When Lord Krishna was to appear in this world, he also asked Goddess Durga to appear. So, as per the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, Goddess Durga took birth as the daughter of Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja in Vrindavan.
And later she was exchanged with Krishna by Vasudeva and brought to Mathura in the prison house of Kamsa. When Kamsa tried to kill her thinking that she could be the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva then she slipped from his hand and said to Kamsa that the personality who is to kill him has already appeared.
After saying this she disappeared and appeared in different places in India where she is worshipped by different names.
Srimad Bhagavatam says, “After speaking to Kaṁsa in this way, the goddess Durgā, Yoga-māyā, appeared in different places, such as Vārāṇasī, and became celebrated by different names, such as Annapūrṇā, Durgā, Kālī and Bhadrā.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.4.13
At different places Goddess Durga is today worshipped. Nine-day Durga Puja festival is especially dedicated to her.
Right now, whole India is celebrating Durga Puja.
Why ask Goddess Durga things of this world?
But when we are worshipping Goddess Durga especially during Durga Puja then it is important that we worship her with proper consciousness. We should observe the festival in such a way that it makes her happy. We should pray to her for blessings and benedictions which will give great joy to her heart and will bring great benefit to us too.
Most of the time, worshippers of Goddess Durga, known as saktas, ask her for material benefit. They generally ask – secure and high paying job, a beautiful house, a loyal spouse, healthy body, something for children, car, bike, scooty, laptop, iPhone and so on.
Now let us ask ourselves that even if Goddess Durga fulfil these desires, then are these things going to make us happy or keep us happy forever?
How long anything of this material world remains with us? Maybe for 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, maybe for entire life. What after that? At the time of death everything will be taken away from us and we will be given another body.
The body can be of a human being, or it can be of an animal, bird, reptile, insect too. The type of body which we will get will depend upon our karma. If we have done good karma, then next life will be good and if we have done something bad then next life will be terrible.
Best thing to ask Goddess Durga this Durga Puja
So, why ask something from Durga Devi, which is temporary, which will keep us bound in different material bodies and in this material world only.
So, will it not be better to ask from her something which will be with us not only for this lifetime but forever.
Considering all these, this Durga Puja, let us do something which will please Durga Devi.
As Goddess Durga appeared to fulfil the desire of Krishna, so let us pray to her so that we too can fulfil the wish of Krishna. Krishna’s desire is that we become his devotee, chant his holy names like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, and return back to his spiritual kingdom.
When we will dedicate our life to Lord Krishna, then Goddess Durga, sister of Krishna, will be happy, and we will be happy forever too. In this life too we will live happily with our family members and in next life we will be with Krishna’s family in the spiritual world.
Three Reflections
- Goddess Durga appears in this world as per the desire of Krishna.
- Even if Goddess Durga fulfil material desires then still, we won’t be happy forever because material things are temporary.
- As she appeared to fulfil the desire of Krishna, so let us pray to her so that we too can fulfil the wish of Krishna.
Ask Yourself
Do I always ask Goddess Durga to fulfil my material desires?
Action Item
Pray to Goddess Durga so that we become sincere devotee of Krishna
