Shree Durga Shuktam

Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the creation. The Sanskrit word Durga means a fort or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach. Durga, also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and ego. 

Goddess Durga is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya. There are many temples dedicated to Durga's worship in India. 

In Her images, Goddess Durga is shown in a female form, wearing red clothes. She has eighteen arms, carrying many objects in Her hands. The red color symbolizes action and the red clothes signify that She is always busy destroying evil and protecting mankind from pain and suffering caused by the evil forces. Following is the symbolism associated with Goddess Durga: 

A tiger symbolizes unlimited power. Durga riding a tiger indicates that She possesses unlimited power and uses it to protect virtue and destroy evil. The eighteen arms of Durga signify that She possesses combined power of the nine incarnations of Lord Vishnu that have appeared on earth at different times in the past. The tenth incarnation, the Kalki (a man on a white horse), is still to come. Thus, Goddess Durga represents a united front of all Divine forces against the negative forces of evil and wickedness. 

The sound that emanates from a conch is the sound of the sacred syllable OHM, which is said to be the sound of creation. A conch in one of the Goddess's hands signifies the ultimate victory of virtue over evil and righteousness over unrighteousness. 

Other weapons in the hands of Durga such as a mace, sword, disc, arrow, and trident convey the idea that one weapon cannot destroy all kinds of enemies. Different weapons must be used to fight enemies depending upon the circumstances. For example, selfishness must be destroyed by detachment, jealousy by desirelessness, prejudice by self-knowledge, and ego by discrimination. 

The popular form of worship of Goddess Durga is that of lighting the Lamp of lime on Tuesdays and Fridays during Rahu kaalam. Cut a lime into two halves. Squeeze the juice and invert the lime halves by pushing the the skin side in. Pour ghee or oil. Insert a cotton wick. Light the lime lamp and recite the Durga Gayathri and Durga Shuktam. The kind-hearted mother will bless her devotees with happiness and prosperity. 

Shree Durgaa Shuktam

jaatavedase soonavaama soma
maraatee yato nida haati vedah:
sanah arshhadati Durgaanni vishvaa
naaveva sindhumm duritaatyagnih || 1||

taam agni varnnaamtapasaa jvalanteem
vairochaneem karma phaleshhu jushhtaam:
durgaandh deveekum sharanna maham prapadye
sootarasi tarase namah || 2||

agne tvam paarayaa navyo asmaan
thsvastibhiriti Durgaanni vishvaa|
poosh cha prithvee bahulaana urvee
bhavaa tokaaya tanayaaya shamyoh || 3||

vishvaani no durgahaa jaatavedas
sindhuna naavaa duritaatiparshhi |
agne atrivan manasaa grunnaano
asmaakamm bodhayitvaa tanoonaam || 4||

pritanaajitakum sahamaana mugram
agnikum hoovema paramaath sadhasthaath
sanah parshhadati Durgaanni vishvaa
kshaamad devo ati duritaatyagni || 5||

pratnoshhika meedyom adhvareshhu
sanaachcha hotaa navyashcha sathsi
svaanj chaagne dunuvam piprayasvaas
mabhyanj cha saubhaagya maayajasva || 6||

gobhir jushhta mayujo nishhitktandh
tavendra vishhnnoranu sanjcharema
naakasya priishhthamabhi samvasaano
vaishhnnaveem loka iha maadayanthaam || 7||

(Shree Durga Gayathri Mantra)

kathyaayanaaya vidhmaheh
kanyakumaari dhee mahi
danhnoh durgii prachodayaat