Impact of the image of Goddess Durga

Please allow me to begin by offering a confession and an apology.

- BASAB DASGUPTA

Although I present myself as a Hindu and sincerely believe that Hinduism is the greatest religion in the world, I am not a religious person. I have not read any scripture and usually do not participate in any formal ritual, even offering Anjali. I celebrate Durga puja and other such occasions as festivities for socialization.

However, the image of Goddess Durga has a magical and overwhelming influence on me. The purpose of this essay is an attempt to analyze my emotional reactions to this image using my own words. It has nothing to do with an accurate discourse on the significance of the image in a scriptural sense. I apologize in advance if I mislead any reader in this regard.

The first and immediate appeal of Maa Durga to me is her face. The face is smooth, flawless and radiates a brilliant glow. Even though she is engaged in a fierce battle with the demonic Mahisasur, she appears to be calm, peaceful and almost forgiving. She seems to be telling us, “Don’t be alarmed that I am engaged in this violent confrontation because it is necessary to protect all of you. Don’t worry, I will win and nothing bad will happen to you”. Among all facial features, her eyes are the most captivating. They are large, dark, long and so expressive.

I have lived in three different countries (India, US and Mexico) and travelled all over the world. I have seen hundreds of beautiful women and yet it is the eyes of Indian women which attract me most. Even in Bollywood movies, it is actresses like Sharmila Tagore and Hema Malini from my childhood days to Aishwarya Rai and Kareena Kapoor in more recent eras who make the deepest impression on me because of their eyes. As Victor Hugo said, “You know that you love a woman if you see God in her”; a similar message is reflected in the Bollywood song “tujh mein Rab dikhta hai..”. I love all Indian women because I see Maa Durga in their eyes.