Akaal Bodhan

The Untimely Invocation of Goddess Durga

By Vidya

Lord Rama, too, had performed
The worship of the Great Goddess
In autumn, seeking victory in battle,
He worshipped her for nine days
With devotion and reverence.

Thus began the autumn Navratri,
With Lord Ramachandra leading the way.
Before this, it was only in spring
That the Goddess was worshipped.

Ravana, a master of Tantric lore,
Was a learned and devoted worshipper of Shiva.
He had worshipped the Goddess as well
And won her divine favour.

The fierce battle raged on relentlessly;
Ravana’s mighty warriors kept arriving.
The two brothers, alongside the monkey army,
Continued to confront them bravely.

When Rama and Ravana
Finally faced each other directly,
Even Rama’s divine weapons
Were repeatedly rendered ineffective.

Through his divine vision, Rama saw
Goddess Durga upon Ravana’s chariot.
Under her divine protection,
She was enabling Ravana to fight.

Seeing the Goddess on his opponent’s side,
Rama was momentarily disturbed.
To please Mother Durga,
He turned to prayer and worship.

With a solemn vow, he seated himself
Upon a beautiful, sacred seat,
Resolving to offer one hundred and eight
Blue lotuses at the Goddess’s feet.

Everything was arranged, and then
He sat upon his consecrated seat.
Chanting, penance, meditation and worship—
He performed each rite in sequence.

Beautiful, gentle, serene was Rama,
The ideal man, the fulfiller of his duty.
He devoted his entire life
To the destruction of evil.

With complete faith and devotion,
He began offering blue lotuses.
Seeking victory in the battle,
Rama worshipped the Divine Mother.

When one hundred and seven flowers
Had been placed at the Goddess’s feet,
The Divine Mother decided
To test Rama’s devotion.

While Rama’s eyes remained closed,
The Goddess secretly took away one flower.
Searching for it, Rama’s hand
Moved across the vessel of flowers.

Finding no flower there,
Rama became deeply distressed.
Seeing an obstacle in his worship,
He sat immersed in anxious thought.

As Rama sat, bewildered and uncertain,
A thought suddenly arose in his mind.
His mother had called him
Lotus-Eyed since his childhood.

Offering one of my eyes,
I shall complete my worship.
At the feet of the Great Goddess,
I shall bow in humble reverence.

The Goddess loves her devotees
And will surely bless my offering.
Taking up an arrow, determined and resolute,
Rama prepared to pluck out his own eye.

Seeing his unwavering determination,
The Goddess appeared and held his hand.
“Victory shall be yours, O Rama!
Your devotion has pleased me.”

Beholding the Goddess in her divine form,
Rama was filled with joy.
Bowing his head at her sacred feet,
He completed his solemn worship.

— Vidya