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Transcript

Meet Durga: A Hindu Goddess of Strength and Courage · Faithfully Explore!

0:00
Laura: Explorers, is that a lion?
0:02
Laura: I can see paws.
0:04
Laura: Look, now can you see its mane?
0:09
Laura: Riding on its back is a goddess.
0:11
Laura: She has many arms holding different objects.
0:15
Laura: Her face is steady.
0:17
Laura: She is ready to face a danger that others could not stop.
0:23
Laura: Who is she?
0:24
Laura: And why do so many people turn to her for courage and protection?
0:30
Laura: Hi, explorers.
0:31
Laura: I'm Laura, and this is Faithfully Explore, the show where we discover stories, cultures, beliefs, and big ideas from around the world.
0:41
Laura: Today, we're meeting Durga, one of the most important goddesses in Hinduism.
0:47
Laura: So keep those listening ears ready.
0:49
Laura: I might need your help.
0:52
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Faithfully Explore!
0:53
Faithfully Explore! Intro: is the name.
0:56
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Learning together is our aim.
1:00
Faithfully Explore! Intro: Beliefs around the globe we'll track, filling up our Belief Backpack.
1:08
Laura: Before we meet Durga, let's open our explorer map.
1:12
Laura: First, we need to find Asia.
1:15
Laura: Now we'll zoom in on South Asia to find India.
1:20
Laura: Hinduism's roots stretch back thousands of years in this part of the world.
1:25
Laura: Today, Hindus live in countries all around the globe.
1:30
Laura: A Hindu family might live across an ocean or right down your street.
1:35
Laura: Hinduism is a religion with many connected traditions.
1:40
Laura: It has no single founder, and Hindu families do not all worship in exactly the same way.
1:48
Laura: Some may worship mainly Shiva.
1:51
Laura: Others may be especially devoted to Vishnu or to the goddess Durga.
1:56
Laura: There are many sacred writings, stories, and ways to pray.
2:01
Laura: Many Hindus understand the different deities, gods, and goddesses as expressions of one divine reality called Brahman.
2:11
Laura: Other Hindu traditions explain their relationship differently.
2:16
Laura: So we listen carefully instead of assuming every Hindu believes exactly the same thing.
2:23
Laura: Let's tuck away two things we already learned about Hinduism.
2:28
Laura: It has ancient roots in South Asia, and it is a living religion with many traditions today.
2:36
Laura: Now here are a few ideas you may remember from other explorations.
2:42
Laura: One is dharma.
2:43
Laura: It has several meanings, including living rightly and fulfilling our responsibilities.
2:50
Laura: Thinking about dharma might include asking, "What is the caring, responsible thing to do here?"
2:57
Laura: Another is karma, our actions and their consequences.
3:03
Laura: Many Hindus believe those consequences can reach beyond one lifetime through rebirth.
3:10
Laura: Rebirth means being born again after death.
3:15
Laura: Karma is a complicated teaching.
3:18
Laura: It does not mean we should look at somebody who is hurting and decide they deserve it.
3:24
Laura: When someone needs help, we can offer care.
3:28
Laura: You don't need to remember every word today.
3:31
Laura: Here is our starting point.
3:33
Laura: Hinduism includes questions about the divine, how to live, and how our actions matter.
3:41
Laura: Today, we're exploring those questions through Durga.
3:45
Laura: Say her name with me.
3:48
Laura: Durga.
3:49
Laura: Durga.
3:51
Laura: Many Hindus call her Maa Durga.
3:54
Laura: Maa means mother.
3:56
Laura: They pray to her, sing to her, and ask her for blessings.
4:01
Laura: They may turn to her when they feel afraid, when life is difficult, or when they want to express gratitude.
4:10
Laura: For her devotees, which are the people who worship her, Durga is a sacred, caring presence in their lives.
4:18
Laura: That makes Durga much more than an interesting character in an exciting story.
4:24
Laura: For many people, she is the divine mother who sustains and protects the world.
4:31
Laura: Picture a caregiver who comforts you when you're upset and who also acts firmly to keep you safe.
4:40
Laura: Comfort and protection can belong together.
4:44
Laura: That can help us begin to understand why Durga is described as both loving and fierce.
4:53
Laura: Now, what about those arms?
4:56
Laura: In sacred images, Durga is often shown with many arms, sometimes eight, sometimes ten, and sometimes other numbers.
5:06
Laura: They express divine abilities beyond an ordinary human body.
5:12
Laura: She may hold a sword, a trident, a lotus flower, or other objects.
5:19
Laura: A trident is a three-pointed weapon.
5:23
Laura: Her weapons show her power to overcome harmful forces.
5:28
Laura: Her lion or tiger she rides helps express her strength.
5:34
Laura: These images carry religious meaning.
5:37
Laura: When we see one, we can ask, "What is the picture helping worshipers understand?"
5:45
Laura: Keep that question with you.
5:47
Laura: We're about to step into a sacred story.
5:54
Laura: One famous account of Durga appears in a Hindu sacred text called the Devi Mahatmya, which praises the greatness of the goddess.
