Nine different forms of Maa Durga is known as Nav Durga... Nav Durga is worshipped in Navratri in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and Ashwin (September-October)... When Maa Durga is worshipped in the month of Chaitra she is known as Basanti and when she is worshipped in the month of Ashwin she is known as Sharadiya... This is because of the season, Chaitra is a season of spring which is known as Basant in Hindi that's why she is known as Basanti... And Ashwin is the starting of winter season which is known as Sharad Ritu, that's why she is known as Sharadiya... It is said that Maa comes in this mortal world in the month of Chaitra, then why we celebrate Navratri or Durga Puja in the month of Ashwin???... There is a story behind it... The story of AKALBODHAN...

This story starts from Lanka... In Trata Yuga, when Ravan kidnapped Devi Sita, and Lord Rama went to Lanka after making setu... He killed many demons of Ravan and at last only Ravan left... But it was not easy to kill Ravan... Ravan was the greatest devotees of Mahadev and Maa Parvati... Before going to any war, he worshipped Mahadev and Maa Durga because of which he get a protection shield... Vibhishana informed about it to Lord Rama...

Vibhishana: Prabhu if you want to kill Ravan then you have to please Maa Durga...

Ram: but this is not the month when Maa come to the mortal world...

Hanuman: Maa is the mother of the whole universe Prabhu... If her children will call her with full devotion then she will definitely come...

Ram: you are right Hanuman... Start the preparation...

Vibhishana: Pardon me Prabhu but we can't do the puja...

Lakshman: but why Vibhishana Ji???...

Vibhishana: because the one who didn't miss his puja of three prahar only he can do this puja... And there is only one man who can do this puja and he is Ravan...

Lakshman: what!!!... But why will Ravan do this puja???... He is our enemy...

Vibhishana: he have to do this puja Soumitra... If he will say no to do this puja then Maa Durga will left his side...

Ram: Hanuman and Lakshman, go to Ravan and invite him to do this puja...

They nodded and went to palace of Lanka... And as expected Ravan can't say no to do this puja... For puja, there was a special material which was needed and that was 108 Neel Kamal (Blue Lotus), which blooms only in Mansarovar... Lord Ram order Hanuman to go to the Mansarovar... Hanuman brought all the Neel Kamal from the Mansarovar... Ravan start the puja... After every one mantra, he offered one Neel Kamal in the feet of Maa Durga... After dedicated 107 Neel Kamal were over... Lord Ram asked Hanuman...

Ram: Hanuman have you done any mistake while counting the Neel Kamal...

Hanuman: no Prabhu I have bring all the 108 Neel Kamal from Mansarovar...

Ram: then why there is shortage of one Neel Kamal...

Lakshman: don't worry Bhaiya, Hanuman Ji will bring one more Neel Kamal from Mansarovar...

Hanuman: no I can't Lakshman Bhaiya because only 108 lotuses bloom in Mansarovar and I have bring all the Neel Kamal...

Ravan: without Neel Kamal the puja will not be complete... It's Maa Durga's favourite flowers...

Lord Ram fell in dilemma... He didn't know what to do now... If the puja will not be finished then he can't defeat Ravan... And Sita will never be free from Ravan's captivity... After thinking alot he got an idea he said...

Ram: when I was small, my mother used to call me Kamalnayan/RaajeevLochan... Means my eyes are like lotus and that's why today me Dashrath Nandan Ram will sacrifice his one eye to Maa Durga to please her...

Everyone was stunned after listening this... They were trying to stop Ram but he didn't listen to them... He took his arrow and was about to pricked his eye when an light emerged from Maa Durga's idol... Everyone was shocked seeing Maa Durga there holding a Neel Kamal...

She stopped Lord Ram and said...

Maa Durga: I am pleased by your devotion Dashrath Nandan... I was testing you and you passed this test... You can ask me any boon...

Ram: O mother of all the universe it is my good fortune that you have pleased by my devotion... I want two boons...

Maa Durga: you can ask...

Ram: in my first boon I want Sita's freedom and in my second boon I want Ravan's death...

He said while looking at Ravan... Maa Durga said...

Maa Durga: I grant you both these boons...

After saying this Maa Durga disappeared... In the day of Dashami, Ram Ji defeated Ravan and this day is known as Dussehra, means Dus Sar Wala Haar Gaya... From there onwards the puja of Maa Durga start in the month of Ashwin also and this puja is called AKALBODHAN... Akaal means before time असमय /समय से पूर्व... So this puja is done by Lord Ram before time because Maa come in this mortal world in the month of Chaitra i.e March-April but she come here in the month of Ashwin i.e September-October...

I hope you guys like this story of AKALBODHAN... I know many of you know this story already but still this story is close to my heart that's why I write it first... Which God or Goddess story you would like to read in the next chapter tell me in the comment section... Till then bye bye...