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76-751: The Bachittar Natak is part of the Dasam Granth , the second holy scripture of Sikhism . The composition covers various aspects, including the lineage of Guru Gobind Singh, the persecution of Guru Tegh Bahadur , the author's own rebirth, and the defense and spread of dharma (righteousness). It also includes descriptions of battles, hunting expeditions, and journeys in Punjab and the Himalayan foothills . The Bachitar Natak consists of fourteen chapters, sometimes also called "Apni Katha" (meaning "my story"), which provides an autobiographical account of Guru Gobind Singh's life until

152-456: A demon-slaying goddess was likely well established by the time the classic Hindu text called Devi Mahatmya was composed, which scholars variously estimate to between 400 and 600 CE. The Devi Mahatmya and other mythologies describe the nature of demonic forces symbolised by Mahishasura as shape-shifting and adapting in nature, form and strategy to create difficulties and achieve their evil ends, while Durga calmly understands and counters

228-628: A different style and format appended to it in the mid 18th century. Other manuscripts are said to include the Patna Birs and the Mani Singh Vali bir all originated in mid to late 18th century. One of the 1698 CE Patna Manuscripts includes various apocryphal writings such as the Ugradanti and Bhagauti Astotar . Although the compositions of the Dasam Granth are traditionally accepted to be written by Guru Gobind Singh, there have been questions of

304-459: A few passages from Guru Gobind Singh's Ugardanti. In Hum Hindu Nahi (1898 ), the author Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha , believed that Ugardanti Bani was not written by Guru Gobind Singh but by Bhai Sukha Singh, a priest at Patna. However, Sukha Singh's works came into being after the Bansavalinama of Kesar Singh Chibbar. Nihang and Namdhari Sikhs believe it to be written by Guru Gobind Singh and

380-586: A fire-like flickering tongue, before the text begins presenting its thesis that one must seek self-knowledge and the knowledge of the eternal Brahman . Durga, in her various forms, appears as an independent deity in the Epics period of ancient India, that is the centuries around the start of the common era. Both Yudhisthira and Arjuna characters of the Mahabharata invoke hymns to Durga . She appears in Harivamsa in

456-436: A garland of lemons. The goddess announced that Kamsa's slayer had already been born, before vanishing. Durga is often conceptualised in this role as a sister of Vishnu. Durga is a warrior goddess, and she is depicted to express her martial skills. Her iconography typically resonates with these attributes, where she rides a lion or a tiger, has between eight and eighteen hands, each holding a weapon to destroy and create. She

532-582: A granite cave in Mamallapuram , Tamil Nadu there is a large relief of Durga slaying Mahisasura, carved around 630–674 CE. Durga iconography in some temples appears as part of Mahavidyas or Saptamatrkas (seven mothers considered forms of Durga). Her icons in major Hindu temples such as in Varanasi include relief artworks that show scenes from the Devi Mahatmya . In Vaishnavism , Durga and her mount of

608-632: A lion, is considered one of the three aspects or forms of Goddess Lakshmi , the other two being Sri and Bhu, in place of Niladevi . According to professor Tracy Pintchman, "When the Lord Vishnu created the gunas of prakriti , there arose Lakshmi in her three forms, Sri , Bhu and Durga . Sri consisted of sattva , Bhu as rajas and Durga as tamas ". Durga appears in Hindu traditions in numerous forms and names, but ultimately all these are different aspects and manifestations of one goddess. She

684-478: A motherly figure and often depicted as a beautiful woman, riding a lion or tiger, with many arms each carrying a weapon and often defeating demons. She is widely worshipped by the followers of the goddess-centric sect, Shaktism , and has importance in other denominations like Shaivism and Vaishnavism . The most important texts of Shaktism, Devi Mahatmya and Devi Bhagavata Purana , revere Devi (the Goddess) as

