The festival of lights brings in joy and happiness. Different states celebrate the festival in different styles. Here is a glimpse of how the main day of Diwali celebrations unfolds across the country.
In The Morning
Many parts of South India celebrate Diwali by starting the day with a scented oil bath. The oil bath is said to cleanse the body and rejuvenate the senses.
Diwali is said to bring newness and joy. Many people celebrate by wearing new clothes after their morning rituals.
Many people begin their day by preparing their homes for the new year as well. They clean their houses and decorate the area with rangoli and kolam designs.
Early evening
Kheel (puffed rice) and batasha (sugar candy) are offered to the goddess Lakshmi during Diwali. In some parts of North India, the batasha is also fashioned to resemble different animals. Called khilone, these are popular even today. In olden times, rice would be ready for harvest in time for Diwali and kheel would be the first thing offered to the goddess. Another belief is that Lakshmi likes these food items because they are white.
Diwali is a perfect opportunity to express our love and gratitude for those around us. This is most often done by exchanging lots of sweets with family, friends and neighbours.
Various parts of the country also worship Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Kali during the festival of Diwali.
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At Night
It’s believed that lighting up homes with diyas and keeping the doors and windows open on Diwali night beckons to Goddess Lakshmi to enter and bestow her blessings on the household.
For the people of West Bengal, Diwali is synonymous with Kali Puja. Pandals are erected all over the state and Goddess Kali is worshipped, often late into the night.
On Diwali day, some people also listen to Harikatha, an art form that weaves storytelling, poetry, music, dance, drama and philosophy into its fold. The storyteller, called a Haridasa, narrates the life story of saints and gods from Indian epics. It originated in Andhra Pradesh in the 19th century and is performed even today. Did you know that the first Harikatha singer was Narada who sang for Vishnu?
Avur Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was loved and respected as a scientist, a teacher, a visionary, and then as the 11th President of our country. No one would have thought that this little boy from Rameswaram would one day be honored with the Bharat Ratna, India’s most prestigious award, and will always be remembered for his vision for India.
Illustration: Arijit Dutta Chowdhury
His father was thought to be a healer
Born on 15th October 1931, Abdul was the youngest child of Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma. His father was the Imam at the local Mosque of Rameswaram and led worshippers during prayers. Many people considered him to be a healer. They brought water to him and he dipped his fingers into it while chanting prayers. This water was then used for healing people. His father often explained to young Abdul the power of faith and prayer. This advice probably stayed with him throughout his lifetime.
His sister gave her gold bangles to cover the cost of his education
Young Abdul Kalam got admission into the Madras Institute of Technology. His parents did not know how to meet the cost of his higher education. His elder sister, Zohra gave her gold bangles to make ends meet even though she had little money for her own household needs. Abdul was touched by this selfless gesture. He studied hard to get a scholarship to redeem the piece of jewellery that she had given up.
His work was commendable
After completing his education, Dr Kalam got a job at the Indian National Committee for Space Research as a Rocket Engineer. There he was introduced to Dr Vikram Sarabhai, one of the pioneers of India’s Space Programme. Kalam was assigned to work with Group Captain VS Narayanan to Develop a Rato, which is a Rocket-assisted Take-off system, in eighteen months. The team successfully completed the project in just sixteen months and conducted sixty-four Rato Static tests. This saved the country roughly INR four crores in foreign exchange.
He almost met with death twice
Illustration: Arijit Dutta Chowdhury
While working at ISRO, Dr. Kalam was saved from the explosion of payloads, the dangerous mix of pure sodium and thermite, by his colleague Sudhakar. This selfless act of Sudhakar inspired Dr Kalam to work even harder and make his life more meaningful and useful to others. He again faced danger in 2001, when the helicopter in which he was travelling crashed in Bokaro. Though nobody was injured, this second clash with death made Dr Kalam turn to a career in teaching and unfold his vision for India.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was given two hours to accept his presidency
In June 2002, Dr Abdul Kalam got a call from the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The PM expressed his wish to nominate him for the post of President. Vajpayee gave Kalam two hours to make up his mind and give his answer. After consulting with his family and friends, he accepted the offer and was sworn in as the 11th President of India on 25th July 2002.
The swearing-in ceremony of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was attended by the head of Ramanathaswamy Temple, the priest of Rameshwaram Church and the imam of Rameshwaram Mosque, apart from his family and colleagues.
