Mahalaya

Mahalaya is the onset of Durga Puja, and marks the end of the Pitru Paksha and the advent of the Devi Paksha, the arrival of Goddess Durga.

[However in 2020, Durga Puja will be observed 35 days after Mahalaya. This is due to the occurrence of a phenomenon called ‘mala mash’, a lunar month which has two new moons (amavasya). No auspicious rites and rituals can be performed in a ‘mala mash’. This is the second time that this unusual schedule is happening in the 21st century, the last occurrence being in 2001]

Pitru Paksha is the 16 day long period in the Hindu Calendar when Hindus pay respect to their ancestors through various kinds of offerings also known as ‘Tarpan’.

It is on this day that the Goddess is invited to the earth. Artisans across the country paint the eyes of the Goddess Durga on this day. This is known as ‘Chakshudan’. This day signifies the awakening of Devi Durga.

The rituals of the  Mahalaya day consists of waking up at dawn and immersing in the mesmerizing slokas of the Devi Stuti. This yearly practice is religiously followed by the people of Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Orissa, Bihar.

The eternal ‘Mahishasur Mardini’ programme on radio by Birendra Krishna Vadra has enthralled generations . The radio programme has become synonymous with the celebrations; the one and half hour programme consists of recitals from the scriptures which includes the story of how Goddess Durga was adorned with weapons by all the Gods, how her inner powers were awakened and how she killed the ‘Asuras’.

Mahalaya, thus, is a celebration of good over evil, of hope, of the tremendous powers that reside in a woman and how once awakened can destroy all the evil!

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To the Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Intelligence…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु निद्रारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To the Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Sleep…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु क्षुधारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To the Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Hunger…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु छायारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To the Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Shadow…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To the Devi Who in All Beings is abides in the Form of Power…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु तृष्णारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To the Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Thirst…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु क्षान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To the Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Forbearance…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु जातिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Race…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु लज्जारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Modesty…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Peace,
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु श्रद्धारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Faith…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु कान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Beauty…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Good Fortune…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु वृत्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Activity…
Salutations to Her..

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु स्मृतिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Memory…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु दयारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Kindness…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु तुष्टिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Contentment…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Mother…
Salutations to Her…

या देवी सर्वभुतेषु भ्रान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

To that Devi Who in All Beings abides in the Form of Delusion…
Salutations to Her…

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