Akal Bodhon

 Akal bodhon    Out of Season(Akal) Bodhon (Worship)

The god and the goddesses wake when the sun faces the uttarayan kaal and sleep during the Dakshinayan kaal. Uttarayan kaal is the first season of the Hindu year. During this season the god and goddesses are worshipped. So the year starts with worshipping goddess Saraswati which is now known as the Saraswati puja. How the Durga puja started during the ashwin season that falls in the Dakshinayan kaal or the out of season worshipping period is the story we wil tell you now.

When prince Ram was serving his exile period, his wife Sita was kidnapped by the king of demons Ravana. With the help from the king of monkeys Sugriva and his army, Ram builts a bridge over the ocean to reach the land of Lanka. After that starts the big battle between the army of Ram and Ravana. But even after endless efforts, Prince Ram couldn’t kill the demon king, Ravana. Ravana starts worshipping goddess Ambika for more power who in return tells him that she herself will be helping the demon king in all situations and circumstances.  With the help of goddess Ambika, Ravana resumes back is battle with Ram. Seeing Ravana battling with all force and power, all gods think will Ram never be able to defeat Ravana? Seeing the critical circumstances, lord Indra went to Lord Brahma to ask a way to defeat Ravana. Its then, lord Brahma told lord Vishnu that Ravana can only be defeated if and only if Ram worships goddess Durga in this Dakshinayan kaal or the out of season period. When prince Ram got to know the only way to defeat Ravana, he started preparations to worship goddess Durga in the autumnal season. Even after worshipping Goddess Durga during Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, Ram couldn’t hear from the goddess and was on the verge of breaking down. It was then king Vivhishan suggests Ram that if he offers 108 blue lotuses to Durga, the goddesss will definitely be pleased and readily help out Ram. Hearing this Hanuman leaves to collect the 108 lotuses and returns collecting them soon enough. But to test Ram, goddess Durga hides one amongst the 108 blue lotuses. Falling short of one blue lotus, everyone thought that Durga will not be satisfied and Ravana could never be defeated. Not knowing what else to do, Ram says that his eyes are like blue lotus and he would offer one of his eye to the goddess to satisfy her and defeat Ravana.

When Ram is prepared to take out one of his eyes with an arrow, goddess Durga appears and stops Ram from doing so. The goddess says that she is very satisfied with his worshipping her in the akal-bodhon. Durga tells Ram that now he will be easily be able to defeat Ravana in the battle. Getting his aid from goddess Durga, he resumes the battle with the demon king. Then in the battlefield, Ram arrows Ravana to death.

It is from then, that this autumnal ritual of Durga Puja is being celebrated. When the fields are filled with kaash flowers and the clouds play in abundance in the clear blue sky, the tunes of Ago moni are played. It starts from Mahalaya which is then followed by the nine days of the Durga Puja. Finally comes Dashami when we bid adieu to goddess Durga in wait for the next year’s Akal bodhon.