6:04
Laura: Here is a telling of part of that story.
6:08
Laura: Long ago, a powerful being named Mahishasura defeated the gods.
6:14
Laura: Mahishasura could take the form of a mighty buffalo.
6:19
Laura: He was an Asura, a supernatural being.
6:23
Laura: In this story, he is a destructive enemy, often called a demon.
6:30
Laura: He had taken control of the heavens and driven the gods away.
6:35
Laura: His power had become a way to dominate others.
6:41
Laura: The defeated gods gathered.
6:43
Laura: They told of everything that had happened.
6:47
Laura: Even with their abilities, they had not been able to stop him.
6:52
Laura: Then something extraordinary happened.
6:55
Laura: Brilliant energy shone from Shiva.
6:59
Laura: Energy blazed from Vishnu, from Brahma, and from the other gods.
7:08
Laura: That glowing power came together, growing into an immense light.
7:16
Laura: Imagine light gathering from every direction until the sky itself seems to shine.
7:24
Laura: From that light appeared the goddess Durga.
7:28
Laura: The gods recognized her power.
7:30
Laura: They brought gifts for the struggle ahead.
7:34
Laura: Shiva gave her a trident.
7:36
Laura: Vishnu gave her a discus, which is a circular weapon.
7:41
Laura: Others brought a bow, arrows, a sword, a shield, and beautiful ornaments.
7:48
Laura: The lord of the Himalaya Mountains gave her a lion to ride.
7:53
Laura: Durga let out a tremendous roar.
7:57
Laura: Its sound rolled across the world.
8:03
Laura: The mountains shook.
8:09
Laura: The gods rejoiced.
8:11
Laura: At last, there was hope.
8:13
Laura: Mahishasura heard the sound, too.
8:17
Laura: He and his forces advanced toward the goddess, and a great battle began.
8:25
Laura: Arrows flew, weapons flashed.
8:29
Laura: Durga faced the attacks with her extraordinary power.
8:34
Laura: Her lion moved beside her through the struggle.
8:37
Laura: One after another, the forces attacking her were overcome.
8:42
Laura: But Mahishasura had not finished.
8:46
Laura: In his buffalo form, he thundered forward, stamping his hooves and swinging his horns.
8:55
Laura: The ground trembled beneath him.
8:58
Laura: Durga cast a loop of rope and caught him.
9:02
Laura: But suddenly, the buffalo shape disappeared.
9:07
Laura: In its place stood a lion.
9:10
Laura: This was Mahishasura changing form.
9:14
Laura: Before that form could save him, Durga met his attack.
9:20
Laura: He changed again into a warrior carrying a sword.
9:25
Laura: Durga stopped that attack too.
9:28
Laura: Then he became an enormous elephant.
9:32
Laura: Its trunk reached toward her lion.
9:39
Laura: Still, Durga would not let him overcome her.
9:43
Laura: Can you remember his first animal form?
9:46
Laura: Was it a buffalo or a bird?
9:50
Laura: A buffalo, and that is the form he took once more.
9:55
Laura: He bellowed and hurled mountains with his horns.
9:59
Laura: Durga shattered them with her arrows.
10:02
Laura: Picture that scene, a furious buffalo, mountains flying, and the goddess with many arms holding her ground.
10:13
Laura: However often Mahishasura changed his appearance, he could not escape her power.
10:21
Laura: At last, Durga pinned him beneath her foot.
10:24
Laura: As he began to emerge from his buffalo shape, she struck the final blow and killed him.
10:31
Laura: His destructive rule was over.
10:34
Laura: The gods praised the goddess.
10:39
Laura: Heavenly singers sang and dancers celebrated.
10:44
Laura: They honored the one who had saved them when they could not save themselves.
10:50
Laura: This story celebrates the goddess overcoming a force that had thrown the world into disorder.
10:58
Laura: Many devotees hear this story as a reminder of the Goddess's protection and the victory of good over evil.
11:07
Laura: They may also reflect on overcoming greed or arrogance in their own lives.
11:14
Laura: Our story comes from a sacred text, but devotion to Durga is very much alive today.
11:21
Laura: Many Hindus honor the Goddess during Navaratri.
11:24
Laura: The name means nine nights.
11:27
Laura: Different communities observe it differently.
11:30
Laura: Some honor nine forms of Durga, while others honor several Goddesses.
11:36
Laura: Prayer, music, and dance can be part of the celebrations.
11:42
Laura: Another major celebration is Durga Puja.
11:46
Laura: Puja means worship.
11:48
Laura: Imagine visiting a community celebration with your family.
11:53
Laura: Artists have carefully shaped and painted a clay image of Durga.
11:58
Laura: It stands inside a specially created pavilion called a pandal.
12:03
Laura: You might hear music, see people gathering for worship, and smell food being prepared.
12:10
Laura: Families and friends come together, and artists share their skills through decorations and performances.
12:18
Laura: Why is Durga at the center of this celebration?
12:23
Laura: Because people are honoring the Goddess.
