JAGADHATRI PUJA:2011

Jagaddhatri or Jagadhatri (in Bengali) ['Jagaddhatri' literally means 'Holder (dhatri) of the World (Jagat)'] is a form of Devi, the supreme Goddess. According to Sri Ramakrishna, ‘Jagaddhatri holds the World. If she wouldn’t, the World might fall down.’ This explanation can be applied for both Durga and Jagaddhatri. That is why in the hymns, the goddess is always referred as ‘Jagaddhatri Durga’.

JAGADDHATRI:

Jagaddhatri Devi

Her worship is more common in West Bengal than the other parts of India. Her cult is directly derived from Tantra where she is a symbol of sattva beside Durga and Kali, respectably symbolized with Rajas and Tamas. Jagaddhatri is depicted as being the colour of the morning sun, three-eyed and four-armed, holding Chakra, conch, bow and arrow, clothed in red, bright jewels and nagajangopaveeta, a symbol of Yoga and the Brahman. She rides a lion standing on the dead Karindrasura, the Elephant Demon.

Sri Ramakrishna said, “Jagaddhatri arises in the heart of a person," “who can control the frantic elephant called mind.”  In Ramakrishna order, Jagaddhatri Puja was initiated by Sri Sarada Devi, Sri Ramakrishna’s wife who regarded is an avatar of Devi Herself.

LEGEND:

As per ancient Pauranik lore of the Hindu scriptures, soon after the victory over Mahishasur the Devatas became highly egoistic. They thought because of lending to Durga their instruments the mighty asuras were vanquished. To make them understand that the primordial power is alone behind every action, the Brahman appeared before the Devatas in the form of effulgent Yaksha.

Bewildered by its presence one by one the Devatas approached Yaksha. First the god of wind Vayu. The Yaksha asked him what he could do. The Vayu replied that he could throw away huge trees, tumble high mountains. The Yaksha then placed a small grass and asked him to move it. The Vayu utilised all his powers but lo! he could not even displace it. So also the god of fire Agni, could not even burn it. Likewise one by one the Devatas failed.And it dawned on them that their powers are in reality not their own but derived from the supreme power who as protecting mother holds the entire creation and therefore called Jagaddhatri.

SIGNIFICANCE OF JAGADHATRI PUJA:

Anybody who worships Jagaddhatri becomes absolutely egoless and a true servant of the world which is nothing but a manifestation of the Brahman.

COURTESY: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagaddhatri