After my earlier post on the Chicago Balaji Temple, reminded me about the Balaji Temple in Atlanta, GA. I was fortunate to visit the temple in Dec of last year. More than the main deity, “Durga Devi” in the seconday shrine intrigued me. Durga manifests the fertile woman, as the all powerful shakti, full of energy and ever in action. The earth is her body, and its regenerative ability and energy are apparent to even the common farm worker.

When Shiva, Vishnu and the other Gods were threatened by the demon mahisa, it is Durga, endowed by their weapons and her many arms to yield them, who slays the demon and restores the cosmic equilibrium. Durga is usually depicted as being calm and serene, with the demon trapped under her feet with its throat pierced by her javelin. The depiction of red represents the spilt blood and also alludes to her fertility.

Sri Venkateshwara (Balaji) Temple in Atlanta

See Balaji temple in Chicago, IL.

Other Durga Devi posts:

• Dussehra: Celebrating Durga Devi’s Grace 2011
• Dussehra: Celebrating Devi’s Grace 2008
• Dussehra: Celebrating Devi’s Grace 2007
• Dassara 2005
• Mahalakshmi Temple, Goa