Modern Mothers and Maa Durga – The Untold Battle of Wellbeing By Dr. Reena Chopra

Modern Mothers and Maa Durga – The Untold Battle of Wellbeing By Dr. Reena Chopra

"Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, Shakti Rupena Samsthita,
Namastasyai, Namastasyai, Namastasyai Namo Namah."
  Devi Mahatmyam

Every Dussehra, we celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Lord Ram defeats Ravana, Maa Durga slays Mahishasura. These stories remind us that no demon, be it external or internal, is unconquerable.

But as we bow before the goddess in temples and pandals, do we pause to see the Durga at home? The modern mother who wakes before sunrise, fights invisible battles all day, and still tucks her children into bed with a smile?

This festive season, as we worship Maa Durga’s strength, let’s also reflect on how today’s mothers embody her spirit and why their mental well-being needs as much reverence as her idol.

1. Ten Arms vs. Ten Roles

Durga is always depicted with many arms, each carrying a weapon or blessing. For her, every arm has a purpose.

For the mother, those arms look like:

Cooking with one hand,

Typing office mails with another,

Holding a crying baby,

Checking homework,

Managing family WhatsApp groups,

Listening to in-laws’ concerns.

Unlike the goddess, mothers are human. Their arms ache, their minds tire. Yet they carry on, unseen.

Lesson this Dussehra: Acknowledge that you cannot, and should not, do it all at once. Even Durga used her arms strategically, not simultaneously.

2. Slaying Mahishasura vs. Battling Modern Demons

Maa Durga’s greatest act was slaying Mahishasura, a demon who symbolized arrogance and chaos. Modern mothers battle demons too, though theirs are invisible:

Mom Guilt: “Kya main achhi maa hoon?”

Comparison: “Dekho Sharma ji ki bahu kaise sab balance karti hai.”

Loneliness: Surrounded by family yet feeling unheard.

A mother who allows her child 30 minutes of TV so she can breathe feels guilty forgetting that rest is her right, not her weakness.

Lesson this Dussehra: Slay your own Mahishasura of guilt and comparison. The biggest victory is self-compassion.

3. The Lion Within

Durga rides a lion, a symbol of courage. Mothers too summon their lion daily: defending children in school, standing strong during financial crises, or holding families together in illness.

Yet, too often, this lion is caged. Society expects mothers to “sacrifice silently,” not roar.

How many times have you swallowed your tears after hearing, “Ghar pe ho, tension kaisi?”

Lesson this Dussehra: Let your lion roar. Speaking up for your needs is not defiance; it’s survival.

4. Calm in Chaos or Suppressed Pain?

Durga’s face remains serene, even in battle. Mothers too wear calm masks: smiling at relatives, hosting guests, attending PTMs while hiding sleepless nights and anxieties.

A mother who serves dinner perfectly, but later cries in the washroom because no one asked, “Tumhari tabiyat kaisi hai?”

Lesson this Dussehra: True calm comes from balance, not suppression. Expressing emotions is not a weakness; it’s healing.

5. Nine Forms of Durga vs. Nine Everyday Forms of a Mother

During Navratri, we worship nine forms of Durga: Shailputri (strength), Brahmacharini (discipline), Skandamata (nurturing), Kaalratri (fearlessness), Siddhidatri (wisdom), and more.

Doesn’t every mother embody the same nine forms?

Strength when she holds a feverish child all night.

Discipline when she balances the budget and bills.

Nurture when she listens to teenage heartbreak.

Fearlessness when she confronts injustice.

Wisdom when guiding her family.

Yet, while we decorate Durga with flowers, mothers’ many forms are rarely celebrated.

Lesson this Dussehra: Worship yourself too. Acknowledge your nine forms daily.

Practical Self-Care Lessons from Durga for Modern Mothers

Strategize Like Durga’s Arms – Not every arm fights at once. Prioritize instead of endlessly multitasking.

Fight Your Demons – Replace guilt with gratitude for yourself.

Ride Your Lion – Speak up, ask for help, and roar when needed.

Unmask Calm – Allow yourself to feel and share vulnerabilities.

Celebrate Your Nine Forms – Journal daily: “Which goddess form did I embody today?”

Shloka for Mothers

"Sarva Mangala Mangalye, Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike,
Sharanye Trayambake Gauri, Narayani Namostute."

Translation: O Goddess, you are the source of all auspiciousness. We bow to you.

This Dussehra, bow not just before Durga in the temple, but also before the Durga in your home, the mother who fights, nurtures, and loves.

Dussehra reminds us that good triumphs over evil. For modern mothers, victory lies in defeating the unseen evils of guilt, exhaustion, and neglect. When she learns to care for herself as much as she cares for others, she doesn’t just survive, she becomes a living Durga, radiant and unstoppable.

So this festive season, light the diya, offer your prayers, and also offer a smile, a rest, and a moment of peace to the goddess at home.