He initiated e-governance in the Rashtrapati Bhawan
When Dr Kalam started his tenure as the president of India, he initiated e-governance in Rashtrapati Bhawan and changed the way of work being done in his office.
He was the oldest Indian to fly a fighter aircraft
While visiting the Air force Base in Pune in June 2006, President Kalam expressed his dream of becoming a fighter pilot. Immediately, the pilots around him encouraged him to fly with them as the co-pilot. The President flew in the fighter aircraft for half an hour. With this feat, he not only achieved his childhood dream but also became the oldest Indian to fly a fighter aircraft at the age of seventy -four.
This visionary passed away on 27 July 2015 while delivering a lecture to students at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.
Read the story of Abdul Kalam in our title APJ Abdul Kalam, now available on the ACK Comics App, Kindle, Amazon, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers.
According to the Devi Bhagavata, the Universe is the manifestation of Goddess Durga. Durga is worshipped all over India in sixty-four forms, including as Ambika, Kali, Chandika and Chamundi. Read the story of how these incarnations of Durga killed Asura king Shumbha and his commanders in a fierce battle and how Kali came to be known as Chamundi.
Shumbha’s decision
A long time ago, the Devas were defeated and were forced to flee heaven by Shumbha, the king of the Asuras. Chanda and Munda, the commanders of Shumbha, decided to follow the Devas to find out their whereabouts. The Devas reached Mount Himavat and prayed to Goddess Durga. Just then, Goddess Ambika, an incarnation of Durga, emerged from the body of Parvati, Shiva’s consort. Chanda and Munda, who witnessed this event, rushed immediately to Shumbha to inform him of Ambika. Shumbha was impressed when he heard about Ambika’s beauty and grace from his commanders and decided to marry her.
Script: Subba Rao, Illustration: Souren Roy
Dhumralochana’s death
Chanda and Munda returned to Ambika and informed her about their master’s wish to marry her. Ambika told them that she had taken a vow to marry the man who would defeat her in battle. When Shumbha learnt about the vow, he sent Dhumralochana, a commander, to bring Ambika to him. Dhumralochana took an army with him to Mount Himavat and confronted Ambika. When Ambika refused to break her vow, Dhumralochana rushed towards her. With contempt, Ambika uttered a single syllable – ‘hum’. In a moment, the mighty commander was burned to ashes. Seeing this, the army began to flee from the battlefield. However, Chanda and Munda stopped the retreating soldiers and encouraged them to capture Ambika.
From Kali to Chamundi
As the asuras returned, another incarnation of Durga, named Kali, emerged from Ambika. Kali battled fiercely with the Asuras and crushed them to death. When Chanda and Munda rushed towards Kali, she seized them by their hair and beheaded them. Ambika, with a smile, said that since Kali had killed Chanda and Munda, she would also be known as ‘Chamundi’.
Shumbha’s end
When Shumbha learned about his commanders’ fate, he rushed to the battlefield with a huge army. The Shaktis, the feminine elements of various gods, emerged on the battlefield. Brahmani emerged from Brahma, Vaishnavi emerged from Vishnu and Maheshwari from Shiva. Finally, Chandika emerged from Ambika. The sky was filled with the various Shaktis. In the great battle that followed, the Asuras fled, unable to match the powers of these Shaktis, which infuriated Raktabeeja, a terrible asura who had the power to create replicas of himself from his blood that touched the ground. Kali, upon Chandika’s request, prevented Raktabeeja’s blood from falling to the ground, leading to hundreds and thousands of Raktabeejas that had arisen, to be wiped out. Furious with the turn of events, Raktabeeja rushed towards Chandika and a battle ensued between them. Chandika killed Raktabeeja in the end. Nishumbha, Shumbha’s brother, vowed to kill Chandika, following the death of Raktabeeja. But he too, was no match for Chandika, and met his end at her hands.
Script: Subba Rao, Illustration: Souren Roy
Angered by his brother’s death, Shumbha mocked Durga for getting help to destroy his men rather than fighting alone. Durga replied that she was alone all along the battle and what Shumbha witnessed was only her different forms. Then, all the Shaktis merged into Durga much to Shumbha’s amazement. A fierce battle ensued between Durga and Shumbha, in which Durga finally killed Shumbha with her spear, much to the joy of the Devas.
Script: Subba Rao, Illustration: Souren Roy
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It is a well-known fact that Surya was the father of Karna. But did you know that Surya also helped the Pandavas in their times of distress? Read more to know how the Sun God played a vital role in shaping the Mahabharata.