760-400: A noose. These weapons are considered symbolic by Shakta Hindus, representing self-discipline, selfless service to others, self-examination, prayer, devotion, remembering her mantras, cheerfulness and meditation. Durga herself is viewed as the "Self" within and the divine mother of all creation. She has been revered by warriors, blessing their new weapons. Durga iconography has been flexible in

836-403: A plethora of writings attributed to Guru Gobind Singh that are not in the standardized Dasam Granth. These select writings are sometimes found in certain early manuscripts. These include but are not limited to: Durga Traditional Durga ( Sanskrit : दुर्गा , IAST : Durgā ) is a major Hindu goddess , worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi . She

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912-714: A sage, and one who knows Brahman. I bend the bow for Rudra, that his arrow may strike, and slay the hater of devotion.      I rouse and order battle for the people, I created Earth and Heaven and reside as their Inner Controller. On the world's summit I bring forth sky the Father: my home is in the waters, in the ocean as Mother.      Thence I pervade all existing creatures, as their Inner Supreme Self, and manifest them with my body. I created all worlds at my will, without any higher being, and permeate and dwell within them.      The eternal and infinite consciousness

988-495: A scholar of Sikhism and Sikh literature, modern copies of the Dasam Granth in Punjabi, and its English translations, often do not include the entire standard edition text and do not follow the same ordering either. Das Granthi (ਦਸ ਗ੍ਰੰਥੀ) is a small religious booklet containing only few selected compositions from Dasam Granth. Das stands for Ten and Granthi stands for booklet . It means Booklet of 10th Guru of Sikhism. This booklet

1064-659: A shield against the attacks of Pride, Ignorance, Hatred, Hypocrisy and Delusions. The compositions within Dasam Granth play a huge role in Sikh liturgy, which is prescribed by Sikh Rehat Maryada : In the Nihang tradition – considered heretical by the Khalsa Sikhs, the Dasam Granth is given equal scriptural status as the Adi Granth (first volume). Chandi di Var is also an important prayer among Nihang and Namdhari Sikhs. Except for

1140-521: A specific pattern, with Apni Katha discussing various avatars and their reinterpretation in line with Sikh thought and philosophy. The Bachitra Natak Granth is a part of the Dasam Granth, but the Dasam Granth is not solely the Bachitra Natak Granth. The confusion arises from the fact that many compositions within the Dasam Granth mention the words " Bachitra Natak Likhyate ," but there is more to

1216-456: A warrior woman with many arms. Himavan , the personification of the Himalayas, gifted a lion as her mount. Durga, on her lion, appeared before Mahishasura where the demon took on different forms and attacked the goddess. Each time, Durga would destroy his forms. At last, Durga slew Mahishasura with her trident when he was transforming as a buffalo demon. According to Vaishnava tradition, Durga

1292-421: A while and asked a boon that only a woman could be able to kill him. Brahma granted the boon and disappeared. Mahishasura started to torture innocent people. He captured Svarga and was not in any kind of fear, as he thought women to be powerless and weak. The devas were worried and they went to Trimurti . The Trimurti combined their power, and gave a physical form to the sum of their divine energy, Adi Shakti ,

1368-517: Is I, it is my greatness dwelling in everything. – Devi Sukta, Rigveda 10.125.3 – 10.125.8 , Devi's epithets synonymous with Durga appear in Upanishadic literature, such as Kali in verse 1.2.4 of the Mundaka Upanishad dated to about the 5th century BCE. This single mention describes Kali as "terrible yet swift as thought", very red and smoky coloured manifestation of the divine with

1444-568: Is a combined recension of the Adi Granth and Dasam Granth. It presents the Zafarnama and Hikayats in the Perso-Arabic Nastaliq script. The early Anandpuri, Patna, and Mani Singh manuscripts include writings that are disputed in the contemporary era, as well as sections such as the Ugradanti and Sri Bhagauti Astotra that were removed from the Dasam Granth codified in the 20th century by

