Education is Power: The Shakti that Transforms Lives

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

— Nelson Mandela, a revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist.

This statement holds immense significance for all the people in the world. Although this statement is an offshoot of something related, which is attributed to Francis Bacon, it still holds great importance.  

Francis Bacon said that knowledge is power. And, famous personalities throughout history like Nelson Mandela or Thomas Jefferson molded this concept to include different things to it, like education, safety, and happiness. 

It might seem like a cliché to you, but when you look at it, every great personality that ever lived stressed the need for educating the masses. 

If you think that this thought is a Western construct, you can’t be more wrong! 

There are numerous symbolic cues of it in Indian mythology. The biggest symbolic representation can be found in the mother goddess in Hinduism, Maa Durga.   

The Mother Goddess and the Power of Education 

But, how is Maa Durga a symbolic representation that suggests education is power? 

Maa Durga is the most powerful goddess in Hinduism. She signifies the divine feminine. She’s the protector of all, and that’s why she is considered the mother goddess.  

The name Durga is derived from Sanskrit, which means fort (in a sense, invincible) or the one who stands tall and can’t be defeated in the midst of ignorance and denial.  

In the mythological context, the entire universe is made up of two distinct aspects: Shiva and Shakti. 

And guess what? Maa Durga symbolises Shakti or Power. 

It is the force that maintains the equilibrium of the universe through a divine authority or power! 

The weapons are the things that symbolise different qualities of Maa Durga. While the conch represents AUM (the divine sound), the Lotus signifies enlightenment and awakening amid worldly sufferings and sins.  

This enlightenment or awakening can only be attained through knowledge or education. 

These are not the only allegories in Maa Durga’s appearance. If you look closely, every weapon is a symbol of knowledge, education, awakening, or something related to it.  

But how is that possible? Let’s see the other 9 symbols associated with the weapons! 

The Trident 

The Trishul or trident is what destroys evil. It is the primary weapon through which Mahishasur is slain. If you look closely, it symbolises the removal of distractions by staying focused. So, all of us should develop self-discipline and avoid laziness. 

The Discus 

The Chakra or discus represents the cyclical nature of time. Every learner will know the significance of time and the need for its management. This weapon symbolises just that and tells us to develop time management skills and a habit of constant learning. 

The Conch 

The Shankha or Conch, as already discussed, signifies the divine sound (AUM). Therefore, it signifies communication. This weapon is all about positive vibrations and clarity in one’s speech. 

 As clear expression and communication are the keys to learning and education, the conch tells us to be vocal and clear about the conceptions and misconceptions that we all come across in the learning process. 

Bow and Arrow 

Bow and Arrow held by Maa Durga are the things that symbolise concentration and determination. Just like the Bow and Arrow combine together to form a weapon whose sole purpose is to hit the target through sheer focus, the weapon tells us that we should focus deeply during the learning process and aim for our goals without any distractions. It tells us that we have to set realistic goals in education and pursue them with precision. 

The Sword 

The sword is an allegory for wisdom and razor-sharp intellect. As the sword cuts through the dark forces and slays everyone in the way, we should leverage education to cut through ignorance and denial. It gives us all a reminder to use logic to understand complex scenarios. 

The Club 

This weapon, which is also known as Gada, symbolises strength and commitment. It is very important to have a formidable moral and mental strength to go through the entire learning process effectively. You can’t abandon education when things get tough. So, through this weapon, Maa Durga tells us to be resilient enough when the learning curve is steep.

The Snake 

The snake as a weapon may seem strange, but it has enormous significance, especially when it comes to education. Just as the snake sheds its own skin, you have to shed your previous conceptions to learn new things. In a nutshell, we can say that this weapon symbolises transformation and adaptability that can only be attained through education. (banner sketch in white background ) 

The Shield 

Without protection and courage, nothing can be learnt. The shield signifies protection from negativity and failure, and the courage to take on challenges. See, failures are bound to happen when we learn something new. However, how we react to that failure is what matters. So, the shield tells us to guard our minds against self-doubt in times of failure.  

The Abhaya Mudra  

This is not a weapon, but the open palm of Maa Durga symbolises her blessings if you take the learning path fearlessly. It represents that if you approach education with humility and confidence, god will be there with you.

So, each and every weapon of Maa Durga has some symbolic meaning which can be connected to education.  

That’s not all.  

Just like Shiva, Maa Durga has three eyes.  

• The left eye (moon) signifies Divine Love 

• The right eye (Sun) signifies Transformative Action 

• The central or third eye (Fire) signifies Knowledge 

All the eyes together signify the three aspects of Universal Light .

Every aspect of Maa Durga has a symbolic meaning that has its foundation in knowledge and education.  

So, “Shikkha e Shakti” or “Education is Power” holds great importance when it comes to the worship of the Devi.   

As Durga Pujo is approaching us, the atmosphere is filled with joy and enjoyment in Kolkata. People are making their Pujo plans with their loved ones. However, it is also important to focus on education and make career plans, so that every Pujo is filled with the same level of happiness.  

Education is a Superpower, and You Can Change the World with it 

We get it. Durga Pujo is not just another festival; it’s an emotion for all the Bengalis and everyone familiar with the rich Bengali culture.  

During this time of the year, the air gets filled with happiness and an unknown yet overwhelming sense of belonging. Everyone around Kolkata makes memories with their loved ones, with good food and exciting pandal hopping. 

We want everyone to enjoy Pujo to the fullest.  

Webskitters Academy also wants to remind you of the very essence of worshiping the Devi: to acquire the required knowledge and education to defeat the dark forces of ignorance and denial, to acquire the knowledge that will guide us through the dark alley of self-doubt and confusion. 

Education is indeed a superpower. The one who has it can change the world. And, Maa Durga, through all her mystic forces, tells us to do just that; to make the world a better place through education!