Devi Durga’s sixteen names viz. Durga, Narayani, Ishaana, Vishnu Maya, Shiva, Sati, Nitya, Satya, Bhagavati, Saavarni, Sarva Mangala, Ambika, Vaishnavi, Gauri, Parvati and Sanatani. Bhagavan Vishnu annotated the above names: In the word Durga + ‘aa’, the shabda ‘aa’ stands for ‘hanta’or demolisher; in other words Durga demolishes Daityas, Maha Vighna, Bhava bandhana, Karma, Shoka, Duhkha, Naraka, Janma / birth, Yamadanda, Maha Bhaya and Atyanta Roga or extreme illnesses. Narayani denotes kirti (fame), teja (radiance), rupa (excellent Form) and guna (characteristics). The break-up of the word Ishaana is Ishaan + ‘aa’; Ishaan indicates ‘Siddhis’and ‘aa’ stands for ‘Provider’. Vishnu Maya refers to the Thick Cover of Maya or illusion created by Bhagavan Vishnu at the time of Creation of the Universe. Shiv+ aa refers to Durga who is bestower of Shiv / ‘Kalyana’or propitiousness. Sati denotes the Better Half of Shiva, Pativrata and the epitome of Sadbuddhi / excellent outlook. Durga is Nitya or Everlasting as is ‘Paramatma’. Satya is the the Everlasting Truth like Paramatma is. Bhagavati denotes the one who is the emblem Bhaga (blessing). Saavarni provides uniform qualities to all Beings in Srishti from Brahma downward. Sarva Mangala is theEmbodient of Priopitiousness. Durga is Ambika or the Universal Mother. Vaishnavi is the Shakti of Durga Devi. Durga is Gauri as she has Goura Varna; also she possesses Parama Shakti; Shiva is her Guru as well as Shri Krishna. She is Parvati or Parvata Raja Putri and the Adhishtaana Devata of ‘Parva’/Festivities. Sanatani denotes ‘Sanaa’ or Sarvada and ‘tani’ or Vidyamaan.
Paramatma Shri Krishna worshipped Devi Durga at the time of Srishti at Goloka in the Raasa mandali of Brindavana for the first time. At the second time, Brahma worshipped as the whole Universe was in the grip of fear due to the Daityas Madhu and Kaitabha. Shiva worshipped Durga at the third time when he had to encounter Tripurari. Indra performed ‘Aradhana’ to Devi Bhagavati as he was dethroned due to Durvasa Muni’s curse and Rajya Lakshmi deserted Swargaloka. Eversince then, Munindras, Siddhendras, Devatas and others had been worshipping Devi Durga to accomplish their own ends. At the beginning of Dwiteeya Parardha, there was a King called Surata in the lineage of Dhruva who lost his Kingdom to another King called Nanidi and took shelter from the Ashram of Muni Medhasa. Meanwhle a Vaishya called Samadhi also sought shelter form the Muni since, Samadhi’s wife and sons were unscrupulous and turned Samadhi out from his house. The Muni taught the Durga Puja Vidhana, Stotra, Kavacha and Mula Mantra to both the fugitives, one from his Kingdom and another from his own house. Prakriti Devi was pleased and bestowed Suratha his Kingdom, Manutva after his life.Vaishya was asked as to what could be bestowed to him; did he desire Siddhis, or Manutwa, Indratwa, Amaratwa aor even Brahmatwa! Samadhi replied that he did not know what the best was for him but she might please bestow the best of boons. She said that the best she could offer was what even Devarshis would not be able to achieve viz. Golokadham and Shri Krishna and there could be nothing beyond it! Devi said:
Smaranam Vandanam Dhyaana -marchanam Guna kirtanam,
Shravanam Bhaavanam Sevaa Krishney Sarva -nivedanam/
Etayeva Vaishnavaanaam Navadhaa Bhakti lakshanam,
Janma mrityu jaraa vyaadhi yama taadana khandanam/
[The nine features of Vaishnava Bhakti are Bhagavan Shri Krishna’s Smarana (memorising), Vandana (greeting), Dhyaana (meditation), Pujana (worship), Guna Kirtana (extolling His qualities), Shravana ( hearing), Bhavana (introspection), and Seva (service)] Having said this, Bhagavati Prakriti Devi disappeared and Samadhi Vaishya left for Pushkara Tirtha and turned out to be a Krishna daasa. King Suratha practised Para Prakriti’s Aradhana.
