Student:
Guru Dev, my respects to you.
Guru:
Blessings to you, son. Blessings.
Student:
Guru Dev, Durga Puja has already begun. We've progressed from Shashti to Saptami. Guru Dev, what is the real name of Mother Durga?
Guru:
Mother Durga's real name is "Duggi." Over time, the name evolved from Duggi to Durga. In the past, people primarily called the Mother by the name Duggi. Look, there is a saying: "I saw Duggi, grabbing the demon's hair, stabbing him in the chest." Nowadays, no one says "Duggi" anymore; everyone just says "Durga." But her original nickname is Duggi. Generally, people don't say this, or maybe they just don't know it.
Student:
By what other names can we call Mother Durga?
Guru:
We call the Mother by four primary names. One is Katyayani. The sage Katyayan once prayed to her, asking her to reside in his ashram in the form of his daughter. The Mother agreed. The place you see today as Kanya Kumari is where Katyayan's ashram was. That is why she is called Katyayani, the presiding goddess of Katyayan's ashram.
Guru:
The second is Dakshayani, the daughter of Daksha, whose body parts fell across various sacred sites.
Guru:
The third and most important is Narayani. Once, Lord Narayan approached the Mother while she was bathing. She was initially displeased that he came during such a private moment, but Narayan made a request: "Mother, I want you to hold me in your womb." She agreed. Thus, another of the Mother's names is Narayani.
Guru:
Finally, there is Shibani, the presiding goddess and consort of Lord Shiva. These are the four names she is worshipped by: Katyayani, Dakshayani, Narayani, and Shibani.
Student:
Guru Dev, who is "Kola Bou" (the Banana Bride), and why is she called that?
Guru:
"Kola Bou" isn't a person; it represents a botanical aspect. We take a banana tree, peel it, and wrap it with nine different types of plants and trees. We do this on the day of Shashti under a Bel (Wood Apple) tree. Each plant represents a different goddess.
Guru:
For example, the Rice plant represents Maha Lakshmi. Turmeric represents Durga. The Wood Apple represents Shiva. The Taro plant (Kochu) represents Kalika. The Elephant Ear plant (Maan Kochu) represents Chamunda. The Pomegranate represents Rakta Dantika. The Jayanti plant represents Kartikeya. The Ashoka plant represents the removal of grief (Shoka Rahita). Finally, the Banana tree itself.
Guru:
These nine plants are tied together to represent the Mother as "Naba Patrika Bashini Durga" (Durga residing in nine leaves). These plants are not just symbolic; they have great medicinal value. For instance, Taro purifies the blood. These are life-giving plants, but people often don't realize their significance.
Student:
Guru Dev, how many children does Mother Durga have?
Guru:
Actually, Mother Durga has no children. She is childless. If she had children, she wouldn't be known as "Muktakeshi" (the loose-haired one). A mother who produces offspring is not Muktakeshi.
Guru:
Now, you see Kartik, Ganesh, Lakshmi, and Saraswati around her. In the case of Kartik, the Brahmins actually replaced Lord Brahma with Kartik in the idol. Brahma is not worshipped in homes because he was cursed for marrying his own daughter. His worship is relegated to the streets and public places. So, cleverly, Kartik was placed there instead. Kartik represents the head of the household, and above him is Maha Saraswati. On the other side is Ganesh, who is actually Lord Narayan, and above him is Maha Lakshmi.
Student:
Many people still don't know the real identity of Ganesh.
Guru:
Ganesh is Lord Narayan himself. His job was to guard the Mother. Once, Nandi and Bhringi (Shiva's attendants) went to see the Mother. Ganesh, doing his duty, stopped them. A great battle ensued, and Ganesh beat them badly. When they returned to Lord Shiva and told him what happened, Shiva was furious. He took his trident and, in his rage, cut off Ganesh's head.
Guru:
When Mother Durga heard her son's head had been cut off, she took a fierce form—the Dash-Mahavidya forms (Kali, Tara, etc.). Even Lord Brahma and Shiva were terrified. To calm her, Brahma told everyone to find a new head. They found the head of an elephant (Airavat) and placed it on Ganesh to revive him. But the Mother was still unhappy because he no longer looked human. To appease her, the gods decreed that Ganesh would be worshipped first, before any other deity.