Princess Kunti was the adopted daughter of King Kuntibhoja. Upon her father’s orders, Kunti diligently served Sage Durvasa for a year. Pleased with her service, Durvasa gave Kunti a boon. According to that boon, Kunti could summon any god of her choice and would be blessed with a son from that god. As soon as Durvasa left, the young princess decided to test the boon and summoned Surya. But when Surya said she would get a son as she desired, Kunti panicked. She was unmarried and requested Surya to return to his abode. But Surya would bound by the power of the boon and could not return. He blessed Kunti with a son, Karna. The Sun God also gave divine gifts to Karna in the form of kavacha (armour) and kundala (earrings).
The Pandavas and their wife, Draupadi, were worried about feeding the sages who accompanied them during their twelve-year exile. Sage Dhaumya suggested to Yudhishthira that he pray to Surya, as he was the provider of food for all creatures. Heeding this advice, Yudhishthira stood in the waters of Ganga, facing the sun, and prayed to Surya, consuming nothing but air for several days. He prayed for Surya to bestow food upon them all. Pleased by his devotion, Surya appeared before him and gave Yudhishthira the Akshaya Patra. The Akshaya Patra, a copper plate, was an inexhaustible source of food. According to Surya’s boon, it would remain full of food until Draupadi ate from it. Surya also blessed Yudhishthira, assuring him that his kingdom would be restored to him at the end of his exile. With Surya’s gift, the Pandavas and Draupadi were able to provide food to their guests for years without any hurdles.
The Warning
During the exile of the Pandavas, Indra became worried about the safety of his son, Arjuna. If Duryodhana refused to give the Pandavas their kingdom after the exile, a war seemed inevitable. This meant that Arjuna would have to face Karna, who had protection from his divine armour and earrings. He devised a plan to deprive Karna of his protection. Surya came to know about Indra’s plan and warned his son, Karna about Indra’s intentions, in his dream. Surya cautioned Karna that Indra would try to take advantage of his generosity to try to get him to part with his gifts.
The next day, Indra approached Karna in disguise as a poor Brahmin. Indra told Karna that he had come to ask for the latter’s kavacha and kundalas, since he was known for never refusing someone in need. Despite Surya’s warning, Karna donated his kavacha and kundalas to Indra. However, he told Indra that he was aware of the god’s plan and disguise. But he would never refuse anyone even if it ended up costing him his life. Pleased by his generosity, Indra gifted Karna a powerful weapon, Shakti, but added that it could only be used once.
To the Rescue of Draupadi
During their thirteenth and last year of exile, the Pandavas and Draupadi secured places in the palace of King Virata, in their respective disguises. Draupadi, under the name Sairandhri, entered into the service of Queen Sudeshna. One day, Keechaka, the queen’s brother, saw Draupadi and was immediately smitten by her. He approached Draupadi and said that he would be her slave if she agreed to be with him. Draupadi rejected his proposal and replied that she was married to five mighty Gandharvas, who would kill him if they knew about his inappropriate proposal. Despite her rejection, Keechaka went to his sister and asked for her help in convincing Sairandhri. After a lot of persuasion, Sudeshna agreed to help him.
The next day, Sudeshna sent Draupadi to fetch wine from Keechaka, despite her protests. Draupadi prayed to Lord Surya for protection. Lord Surya immediately sent a rakshasa and ordered him to protect Draupadi invisibly all the time. When Draupadi entered Keechaka’s chambers, he tried to hold her hand by force. Draupadi pushed him to the ground and rushed to Virata’s court. Keechaka came after her and kicked Draupadi in anger in the presence of all. Immediately, the invisible rakshasa, appointed by Surya, gave Keechaka a mighty blow and he fell down unconscious. Surya thus protected Draupadi during her time of distress during her exile.
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Known as ‘Dev Bhoomi’ or ‘Land of Gods’, Himachal Pradesh was formed as the eighteenth Indian state on 25th January, 1971. It shares borders with the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the north, Punjab to the west, Haryana to the southwest, and Uttarakhand to the southeast. Read more to know some interesting facts about the region!
