“In the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the month of Ashwin, the worship of Goddess Aparajita should be performed on the tenth day (Vijaya Dashami).
The worship should not be done if the Dashami is joined with Ekadashi.”
(Purohit Darpan)
Yes—Aparajita Puja, a part of Durga Puja, yet an almost unspoken ritual dedicated to the rarely mentioned goddess Aparajita.
After the Visarjan Puja (immersion ritual) on Dashami, the sound of the drums rises once more in the same pavilion—this time for the Aparajita Stava (hymn).
Matrikalpa (Invocation):
Om Åuddha-sphaį¹ika-saį¹ kÄÅÄį¹ chandra-koį¹im-uÅÄ«talÄm,
varadÄbhaya-hastÄƱcha Åukla-vastrair alaį¹ kį¹tÄm;
nÄnÄ-bharaį¹a-saį¹yuktÄį¹ cakravÄkaiÅ cha veį¹£į¹itÄm,
saį¹cintya eį¹£Äį¹ matri devÄ«į¹ tÄm AparÄjitÄm.
Meaning:
“I meditate upon the Goddess Aparajita, who shines like pure crystal, cool as ten million moons; who holds in her hands the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear; who is adorned in white garments and various ornaments, and is surrounded by the birds called chakravaka (ruddy geese).”
Goddess Aparajita
She is another form of Durga—four-armed, holding a conch (shankha) and discus (chakra) in two hands, and showing boon-giving (varada) and fear-dispelling (abhaya) gestures with the other two.
Her complexion is described variously—either deep blue or bright and crystal-like. She is three-eyed, moon-adorned, and encircled by chakravaka birds.
According to some, in this particular form she is Shivaduti, the messenger of Shiva, sent to Shumbha with the warning: that he and his demon hosts should retreat to the netherworld (Patala), otherwise total destruction will befall them.
Vedavyasa, in Anushtubh metre, composed hymns in her praise as “Padmabeeja-malyadharini Shyama”— the dark-hued goddess adorned with a garland of lotus seeds.
Scriptures On Aparajita Worship
Tradition says that after performing the Akalbodhan (untimely awakening) of Goddess Durga, Shri Ramachandra worshipped Aparajita (in her Shivaduti form) upon completing the Visarjan Puja.
Tying a white Aparajita creeper on his wrist, he set out for battle—and thus he was victorious, becoming “Aparajita”—the unconquered.
Even Kautilya’s Arthashastra mentions the worship of Goddess Aparajita: after Dashami, when a king sets forth for war, he is considered invincible if he has performed Aparajita Puja.
Hence, in ancient times, military campaigns traditionally commenced after this ritual.
The Smarta scholar Raghunandan, in his Tithi Tattva, cites Vyasa and Markandeya in hymns praising the Goddess Aparajita.
She is both terrible (Bhayanak) and auspicious, the destroyer of great fears and the bestower of success.
How Is Goddess Aparajita Worshiped In Bengal During Durga Puja
Immediately after the recitation of the Visarjan Mantra on Dashami, an eight-petalled lotus (ashtadala padma) is drawn in the northeast (Ishana) corner, and the Aparajita creeper (plant) is placed there.
Upon that lotus, the goddess Aparajita is worshipped.
The eight petals symbolize the blossoming of all spiritual powers and fulfillment.
Hence, she is the giver of victory—Aparajita, the Unconquered One.
Mode of Worship:
She is worshipped either on a white Aparajita plant or in a pot (ghata) representing the Goddess. An eight-petalled lotus is drawn in the northeast direction, and only after completing the Dashami rituals does the priest silently perform the Aparajita Puja sankalpa (vow).
The invocation says:
“He devi tvam mama vijayam…”
“O Goddess, grant me victory. May I triumph with the steadfastness of Shri Ramachandra.”
She is another form of Durga. Chaturbhuja (four-armed)— in four hands she holds the conch and discus (shankha-chakra), or alternatively, in two hands she shows the Varada (boon) and Abhaya (fearlessness) mudras. Her complexion is deep blue, or alternatively, like bright crystal. She is Trinayana (three-eyed) and has the moon on her forehead (Shashibhali). Chakravaka birds or Ruddy Shelducks surround her.
Immediately after the recitation of the immersion mantras on Dashami, this Goddess is worshipped by drawing an eight-petalled lotus in the Ishana (North-East) corner of the mandap and placing an Aparajita creeper there. The eight-petalled lotus signifies the unleashing of all spiritual attainments (Siddhis). The bud is blossoming. Hence, she is Aparajita, the Giver of Victory."