1520-634: Is a poetic composition said to be written by Guru Gobind Singh , after the creation of the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib . The composition is present in Dasam Granth Bir Patna Sahib. The bani contains information about the creation of the Khalsa Panth , the dress code of the Sikhs , and is strictly against ritualism. Etymologically, Ugardanti is a feminine term made of two words, Ugar means Fierce and Danti means Tooth. One having Fierce Tooth,

1596-638: Is a short composition of 10 stanzas which is part of daily liturgy among Sikhs ( Nitnem ). It was penned down by Guru Gobind Singh and is part of his composition Akal Ustat (The praise of God). This is an important composition which is read during Amrit Sanchar . This Bani appears in the Dasam Granth on pages 13 to 15, starting from Stanza 21 of Akal Ustat. Tavprasad means with thy grace . This composition strongly rejects idolatry , pilgrimages , grave worshiping , samadhis of yogis and other ritualistic beliefs of Hinduism , Jainism and Islam as being of no use in attaining God if performed without

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1672-462: Is also celebrated and the goddess is dressed each day as a different Devi, all considered equivalent but another aspect of Durga. In Bangladesh , the four-day-long Sharadiya Durga Puja is the most important religious festival for the Hindus and celebrated across the country with Vijayadashami being a national holiday. In Sri Lanka, Durga in the form of Vaishnavi, bearing Vishnu's iconographic symbolism

1748-441: Is among the various epithets and avatars of Yogamaya , the personification of the illusory power of Vishnu. Vishnu offers Durga the task of transferring the seventh child of Devaki into the womb of Rohini , as well as being born on earth as the infant daughter of Yashoda and Nanda , so that she could be swapped with Krishna . When Kamsa attempted to slay her, she manifested her true form of an eighteen-armed goddess, wearing

1824-401: Is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten peace, prosperity, and dharma , representing the power of good over evil. Durga is believed to unleash her divine wrath against the wicked for the liberation of the oppressed, and entails destruction to empower creation. Durga is seen as

1900-493: Is called Ugardanti. Guru Gobind Singh Ji invokes Adi Shakti in the form of the Fierce Toothed Ugardanti, writing various attributes of Ugardanti and asking for blessings and protection for the prosperity of the new Panth which is free from hypocrisy, ritualism, casteism , human worship and worships only One Non-Dual God . In Bansavalinama Dasan Patshahian ka (1769), the author Kesar Singh Chibbar explains and quotes

1976-452: Is called as Sharadiya Durga Puja or Akal-Bodhan to differentiate it from the one celebrated originally in spring. The festival is celebrated by communities by making special colourful images of Durga out of clay, recitations of Devi Mahatmya text, prayers and revelry for nine days, after which it is taken out in procession with singing and dancing, then immersed in water. The Durga puja is an occasion of major private and public festivities in

2052-585: Is celebrated. This tradition has been continued by Sri Lankan diaspora. The Tantric Buddhist Vajrayana traditions adopted several Hindu deities into its fold, including Durga. Numerous depictions of Durgā Mahiṣāsuramardinī (Durgā slaying the buffalo demon) have been found at Buddhist temple sites (c. 8th–11th century) in Afghanistan , Indonesia and northeastern India. Durga statues have also been found in major Buddhist sites like Nalanda and Vikramashila . In Bengal , late Indian Mahayana Buddhists during

2128-656: Is commonly known as Mahishasura-mardini for slaying the half-buffalo demon Mahishasura. She is also known as Vindhyavasini (she who dwells in the Vindhya Mountains). Her other epithets include Mahamoha (great delusion), Mahasuri (the great demoness), Tamasi (the great night, the night of delusion). There are many epithets for Durga in Shaktism and her nine appellations are ( Navadurga ): Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. A list of 108 names of

2204-519: Is imagined to be terrifying and destructive when she has to be, but benevolent and nurturing when she needs to be. While anthropomorphic icons of her, such as those showing her riding a lion and holding weapons, are common, the Hindu traditions use aniconic forms and geometric designs ( yantra ) to remember and revere what she symbolises. Durga is worshipped in Hindu temples across India and Nepal by Shakta Hindus. The Vedic Texts concluded Durga alone to be