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Early and Medieval times
The region has been inhabited by humans since the beginning of civilisation. In the Vedas, the people of the region were called Nishadas, Dasas, and Dasyus. According to the Mahabharata, present-day Himachal Pradesh was made up of small republics known as Janpadas. Before the Aryans came to India, the area was occupied by the Kol tribe and later by Mongoloid people known as Bhotas and Kiratas. The Kiratas were not only great traders but also skilled in archery and warfare. A long war between them and the Aryans was waged for forty years; but at the end, the Kiratas were defeated and the Aryans successfully conquered the region. Later, Chandragupta Maurya subdued most of this land. His grandson, Ashoka, extended his boundaries to the Himalayan region and introduced Buddhism to its people.
Rajput and Mughal Rule
After the decline of the Gupta empire, Emperor Harshavardana conquered most of the area. But decades after his death, Rajputs moved to the hills in the region and established small states provinces such as Kangra, Nurpur, Suket, Mandi, Kutlehar and Baghal, among others. The hill kingdoms enjoyed their independence until the Mughals invaded, looting wealth from the temples of North India. Muhammad of Ghazni conquered Kangra at the beginning of the 10th century, while Timur and Sikander Lodi captured several forts in the lower hills.
Anglo-Gorkha War
In 1768, a martial tribe called the Gorkhas came to power in Nepal and began expanding their territory. They managed to annex the Sirmour and Shimla but, despite a long siege, could not capture Kangra fort. When they tried to conquer the South, it posed a conflict with the East India Company, resulting in the Anglo-Gorkha War. The British expelled the Gorkha tribe from the provinces of Sutlej and established their supremacy in the region, annexing the areas of Shimla.
Freedom Struggle
The people of present-day Himachal Pradesh, along with the rest of the country, actively participated in the non-cooperation movement. Prominent freedom fighters from the region were Dr Y.S. Parmar, Padam Dev, Daulat Ram, Purnanand, Thakur Hazara Singh, and more. The farmers of Sirmour started the Pajhota revolt, a call for agrarian reforms, to support the Quit India Movement in 1942.
Illustration: ACK art and desgin team
Post-Independence
After Indian independence in 1947, Himachal Pradesh went through many changes. It was organised into the Chief Commissioner’s province of Himachal Pradesh on 15 April, 1948. Eight years later, it became a union territory. In 1966, its borders were expanded to include Kangra and hilly areas of Punjab. Finally, on 26 January, 1971, full statehood was granted to Himachal Pradesh. Its first Prime Minister was Dr Y.S. Parmar, one of the state’s biggest freedom fighters.
The four legs of Himachal Pradesh’s economy are horticulture, agriculture, tourism and hydropower. In 2016, it was declared India’s second open-defecation-free state. According to a survey by the Centre for Media Studies in 2017, it was also found to be the least corrupt state in India. Some of its popular tourist destinations are Manali, Shimla, Dalhousie and more.
Formed on 30 March, 1949, Rajasthan is the largest Indian state by area, with Jaipur as its capital. It shares borders with the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya Pradesh to the southeast; Gujarat to the southwest; and Punjab to the north. The name Rajasthan is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Raja’ (king) and ‘Sthana’ (land), translating to ‘The Land of Kings’.
The history of this state dates back to thousands of years. It can be classified into three major eras:
Ancient Period, up to 1200 AD
Rajasthan started out as part of several republics like the Malavas, Arjunyas, Yaudhyas, Kushans, Saka Satraps, Guptas, and Hunas. For a while, it belonged to the Gupta dynasty.
Then, around 700 AD, Rajput clans began ascending to power. The Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled Rajasthan from 750-1000 AD. They kept the Arab invaders at bay in the Sindh region (present-day southeastern Pakistan). But their power eventually declined and other clans such as the Chalukyas, Parmars and Chauhans fought for supremacy.
During the 11th century, the Chauhan dynasty, with their capital at Ajmer (and later, Delhi), became the major power in the eastern region. In the First Battle of Tarain, Prithviraj Chauhan, the then-ruler, defeated Muhammad Ghori, a Sultan from the Ghurid dynasty. In 1192, Ghori defeated Chauhan, establishing Muslim rule in northern India.
Mediaeval Period, 1201 – 1707
Mughal forces began to subdue states that belonged to Rajputs, expanding their own territory. At the beginning of the 16th century, under the leadership of Rana Sanga of Mewar, the Rajputs began to rise to power. Then, Sanga was defeated in a battle with the Mughal emperor, Babur.
