Jagaddhatri

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Jagaddhatri Jagaddhatri Puja in Ramakrishna Mission, Ranchi Weapon: Chakram, Bow, Arrow Mount: Lion

The Goddess Jagaddhatri is the form of the Mahadevi that supports the World. Jagaddhatri is formed from the two Sanskrit roots - Jagad is the physical world, and dhatri is support. In modern day Hinduism, Jagaddhatri Devi is considered a name and form of the Goddess Durga.

The formal difference between Durga and Jagaddhatri occurs in Mayatantra and Jagaddhatri is mentioned with reference to Durga in Krishnananda's Tantrasaar. The special puja of the goddess on the ninth lunar day of the light fortnight in the month of Kartick has been referred in Krityatattarnab by Srinath Acharyachudamoni of the 15th-16th century.

[edit] Pauranik lore

As per ancient Pauranik lore of the Hindu scriptures, soon after the victory over Mahishasur the Devatas became highly egoistic. They thought because of lending to Durga their instruments the mighty asuras were vanquished. To make them understand that the primordial power is alone behind every action, the Brahman appeared before the Devatas in the form of effulgent Yaksha.

Bewildered by its presence one by one the Devatas approached Yaksha. First the god of wind Vayu. The Yaksha asked him what he could do. The Vayu replied that he could throw away huge trees, tumble high mountains. The Yaksha then placed a small grass and asked him to move it. The Vayu utilised all his powers but lo! he could not even displace it. So also the god of fire Agni, could not even burn it. Likewise one by one the Devatas failed.

And it dawned on them that their powers are in reality not their own but derived from the supreme power who as protecting mother holds the entire creation and therefore called Jagaddhatri. Anybody who worships Jagaddhatri becomes absolutely egoless and a true servant of the world which is nothing but a manifestation of the Brahman.

[edit] History

In Bengal Maharaja Krishna Chandra of Nadia started Jagaddhatri Puja. It is very popular in Chandannagar, Hooghly. In Howrah, there is a Jagaddhatri puja since 1713. The goddess is worshipped in Moktar Bari, Shibpur village under Udaynarayanpur PS. During Tarakdas Banerjea (Bandyopadhyay) the puja was very rich. According to folklore, the family used to worship Durga before it. After a holy dream, Jagaddhatri puja started instead of Durga Puja. Current structure was made in 1934. After the Puja, Raas Utsav is also arranged in the house.

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