Mahalaya

[The Crimson Universe]

Mahalaya is the day when Goddess Durga descends on Earth. Mahalaya Amavasya, the day Goddess Durga descends on earth - News Live TV
That's what the shaktaas and people of Bengal believes in.
But in my opinion, this cannot possibly be true.
The reason i say that is because , in Ishavasya Upanishad, mantra 1, it says ‘Ishavasyam idam sarvam’ which translates as ‘whaterver there is in this world is covered and filled with Isvara (saguna brahman).’ ... He not only creates but also enters into everything there is. He is one who is always intimately available here and now.
This shows that not only nirguna nirakara brahman is all-pervasive but even saguna brahman is all-pervasive. So if God is present everywhere, then what's the need to invoke or summon that deity at a certain location on Earth, at a certain time of the year?
Would love to hear your opinions on this one. Especially from the dualists.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Yabut, Durga is the Ishwara. She is the primordial power, Shakti. She is Brahman. It is on her direction that Lord Brahma created the universe. She creqated Gods Vishnu and Shiva.

Namo Devyai Mahaa-Devyai Shivaayai Satatam Namah l
Namah Prakrtyai Bhadraayai Niyataah Prannataah Sma Taam ll 1 ll

1.1: Salutations to the Devi, to the Mahadevi; Salutations Always to Her Who is One with Shiva (the Auspicious One).
1.2: Salutations to Her Who is the Auspicious (being One with Shiva) Primordial Source of Creation and Controller of Everything; We Bow Always to Her.
Ya Devi Sarvabhutesu - In sanskrit with meaning

 

[The Crimson Universe]

Ok i admit she's Shakti (Lord's creative force). But if she's one with Shiva or if she's one with Brahman then that makes her all-pervasive as well. Then what's the use of summoning her on the day of mahalaya? ... It's as if, she's residing somewhere up in heaven or kailasha, and then on the day of mahalaya, a group of shaktaas starts reciting the mahalaya mantras and upon hearing the mantras she descends on earth.
No offence but this sounds absurd.
Whether its brahman or whether its brahman's shakti, both are present all through out the cosmos.
So what's the need of summoning her if she's all around us ... and that too into an idol in which she is already present?

 

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

Ok i admit she's Shakti (Lord's creative force). But if she's one with Shiva or if she's one with Brahman then that makes her all-pervasive as well. Then what's the use of summoning her on the day of mahalaya? ... It's as if, she's residing somewhere up in heaven or kailasha, and then on the day of mahalaya, a group of shaktaas starts reciting the mahalaya mantras and upon hearing the mantras she descends on earth.
No offence but this sounds absurd.
Whether its brahman or whether its brahman's shakti, both are present all through out the cosmos.
So what's the need of summoning her if she's all around us ... and that too into an idol in which she is already present?

The offering of prayers, praises and pujas probably has much less to do with summoning Brahman into form as outward manifestation (as you say, what's the need?) and a whole lot more to do with summoning Her to please provide evidence of Her manifestation within oneself. (And for most of us on that score, there's no doubt about that need ).

 

[shivsomashekhar]

Mahalaya is the day when Goddess Durga descends on Earth. Mahalaya Amavasya, the day Goddess Durga descends on earth - News Live TV
That's what the shaktaas and people of Bengal believes in.
But in my opinion, this cannot possibly be true.
The reason i say that is because , in Ishavasya Upanishad, mantra 1, it says ‘Ishavasyam idam sarvam’ which translates as ‘whaterver there is in this world is covered and filled with Isvara (saguna brahman).’ ... He not only creates but also enters into everything there is. He is one who is always intimately available here and now.
This shows that not only nirguna nirakara brahman is all-pervasive but even saguna brahman is all-pervasive. So if God is present everywhere, then what's the need to invoke or summon that deity at a certain location on Earth, at a certain time of the year?
Would love to hear your opinions on this one. Especially from the dualists.

Greg, Hinduism is not a homogeneous religion with a single scripture (like Christianity or Islam) - though Vivekananda and some others from his time created such an impression in the West.

Durga is not a Vedic Goddess. Her origins and the culture around Durga worship are completely different from the origins of the Vedic Brahman and the beliefs around Brahman.