During the 16th century, Akbar gained control over the region through a series of marriage alliances with Rajput princesses for himself and his heirs. But some Rajput rulers like Rao Chandrashekar Rathore (Marwar), Rana Udai Singh (Mewar), and Maharana Pratap (Mewar) remained at constant war with Akbar. The influence of both the Rajputs and Mughals can be seen in the architectural landscape of Rajasthan.
The famous battle of Haldighati between the Mughal forces and Maharana Pratap took place in 1576, in which Rana Pratap was severely injured. His horse, Chetak, carried his master safely away from the battle but soon collapsed. There is still a monument constructed by Pratap at the place where his loyal horse died.
Modern Period, 1707 – 1947
Akbar, the most famous of the Mughals, unified the different parts of Rajasthan into one province. When the Mughal empire began to decline after the death of Aurangzeb, great-grandson of Akbar, the Maratha empire began to gain control over the region in the early 18th century. During the reign of Peshwa Baji Rao I of Pune, he expanded to the north of Rajasthan and merged with the Rajput kingdoms.
Then, a new chapter in Indian history began with the arrival of the East India Company. In the 19th century, the Rajputs had been drained in terms of finances and military force, after continuous wars with the Marathas. To stabilise their kingdoms, they joined hands with the British, accepting their control over external affairs in exchange for internal autonomy. Thus, the Britishers subdued the power of the Marathas and united the Rajput states into a single province.
Rajasthan remained under British rulership until India gained its independence in 1947.
Illustration: Bhavani Nadgonde
Notable freedom fighters
Rajasthan is known for producing some of the country’s bravest and most valiant freedom fighters.
Rao Gopal Singh Kharwa (1872-1939), was a ruler of Kharwa state near Ajmer, in Rajasthan. He was sentenced to four years of imprisonment for organising a revolt against the British.
Sagarmal Gopa (1900-1946), was a freedom fighter from Jaisalmer and an active participant in the non-cooperation movement of 1921. He was burnt to death in prison on 4 April, 1946. Post-independence, the government issued a postage stamp in his honour.
Daulat Maal Bhandari (1907-2004), was a freedom fighter. He organised the ‘Azad Morcha’ in Jaipur and staged satyagraha. He was imprisoned for nine months. After independence, Bhandari became the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court in 1968.
Janki Devi Bajaj (1893-1979), was one of the prominent female freedom fighters from the region. She was imprisoned for her participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1932. She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1956.
Swami Keshwanand (1883-1972), was a social reformer and freedom fighter from Sikar District in present-day Rajasthan. He participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 and was imprisoned for it in Ferozepur (in present-day Punjab), for two years.
Post-Independence and Present-day
After 1947, the princely states of Rajasthan were slowly integrated into a single entity. They were grouped into small unions, then merged with the remaining Rajput states to create Greater Rajasthan in 1949.
Today, Rajasthan is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is known for its magnificent palaces, museums, and temples. Tourists flock to its offerings like Jaipur (known as the Pink City, because of the dominant colour of its buildings) and Udaipur (known as City of Lakes). The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, temple town of Pushkar, and Chittorgarh Fort are other famous landmarks of Rajasthan.
Stories about the victory of good over evil are the most popular and also the most commonly narrated in every culture across the world. In India, amongst the deities of the Hindu pantheon, it is the stories of Lord Rama and how he vanquished the asura king of Lanka, Ravana, that even children are most familiar with.
Hinduism teaches us that there is no pure evil. The duality of nature – the simultaneous existence of light and darkness, of good and evil, of beauty and ferocity – is, both, the catalyst for most events and conflicts, and also the basis on which they are settled. Nobody is ever purely evil. Even the asuras are described as being devout and well read. The most infamous amongst the asuras, Ravana, is a prime example.
With a name that means “roaring”, Ravana was born to a brahmin sage father, Vishrava, and a rakshasi mother, Kaikesi. He is depicted as having ten heads, with six of them associated with the shastras and the remaining four with the Vedas, all which Ravana was very well-versed in. He is also described as a devout follower of Shiva, a great scholar, an expert warrior, a capable ruler, and a maestro of the veena. He is said to have written the Ravana Samhita, a book on Hindu astrology, and the Arka Prakasham, a book on Ayurveda medicine and treatment.
The complexity of Ravana’s character is a wonderful example of the duality of nature. The story of how he sang the Shiva Tandava Stotra in praise of Lord Shiva for a thousand years and subsequently earned Shiva’s blessings in the form of an invincible sword is a depiction of his fervent devotion as well as his brilliance. Ravana, like many before him and many after, was led astray in his desire for pleasure and power, despite his many virtues. His conscious choices defined who he was, and his failure to control his senses led to him forgetting his spiritual identity.
