The Evolution of Durga Puja in Bengal

Mythology, Durgapuja, Festival, Kolkata, PuranLeave a comment

Mythical and Scriptural Roots: The worship of goddess Durga originates from ancient Hindu scriptures, especially the Devi Mahatmya (part of the Markandeya Purana, roughly composed by the 5th-6th century CEM. This text celebrates the divine feminine power (Shakti) who defeats the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing cosmic victory of good over evil. Early Bengal Practices: While…

Creation of the Saktis: Philosophical and Mythological Details

Mythology, PuranLeave a comment

1. Devi as Primordial Power The text opens by establishing Nirguna Bhagavati—the formless, transcendent goddess—as the foundational reality from which all existence emerges. Identified variously as Adi Parashakti or Brahman, she is posited as both the origin and sustaining principle of the cosmos. All creative, preservative, and dissolving forces in the universe ultimately derive their…