Maa Durga · Bengal terracotta
Maa Durga Mandir माँ दुर्गा मंदिर
A nine spired temple of red brick and carved terracotta on a Bengal river plain, its natmandir and puja courtyard open to the autumn sky. Kash grass sways by the ghat and shiuli flowers fall at dawn. The Mother rides her lion, ten armed and serene, with her children beside her.
Today
Today’s Mahishasuramardini
Ten armed Durga on her lion in a red Benarasi saree with gold zari, a gold crown, conch shell bangles and red hibiscus. The Mother who overcame the buffalo demon, as the Devi Mahatmya tells in chapters 2 to 4.
The tradition
About Maa Durga Mandir
Bengal terracotta chala and ratna temple with a festival courtyard
Simhavahini
Durga rides the lion: the Devi Mahatmya tells how the gods’ combined radiance took form as the ten armed Mother, each arm carrying a gift of the gods, to restore dharma.
Her family
In the Bengal pratima the Mother comes home with her children: Lakshmi and Ganesha on her right, Saraswati and Kartikeya on her left, under one arched chalchitra (practice varies by family and school).
Terracotta temples
Bengal had little stone but rich river clay, so its builders raised temples of brick and covered them with carved terracotta: epics, dancers, boats and floral bands. The curved chala roofs echo village huts; the ratna temples add pinnacles.
Sharad and the Puja
Durga Puja falls in autumn (Ashvin), when kash grass blooms white on the riverbanks and shiuli flowers fall at dawn. Mahalaya opens the season; the Puja runs from Shashthi to Dashami.
Dhak and dhunuchi
The dhak drum, the conch and women’s ululation (ulu) fill the arati; devotees dance with smoking clay dhunuchi censers in the natmandir.
Japa
“Om Dum Durgayai Namah” is a widely chanted name mantra of the Mother.
Offerings
What is offered to Maa Durga
Red hibiscus জবা · जवा
The red jaba (hibiscus) is especially dear to the Mother.
Red chunari চুনরি · चुनरी
A red cloth edged in gold, offered as to a beloved mother; in Bengal often a red bordered saree.
Coconut নারকেল · नारियल
A whole coconut: the self, offered without reserve.
Marigold গাঁদা · गेंदा
Lotus পদ্ম · कमल
One hundred and eight lotuses are offered at the sandhi puja, where Ashtami meets Navami.
Inside
What you can do here
Walk the compound and the halls, leave your footwear at the steps, ring the bell, light incense and a diya, offer red hibiscus at the deity’s feet, receive prasad, sit in the meditation garden and join the aarti with devotees from around the world, five times a day. The grounds also keep 3 small secrets, each with a story of Maa Durga, for those who explore.
Five aartis a day
Every temple keeps the hours of a temple in India, so devotees everywhere gather at the same moment. Times may differ by a few minutes from temple to temple.
- Mangala Aarti5:30 am in India5:30 am your time
- Shringar Aarti8:00 am in India8:00 am your time
- Rajbhog Aarti12:00 pm in India12:00 pm your time
- Sandhya Aarti6:30 pm in India6:30 pm your time
- Shayan Aarti9:00 pm in India9:00 pm your time
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