As Ravana’s hunger for power grew, his ten heads (that were originally symbols of knowledge) These qualities are Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Moha (attachment), Lobha (greed), Mada (pride), Maatsarya (envy), Buddhi (intellect, but as in Ravana’s case, the misuse of his enormous intellect), Grina (hatred), Bhaya (fear), and Ahamkara (ego).
And so, every year on Dusshera, an effigy of Ravana is burned as a celebration of Lord Rama’s victory over evil, as well as a depiction of burning away or destroying these ten qualities.
Read more Amar Chitra Katha stories about Ramayana
The ninth and final of the Navdurga aspects of Mahadevi is Devi Siddhidhatri. She is the moola roopa or primordial form of Goddess Parvati. Her name is a combination of the word Siddhi which means ‘perfection’ or ‘supernatural powers’ (referring to the highest meditative powers), and dhatri meaning ‘bestower’ or ‘awarder’. Thus, Siddhidhatri is the goddess who bestows the highest powers of perfection or meditative powers to her devotees.
The legend of Siddhidhatri Devi begins when there was nothing in existence but a formless void filled with darkness. A ray of pure, divine light then spread to each corner of the void, illuminating the universe into existence. This divine light then took the form of Siddhidhatri Devi who is Mahashakti herself. The goddess then created the Trimurti— Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and enlightened them about their roles in the universe: Brahma as the creator, Vishnu as the preserver, and Shiva as the destroyer.
Siddhidhatri also bestowed upon the Trimurti, their respective wives; Brahma with Saraswati, Vishnu with Lakshmi, and Shiva with Parvati, with each wife representing a physical manifestation of her husband’s powers and abilities. Devi Siddhidhatri then bestowed upon the Trimurti eight of their divine supernatural powers, namely Anima (the ability to reduce one’s body to the size of a crumb), Mahima (the ability to expand one’s physical form to an infinite extent), Garima (the ability to weigh an infinite amount), Laghima (the ability to become weightless), Prapti (omnipresence), Prakambya (the ability to achieve whatever one desires), Ishitva (possessing absolute lordship) and Vashitva (the ability to subjugate all).
Devi Siddhidhatri then created man and woman, and from them arose Devas and Devis, Daityas, Danavas, Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Apsaras, Bhuta-pretas, all heavenly beings, mythical creatures, plants, and all aquatic, terrestrial and aerial creatures. The goddess then created a world and all of its different habitats for all of its varied occupants.
Devi Siddhidhatri is depicted as four armed, and she holds a conch shell, a mace, a discus, and a lotus. She is also shown to be seated on a lotus.
Read more Amar Chitra Katha stories about Ramayana
A demonstration or apparition of Durga Devi, Devi Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri. The fiercest form of Shakti, Katyayani Devi is the warrior goddess known for slaying the demon Mahishasura. The Devi Mahatmyam and Devi Bhagavata Purana describe Devi Katyayani’s exploits, lauding her for her beauty and the fiery battles she won.
According to the Vamana Purana, it is said that Devi Katyayani was born from the combined anger of all the gods. When the demon, Mahishasura, was wreaking havoc and terrorising the gods, they approached Lord Vishnu to help them in their time of distress. The Purana describes the legend of Katyayani’s birth as that which happened when at Vishnu’s behest, as the preserver and protector, asked Shiva and Brahma and all the other gods shot flames out their eyes, focusing all of their anger into one mountain of flames or energy that then manifested into Katyayani Devi, refulgent as a thousand suns.
The Vamana Purana mentions that this combined rage crystallised in the ashram of sage Katyayana who then gave it the form of the goddess; this is also why she is called Katyayani, the daughter of Katyayana.
The goddess is depicted as having three eyes, black hair, and eighteen arms, and riding a lion as her mount. The Vamana Purana further describes all the weapons the gods respectively bestowed on her: Shiva gave her his trident, Vishnu his Sudarshana Chakra, Brahma a kamandalu and prayer beads, Varuna a conch shell, Agni a dart, Vayu a bow, Surya a quiver of arrows, Indra a thunderbolt, Kubera a mace, Kala a shield and sword, and Vishvakarma a battle-axe. Thus armed and adorned by the gods, Katyayani proceeded to the Mysore hills to defeat the demon king Mahishasura, which is when he assumed the form of a bull, or a Mahisha. After a long and fierce battle, Katyayani struck Mahishasura down and cut off his head, and since then she has been known as Mahishasuramardini, the slayer of Mahishasura.
