The very first Durga Puja festival on earth did not begin in
autumn (Sharad Navratri), but in spring (Basanti Puja)! And the hero of that ancient tale was a king named
Suratha (Surath) as per Markendaya Purana. It was Sri Rama who invoked Maa
Durga in autumn to seek her blessings before the war against Ravana in Lanka.
King Suratha belonged to the lunar dynasty. But fate turned
against him. Defeated in battle, he lost his kingdom to his enemies. Taking
advantage of his misfortune, even his own ministers plundered his wealth.
Wandering aimlessly after losing everything, King Suratha finally arrived at
the hermitage of Sage Medha. Though the ashram was serene, the loss of his
kingdom weighed heavily on his heart.
There, he met a merchant named Samadhi. To the king’s
surprise, the merchant revealed that his own wife and sons had seized all his
possessions and driven him away. Yet both the king and the merchant were
troubled by the same question: why, instead of feeling anger toward those who
had wronged them, were their minds still filled with attachment, regret, and
tender concern for them?
Seeking an answer to this mystery, they both turned to Sage
Medha for guidance. The sage then narrated the story of the Devi Mahatmya—the
glory of Goddess Chandi. He explained that all attachment, illusion, and desire
arise from the supreme cosmic power, Mahamaya. Deeply inspired by the sage’s
words, King Suratha and Merchant Samadhi began a severe penance by the
riverbank. Three years passed in devoted meditation. At the end of their
penance, they performed the worship of Goddess Durga. Since this worship was
held in the spring, it came to be known as Basanti Puja (Spring Puja).
The Goddess’s blessings bore fruit almost immediately. King
Suratha regained his lost kingdom. As for Merchant Samadhi—he attained divine
wisdom, a treasure far greater than any earthly kingdom.