Maharshi Narayana then narrated Krishna’s Stotra to Devi Durga to Narada Muni:
Twameva Sarva janani Mula Prakritireeswari/
Twamevaadyaa Srishti vidhow Swecchayaa Trigunaatmika/
Karyaartha Sagunaa twam cha Vastuto Nirgunaa swayam,
Parabrahma Swarupaa twam Satyaa Nithyaa Sanaatani/
Tejah swarupaa Paramaa Bhaktaanugraha vigrahaa,
Sarwa Swarupaa Sarveshaa Sarvaadhaaraa Paratparaa/
Sarva beeja swarupaacha Sarva pujyaa Niraashrayaa,
Sarvajnaa Sarvatobhadraa Sarva mangala Mangalaa/
Sarwa Buddhi Swarupaacha Sarva Shakti Swarupini,
Sarva jnaana pradaa Devi Sarvajnaa SarvaBhavini/
Twam Swaahaa Devadaaney cha Pitrudaaney Swadhaa Swayam,
Dakshinaa sarva daaney cha Sarva Shakti Swarupini/
Nidraa twamcha Dayaa twam cha Trishnaa twamcha Manah Priyaa,
Kshukshaantih Shaantireeshaa cha Kantih Srishtischa Shasvati/
Shraddhaa Pushtischa tandraa cha Lazza Shobhaa Dayaa tathaa,
Sataam Sampadsarwa rupaa cha vipattirasaytaamiha/
Preeti Rupaa Punyavantaa Paapinaam Kalahaankuraa,
Shaswatkarmamayi Shaktih Sarvadaa Sarva jeevinaam/
Devebhyah Swapadodaatri Dhaaturdhaatri kripaamayi,
Hitaaya Sarva Devaanaam Sarvaasura vinaashini/
Yoga nidraa Yoga rupaa Yogadaatri cha Yoginaam,
Siddhi Swarupaa Siddhaanaam Siddhi daa Siddha yogini/
Brahmaani Maheswaricha Vishnu maayaa cha Vaishnavi,
Bhadradaa Bhadra Kaalicha Sarva loka bhayankari/
Graamey Graamey Graama Devi Gruhey Devi Grihey Grihey,
Sataam kirtih Pratishthaa cha ninda twamasataam sadaa/
Maha Yuddhey Mahaa Maari Dushta samhaara rupini,
R akshaa Swarupa Sishtaanaam Maateva Hitakaarini/
Vandya Pujya Stutaa twamcha Brahmaadeenaam cha Sarvadaa,
Brahmanya rupaa Vipraanaam Tapasyaacha Tapaswanaam/
Vidyaa Vidyavataam twam cha Buddhibuddimataam sataam,
Meghaasmriti Swarupaacha Pratibhaa Prati bhaavataam/
Raajnaam Prataaparupaa cha vishaam Vaanijya rupineem/
Srashtow Srushiswarupaa twam Rakshaa rupaa cha paalaney/
Tathaantey twam Mahamaari Vishwasya Vishva Pujitey,
Kaaala raatrir mahaaraatrir moharaatri scha Mohini/
Duratyaya mey Maayaa twam yayaa Sammohitam jagat,
Yayaa mugdho hi Vidwaamscha Moksha maargam na pashyati/
Ityaatmanaa krutam Stotram Durgaa Durgayaa Durga naashanam,
Pujaa kaaley pathedyo hi siddhirbhavati vaanchhitaa/
(Devi! Sarvajanani, Mula Prakriti Ishwari, Adya Shakti in Srishti; You are Triguna -mayi but assume Sagunas as per needs but basically ‘Nirguna’; You are the Truth, the Everlasting, the most Ancient Parabrahma Swarupa and the Most Radiant; but you assume varied Forms as per the imagination and descriptions of Bhaktas! You are Sarwa Swarupa, Sarveswari, Sarwaadhaara, Paraatpara, Sarwa beeja swarupa, Sarwa Pujya, Niraashrayaa, Sarvajnaa, Sarvatobhadra, Sarva Mangala Mangalaa, Sarwa Buddhi Swarupa, Sarwa Shakti Rupini, and Sarwa jnaanapradaa. You are of the Swarupa of Swaaha to enable ‘havishya daana’ to Devaas; the Swarupa of Swadhaa to pass on Shraaddha and Tarpanas to Pitaras and of Dakshina Swarupa at all kinds of Sacred ‘Karyas’ including ‘Daana Yajnaas’! You are the Nidra Devi, Daya Devi, Trishna /thirst, Kshudha /hunger, Kshama /Patience, Shanti /Peace, Ishwari, Kanti / Illumination, Shashwati / the Permanent, Shraddhaa /fortitude, Pushti/ physical strength, Tandra /fatigue, Lajja / disgrace, Shobha /brilliance, and Daya / mercy.Devi! You are the ‘Sampatti’ or prosperity to ‘Satpurushas’/ virtuous persons and ‘Vipatti’for ‘Dushtas’.Even to Brahma, you are the ‘Dharana-Poshana’/ Preserver and Promoter. You ensure that the balance of ‘Samsara’ is maintained by destroying the Asuras / the Evil and encourage Devas/ the Virtue; You are the Yoga Nidra, the awarder of Yoga phal to Yogis, Siddhi to Siddhaas, and thus the Embodiment of Siddhi and Yoga.You are the Brahmaani, Maaheswari, Vishnu Maya, Vaishnavi, Bhadraayani and Bhadra Kaali. You are the ‘Graama Devi’/ Deity of Villages, ‘Griha Devi’/ the Resident Deity of Households. In Maha Yuddhaas / Great Battles, you are the ‘Dushta samhaarini’/ the annihilator of the wicked and to Sishta Purushas / the Protector and Unique Mother-Figure of the Righteous. You provide Brahmanatwa to Brahmanas, Tapasya to Tapaswis, Vidya to Vidwaans, Buddhi to Buddhimaans, Medha / intellect and memory power to the Intellectuals, Pratibha / mental agility to Buddhishaalis, Valour to Kings, Business Skills to Vaishyaas, and physical strength and well being to Shudras. At the time of Destruction, You shatter the Universe as ‘Mahamaari’, ‘Kaalaraatri’, and Maha Maya or the Great Deluge!) Sincere recital of the above ‘Durgama Sankata Naasha Stotra’ extolled by Shri Krishna to Durga Devi would most certainly fulfil any desire of the Reciter. If a woman without a child, or delivers a dead or deformed child recites or hears the Stotra for a year, she would definitely give birth to an excellent boy. If a person in imprisonment languishing in custody recites the ‘Sankata naasha Stotra’ even for a month, he or she would be freed with grace. Similarly, persons suffering from incurable diseases; differences of opinions or unending quarrels; house-fires; robberies or natural disasters or difficulties of any descriprtion would smoothly overcome such situations as hard as even death!Bhagavan Narayana then imparted the following ‘Maha Durlabha Kavacha of Durga’(very difficult to secure Shield) to Narada Muni; by wearing this Shield, Bhadra Kaali killed Raktabija; Indra regained Rajya Lakshmi and his lost Indratwa; Mahaakaal became a Chirajeevi and Dharma Purusha, Nandi became a Maha Jnaani; Parashu Rama attained invinciblity and rooted out the then Kshatriyas who were most hated at one time; and Durvasa Muni was blessed as an equivalent in his powers as Maha Deva himself! The following Kavacha Shlokas protect and empower each body part of its Reciter and provide strength, mental power and ‘Jeevan Mukti’ or Salvation in one’s own life! Durga Kavacham:
Om Durgeti chaturyantam swaahaanto mey shirovatu,
Mantraha Shadaksharoyam cha Bhaktaanaam Kalpapaadapah,
Vichaaro naasti Vedeshu grahanecha Manomuney/
Mantragrahana maatrena Vishnu tulyo Bhavennnarah,
Mama Vaktram sadaa paatu Om Durgaayai namontatah/
Om Durgaa raksha iti cha kantham paatu sadaa mama,
Om Hreem Shreem iti Mantroyam Skandhah paatu narantaram/
