Mahalaya

                                                      

Today is Mahalaya. I still remember those fresh Mahalaya mornings. Those were a little cold and a little cozy. Baba used to wake us up early in the morning, initially to listen to ‘Mahisasura Mardini’, the Chandi Paath on All India radio and later to watch it on Doordarshan. Every year the story looked absolutely fresh and new. Mahishasur, the son of King Rambha and Princess Mahishi pleases Lord God Brahma and asks for immortality in return. Lord Brahma refuses to make him immortal. However grants him the wish to choose his killer. Mahishasur then thinks a lot and asks for a boon to be killed by a woman as he thinks that a woman can never defeat a strong demon like him.

Maa Durga, was then took birth out Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva’s anger, to defeat Mahishasur.

Maa used to tell me that she has no idea whether this story or any of the mythological stories are true or not. But she believed that these stories had been our epics because they give us life- lessons. Yes every story has the same moral, ‘The victory of good (truth) over evil’. Ramayana had Shri Ram, who won over Ravana. Mahabharata had Pandus, who won over Kauravas. Then what is it different with Mahalaya? Yes it is Devi Durga. Mahalaya might have been made up to give all the demons that a woman can take your life. She can do what none of the men could do.

At the end of the story the Gods, rid of the demon showered Maa Durga with praises and prayed her to appear everytime they were in need of her. Maa Durga granted this wish and promised that she will come again if called with devotion.

The ‘Geeta saar’ says almost the same thing that Lord Krishna will return every time he is needed.

                                    

I don’t know much about Chirtianity or Islam but heard that even ‘Jesus’ and ‘Mohammad’ said the same things in Bible and Quraan respectively.

I often think was Nibhaya not calling devotedly Maa Durga while the brutal act was being commenced on her. Does Lord Krishna think that saving Draupadi from the disrespect against her was all he needed to do to eradicate Adharma from Bharata? When will Jesus let us celebrate Easter truly? And when will Mohammad come again to save us?