Jai Maa Durga

"Jai Maa Durga"

Acrylic on Canvas - 48" x 60"

In Hindu mythology, the goddess has various forms. Durga the invincible is an incarnation of Shakti the female power. Just like the God Shiva she too is worshipped as the Supreme Being signifying the active feminine energy. Omniscient and multifaceted Durga is the goddess of creation, preservation and destruction of the world. The human female form manifests all these characteristics of the divine with the Lasya dance. The dance is the dance of beauty, happiness and grace. It is the response to Shiva's Tandav dance which is of death and destruction. Durga is always gloriously deified in our temples and people subject themselves to go through extreme personal sacrifice just to have one glimpse (darshan) of their goddess. Their gold and jewel donations as offerings at the temple and the respect imparted to the goddess image are at times is staggering to witness.


In the human incarnation, she incorporates the duties of a daughter, a friend, a spouse, and a mother. She is the embodiment of all encompassing creativity and fertility. Yet our obdurate society has been careless countless times by not recognizing or celebrating the woman force in our midst. So often in our immaturity, we are guilty of having subjected abuse and violence on a woman’s character, her persona or even her very presence amongst us. It should be realized that she in her earthly form will always remain an avatar of Durga the omnipotent and fearless. She does and will remain the force that moves civilizations forward nurturing one generation after the next in this constant cycle of life and death.


Primal Shakti, I bow to Thee!
All-Encompassing Shakti, I bow to Thee!
That through which Divine Creates, I bow to Thee!
Creative Power of the Kundalini, Mother of all Mother Power, To Thee I Bow!