The Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies (AYOS)organised a lecture on “Durga Saptasati: A Discourse” here on Saturday. The speech was delivered by Prof Rajkishor Mishra, former Odisha Sahitya Academy Secretary.
The meeting was presided over by renowned Sanskrit scholar and former IAS officer S Sundar Rajan. Senior journalist Sugyan Choudhury was the special guest of the programme. AYOS director Dr Indulata Das welcomed the guests.
In his speech, Prof Mishra said, “Durga Saptasati is a part of Markandeya Purana in which the glory of the goddess is described. Although the word “Saptasati” means seven hundred, the actual number of Slokas is about 500 written in 13 chapters and divided into three parts, Purva Khanda, Madhya Khanda and Uttara Khanda. There are many characters in Durga Saptasati, viz., King Suratha, Vaisya Samadhi, Sage Medha, Madhu, Kaitabha, Chanda, Munda, Sumbha, Nisumbha, Mahisasura, Raktabija, etc. In the first Khanda the demons Madhu and Kaitabha were killed; in the Madhyama Khanda Mahisasura was killed; and in the Uttara Khanda many demons like Sumbha, Nisumbha, Chanda, Munda, etc., were killed. In addition to Markandeya Purana, the mention of the goddess is also found in other texts like the Vedas, Skanda Purana, Brahma Vaivartya Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata, etc.”
Sugyan Choudhury quoted many verses from many texts and said, “The goddess is magnanimous, compassionate and benevolent. She saves her devotees who surrender to her. Therefore, we should surrender ourselves at the feet of the mother and be saved from all disasters of our life.” Sanskrit scholar Arun Kumar Upadhyaya corroborated Prof Mishra’s speech with addition of many new facts.
Sundar Rajan threw light on some more aspects of the goddess. “Goddess has taken many forms and is being worshipped in many places,” he said.
Dr. Indulata Das thanked the speaker, the guests and the president of the session. The programme came to an end with chanting of Santi Patha.