2280-711: Is known as Dusht Daman. The Bani (composition) starts with a praise of the Akal Purakh (the ultimate being) and then provides a genealogy of the Bedis and Sodhis, tracing their lineage back to Lava and Kush . It also includes the author's own biography and discusses significant events such as the Battle of Nadaun , "the Husaini Battle", and the arrival of Prince Muazzam in Punjab. The composition concludes around AD 1696. The Bachitar Natak contains 14 chapters. Historical sources from

2356-540: Is likely the Anandpuri Hazuri Bir (Not to be confused with the Anandpuri Marco Adi Granth ). It is dated to 1698 CE. A few folio pages were definitely added later ( Zafarnama and Hikayats), because they were composed after 1700 (circa 1705 CE), and are in a different style and format, and lack the folio numbers present on all pages elsewhere. These letters of Guru Gobind Singh may have been appended in

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2432-436: Is often shown in the midst of her war with Mahishasura, the buffalo demon, at the time she victoriously kills the demonic force. Her icon shows her in action, yet her face is calm and serene. In Hindu arts, this tranquil attribute of Durga's face is traditionally derived from the belief that she is protective and violent not because of her hatred, egotism or getting pleasure in violence, but because she acts out of necessity, for

2508-490: Is part of their daily liturgy. It was and is read to inspire warriors to stand up for truth and righteousness in the face of tyranny and oppression. The Composition is divided into six verses called Chhands in which the syllables and the rhythm are arranged in a precisely controlled pattern. The Type of Chhandd used is Bhagvati Chhand. Tav-Prasad Savaiye ( Punjabi : ਤ੍ਵਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ਸ੍ਵਯੇ , pronunciation: [t̪ʋᵊəpɾʱəsäːd̪ sʋⁱ˸je] , lit. ‘exclusively you, in war song meter’)

2584-697: Is written almost entirely in Gurmukhi , except for the Guru Gobind Singh's letters to Aurangzeb — Zafarnama and the Hikaaitaan —written in the Persian alphabet . The Dasam Granth contains hymns, from Hindu texts , which are a retelling of the feminine in the form of goddess Durga , an autobiography, letter to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb , as well as reverential discussion of warriors and theology. The scripture

2660-519: The Lakshmi Tantra , Lakshmi has Durga as one of her forms and acquires the name Durga after killing the demon Durgamasura. These texts identify Durga as Vishnu's māyā ". The Mahishasura Mardini Stotra by Adi Shankara was written in her praise. The historian Ramaprasad Chanda stated in 1916 that Durga evolved over time in the Indian subcontinent. A primitive form of Durga, according to Chanda,

2736-584: The Mahabharata and section 4.27.16 of the Ramayana . These usages are in different contexts. For example, Durg is the name of an Asura who had become invincible to gods, and Durga is the goddess who intervenes and slays him. Durga and its derivatives are found in sections 4.1.99 and 6.3.63 of the Ashtadhyayi by Pāṇini , the ancient Sanskrit grammarian, and in the commentary of Nirukta by Yaska . Durga

2812-460: The Battle of Chamkaur in 1704. There were copiers available at the Guru's place who made several copies of the writings, and other writings may have been included too which may have led to authenticity issues. There is a theory that later, Bhai Mani Singh compiled all the available works under the title Dasam Granth . Traditionalist scholars claim that all the works in Dasam Granth were composed by

2888-725: The Braj Bhasha (Old western Hindi), with some parts in Avadhi, Punjabi , Hindi , and the Persian language . The script is almost entirely the Gurmukhi script except for the letter of the Sikh Guru to Aurangzeb – Zafarnama , and the Hikayat in the Persian script . The Dasam Granth has many sections covering a wide range of topics: Ath Rudra Avtar Kathan(n) ਚੌਪਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ Ugardanti ( Punjabi : ਉਗ੍ਰਦੰਤੀ , pronunciation: [ʊɡɾd̪aɛt̪iː] )