Om Hreem Shreem Kleem iti pushtam cha paatu mey sarvatah sadaa,
Hreem mey Vakshahthalam paatu hastam Shimati santatam/
Om Shreem Hreem Kleem paatu sarvaangam swapney jaagaraney tathaa,
Praachyaam maam paatu Prakritih paatu Vahnai cha Chandikaa/
Dakshiney Bhadra Kaalicha Nairrutey cha Maheswari,
Vaaruney paatu Vaaraahi Vaayavyaam Sarva Mangalaa/
Uttarey Vaishnavi paatu tathaishaanaam Shiva priyaa,
Jaley sthaley chaantarikshey paatu maam Jagadambikaa/
Iti tey katitham Vatsa! Kavacham cha sudurlabham,
Yasmai kasmai na daatavyam praktavyam na kasyachit/
Gurumbhyarchya Vidhivadstraa – lankaara chandanaih,
Kavacham dhaarayedyastu sopi Vishnurna samshayah/
Bhramaney sarva Tirthaanaam Prithivyaascha pradakshiney,
Yat phalam labhatey lokasta detadbhaaraney Muney/
Pancha laksha japyenaiva siddhamedbhaved dhruvam,
Lokamcha Siddha kavacham naasrtam vidhyati samkatey/
Na tasya Mrityurbhavati jaley Vahney Vished dhruvam,
Jeevanmukto bhavet sopi Sarva siddheshvarah swayam/
Yadi syat Siddha kavacho Vishnutulyo bhaved dhruvam/
(May this Mantra of Six Aksharas / Letters which are like a ‘Kalpa Vriksha’ viz. ‘Om Durgayai swaha’ protect my head. There was no mention in Vedas about this and as soon as the Mantra is instructed, the person concerned to whom it is taught is as good as Vishnu himself! Let the Mantra ‘Om Durgayai Namah’ guard my face. Let the Mantra ‘Om Durgey Raksha’ safeguard my throat. May the Mantra ‘Om Hreem Shreem’ protect my shoulders always. May the Mantra ‘Om Hreem Shreem Kleem’ save the rear part of my body! Let the Mantras ‘Hreem’ protect my chest and ‘Shreem’ my hands.May the Mantra ‘Om Shreem Hreem Kleem’ keep my entire body safe while I am awake or asleep. Prakriti Devi! Please save me from my Eastern side. Chandika Devi! Keep me secure from the Agneya side. May Bhadrakaali save me from the Southern direction, Maheswari from Nirruti kona, Vaaraahi from the Western direction, Sarva Mangala from Vayavya kona, Vaishnavi from North, Shiva Priya from Ishanakona, and Jagadambika from water, Bhumi and Sky. Vatsa! I have given you this Kavacha which is hard to secure and this should not be given away to each and everybody nor should be recited before any body. One should formally worship Guru with Vastra / clothing, Aabhushana/ ornament and Chandana and then only wear the Kavacha as this is as good as Vishnu Himself. This gives the ‘Phala’ of performing Sampurna/ complete Tirtha Yatras and full circling of Prithvi. This Sacred Kavacha has to be recited five lakh times to attain its fruition or Siddhi. Once a person secures Siddhi, no Astra could demolish him; he could enter water and Agni with ease; and he would the status of ‘Jeevan Mukta’).After the recitals of the Durga Stotra and Kavacha, formal Durga Puja is performed with Asana, Vasana, etc. as also to Ashta Nayakas viz. Ugrachanda, Prachanda, Chandogra, Chandanayika, Atichanda, Chanda, and Chandavati as also to Ashta Shaktis viz. Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Roudri, Maheswari, Narasimhi, Vaaraahi, Indraani and Kaumari.