Durgā: The Strength and Power of the Divine Feminine
Today is the beginning of Navaratri, an annual festival to honor the Goddess Durgā.
“Nava” means nine in Sanskrit and “ratri” means nights, and this is indeed a nine-day festival that celebrates the nine forms of Durgā (Navadurga). It is also sometimes shortened to Navratri.
Durga is a powerful goddess who symbolizes the strength and energy of the feminine. She is seen as the protector of the universe and the one who fights against evil.
What makes Durgā unique is that she was created by the combined power of many gods, each giving her their strongest weapons and abilities. The gods came together to create her because they could not defeat a powerful demon on their own. With her many arms, Durgā carries the weapons of the gods, showing that she holds their collective power.
Durga symbolizes the idea that women, and feminine energy in general, have immense strength, both to protect and to create. She is a fierce warrior, but also a caring mother figure.
In essence, Durga stands for the belief that good will always triumph over evil, and that feminine power is a vital force in making this happen.
If you would like to learn more about the mythology of Durgā, her powers and creation, then check out this video created for children.
In this video, Dr. Robert Svoboda interprets the meaning of Durgā. I’ve provided a short glossary below to help you understand some of the terms he uses if they are foreign to you.
shakti - the divine feminine energy/power that represents creation, strength and the dynamic force that sustains the universe.
tamas - a concept (guna) that represents darkness, ignorance, inertia, and the quality of being stagnant or unproductive.
Maa Durgā - “Maa” means mother; the goddess Durgā is often referred to this way because she is considered the divine mother who nurtures, protects and cares.
Durgā as a remedy in Vedic astrology
Since she is a mother goddess, working with Durgā can be a very effective remedy for the Moon. She is good choice if a person’s moon is afflicted and/or poorly placed and is either waxing or exalted (=in Taurus).
Working with Durgā is particularly beneficial when the moon is afflicted by Rahu (the North Node).
A “demon” in his own right, Rahu is particularly hard on the moon (and therefore the mind). His influence can bring anxiety, PTSD, difficulties feeling grounded and emotional dysregulation in the form of mood swings, inappropriate emotional responses or feeling overwhelmed. This is particularly the case when the moon is conjunct Rahu.
Since Durgā is a master “demon slayer,” she can help clear these negative influences brought on by Rahu, thus clearing and soothing the mind.
In contrast, working with Kalī, another fierce mother goddess, is the better choice for the dark waning moon, a debilitated moon (=Scorpio) or Moon/Saturn combinations.
How to connect with Durgā
Here are a few simple tips for how to connect with Durgā this Navaratri - or any other time.
read up on the Navadurga, concentrating on each one on the day she is worshipped
make a small altar with an image of Durgā; put flowers and offerings like fresh fruit and beautiful jewellery on the altar daily
light an oil lamp or candle and incense each of the nine days and recite the following mantra (108 times if possible):
Oṃ hrīṃ dūm durgāyai namaḥ
Here's the breakdown of the syllables:
Oṃ: A sacred syllable, symbolizing the universal sound or cosmic vibration.
Hrīṃ: A bija mantra (seed syllable) associated with divine energy, specifically the energy of the goddess.
Dūm: Another bija mantra, connected to protection and strength, often associated with Goddess Durga.
Durgāyai: The dative form of "Durga," meaning "to Durga" (addressing the Goddess).
Namaḥ: Means "I bow" or "I offer my salutations."
The mantra is pronounced "Om hreem doom door-gaa-yay na-mah-ha."
Jai Mata Di (Victory to the Mother)!
Michelle R. Dean is a Vedic astrologer and writer based in Berlin. To find out more about Michelle, swing by here.