Guru:
So, the Puja we celebrate is actually the Puja of Creation, Preservation, and Destruction. Brahma represents creation, Narayan (Ganesh) represents preservation, and Shiva represents destruction. It is not just "Durga Puja" in a singular sense; it is the worship of the cosmic cycle. Above Kartik is Saraswati, and above Ganesh is Lakshmi.
Student:
Why do we say Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati?
Guru:
We must use the prefix "Maha" (Great) because they represent the highest forms of these energies. Durga herself is also called Shibani, the consort of Shiva.
Student:
Is the Mother worshipped in other forms or at other times?
Guru:
She can be worshipped at any time. Whenever the world is in distress, people call upon Mother Durga. There are many forms: the ten Mahavidyas, the Ashtabhairavs, the 64 Yoginis. The ten Mahavidyas are actually forms of Kali, which the Mother took to show her power.
Student:
Guru Dev, what message do you have for the general public and devotees this Durga Puja?
Guru:
My message is that this is the greatest festival. Durga is the "Dispeller of Distress" (Durgati Harini). Whenever there is a crisis, one should remember Mother Durga.
Guru:
There is a story from the Markandeya Purana about Raja Surath and a merchant named Samadhi. Both were ousted from their homes and lost everything. They met in the forest and eventually found the ashram of Medha Rishi. The Rishi told them that despite their losses, they were still bound by "Mamata" (attachment). He advised them to worship Mother Durga for three years. They did so, gained immense knowledge, and eventually, though they were invited back to their worldly lives, they chose to remain devoted to the Mother.
Student:
I want to inform the viewers that Guru Dev is currently very unwell. He is having a hard time speaking. Please do not visit him right now. You may come after Diwali/Kali Puja.
Guru:
You know, people talk about "Mahishasura Mardini" (The Slayer of the Buffalo Demon). It is amazing how much the demon attacked her—throwing stones, lashing with his tail. But Mother cannot be a killer because she is the source of life. Eventually, Lord Shiva threw his trident and told her to use it to end the demon's physical form.
Guru:
When Mahishasura was dying, he realized his mistake and asked for a boon: "Whenever you are worshipped on Earth, let me be at your feet." The Mother, in her infinite compassion, agreed. That is why the demon is always seen at her feet. Forgiveness is the greatest religion.
Student:
Is "Nava-Durga" related to the "Naba Patrika"?
Guru:
No, Nava-Durga refers to the nine forms worshipped over nine days: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidhatri. These are the forms she took during her battle with the demons. She also manifested 64 Yoginis to fight alongside her.
Student:
It seems non-Bengalis observe the nine nights (Navaratri) more strictly than Bengalis.
Guru:
Bengalis love the festive aspect, the food, and the celebration. Non-Bengalis often focus more on the ritualistic fasting and chanting. But at the core, she is guarded by four "Botuks" (guardians): Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Ganesh. Once the guardians are worshipped, the Puja is complete.
Student:
Guru Dev, you have performed so many Pujas. Have you ever felt the Mother's presence?
Guru:
Yes, I have. Many times. But these are things one should not speak about openly. I have performed elaborate, beautiful Pujas that people still remember.
Student:
We will end here today. My respects to you, Guru Dev.
Guru:
Blessings to you.
Spiritual Insight
Guru Shyama Khyapa shares profound esoteric knowledge about Mother Durga's true identity. He reveals her original name "Duggi" and her four primary manifestations: Katyayani (daughter of sage Katyayan), Dakshayani (daughter of Daksha), Narayani (who held Narayan in her womb), and Shibani (consort of Shiva). The teaching explains the botanical significance of Kola Bou—how nine medicinal plants represent different deities and the cosmic cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. Most remarkably, he clarifies that Durga is actually childless (Muktakeshi), and the figures surrounding her represent cosmic principles rather than biological offspring.