2964-588: The Dalai Lama quoted it while giving lessons on love. Tav-Prasad Savaiye is very important part of the Nitnem . Among other things Nitnem works as a shield for the Khalsa (Khalsa is a perfect human being, which is the vision of Guru Gobind Singh by the orders of Akal Purkh. Such a human is perfectly capable of defending himself and others from the attacks of enemy(both spiritual and temporal)). Specifically Savaiye act as

3040-755: The Indian independence movement . The city of Kolkata is famous for Durga puja. In Nepal , the festival dedicated to Durga is called Dashain (sometimes spelled as Dasain), which literally means "the ten". Dashain is the longest national holiday of Nepal, and is a public holiday in Sikkim and Bhutan . During Dashain, Durga is worshipped in ten forms ( Shailaputri , Brahmacharini , Chandraghanta , Kushmanda , Skandamata , Katyayani , Kalaratri , Mahagauri , Mahakali and Durga) with one form for each day in Nepal. The festival includes animal sacrifice in some communities, as well as

3116-769: The Indus Valley civilisation . According to Asko Parpola , a cylindrical seal from Kalibangan shows "a Durgā-like goddess of war, who is associated with the tiger". Reverence for Devi , the feminine nature of God, first appears in the 10th Maṇḍala of Rig Veda , one of the scriptures of Hinduism. This hymn is also called the Devi Suktam hymn (abridged): I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship.      Thus gods have established me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in. Through me alone all eat

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3192-552: The Sodhak Committee . There is also a manuscript of the Dasam Granth attributed to Bhai Daya Singh with many Apocryphal Writings, as well as the 1765 Illuminated Patna Missal manuscript from Jammu . According to the Indologist Wendy Doniger , many orthodox Sikhs credit the authorship and compilation of the earliest Dasam Granth manuscript to Guru Gobind Singh directly, while other Sikhs and some scholars consider

3268-511: The 16th century. The 11th or 12th century Jainism text Yasatilaka by Somadeva mentions a festival and annual dates dedicated to a warrior goddess, celebrated by the king and his armed forces, and the description mirrors attributes of a Durga puja. The prominence of Durga puja increased during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists identified Durga with India, she became an icon for

3344-726: The 17th century worshiped Durga during traditional Yogini Puja celebrations, and some traces of these Mahayana Durga rites survive today, even though the Bengalis who perform them are no longer Buddhist. Images of the Buddhist Durga have also been found in Bali (surrounded with images of Buddhas and bodhisattvas) and date from the 10th and 11th centuries. Durga also appears in the Sarvadurgatipariśodhana tantra , though in this text, she appears not in her demon slaying form, but mounted on

3420-789: The 18th century, such as Gur Sobha Granth, Gurbilas Patshai Dasvin, Bansavlinama Dasan Patshahian Ka, and Rahitnamas , mention the compositions of the Dasam Granth, including the Bachitra Natak. These sources attribute the writings to Guru Gobind Singh. The Bachitra Natak Granth refers to a large corpus of compositions within the Dasam Granth, the compositions referenced as part of the Bachitra Natak Granth include: 1. Apni Katha (the Bachittar Natak proper) 2. Chandi Charitra I 3. Chandi Charitra II 4. Chaubis Avatar 5. Brahma Avatar 6. Rudra Avatar These compositions follow

3496-487: The Dasam Granth than just the Bachitra Natak. Dasam Granth The Dasam Granth ( Gurmukhi : ਦਸਮ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ dasama gratha ) is a collection of various poetic compositions attributed to Guru Gobind Singh . The text enjoyed an equal status with the Adi Granth, or Guru Granth Sahib , in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and were installed side by side on the same platform. The Dasam Granth lost favor during

