this foolishness that was first established by non-Hindus. Moreover, it would seem that challenging the validity of this and any other misconception of Sanaatan Dharma is grounds for disunity. In fact, the grossness that is generally circulated and “celebrated” as the greatness of Ambikaa Maa is so deeply rooted in the Hindu community that it is almost impossible to remove. Nevertheless, irrespective of challenges, I have faith that there are many who thirst for more than what is presently being offered. Thus, my faith shall not falter. The following is excerpted from an up-coming book on the greatness of Devi.

Foremost, for us to have a better concept of Devi, it is necessary that we clearly understand the significance and importance of Nau-Raatri. For this, we have to keenly examine the meaning and interpretation of the compound word Nau-Raatri. The meaning of the word “Nau or Now” is “Nine” and Raatri literally means “Darkness.” Hence, Now-Raatri – Nine Darknesses. Although the word Raatri can be translated as night, in the context of this sacred observance, the meaning cannot be taken lightly. Therefore, let us re-examine this word that denotes night. In Samskrita language there are at least 80 words to describe night, among which, the word Raatrau (Raarou) is commonly used. Therefore, to correctly interpret the word Raatri in its true contextual perspective, the literal definition must be re-examined. From this standpoint, the etymological definition clearly designates the word as “the absence of light” or “darkness,” and although it is customarily interpreted as night, such an interpretation in this context would be incorrect. As a fact, we do observe vrata for nine days and nine nights. Therefore, the context in which the word is applied must be taken in its literal definition of “Darkness.” In fact, the verbatim aspect and observance according to the story of this sacred text known as Devi Maahaatmyam subscribes that the observance is about Nine Types of Darkness. Hence, “Nau-Raatri – Nine Darknesses.”

The sacred and holy text of Durga-Paatha is also known as Devi Maahaatmyam. According to Samskrita grammar, the name “Devi Maahaatmyam” is a ‘Tatpurusha” compound, which literally means, “The Magnanimity of the Goddess.” The text is also called Durgaa Sapta-shatee, as it contains 700 verses (Sapta – 7 and Shatee – 100). Additionally, it is also referred to as Chandee-Paatha, as the name Chandee is the name by which the Great Mother is referred to in the text. Chapters 81-93 of Maarkandeya Puraana consist of the Devi Maahaatmyam, of which the eight chapter of Devi Maahaatmyam consists of “Raktabeeja Vadha – The Annihilation of Raktabeeja.”

The language applied in the text of the Devi Maahaatmyam lucidly stated that the “battle” in which Ambikaa Maa destroyed Raktabeeja was no ordinary encounter. The story tells of the Great Mother battling against a demon figure with a special gift that anytime a drop of his blood fell onto the Earth, a replica of him would rise to life. Therefore, almost instantaneously, as his blood touched the Earth, replicas of the demon multiplied into millions. Subsequently, Ambikaa Maa destroyed the demon by sucking his blood before it touched the Earth.

To clearly understand this story, we have to analyze a few details. First, the name Raktabeeja, meaning Blood-seed is a compound of two Samskrita words: Rakta – blood and Beeja – seed. Second, the human body is regarded as Kshétraa – Field/Earth. This in essence is the “field” where the battle took place. You see, Raktabeeja was no human person or figure. Raktabeeja – Blood-seed is medically referred to as Polyps – growths of tissues found in any organ that has blood vessels, such as the colon, nose, uterus and other parts of the human body. These Polyps are often referred to as “blood-seed” and they are mostly benign, but may become malignant, in which case, they develop into cancer.

In the olden days, before the advancement of medicine, many patients died as a result of doctors attempting to “cut” the cancer. Cutting the cancer caused it to spread more rapidly, as it was believed that as the blood spread, the cancer increased. To effectively destroy the cancer cells, radiation must be applied. Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by destroying their DNA and preventing the genetic information from passing from one cell to the next generation. In essence, radiation dries (suck) the blood from the malignant cells and effectively preventing the “drop of blood from touching the Kshétraa – the Earth.

Additionally, Lakshmee – The Devi of Light is another form of Durga Maa. In essence, She is Photon, the elementary particle or quantum of light, also known as electromagnetic radiation. From this standpoint, Lakshmee can be seen as the origin of the first electromagnetic radiation technology. Giving this premise, it would not have been a challenge for the Great Mother, Ambikaa Maa to destroy the demon by “sucking its blood and preventing a single drop from touching the Earth.”

Why nine darkness? The word Purusha, designated to identifying humans is a compound of two Samskrita words: Pür - City and Usha - Light. Thus, God created each of us as a City of Light; not a place of darkness. This concept of the human body as a receptacle or vessel of God is also amplified through the very fact that the “Spark or Light of God” is the principal force of life, the “Atman – Soul” in every living entity, as declared in Yajur Veda VS 40.17 and in Bhagavad Geetaa. In fact, the details of the advent of Shree Krishna made this quite clear, as humans are regarded as the “Baansuri – Flute” that is so treasured by the Lord. Interestingly, “Baans” is the word for bamboo, as well as the human back-bone, of which both has visual similarities. Not to mention that the Baansuri of Lord Krishna has “Nine Doors” (7 notes [sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni] one excretory and one reproductive). From this view, Ambikaa Maa in “nine forms” is amplified through the daily function of every human. For example, the nose, the passage for breathing is known as the Door of Praanaa – Path of the Vital Breath; the mouth is known as the Gate of Vaakya – The Power of Speech, and an epithet of Sarasvatee, etc., etc.

The Vedas declared the human body is a “City of Nine Doors” as described in Atharva Veda 10.02.31 & 10.08.43. Also, this concept has been endorsed by Shree Krishna in Bhagavad Geetaa 5.13 & 14.11, and fully amplified in Shvétaashvatara Upanishad 3.18: Nau-Dwaaré Purö - City of Nine Doors. Subsequently, a principal doctrine of Sanaatan Dharma regards the human body as the City of Nine Doors: Two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, one mouth, an excretory orifice and a reproductive orifice. While, again, Shree Krishna declared in Uttara Geetaa 1:54 that the City of Nine Doors should not be misused.

These Darknesses are types of severe diseases of the human body that can be prevented and even cured, through the blessings and protection of Ambikaa Maa. The text of the Sacred Nau-Durga Paatha lucidly states that the Great Mother projected Herself in nine features to protect against these Darknesses by guarding each door of the Kshétraa – the Earth/field or human body. Thus, we observe “Nau-Raatri.”

It is the reason that the Great Mother projected nine forms, as each form protects each door of the human body from the advancement of Darkness in the form of diseases and other illness of the City of Lights that has Nine Doors. Interestingly, as mentioned above, the human body is also known as the Kshétrajan – The Field. Consequently, we observe nine days of “vrata – penance” with rigid prayers that protects one from the Darkness that may infiltrate and pollute humans through any of the Nine Doors. This, indeed, is the true and correct concept of Nau-Raatri – Nine Darknesses. 

I sincerely hope that this allays the contention that this Great Mother Ambikaa Maa had any dealings of slaughtering and drinking blood.

To my FB family and friends. Shubha Nau-Raatri. May the Shakti of Ambikaa Maa continue to bless and protect you and your family, and everyone everywhere. Öm Hrim Chandikaayai Namah.

Post 205 – Date: 04.11.2016: Öm Namaha Shivaaya.