The conch-shell held by Durga, when blown, excites the sound note comparable to “Om” - the primal-sound, supposedly excited following the first motion at the Primordial-Source, which excited the creation chain. Durga, thus, personifies that very primal kinetic energy, which remains the source and effective cause for all creations in the world, their sustenance, and recycling. The conch-shell, thus, symbolises the source energy, up above in the cosmos.

The majestic Lotus flower in all colours made of numerous petals signifies enormity and diversity of creation, which is symptomatic of her noble creative intent. It is interesting to note that such an enticing Lotus flower grows in mud underneath water body. Yet its beauty and lustre remains unspoilt, regaling everybody. For, not even a trace of mud or water droplet can stay on flower leaves. It implies that She remains detached from the earth-matter making it.

The association of Lotus flower with the Mother also points out that though being all powerful, yet, She does not carry any sense of ego. In fact, despite all oddities and hazards coming Her way, She continues to exhibit tenderness, sense of love, generosity and doting nature, as reflected by the majestic flower. Even the killing of the demons is not done out of any sense of revenge or prejudice. Her intent is just to ensure the survival and welfare of Her well-meaning dependants. For, they are the ones, who understand and follow the laws of nature, wilfully service the existential order laid down by the divine forces. Evidently, lotus flower corresponds to productive face of the source energy, which, following a long-drawn course of progressive evolution manifested into the world of beings with form and name.

Different weapons in Mother’s remaining 8 arms are evidently aimed at combating the onslaught of demonic forces. But, why has She been assigned with weapons in 8 hands as against accessories reflecting creative potential in only two? This is simply suggestive of the fact that forces, contrary to our productive aspirations, are far more active and no less potent than our creative initiatives. The evil forces are in evidence all across, making us vulnerable to their onslaught from all possible directions. And, their killing potential would be felt much faster and relatively cover a fairly wider range than our productive initiatives. We, therefore, need to be fully on guard and in a combative mode against the evil forces so as to service the overall needs of our existential order. To drive home this point, the simile of Demon is used to exemplify and forewarn us about impending danger from all across. About the demons, it is said that they are inherently conjurors. They are capable of hoodwinking us by making varied illusionary presences and charge us from all possible directions unannounced, to their asking.

Here, weird forms, in which demons are usually depicted, deserve further elaboration. Remember, no such form-existence is in evidence anywhere on earth. It is so characterised just to exemplify in clear terms the danger inherent in the evil forces existing both within and beyond us. It needs to be noted that the evil forces dwelling within us are no less potent than those from beyond. For, human beings, armed with power of freewill, but also carrying animalistic tendencies, may prove a greater danger than a carnivorous animal, which is why some of the demons are shown with animal heads.

Here again, the negative memory implants in our minds and the preconditioning thereof, can act a great devil for the self and those around. Such negative tendencies often overtake our mind to distract our attention from priority preferences, and which foray into uncontrolled and fanciful inconsequential thoughts. We, thus, often misdirect our energies towards unproductive ends. In the process, our creative potential gets restricted from blooming out in full. Trapped into such unproductive voluminous thoughts, we are hardly left with mind-space necessary to invoke our faculty of discrimination. We, thus, loose our sense of reasons and direction, and thereby objectivity. It, thus, becomes imperative upon us to consciously strike upon such unbecoming tendencies, for which we are very well capable of. Otherwise, they will keep chasing us from within to our detriment, and with inevitable consequences.

The question now is: how to figure out the true intent and character of varied demonic presences in disguise, well in time? And then, identify the most appropriate weapon to checkmate their assault? Evidently, it calls for being on full mental alert all the time to pick up the right weapon.

The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant

and spiritual counsellor. Connect with him at

Tel: 91-11-9818037273/9871037272

Email: bharatbhushanpadmadeo@gmail.com