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If there is a complex mythology, it’s the Hindu one. India is so huge and diverse that an enormous variety of deities and respective worshipping had to appear there. Yet, their religious beliefs are identical everywhere, no matter how much the terminology or celebrations diverge.
Once there was a time when the gods realized there were demons that males could not defeat. So they called Durga, the warrior goddess and gave her their weapons, one for each of her ten arms. Riding a lion, she fought the demons during nine nights and ten days and before the sunset on the tenth day she achieved victory. Today, the Hindus celebrate the Triumph of the Goddess, which is the victory of females, a reminder to men that no true victory can be achieved without women. The Festival is called Vishaya Dasami, the victorious tenth day. During the previous nine nights, people celebrated the nine manifestations of the Goddess, the Puja Durga Navrati, the nine nights in honour of Durga. On the tenth day, finally, they celebrate her victory.
It’s no coincidence the time of this festival in India being the same as the Chrysanthemum Festival in China (V. The Flower of the Fall ; 1 Oct.). The connection to the number 9 (completion) has to do with the nine forms of manifestation of the Goddess (provider, destroyer, untouchable, etc.) and the number of nights she had to fight the demons. It shows that it takes a full cycle of time and every skill a woman has got to achieve victory.
There’s little doubt in my mind that both are festivals connected with the end of the Sign of Libra and the approaching of the Sign of Scorpio: the time of the woman warrior. The Goddess enters as a victorious warrior in the realm of the deep waters of mystery, death and rebirth. She reminds us of Persephone turned into Proserpine, goddess of the Underworld; or the tarot card called Strength, in which a woman controls a lion (energy); or Athena, born fully armed, with Nike by her side; or the Mother of Heaven crushing the serpent with her foot; etc. All symbols of female power, victory and triumph.
On this day, after having praised all aspects of femininity, people cleanse their souls and pray to the Goddess for protection. I also thank her for the victories I already achieved and those that are yet to come. Amen!
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Once there was a time when the gods realized there were demons that males could not defeat. So they called Durga, the warrior goddess and gave her their weapons, one for each of her ten arms. Riding a lion, she fought the demons during nine nights and ten days and before the sunset on the tenth day she achieved victory. Today, the Hindus celebrate the Triumph of the Goddess, which is the victory of females, a reminder to men that no true victory can be achieved without women. The Festival is called Vishaya Dasami, the victorious tenth day. During the previous nine nights, people celebrated the nine manifestations of the Goddess, the Puja Durga Navrati, the nine nights in honour of Durga. On the tenth day, finally, they celebrate her victory.
It’s no coincidence the time of this festival in India being the same as the Chrysanthemum Festival in China (V. The Flower of the Fall ; 1 Oct.). The connection to the number 9 (completion) has to do with the nine forms of manifestation of the Goddess (provider, destroyer, untouchable, etc.) and the number of nights she had to fight the demons. It shows that it takes a full cycle of time and every skill a woman has got to achieve victory.
There’s little doubt in my mind that both are festivals connected with the end of the Sign of Libra and the approaching of the Sign of Scorpio: the time of the woman warrior. The Goddess enters as a victorious warrior in the realm of the deep waters of mystery, death and rebirth. She reminds us of Persephone turned into Proserpine, goddess of the Underworld; or the tarot card called Strength, in which a woman controls a lion (energy); or Athena, born fully armed, with Nike by her side; or the Mother of Heaven crushing the serpent with her foot; etc. All symbols of female power, victory and triumph.
On this day, after having praised all aspects of femininity, people cleanse their souls and pray to the Goddess for protection. I also thank her for the victories I already achieved and those that are yet to come. Amen!
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