LELA IS THE SLAVIC GODDESS OF THE FOREST; SHE TAKES CARE OF THE FOREST CREATURES AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO SEEK SHELTER IN THE WOODS. SHE IS A VERY OLD DEITY, AND HER CULT IS MOST LIKELY CONNECTED TO THAT PERIOD OF MATRIARCHY IN THE DISTANT PAST. SHE IS SIMILAR TO THE GREEK GODDESS, ARTEMIS, SINCE BOTH ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WILD FEMALE SEXUALITY DURING A TIME WHEN WOMEN WERE NOT TREATED AS SUBMISSIVE AND INFERIOR TO MEN.
AS THE PROTECTOR OF WOMEN, LELA IS STILL INVOKED BY SERBIAN WOMEN WHO FACE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. SHE IS A GODDESS OF SUMMER AND THE ETERNAL BRIDE OF THE SUN. IN SOME OF THE OLD SLAVIC TALES, SHE IS ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE SUN'S SISTER. IN THE TALES OF LELA, WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE HOW ONE OF THE SUPREME FEMALE DEITIES OF THE PAST WAS DETHRONED AND MADE TO SHARE HER DIVINE FEATURES WITH A MALE COUNTERPART. THE GODDESS OF MATRIARCHY WAS SLOWLY LOSING HER POWER.
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"DAPHNE", A BEAUTIFUL RIVER NYMPH, WAS A DAUGHTER OF THE RIVER GOD, "PENEUS". SOME SOURCES SAY SHE WAS OF "GAIA" AND A POTENT ORACLE; BUT MOST AGREE THAT SHE WAS A HUNTRESS WHO DEDICATED HERSELF TO "ARTEMIS", GODDESS OF THE HUNT, AND, LIKE THE GODDESS, REFUSED TO MARRY, AND, ALTHOUGH PURSUED BY MANY ADMIRERS, SHE LOVED HER FREEDOM AND REJECTED EVERY LOVER, INCLUDING THE POWERFUL SON OF "ZEUS, APOLLO", WHO HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HER.
NOW, ACCORDING TO THE MYTH, THIS PASSION HAD BEEN RAISED BY "CUPID," WHO, INCENSED THAT "APOLLO" HAD DISPUTED THE POWER OF HIS DARTS, SHOT "DAPHNE" WITH AN ARROW OF LEAD TO HARDEN HER HEART AND "APOLLO" WITH A GOLDEN ARROW TO MAKE HIM FALL IN LOVE WITH THE FIRST WOMAN THAT HE SAW. AND SO IT WAS THAT WHEN" APOLLO "SAW HER TAKING A WALK, HE WAS WAS LOVE STRUCK. "DAPHNE" FLED WITH "APOLLO" IN FAST PURSUIT, PROFESSING HIS NEVER-ENDING LOVE. "APOLLO" CONTINUED HIS PURSUIT, AND "DAPHNE," WEARING DOWN AND FEARFUL OF BEING CAUGHT, ENTREATED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE "GAIA" WHO TRANSFORMED HER INTO A LAUREL TREE TO PRESERVE HER INNOCENCE FOREVER.
NOTHING WAS LEFT OF "DAPHNE" EXCEPT HER SHINING LOVELINESS, YET EVEN AS A TREE, "APOLLO" LOVED HER, AND WHEN HE PLACED HIS HAND UPON THE TRUNK, HE COULD FEEL HER HEART AS IT CONTINUED TO BEAT. "APOLLO" THEN CUT OFF SOME BRANCHES AND MADE HIMSELF A WREATH IN MEMORY OF HER BEAUTY AND HIS LOVE FOR HER. THE STORY OF "DAPHNE" SERVES AS A REMINDER OF STAYING TRUE TO OUR IDEALS.
DAPHNE
"WHY DO YOU FOLLOW ME?- " ANY MOMENT I CAN BE
Nothing but a laurel-tree.
"ANY MOMENT OF THE CHASE "
I can leave you in my place
A pink bough for your embrace.
"YET IF OVER HILL AND HOLLOW"
Still it is your will to follow,
I am off;-to heel, Apollo!
BY EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY
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DURGA is the Hindu Goddess of war. She is the first of the Hindu Great Goddesses, formed by the female energies of the original male deities. A fearful demon, Mahishasura, had grown so powerful that he could not be defeated by God or man. Only the combined force of Shakti, the female aspect of the male Gods, would be able to triumph over Mahishasura. Knowing this, the Gods joined together to form the Goddess they called Durga. Each contributed part of their magic to her creation-Shiva created her face, Chandra (the moon God) formed her breasts, Indra her torso, Vishnu her ten arms, Varuna (God of oceans) her legs and thighs, Brahma her feet, Agni (God of fire) her three eyes, and Vayu (God of wind) her ears. The Gods also gave her divine weapons with which to fight-a trident, a disc, a conch shell, a spear, a bow and arrows, a thunderbolt, a bell, a sword, a shield, an axe, armor, and a lion to ride on.
Armed with the power of the Gods, Durga rode out to meet Mahishasura. The demon was able to change forms, and each time it appeared that Durga had him defeated, he would change and his vigor would be renewed. Throughout the battle, Durga remained calm and untroubled. Finally, after 9 days of fighting, she beheaded the demon, and peace was restored.