3572-531: The Gurmat Granth Pracharak Sabha was founded by Sikhs to study the Sikh literature. This organization, with a request from Amritsar Singh Sabha, established the Sodhak Committee in 1897. The members of this committee studied 32 manuscripts of Dasam Granth from different parts of the Indian subcontinent. The committee deleted some hymns found in the different old manuscripts of the text, merged

3648-411: The Guru himself, often on the basis of a letter attributed to Bhai Mani Singh. The veracity of this letter has been examined by scholars and found to be unreliable. Syan (2013) notes, "Neither in colonial nor post-colonial Sikhism has the issue of the Dasam Granth authorship been satisfactorily resolved. What is germane, however, is that pre-colonial Sikh society wholeheartedly accepted the Dasam Granth as

3724-410: The Hindu traditions, where for example some intellectuals place a pen or other writing implements in her hand since they consider their stylus as their weapon. Archeological discoveries suggest that these iconographic features of Durga became common throughout India by about the 4th century CE, states David Kinsley – a professor of religious studies specialising on Hindu goddesses. In the north wall of

3800-573: The Markandeya Purana, Durga Puja can be performed either for 9 days or 4 days (last four in sequence). The four-day-long Durga Puja is a major annual festival in Bengal , Odisha , Assam , Jharkhand and Bihar . It is scheduled per the Hindu luni-solar calendar in the month of Ashvina , and typically falls in September or October. Since it is celebrated during Sharad (literally, season of weeds), it

3876-604: The Supreme and the Absolute facet of Brahman, as stated in the Devi-Atharvashirsha यस्याः परतरं नास्ति सैषा दुर्गा प्रकीर्तिता ॥२४॥ She who is renowned by the name "Durga" is the being superior to whom, no one exists. – Devi Atharvashirhsa Upanishad , 24. Her temples, worship and festivals are particularly popular in eastern and northeastern parts of Indian subcontinent during Durga puja, Dashain and Navaratri. As per

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3952-685: The Vedic literature, such as in the Rigveda hymns 4.28, 5.34, 8.27, 8.47, 8.93 and 10.127, and in sections 10.1 and 12.4 of the Atharvaveda . A deity named Durge appears in section 10.1.7 of the Taittiriya Aranyaka . While the Vedic literature uses the word Durga , the description therein lacks the legendary details about her that is found in later Hindu literature. The word is also found in ancient post-Vedic Sanskrit texts such as in section 2.451 of

4028-463: The authenticity of the entirety of Dasam Granth from time of compilation. There are three major views on the authorship of the Dasam Granth : In his religious court at Paonta Sahib and Anandpur Guru Gobind Singh had employed 52 poets, who translated several classical texts into Braj Bhasha. Most of the writing compiled at Paonta Sahib was lost while the Guru's camp was crossing the Sirsa river before

4104-550: The colonial period when reformist Singh Sabha Movement scholars couldn't contextualize the reworkings of Puranic stories or the vast collection of 'Tales of Deceit' Sri Charitropakhyan . The standard edition of the text contains 1,428 pages with 17,293 verses in 18 sections. These are set in the form of hymns and poems mostly in the Braj language (Old western Hindi), with some parts in Avadhi , Punjabi , Hindi and Persian . The script

4180-567: The early 18th century. According to another view, the earliest surviving manuscript of the complete text is dated to 1713 CE (Bhai Mani Singh Manucscript), and the early manuscript versions have minor variations with apocryphal writings. Other important manuscripts include two Patna manuscripts both from 1698 CE found in Bihar, and the Mani Singh Vali Bir (1713 CE) in New Delhi. The Mani Singh Bir

4256-560: The eastern and northeastern states of India. The day of Durga's victory is celebrated as Vijayadashami (Bijoya in Bengali), Dashain (Nepali) or Dussehra (in Hindi) – these words literally mean "the victory on the Tenth (day)". This festival is an old tradition of Hinduism, though it is unclear how and in which century the festival began. Surviving manuscripts from the 14th century provide guidelines for Durga puja, while historical records suggest royalty and wealthy families were sponsoring major Durga puja public festivities since at least

