POWER OF PRAYER-1

I will start from where I left in my previous post, I talked about praying to cosmic energy for revival, in my post Phoenix rising from ashes.

Divine cosmic energy.

Now let me explain the different forms of this cosmic energy, in very elementary way, I mean who has the power to understand the very cause of this universe and the power of infinity with our finite facilities, at least not me, I do not have that much insight, knowledge, perception and comprehension to unfold her hidden secret nature, that has manifested in different forms since the time immemorial or one can say, at the very first energy explosion (big bang). I will only try to draw the rough sketch of this universal power, which is considered as cosmogenetic. She has manifested in everything and yet so elusive, I think just like an essence, which is present and yet cannot be seen with the naked eyes. Goddess Durga symbolizes power, divinity, energy both kinetic and potential with immense compassion for devotees. 
The nine different forms of Goddess Durga (cosmic energy) and the benefits of praying to her.

1.) Śailaputrī (Daughter of the Himālayas).

2.) Brahmachāriṇī (One who observes the state of celibacy doing penance).
3.) Chandraghaṇṭā ( One who bears the moon in her necklace).
4.) Kūṣmāṇḍa (the creator of the universe).
5.) Skanda-Mātā (The mother of Skanda, Kārttikeya, born out of her powers).
6.) Kātyāyanī (The daughter of sage Kātyāyana, who incarnated to help the Devas).
7.) Kālarātrī (black as night, destroyer of Kālī).
8.) Mahāgaurī (the wife of Lord Shiva, doing great penance).
9.) Siddhidātrī (Provider of Siddhis, giver of mystic powers).

Though I had always prayed to her, since my childhood. But she remained a very fearful figure in my mind, as she is the one who can cause illusions, and punishes you for your bad karmas, with illness, poverty, depression, anxiety and many more forms of physical and mental illness. We humans are very prone to bad deeds, so I used to get very apprehensive about her, that suppose I will make some mistake while praying or fasting et al, I will be punished for that, because most of the religions advocates that, there are three types of sin a human being can commit, by their actions, thinking, and saying. All these three types of wrong deeds are prohibited in our religion and considered as sin.
The Hindus worship Goddess Durga with fervor twice a year for nine days across the world. I think I need to mention here that Hinduism is not a religion, rather than represents a way of life, but sadly so many impurities or debasement has filtered into it over the period. 
During these nine days of Durga puja, the devotees keep fast for eight days, pray to her with passion. They try to abstain from bad deeds and celebrate by distributing sweets and gifts on the ninth day. They conclude this ritual by praying to nine small girls, representing the nine forms of goddess Durga (mentioned above).

Sage invoking energy through mantras.

Divine energy taking shape of female form.

There is an esoteric representation of each form including her armors and her particular vehicle. Our sages understood the power of this cosmic energy, without which everything is lifeless. They found that energy can be invoked with the particular sonic sound with a specific resonance. The sound is supposed to be very important mode to seek providence's help. This proved the very base of origin of "mantras" for prayer. Most of us does praying, chanting, or singing in praise of God. With meditations, and deep insight they could be able to provide Mantras for each God and Goddess, and they recorded them in different books for reference for a seeker and future generations. It is a very revered science or metaphysical science. This all had been put into stories having great esoteric meaning. Nothing is superfluous in our prayers and scriptures, only one needs to understand them with great insight and by repetitive readings and chanting. I always got awed by the sheer intelligence and wisdom of our sages and saints, who could made it possible for us to lessen the burden of our bad karmas, by following their preaching.
"In layman language this cosmic energy is like an electric current without, which any electric appliances does not work"
 Now it is a proven fact, that umm or OM is the first sonic syllabic at the time of big bang or one can say this universe originated from this sound. The mystic power of Mantras reinstated in me when I came across the book SHAKTI MANTRA in Houston, as if some divine power has led me to that section. I was very much impressed by the cover of this book. Though I could not read it much at that time but the thought of reading a very Indian concept through western eyes tempted me. The subject matter of this topic is like an ocean too vast and too deep to fathom or I can say sky endlessly reaching out to different horizon. But I will be taking up a few interesting topics of this Divine power duly in my upcoming posts.
Till then " Happy Praying".

Goddess Durga with her family.






Pics from web.