Durga's name means "the inaccessible", and is one of the 108 Names of Durga, used as a prayer or meditation:
DURGA (The Inaccessible)
DEVI (The Deity)
TRIBHUVANESHWARI (Goddess of The Three Worlds)
YASHODAGARBA SAMBHOOTA (Emerging From Yashoda's Womb)
NARAYANAVARAPRIYA (Fond of Narayana's Boons)
NANDAGOPAKULAJATA (Daughter Of The Nandagopa Race)
MANGALYA (Auspicious)
KULAVARDHINI (Developer Of The Race)
KAMSAVIDRAVANAKARI (Threatened Kamsa)
ASURAKSHAYAMKARI (Reducer Of The Number Of Demons)
SHILATHATA VINIKSHIBDA (At Birth, Slammed By Kamsa)
AKASHAGAMINI (Flew In The Sky)
VASUDEVABHAGINI (Sister Of Vasudeva)
DIVAMALYA VIBHOOSHITA (Adorned With Beautiful Garlands)
DIVYAMBARADHARA (Beautifully Robed)
KHADGAKETAKA DHARINI (Holder Of Sword And Shield)
SHIVA (Auspicious)
PAPADHARINI (Bearer Of Others' Sins)
VARADA (Granter Of Boons)
KRISHNA (Sister Of Krishna)
KUMARI (Young Girl)
BRAHMACHARINI (Seeker Of Brahman)
BALARKASADRUSHAKARA (Like The Rising Sun)
PURNACHANDRA NIBHANANA (Beautiful Like The Full Moon)
CHATURBHUJA (Four-Armed)
CHATURVAKTTRA (Four-Faced)
PEENASHRONI PAYODHARA (Large Bosomed)
MAYOORA PICHHAVALAYA (Wearer Of Peacock-Feathered Bangles)
KEYURANGADADHARINI (Bejewelled With Armlets And Bracelets)
KRISHNACHHAVISAMA (Like Krishna's Radiance)
KRISHNA (Dark-Complexioned)
SANKARSHANASAMANANA (Equal To Sankarshana)
INDRADHWAJA SAMABAHUDHARINI (With Shoulders Like Indra's Flag)
PATRADHARINI (Vessel-Holder)
PANKAJADHARINI (Lotus-Holder)
KANTTADHARA (Holder of Shiva's Neck)
PASHADHARINI (Holder Of Rope)
DHANURDHARINI (Holder Of Bow)
MAHACHAKRADHARINI (Holder Of Chakra)
VIVIDAYUDHADHARA (Bearer Of Various Weapons)
KUNDALAPURNAKARNA VIBHOOSHITA (Wearer Of Earrings Covering The Ears)
CHANDRAVISPARDIMUKHA (Beautiful Like The Moon)
MUKUTAVIRAJITA (Shining With Crown Adorned)
SHIKHIPICHHADWAJA VIRAJITA (Having Peacock-Feathered Flag)
KAUMARAVRATADHARA (Observer Of Fasts Like Young Girls Do)
TRIDIVABHAVAYIRTRI (Goddess Of The Three Worlds)
TRIDASHAPUJITA (The Goddess Of The Celestials)
TRAILOKYARAKSHINI (Protector Of The Three Worlds)
MAHISHASURANASHINI (Destroyer Of Mahisha)
PRASANNA (Cheerful)
SURASHRESHTTA (Supreme Among The Celestials)
SHIVA (Shiva's Half)
JAYA (Victorious)
VIJAYA (Conqueror)
SANGRAMAJAYAPRADA (Granter Of Victory In The War)
VARADA (Bestower)
VINDHYAVASINI (Resident Of The Vindhyas)
KALI (Dark-Complexioned)
KALI (Goddess Of Death)
MAHAKALI (Wife Of Mahakala)
SEEDUPRIYA (Fond Of Drinks)
MAMSAPRIYA (Fond Of Flesh)
PASHUPRIYA (Fond Of All Beings)
BHOOTANUSHRUTA (Well-Wisher Of Bhootaganas)
VARADA (Bestower)
KAMACHARINI (Acting On One's Own Accord)
PAPAHARINI (Destroyer Of Sins)
KIRTI (Famed)
SHREE (Auspicious)
DHRUTI (Valiant)
SIDDHI (Successful)
HRI (Holy Chant Of Hymns)
VIDHYA (Wisdom)
SANTATI (Granter Of Issues)
MATI (Wise)
SANDHYA (Twilight)
RATRI (Night)
PRABHA (Dawn)
NITYA (Eternal)
JYOTSANA (Radiant Like Flames)
KANTHA (Radiant)
KHAMA (Embodiment Of Forgiveness)
DAYA (Compassionate)
BANDHANANASHINI (Detacher Of Attachments)
MOHANASHINI (Destroyer Of Desires)
PUTRAPAMRITYUNASHINI (Sustainer Of Son's Untimely Death)
DHANAKSHAYANASHINI (Controller Of Wealth Decrease)
VYADHINASHINI (Vanquisher Of Ailments)
MRUTHYUNASHINI (Destroyer Of Death)
BHAYANASHINI (Remover Of Fear)
PADMAPATRAKSHI (Eyes Like The Lotus Leaf)
DURGA (Remover Of Distress)
SHARANYA (Granter Of Refuge)
BHAKTAVATSALA (Lover Of Devotees)
SAUKHYADA (Bestower Of Well-Being)
AROGYADA (Granter Of Good Health)
RAJYADA (Bestower Of Kingdom)
AYURDA (Granter Of Longevity)
VAPURDA (Granter Of Beautiful Appearance)
SUTADA (Granter Of Issues)
PRAVASARAKSHIKA (Protector Of Travelers)
NAGARARAKSHIKA (Protector Of Land)
SANGRAMARAKSHIKA (Protector Of Wars)
SHATRUSANKATA RAKSHIKA (Protector From Distress Caused By Foes)
ATAVIDUHKHANDHARA RAKSHIKA (Protector From Ignorance And Distress)
SAGARAGIRIRAKSHIKA (Protector Of Seas And Hills)
SARVAKARYASIDDHI PRADAYIKA (Granter Of Success In All Attempts)
DURGA (Deity Durga)
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