Book Review: "Joy Maa Durga by Atul Chandra Sarkar"

Genre: poetry / religion / spiritual / translation

What happens when religion meets the literature? Well, it gives birth to the finest work of the writer or possibly his magnum opus. “Joy Maa Durga” is a perfect example of such work. Poet Atul Chandra Sarkar has done a wonderful job of translating the shlokas of Sage Markandeya’s “Durga Saptasati” in poetic structure. I can only fathom how much effort and energy he might had to put to do so. There are English translations available in the market but I have not come across any work that is purely in the form of poems. This volume stands apart from other translation I have read. This collection of 700 shlokas is more than just story of the battle, valour and power of incarnations of Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga is believed to be the creator and the destructor of the Universe(Chapter 1). She is the protector of all things in spiritual and material form. She is the ruling power of the universe(chapter 11).  It is believed the one who recites these shlokas regularly will be provided with all material benefits of the mortal world. He will be fearless, courageous and ready to face any kind of challenge. In the preface, Mr Atul Chander Sarkar has also provided information about when to recite which chapter and to gain maximum benefits out of it which zodiac sign should read which chapter. It is very close to the original Sanskrit text. There are thousands of people out there, across the globe, who wish to read the Saptasati in a structured poetic way. This work will not only prove a boon to those people but it might also help people of the entire world to know more about rich cultural and spiritual heritage Indians have. The beauty of the book lies in the fact that the poet has tried to keep the meaning of the translated text as close as possible to the original Sanskrit text. Call it the grace of the Goddess or the psychological effect but I did feel the positive vibes and aura around me which reading this text. I believe regular recitation of these shlokas will help in to rise above existential sufferings.

Overall rating: 5*/5*

Love at first sight.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Neither do I. It’s simply impossible, isn’t it? I mean how can you fall in love with someone whom you barely know? Or can you?

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Sitting in the empty classroom I was having a chit-chat with my friend discussing a  weird French expression “coup de foudre” which I saw yesterday; it roughly translates to “Love at first sight”.

And at that precise moment, she entered with an aura so intense that my soul could feel its energy and vibes. Believe me, it never ever happened with me ever before. I can see the energy of other persons but feeling someone’s energy to the core of my soul that was unlikely but it happened. It felt like her aura is going to engulf the emptiness invading my heart. The demons residing in dark alleys of my heart, who usually drive me mad, calmed and smiled. They bowed before her. I liked everything about her. The way she adjusts the strands of her hair, the confidence with which she carries herself with, the way she talks, the softness in her voice, the elegance which she carries with her, the spark in her eyes, and the hues of her vibes which took over the core of my soul. It felt like our souls are vibrating on the same frequency. I could feel the resonance of her voice and her vivacious energy in my heart and soul. It might be cliché but it feels like she is the one I have been longing for so long, since the beginning of time since the birth of the universe. Maybe, gradually she might realize that we are two fragments of the same soul. Perhaps, we were together even before there was God. Maybe, we created the entire universe in own image. Maybe, she is my twin flame.

But in this lifetime SHE IS THE GODDESS AND I AM THE PRIEST.

Like me, she carries darkness inside her. I can see those places inside her heart where no one has ever stepped before because they might be too afraid of getting lost. Maybe, she has befriended her demons which is evident by the invisible emotional wall she has created around her to keep others out. She is strong, way too strong than any girl I have ever met but I am sure she would melt like ice if touched at right places at her heart. One thing I sure about is that the monsters and demons walking in abyss our hearts will play well with each other. And how I know this? Because I know the dark side of these creatures well enough; I have spent eternity with them. These are not to be dreaded but to be loved after all they are our unexpressed emotions that died in depth of our hearts transforming themselves as demons that we fear.
Maybe this is the reason my demons smile in her presence because they know they can be revived into something they were once meant to be.

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Do you believe in love at first sight? I don’t know about you but yes I do now.