The second of the Shakti Pithas is that of Tulja Bhavani in Tuljapur, Maharashtra, where the founder of the Maratha empire, Shivaji, sought the blessings of the goddess. It is believed that Goddess Bhavani (Katyayani) gifted him a sword, also named Bhawani, with which he may achieve success in his expeditions.
Navratri celebrations are on in full swing as people celebrate the Devi Durga and her nine avatars. The energy during this festival has a particular fervour of its own that is quintessentially its own. The divine feminine energy rises like a wave across the country, vibrant and powerful.
There are hundreds of temples dedicated to the worship of Shakti Devi across India where the Goddess is worshipped and celebrated throughout the year. Below are five temples out of these that are considered to be particularly powerful and attract millions of devotees each year, and during Navratri.
Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir:
With thousands of devotees visiting the Vaishno Devi temple each year, this is probably the most well-known Devi temple in the country. The Shakti tradition considers this to be one of the Shakti Pitha and the Devi here is said to be a manifestation of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, and Vaishno Devi is said to worship and wait for the arrival of Lord Vishnu. Devotees often make the 13km uphill trek on foot to the temple which is located on the Trikuta mountain at a height of 5000 feet. A geological study of the sacred cave in which the Goddess is said to reside has revealed it to be about a million years old. The temple celebrates Devi Durga’s triumph over evil for nine nights during Navratri with much splendour and pomp.
Kamakhya Devi, Assam:
One of the oldest four of the Shakti Pithas, and considered one of the most powerful Devi temples in the country, the Kamakhya Devi temple is an extremely revered spot to worship Shakti. The temple is said to have been built on the spot where Sati’s womb landed as Lord Shiva danced the tandav holding her lifeless corpse. This is one of the reasons why Kamakhya Devi is said to be an extremely powerful source of feminine power and the temple an all-female deity place of worship. The structure of the temple indicates its origins to be from the 8th or 9th century, with many subsequent rebuilds. While the most well-known festival celebrated at Kamakhya Devi temple is the Ambubachi Mela (which celebrates the menstruation of the Goddess), the festival of Navratri too is celebrated here and attracts thousands of devotees each year.
Chamundeshwari Temple, Karnataka:
Known as Krouncha Pitha, the Chamundeshwari Temple is one of the main Shakti Pithas in the country. This is the spot where Sati’s hair is said to have fallen when Lord Shiva danced the tandav holding her corpse. The temple is located on top of the Chamundi Hills about 13kms away from Mysuru, and it is on top of this hill that Devi Durga is said to have slayed Mahishasura. Chamundeshwari is a frighteningly fierce form of Durga. Navratri is an important festival for the temple, and it is celebrated elaborately here each year, with the Goddess being decorated with nine different avatars to depict the Navadurgas.
Kalighat Temple, West Bengal:
Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata is one of the Shakti Pithas in eastern India, and is said to be the sacred spot where the toes of Sati’s right foot fell. Ma Kali is an extremely fierce and powerful form of the Goddess who was born from Durga Devi’s fury, and she is associated primarily with death and violence but also with time, female empowerment, and motherly love. The idol of Goddess Kali in this temple has tongue and teeth made of gold, and the Goddess is depicted with a garland of skulls around her neck. During Durgotsav which is celebrated elaborately in West Bengal, hundreds of women visit this temple for Sindoor Khela where they smear each other with vermillion powder.
Harsiddhi Mata Temple, Madhya Pradesh:
Situated in the ancient city of Ujjain beside the Kshipra River, this temple is the spot where the scriptures say that Sati’s upper lip fell. However, the locals here believe that it was Sati’s elbow that fell here. The Goddess, in her Mahakali form here, is said to protect and safeguard the people of Ujjain. This temple was built by the legendary king Vikramaditya who requested the Goddess to come live in his kingdom where he may seek her blessings every day. According to the scriptures, the demon Andhakasur possessed a boon which enabled a form of him to appear from every drop of his blood that spilled. When he was pierced by Lord Shiva’s trident, Mahakali drank the demon’s blood, thus ensuring his death. This is why the Devi here is also called Rakt Dantika, or “the one with blood on her teeth”. The Goddess here is celebrated and worshipped with gorgeous festivity during Navratri.