4332-459: The evil in order to achieve her solemn goals. The most popular legend associated with the goddess is of her killing of Mahishasura . Mahishasura was a half-buffalo demon who did severe penance in order to please Brahma , the creator. After several years, Brahma, pleased with his devotion, appeared before him. The demon opened his eyes and asked the god for immortality. Brahma refused, stating that all must die one day. Mahishasura then thought for

4408-530: The festivals of Durga Puja , Durga Ashtami , Vijayadashami , Deepavali , and Navaratri . The word Durga (दुर्गा) literally means "impassable", "invincible, unassailable". It is related to the word Durg (दुर्ग) which means "fortress, something difficult to defeat or pass". According to Monier Monier-Williams , Durga is derived from the roots dur (difficult) and gam (pass, go through). According to Indologist Alain Daniélou , Durga means "beyond defeat". The word Durga and related terms appear in

4484-404: The food that feeds them, – each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken.      They know it not, yet I reside in the essence of the Universe. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it. I, verily, myself announce and utter the word that gods and men alike shall welcome.      I make the man I love exceedingly mighty, make him nourished,

4560-420: The form of Vishnu's eulogy, and in Pradyumna prayer. Various Puranas from the early to late 1st millennium CE dedicate chapters of inconsistent legends associated with Durga . Of these, the Markandeya Purana and the Devi-Bhagavata Purana are the most significant texts on Durga . The Devi Upanishad and other Shakta Upanishads , mostly dated to have been composed in or after the 9th century, present

4636-436: The goddess is recited in order to worship her and is popularly known as the "Ashtottarshat Namavali of Goddess Durga". Other meanings may include: "the one who cannot be accessed easily", "the undefeatable goddess". Durga is also known as Durgati Nashini, meaning one who eliminates suffering. Her other names include Chandika, Sharada, Ambika, Vaishnavi etc. Evidence of Durga-like images can probably be traced back to

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4712-443: The liturgical portions and some cherrypicked verses of the Dasam Granth that are widely shared and used, few Sikhs have read the complete Dasam Granth or know its contents. Most do not have access to it in its entirety, as the generic printed or translated versions do not include all its sections and verses. In its history, the entire text was in the active possession of the Khalsa soldiers. The oldest manuscript of Dasam Granth

4788-446: The love of God and all his creation . It is included in Nitnem , the daily morning prayers of Sikhs, and recited after completing Jaap Sahib . It starts with Sravag Sudh Samuh Sidhan Ke and goes up to Koor Kriya Urjheo Sab Hi Jag . Among many famous quotes from Tav-Prasad Savaiye, "Jin Prem Kiyo Tin Hi Prabhu Paayo" is widely quoted by different scholars of different religions. In Dialogues on Universal Responsibility and Education ,

4864-454: The love of the good, for liberation of those who depend on her, and a mark of the beginning of soul's journey to creative freedom. Durga traditionally holds the weapons of various male gods of Hindu mythology, which they give her to fight the evil forces because they feel that she is shakti (energy, power). These include the chakra (divine discus), conch, bow, arrow, sword, javelin, trishula trident, shield, mace, pink Lotus Flower and

4940-462: The nine-day festival by devout Hindus. Durga is usually worshipped as a celibate goddess, but the Shaktism traditions includes the worship of Shiva along with Durga, who is considered to be his consort, in addition to Lakshmi , Saraswati , Ganesha and Kartikeya , who are considered to be Durga's children by Shaktas. Some Shaktas worship Durga's symbolism and presence as Mother Nature . In South India, especially Andhra Pradesh, Dussera Navaratri

5016-460: The others and thus created a 1,428-page version thereafter called the standard edition of the Dasam Granth . The standard edition was first published in 1902. It is this version that has predominantly been distributed to scholars and studied in and outside India. However, the prestige of the Dasam Granth was well established in the Sikh community during the Sikh Empire , as noted in 1812 by colonial-era scholar Malcolm. According to Robin Rinehart –

