Devotee:
Gurudev, tomorrow is the Vishwakarma Puja, and because of this occasion, we'd like to know a bit about Lord Vishwakarma. If you tell us a bit about him, then we'll be able to know better. We're doing a small episode on this occasion.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Tomorrow is Vishwakarma Puja and no puja should be performed on the day of the solstice (Sankranti). Tomorrow is the solstice of the month of Bhadra. Usually, no deity's puja is performed on the solstice. However, there are a few pujas like Kartik Puja, Manasa Puja, and Vishwakarma Puja that are performed on the solstice.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Actually, Vishwakarma isn't a deity as such. He's an architect. He builds whatever the gods command. Besides this, when the gods use weapons, Vishwakarma makes them. He makes the many weapons that gods hold in their hands, like the conch, the chakra, the mace, and the lotus in the hands of Narayana; the trident in the hands of Shiva; and the ten weapons in the ten hands of Durga. Vishwakarma makes these weapons.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Vishwakarma isn't a god, but our ancestors have given him the status of one and he is worshipped. Vishwakarma Puja is held just before Durga Puja. When it's Vishwakarma Puja, it means Durga Puja is knocking at our doors. Ganesh Chaturthi is held before that. When it's Ganesh Chaturthi, we say Durga Puja is around the corner. Then it's Vishwakarma Puja and then Mahalaya. Tomorrow is Saturday and it's Vishwakarma Puja, and next Sunday is Mahalaya.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now Durga Puja is just around the corner. This is Pitri-Paksha (the fortnight of the ancestors) and after this, Matri-Paksha (the fortnight of the Mother Goddess) will begin. Pitri-Paksha is ongoing and all the work related to our ancestors is being performed. Rituals related to ancestors will be performed until Mahalaya. After Mahalaya, Matri-aradhana (worship of the Mother Goddess) will begin from the first day of the lunar cycle (Pratipada).
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pitri-aradhana ends on the day of Mahalaya with the Tarpan (offering water to ancestors) and then Matri-aradhana begins. In many places, Durga Puja begins from the first day of the lunar cycle (Pratipada) itself. It starts from the day after Mahalaya and continues until the tenth day of the lunar cycle (Dashami). Those who are from old traditional families, who have been performing Durga Puja for 300-400 years, worship for ten days. Their puja begins on the day after Mahalaya. They worship for ten days – the first day, the second day, the third day, and so on. They worship the Mother Goddess every day.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Other people worship for five days – from the sixth day (Shasthi) to the tenth day (Dashami). The people from old traditional houses worship for ten days. Vishwakarma Puja marks the beginning of Durga Puja. There's not much time left – Mahalaya is in a week and Durga Puja is in another week. There are only fifteen days left. This is the biggest festival for Bengalis. All the Bengalis, whether in the country or abroad, are very happy during these days.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Now, coming back to Vishwakarma, his vehicle (vahana) is the elephant. The elephant is a symbol of Brihaspati (Jupiter). He has four hands and holds four weapons – a chisel and a hammer, and other tools that are used in work. All the weapons that the gods hold are made by Vishwakarma. He also makes the impenetrable armor (Abhedya Kabach), which cannot be pierced. He made the armor for Goddess Durga. He has a lot of fame as an architect. That's why you'll see that Vishwakarma Puja isn't performed in houses, it's performed in factories and workshops. It's performed in places where tools like chisels and hammers are used. Owners and workers perform this puja. Earlier, people used to go in groups to see the big idols of Vishwakarma in various places like electric supply offices, but that has stopped now. Now people perform the puja in small places like auto stands and bus stands.
Devotee:
Gurudev, one thing I'd like to know – we usually see that Vishwakarma Puja is performed on September 17th every year. In some cases, it's been on the 16th. Is there any special reason for this?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
He's not a god, otherwise his puja wouldn't have been on this day. There are three pujas that are performed on the day of the solstice – Manasa Puja, Kartik Puja, and Vishwakarma Puja. The day of the solstice is considered an unproductive day, but these three are worshipped. Manasa Puja is performed on the solstice of the month of Shravana.
Devotee:
One story we've heard about Lord Vishwakarma is in the story of Behula and Lakhindar. Chand Sadagar had him build an iron room, but he left a small hole in it.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Manasa had told him to do so. She said, "You're building an iron room, but leave a small hole through which my vehicle – the snake – can enter." No one knew about this. Manasa told Vishwakarma that he could build the iron room, but he must leave a small hole. And that's what happened – a snake entered the room and bit Lakhindar. Lakhindar died and Behula took him to heaven. Manasa also never got the status of a goddess. She took it by force. She had to work very hard for it. No one wanted to accept her as a goddess. Chand Sadagar used to call her "Kani Buri" (the one-eyed old woman). So, that's the story – Vishwakarma built the iron room, but Manasa told him that if he didn't leave a hole, she would destroy his family. That's why Vishwakarma left a hole. This is an old story.
Devotee:
Is this why Vishwakarma isn't worshipped in that way?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, that's not the reason. He has been given the status of a god now. Earlier, he wasn't worshipped. He's worshipped only in this way.
Devotee:
We've learned a lot from you today, Gurudev. We'll end this episode here.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Okay.
Devotee:
Pronam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam.