Mahishasura

During childhood, one would remember watching Ultraman, a Japanese fiction cartoon. At least, this was my favorite show back then. More than Ultraman and his supernatural abilities to destroy the demon, I used to enjoy watching the demon. This demon always comes in different forms and appearance each time. At times with thorny wings, at times in red, at times in blue, at times looking more like a bird, at times more like a dinosaur, etc etc. However, in most of the episodes, Ultraman defeats the demon. From childhood, we are trained to accept that good defeats the evil. Hero wins the villain. In Tamil, they say, தர்மத்தின் வாழ்வு தன்னை சூது கவ்வும். தர்மம் மறுபடியும் வெல்லும் Dharmathin Vazhvu Dhanai Soodhu Kavvum, Dharmam Marupadiyum Vellum (Dharma may be seem losing to Adharma, but at the end only Dharma will triumph). 

Now, getting back to Mahishasura. Mahishasura is a demon depicted in the Puranas. he's with a

buffalo head and human body. Mahisha in Sanskrit means buffalo. Sounds like a cool Hindu name, but don't name your son Mahisha! So ya, demons are always depicted to have weird appearance, such as this. Similarly Singamugasuran in lion headed and Gajamughasuran is elephant headed. These demons are depicted this way to signify that the evil takes various forms and the negativity that dwells in each and every one of us is different. Example, some are egoistic, too proud about themselves, some are self praisers, some are too hot tempered, some are utter cheats and conman. However, the good can only be depicted as good and nothing else. So coming back to Mahishasura, this demon signifies greed, power craze and willingness to destroy the good and Dharma to fulfill his own desires to rule the world. Let us admit that we ALL possess these Mahishasura characteristics. Often time, when we get to know that our colleague has been rewarded and recognized by the management for some good performance, we start hating this colleague who might have been our lunch partner. We even start condemning and bad mouthing this individual without realizing that he/she has been a good friend. The recognition he/she obtained has not affected us in any ways, but we have created this self inflicted hatred towards this individual for no apparent reasons, we start feeling demotivated ourselves for not being a good performer or not getting the visibility from the senior management, we even start start passing negative comments about the management team that they have been bias, they have evaluated objectively, blah blah blah...... Eventually, there's this group of people we start getting acquainted to, who share the same ideology as us and the gossips, bad mouthing starts spreading like a wild fire. However, we fail to realize that these petty talks are only drowning us deeper and deeper into the swirl pool but it does not affect the colleague who has been rewarded, neither does it affect the management team. At the end, it is a self destruction caused by our own negativity. Such forms of Asuras are not present at the outside, but it manifests and grows in within. At some point, the magnitude is too superior that it overtakes our own conscience and will power. Similar to the gigantic demon character that we see in Ultraman.

Navarathri signifies good over evil. The evil qualities that possess each and every individual is depicted as Mahishasura. This demon if not kept under control, it leads to destruction of one's own self. Godess Shakti is worshiped for 9 nights (Navam means nine and Rathri means nights), in the motherly forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. She is said to have slayed the demon Mahishasura on the tenth night called Vijaya Dasami (Vijaya means victorious and Dasami is the 10th lunar day of the moon). The mother of mercy guides us through reinforces righteousness within us. 

As Durga, she represents braveness. Bravery to face challenges, to overcome sorrow and fight for the truth. Also, Durga bestows the good over evil. 

As Lakshmi, she bestows us with compassion, love, and material aspects for us to contribute towards a better world and to shower love onto all living beings. Also, good physical and mental health is vital in ensuring we are able to perform our duties and we remain positive on the outcomes.

As Saraswati, she grants us knowledge, the hunger towards betterment, sharpening of skills and ability to think wisely. Culturally, during Saraswati puja, we would place our tools and kits at the prayer altar. This is to seek blessings from goddess Saraswati to bless us with greater skills. Students would place their books and stationery, doctors would place their stethoscope and surgery kits and so on.

Vidyarambam

Finally on Vijayadasami, these 3 forms join forces to be called Mahishasura Mardini (Slayer of Mahishasura) to bestow us with everlasting happiness and satisfaction. In some cultures, this day is called as Vidyarambam (beginning of education). Kids start their academic journey on this significant day. 

Navarathri Kolu

Navarathri Kolu

Dhandiya Dance

All these festivals and rituals gives us the opportunity to celebrate by inviting our relatives and friends to our homes, enjoying light moments together, performing Satsanghs and Bhajans, etc. Kolu is placed in most homes. Placing of Kolu is a South Indian tradition of decorating an altar in steps with dolls and a form of the Goddess placed on the top. This tradition signifies that all forms of living beings are generated from the Jagan Matha (Mother of the universe) and remains under the umbrella of love and care of the mother. Multigrain are planted in a pot to signify fertility of mother earth to generate everlasting source for food and agricultural nourishment. At the end of the celebration, i.e. on Vijayadasami day, the sprouts from the grain are replanted in the ground. the sprouts are also given to children to place in their books for blessings of mother Shakti for everlasting knowledge and educational advancement. 

Let us together cherish this year's Navarathri festival and may the Jagan Matha bestow us with a positive mind, great health, good wealth to share and everlasting hunger for knowledge.