Om Dum Durgayei Namaha translation:
”Salutations to She, who is graceful to the seeker of truth and terrible in appearance to those who would harm devotees of truth.”
Om Dum Durgayei Namaha benefits:
This Sanskrit mantra is used in particularly distressing circumstances, for individuals who lack self-confidence, insecurities or feelings of lack of self-worth. Chanting this mantra can likewise bestow creativity, prosperity, and abundance. Also, this mantra is frequently used for protection against external or internal negative forces.
Goddess Durga mantra meaning:
The Goddess represents the power of the Supreme Being that defends moral order and righteousness in the creation. The Goddess has been revered for centuries and her appearance varying according to the age or period of worship.
The Sanskrit word Durga implies a place that is protected or a fort and thus difficult to reach. Another significance is „Durgatinashini”, which literally transcribes into „the one who eliminates sufferings”.
The Goddess, also named Divine Mother, protects mankind from misery, suffering, and evil by destroying forces such as – jealousy, prejudice, selfishness, anger, negative emotions, hatred, and ego.
According to an ancient legend, the Mother Goddess was created for the slaying of the buffalo demon Mahisasura by Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, and the lesser gods, who were otherwise powerless to slay Mahisasura. Embodying their collective shakti (energy), the Universal Mother is both derivative from the male divinities and the genuine source of their inner power. Furthermore, the Goddess is also greater than any of them. Born fully grown and beautiful, the Mother Goddess presents a ferocious and powerful menacing form to her enemies.
“It is possible to distinguish 2 distinctive forms – one primitive and the other advanced. The primitive form of the Goddess (Parvati) is the direct result of syncretism of a mountain-goddess, venerated by the dwellers of the Himalaya and the Vindhyas, a goddess venerated by the nomadic Abhira shepherd, the vegetation spirit accepted as a female, and a war-goddess.
As her votaries progressed in civilization the primitive war-goddess was metamorphosed into the personification of the all-destroying time (Goddess Kali), the vegetation spirit into the primordial energy (shakti) and the saviouress from the eternal cycle of rebirths (samsara), and progressively brought into line with the Brahmanic philosophy and mythology.” – Ramprasad Chanda’s quote about the development of Durga from primitive goddess to her current form.
Other Durga mantras lyrics:
- Om Eim Hlim Klim Chamundayei Vicche Namaha.
- Om Katya Yanaicha Vidmahe Kanya Kumari Cha, Dhimahe Tanno Durgai Prachodayat.
- Yaa Devi Sarva Bhooteshu Buddhi Roopena Samsthita, Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha.
- Om Hreeng Dung Durgaayai Namah.
Iconography
In Her images, the Universal Mother is shown in a female form, wearing red clothes. She has 18 arms, carrying many objects in Her hands. The red color means action and the red clothes signify that She is constantly busy destroying evil and protecting mankind from suffering, disease, and pain caused by evil forces.
Thus, the Mother Goddess is a representation of a united front of all Divine forces vs the negative forces of wickedness and evil.
The sound that radiates from a conch is the sound of the primordial syllable AUM (or OM), which is said to be the primordial sound of creation. A conch in one of the Goddess’s hands means the ultimate triumph of virtue over evil and righteousness over unrighteousness.
Other weapons in the hands of the Universal Mother such as a mace, disc, sword, arrow, and trident convey the thought that one weapon cannot destroy all different kinds of enemies (mental, physical or energetical). Distinctive weapons must be used to fight enemies depending upon the circumstances. For example, jealousy by desirelessness, selfishness must be destroyed by detachment, ego by prejudice and discrimination by self-knowledge.
Forms of the Goddess
There are many incarnations: Kali, Bhagvati, Lalita, Gauri, Bhavani, Ambika, Kandalini, Java, and Rajeswari. The Supreme Mother incarnated as the united power of all Divine beings. Her 9 appellations are Skondamata, Kaalratri, Brahmacharini, Shailaputri, Kusumanda, Maha Gauri, Katyayani, Siddhidatri, and Chandraghanta.
Worship
The worship of Goddess is very prominent among Hindus. There are numerous temples dedicated to the Universal Goddess’s devotion in India.
The Goddess is also worshiped for both her ferocious spirit to battle evil as well as her gracious nature. In Hinduism, She is the mother of Lord Ganesha (remover of obstacles) and Lord Kartikeya and the wife of Lord Shiva (also known the Destroyer). Her devotees celebrate her „homecoming” and victory against the demon (Asura) Mahisasura during the time of Durga Puja held at the end of September to mid-August (in the month of Aswin).
The 9 intense days of worship in the month of Aswin is held with much adoration and devotion and involves elaborate and traditional rituals, mass feeding and praying, and cultural functions. On the 10th day of the festival, the idol of the Universal Mother is immersed in holy waters as a symbol of the Goddess leaving for the sacred Mount Kailash, where her husband Lord Shiva resides.
In Andhra Pradesh, She is likewise worshiped and venerated as Kanaka Durgammathalli, where there is also an illustrious temple for Goddess Kanaka in Indrakeeladri, Vijayawada. The Goddess is also known by the name of Chandi Bhavani.