12:26
Laura: The beauty, food, and fun surround something sacred.
12:32
Laura: If you visit a celebration, you can ask your hosts what to do.
12:37
Laura: Watching respectfully is another way to learn.
12:40
Laura: You can decide which activities to join.
12:44
Laura: And if a Hindu friend celebrates differently from what I've described, that is something interesting to learn about.
12:51
Laura: Remember, Hinduism includes many traditions.
12:58
Laura: Let's cross our Friendship Bridge.
13:01
Laura: Imagine this.
13:02
Laura: A friend brings a picture from a Durga Puja celebration to share.
13:07
Laura: Another student points at Durga's arms and says, "That looks weird."
13:12
Laura: A few children laugh.
13:14
Laura: You notice your friend lowers the picture.
13:18
Laura: What could you do?
13:21
Laura: You could say, "That picture is important to their family.
13:25
Laura: Let's listen."
13:27
Laura: You could also sit beside your classmate.
13:30
Laura: You could ask a teacher for help.
13:33
Laura: Later you could say, "I'm sorry that happened.
13:37
Laura: Would you like to tell me about your picture?"
13:40
Laura: You don't need to share someone's belief to treat what matters to them with care, and you can be curious without making fun.
13:48
Laura: Instead of, "That's weird," try, "That's new to me.
13:52
Laura: What does it mean?"
13:54
Laura: Let's practice those words together.
13:57
Laura: "That's new to me.
13:58
Laura: What does it mean?"
14:02
Laura: Now imagine that you are the one who laughed.
14:06
Laura: You can still help repair the moment.
14:09
Laura: You might say, "I'm sorry I laughed at something important to you.
14:13
Laura: I'll be more respectful."
14:16
Laura: Then show that change in what you do next.
14:19
Laura: Admitting a mistake can take courage, too.
14:23
Laura: Today's Friendship Bridge does not ask us to believe the same things.
14:27
Laura: It asks us to listen carefully and act when someone is being treated unkindly.
14:37
Laura: It's game time.
14:43
Laura: It's time for Fact or Fix.
14:47
Laura: I'll say a sentence.
14:48
Laura: If it matches something we've learned in the episode, say fact.
14:53
Laura: If something needs changing, say fix, then try to repair it before I do.
14:59
Laura: Ready?
15:01
Laura: Number one, Hinduism began last Tuesday.
15:06
Laura: Fix.
15:08
Laura: Its roots go back thousands of years in South Asia, definitely before last Tuesday.
15:15
Laura: Number two, every Hindu family worships in exactly the same way.
15:25
Laura: Fix.
15:26
Laura: Hinduism has many traditions.
15:29
Laura: Families can have different practices and ways of understanding the divine.
15:35
Laura: Number three, many Hindus worship Durga as the Divine Mother.
15:41
Laura: Fact.
15:42
Laura: She is loved as a powerful protector.
15:46
Laura: Number four, in our story, Durga rode a giant hamster.
15:55
Laura: Fix.
15:55
Laura: She rode a lion.
15:58
Laura: You may also see her riding a tiger in sacred artwork, but not a giant hamster.
16:05
Laura: Number five, Durga's many arms tell us that Hindu people are supposed to grow extra arms.
16:13
Laura: Fix.
16:14
Laura: Her many arms express extraordinary divine abilities.
16:19
Laura: Last one.
16:20
Laura: Durga Puja is a celebration that honors Durga.
16:25
Laura: Fact.
16:26
Laura: Puja means worship.
16:29
Laura: Nice job helping me fix those facts, explorers.
16:33
Laura: What's inside our belief backpack this week?
16:39
Laura: Open those imaginary Belief Backpacks, explorers.
16:43
Laura: Today, we learned I can use my strength to protect and care.
16:49
Laura: Say it with me.
16:51
Laura: I can use my strength to protect and care.
16:57
Laura: Your strength might be your voice, your patience, your ability to notice someone sitting alone, or your willingness to get a trusted grown-up.
17:08
Laura: This week, look for one chance to use that strength.
17:11
Laura: Invite someone into a game.
17:14
Laura: Help a younger child with something tricky.
17:17
Laura: Speak respectfully about a belief that is different from yours.
17:23
Laura: Before we zip up our Belief Backpack, let's remember where today's lesson came from.
17:29
Laura: Which religion did we explore?
17:33
Laura: Hinduism, a religion with many traditions around the world.
17:38
Laura: Which goddess did we meet?
17:42
Laura: Durga!
17:43
Laura: Many Hindus worship her as the Divine Mother, a powerful protector.
17:50
Laura: And what will we carry into our own day?
17:55
Laura: I can use my strength to protect and care.
17:59
Laura: I'm Laura.
18:00
Laura: Thank you for exploring with me on Faithfully Explore.
18:04
Laura: Until next time, stay curious, stay kind, and keep faithfully exploring that wonderful world around you.
18:11
Faithfully Explore! Outro: Faithfully Explore!
18:14
Faithfully Explore! Outro: is about you.
18:19
Faithfully Explore! Outro: Let's grow kinder together it's true!