Celebrating the Divine Feminine - Kanya Puja
What is Kanya Puja?
Kanya Puja is a Hindu ritual that honors young girls as embodiments of Goddess Durga. The term "Kanya" means girl.
It takes place during the 9 day Navratri celebrations.
How does it work?
On the 8th or 9th day of Navratri, devotees invite nine little girls (nine forms of Durga) to their respective homes. They wash their feet with water/milk and wipe them. A sacred thread (moli) is tied to their wrists and vermilion is applied to their foreheads. The girls are worshiped and people touch their feet to seek blessings. They are offered traditional foods such a "puri" and "halwa". As a token of gratitude, the girls are sent home with a gift or money.
What's the story behind it?
- Mahishasur, a buffalo demon, desperately wanted to defeat the Gods
- He started a long penance and stopped eating. He began to pray to Lord Brahma, the creator
- When Lord Brahma visited him, Mahishasur asked for one wish - to become immortal
- However, Brahma refused to grand him his wish saying that no living creature is immortal.
Mahishasur was ready for an answer. He immediately changed his words and asked Brahma to grant that he could not be killed by a man, a beast or a God.
So Brahma granted his wish that he could only be killed by a woman.
Mahishasur believed that he was immortal and no woman could fight or kill him. He set out to destroy the world. He attacked the Trilok - earth, heaven and hell. He was invincible.
The Trimurthi Gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) tried to stop him but were unsuccessful, since he could only be killed by a woman. So Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva concentrated their energies together to create an invincible woman.. A Goddess.
Goddess Durga was born
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva gave her their weapons to carry in her multiple arms. Mounted on lion, she set out to destroy Mahishasur.
Once she killed Mahishasur, she changed her form into a young girl.
That's why Kanya Puja is performed to honor the divine feminine energy in its purest form (represented by young girls)
By worshiping the little girls, our society re-establishes that women deserve respect for the roles they take on as a protector and nurturer.
Wishing everyone a joyous and blessed Navratri and Ashtami!
By - Cuddly Gurus - Celebrating and honoring great Hindu Icons
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