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Durga |
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| Ten days of submersion
in the Ocean of Milk, the Soma of the Gods, out of which the Mother becomes
manifest. Durga doesn't come to us the same way Her consort does, whose
long awaited visit is sudden, flashing a glimpse of a reality we cannot
quite conceive and then vanishing. Durga comes with all the persistence
of a mother. She is in town for a full ten days and will have as much of
Her children's attention as we can muster. The visit really begins as soon as Ma takes Her form for the puja. This was the second year that She came to us as a rock from the bed of the Rio Grande. She, along with Mandala Ghat, an ancient representation of Sri comprised of a pottery jug, a coconut, Ganga water, and five leaves, will return at the end of the tenth day to the river. The puja begins with a visit from Kali Ma, three nights representing the process of our disillusionment and the breaking down of our dualistic sense of reality. The second three nights are for Lakshmi Ma, who fills our empty cups with Her abundant grace. Lastly, Saraswati Ma comes. We have been emptied of ourselves and are filled with the grace of God and now we enter the creative process of the Bodhisattva, bringing our knowledge of God into the world. On the last night, we feast and celebrate. The young devis of the satsang (thirteen of them this year) are worshipped and adored, the last puja to Ma is done, and we prepare to send Her back to the place She came from. Bodies are bundled, devis are gathered, and we head for the Hondo River. The river and the walls of the gorge are aglow with the light of 108 floating bhatis. A raft is sent out with two representations of the Mother of the Universe, four pujaris, Kali and Bruce, the trusty boatsman. Conches are blown; bells are rung: the boat spins slowly in the black water as Gauri performs the last arati to the Goddess and Splash! Back to Her source She goes! |
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