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jai/jaya: Victory to! Celebration of. An emphatic "Hooray God!"

mā/mātā: Mother.

durgā: Supreme Goddess, Devi, Divine Mother, Shakti... Durga's name means "the invincible."

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"...The Shaktas worship the Supreme as the goddess Durga. The term shakta derives from shakti, the Sanskrit word for power or energy. Durga is thus identified as the supreme divine power. She strikes a powerful pose in her typical manifestation, mounted upon a lion, her numerous arms wielding a fearsome array of weapons. Appearing as a beautiful woman, she attracts the demons toward her only to annihilate them."  ~ Krishna Dharma


"Sitting behind closed doors and saying, 'The sun is not giving me any light' is silly. Open the door and the light will come in. Likewise, open the doors of your heart by removing egotistic thoughts and by developing qualities such as love and humility. That takes effort. God's grace flows in a never ending stream. You have to prepare your mind to become a suitable instrument and then receive it."  ~ Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi)


"We bow to her who is auspicious beauty. We make salutations again and again to her who is prosperity and attainment. Salutations again and again to her who is the fortune and misfortune of kings. Salutations always to Durga who takes us through difficulties, who is the creator and indwelling essence of all... who is right knowledge... We bow down to her who is at once most gentle and most fierce."  ~ Devi Mahatmya

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