5092-427: The philosophical and mystical speculations related to Durga as Devi and other epithets, identifying her to be the same as the Brahman and Atman (self, soul). In the Narada Purana , Durga is associated as a form of Lakshmi . In the Garuda Purana and the Vishnu Purana , Lakshmi is considered Prakriti (Mahalakshmi) and is identified with three forms — Sri, Bhu and Durga. In Pancharatra texts such as

5168-466: The primordial creator of the universe and the Brahman (ultimate truth and reality). She is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism. She is also considered to be the younger sister of Vishnu according to Bhagavata purana. Durga has a significant following all over Nepal , India , Bangladesh and many other countries. She is mostly worshipped after spring and autumn harvests, especially during

5244-408: The purchase of new clothes and gift giving. Traditionally, the festival is celebrated over 15 days, the first nine-day are spent by the faithful by remembering Durga and her ideas, the tenth day marks Durga's victory over Mahisura, and the last five days celebrate the victory of good over evil. During the first nine days, nine aspects of Durga known as Navadurga are meditated upon, one by one during

5320-409: The text to have been authored and compiled partly by him and partly by many poets in his court at Anandpur. Prior to 1902, there were numerous incomplete portions of manuscripts of Dasam Granth in circulation within the Sikh community along with the complete, but somewhat variant, major versions such as the Anandpuri and Patna birs. In 1885, during the Singh Sabha Movement , an organization called

5396-419: The work of Guru Gobind Singh." The following are historical books after the demise of Guru Gobind Singh which mention that the compositions in the present Dasam Granth was written by Guru Gobind Singh: The standard print edition of the Dasam Granth , since 1902, has 1,428 pages. The standard official edition contains 17,293 verses in 18 sections. These are set in the form of hymns and poems mostly in

5472-498: The year 1696. The Bachitar Natak is partly an autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, in which he narrates the events and circumstances of the first 32 years of his life. It outlines the history and challenges faced by the Sikh community during that time. It states the author was meditating in the Himalayan foothills on a 7-peaked mountain before being called to take birth. This previous incarnation of Guru Gobind Singh

5548-609: Was built on the foundation of the Vedic religion, mythology and philosophy. There are total of nine avatars of Goddess Durga in Hinduism. Epigraphical evidence indicates that regardless of her origins, Durga is an ancient goddess. The 6th-century CE inscriptions in early Siddhamatrika script, such as at the Nagarjuni hill cave during the Maukhari era, already mention the legend of her victory over Mahishasura (buffalo-hybrid demon). Durga as

5624-502: Was created for beginners and lay readers for reading these compositions in daily liturgy for proper understanding. There is no standardization of this booklet and various sects in Sikhism have their own versions. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee contains eight texts namely, Jaap , Bachitra Natak , Chandi Charitra I, Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10 , Akal Ustati , Chandi Charitra 2, Gian Prabodh and Chandi di Var . There are

5700-632: Was recited in full within Nirmala Sikhs in the contemporary era. Parts of it are retold from Hindu Puranas , for the benefit of the common man, who had no access to Hindu texts of the time. Compositions of the Dasam Granth include Jaap Sahib , Tav-Prasad Savaiye and Kabiyo Baach Benti Chaupai which are part of the Nitnem or daily prayers and also part of the Amrit Sanchar or initiation ceremony of Khalsa Sikhs. Zafarnama and Hikayats in

5776-553: Was the result of " syncretism of a mountain-goddess worshipped by the dwellers of the Himalaya and the Vindhyas ", a deity of the Abhiras conceptualised as a war-goddess. Durga then transformed into Kali as the personification of the all-destroying time, while aspects of her emerged as the primordial energy ( Adya Sakti ) integrated into the samsara (cycle of rebirths) concept and this idea

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