Mahalaya is observed on the Amavasya day in the Hindu month of Ashwin or Ashwayuja (September-October). Mahalaya 2009 date is on September 18. The last day of Pitru Paksha fortnight, the period sacred for doing rituals and offering oblations to the souls of the departed ancestors, ends on Mahalaya day. Durga Puja rituals also commence on Mahalaya day.
The rituals and rites on Mahalaya day are performed early morning on riverbanks or on seashore. The main offering made on Mahalaya Paksha to ancestors is food. It is believed that the offering made during this period will benefit all the departed souls. Charity in the form of food is also done by people.
Mahalaya marks the eve of Durga Pujo because seven days after Mahalaya the Durga pujo starts.The scriptures mention Mahalaya as the starting of days of fierce fighting between Maa Durga and the Demon Mohishashur.
The tale goes as follows.Mohishashur was a powerful demon and a menace for the sages and the gods.It was beyond their might to deal with him.Worried sages and gods seek refuge in Lord Vishnu’s feet.He places the responsibility of creating a goddesses challenging the might of Mohishashur on Rishi Kartayan.
Rishi Kartayan creates Maa Durga with all the powers and might of the heaven.She is armoured with a special weapon by every god in the haven.This is the reason why one of the many names of Maa Durga is Kartayini.
The fierce battle between Maa Durga and Mohishashur begins.Intimidatd by the might of Maa Durga the demon hides himself in a Buffalo. Maa kills the Buffalo and that is why the demon gets his name Mohishashur.
In the days to follow,the demon reappears every time a drop of his blood touches the ground.Lord Vishnu then takes the initiative and drinks the blood of the demon without allowing it to touch the ground.Maa Durga then,kills the Demon Mohishashur unleashing a fresh life in haven and earth from the menace of the demon.
Do try to listen to Chanidi path melodiously chanted by Birendra Kumar Bhadra, composed by Bani Kumar and set to music by Pankaj Kumar Mallick.
The above chandi path is broadcast by AIR on the Mahalaya ammavasya day at 4.30am in the morning, now we have the facility to listen to the chant at our convenient time by going to the folowing web site for the chant.The same is in two parts.
http://tutun23.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/parti.mp3
Click on the images to see enlarged image.
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