"Sarva mangala maangalye Shive
sarvaartha saadhike
Sharanye
Tryambake Gauri Naaraayani namostute"
You
are the all-auspicious Shivaa, the Shakti aspect. You grant all my
wishes. O Triyambake, the Three-eyed one, you are also Gauri, the fair
One and Naraayani, Vishnu's Sister. I humbly bow at your Lotus Feet.
India is a land of many religions, cultures, and hence, many festivals
too. Among these, the Hindu culture is probably the most diverse,
encompassing several crores of Gods and Goddesses, their legends, epic
tales and folklore. Along with that come many festivals associated with
these deities. Notable among Hindu festivals is Navratri, a
major, very colourful, ten-day festival.
Navratri is a unique festival which includes ritual worship, dance and
music. The word "Navratri" comes from the terms "Nava", meaning, "Nine"
and "Ratri", meaning "Nights". The festival, which goes on for a period
of nine nights and ten days, ends with the Dusshera or the
Vijayadashami, on the tenth day. The nine forms of the Mother Goddess,
Shakti/Devi, are worshipped during these ten days.
Yet another aspect unique to Navratri is that it differs in
significance in the different provinces of India and is celebrated in
different ways all across the length and breadth of India. Let us now
go into the details of the significance of this wonderful festival.
Both
the start of spring and the start of autumn are considered very
auspicious and important intersections of solar and climatic
influences. Hindus worship the Divine Mother Goddess during these
periods in time. The dates of these festivals are decided as per the
Hindu almanac. The tenth day of the Navratri festival, which is also
referred to as the Vijayadashami, signifies the culmination of the
colourful festival. The various aspects of Sri Mahishasura Mardhini
(Devi Durga) are worshipped throughout all these ten days.
There
are actually five different Navratris dedicated to the worship of
Goddess Shakti in all her aspects. Out of these, only three traditions
of Navratri are most popularly upheld today.
The
Sharad Navratri, which is considered the prime Navratri, is also simply
referred to as Navratri and sometimes, Maha Navratri (the Great
Navratri). As the name suggests, the Sharad Navratri is celebrated
during the Sharad Ritu, or the commencement of the winter season. This
festival usually comes during September-October period. This year
(2009), the Navratri festival commences on September 19 and concludes
with the Vijayadashami on the 28th of September.
This Navratri commences on the first day and ends on the tenth day of
the bright half of the lunar month of Aswayuja/Ashwin. According to the
Dhaumya-vachana, 'The Navaratri festival has to be celebrated during
the bright fortnight of the month of Asvina, in the order of pratipada,
etc, until the navami ends.' This festival is celebrated with great
fervour and devotion, commemorating the slaying of the mighty
Mahishasura by Goddess Durga. This festival is celebrated in most parts
of India, in fact, in almost all parts of the country.
This
type of Navratri is celebrated during the Vasant Ritu, or during the
start of spring/summer, in the month of March/April. This festival,
also known as Chaitra Navratri, falls during the lunar month of Chitra
and is mostly celebrated in North India. The famous Vaishno Devi temple
in Jammu celebrates Navratri during this time.
This
variety of Navratri is most auspicious for all Varahi Upasakas
(devotees of Devi Varahi, yet another aspect of the Goddess, who took
an avatar to slay the powerful demon, Pandasura). Varahi, a rather dark
deity, is also one among the seven mighty Matrikas of Hindu Tantra
Shastra. This Navratri is observed in July-August. This Navratri is
also known as Guhya Navratri in Himachal Pradesh.
Hindus worship nine forms of Shakti during the Navratri festival. The Puja Vidhis (types of prayers and offerings) largely depend on the tradition and culture of that particular province. The Navadurgas include the following Sacred Feminine Energies:
Maa
Durga, the inaccessible one or the invincible one, is believed to be
the "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress". The
supremely radiant Mother Goddess is portrayed as having ten arms,
riding a lion or tiger, holding several weapons like Shiva's Trident,
Rama's bow, Vishnu's Conch and Discus, Indra's Vajra (lightning bolt)
and Kubera's mace. She additionally holds a Kamandalu (water pot) given
to her by Brahma and a lotus flower. She wears a meditative smile and
practices Mudras or symbolic hand gestures.
A complete embodiment of the Sacred Feminine, Durga is forever in a
state of svaatantrya (self sufficient; independent of all other things
in the Universe). Hindu philosophy considers the Warrior Goddess Durga
as an aspect of Kali. She undertakes a severe Vrata (penance) for nine
days and on the tenth, she faces the terrible Mahishasura, the demon
who could turn himself into a man or buffalo at will.
When the Devas realized that they would be no match for the Asura's
strength, they approach the Devi, who then manifests as Durga, taking
her strength from the combined energies of all the Gods mentioned
above. Durga slayed Mahisha and hence, is known as Mahishasura
Mardhini.
Devi
Bhadrakali (or the "Beautiful Kali") is worshipped in Kerala and is one
aspect of Goddess Kali. This consort of Virabhadra, it is believed, was
born out of the Devi Sati's anger when her husband, Shiva, was insulted
by her father, Daksha, during the Ashwamedha Yagna.
Kali is a terrible aspect of Devi and is shown having blue-colored
skin, with three eyes and four, twelve or eighteen hands. Flames
emanate from her head and she has deep fangs protruding from her mouth.
She is often portrayed with a garland of skulls around her neck,
holding a severed human head in her hands, with her tongue hanging out.
Kodavas and Nairs mainly worship the deity.
Amba or
Jagadamba, yet another of the Devi's aspects, is venerated as the
Mother of the Universe, who immediately protects those who come to her
for succor.
Devi Annapurna, the literal meaning of which is "Full of Food", is also considered to be the Goddess of Harvests, fertility and agriculture. This Goddess of Kashi (now, Varanasi) is symbolic of One who grants complete nourishment. Legend has it that she once even gave bhiksha (alms) to her own consort, Lord Shiva.
Sarvamangala
literally means "the One who gives all auspiciousness and joy". This
aspect of the Devi is venerated as the Bestower of all good, all
prosperity and all happiness.
Bhairavi
is the terrible consort of the Wrathful Bhairava, an aspect of Shiva.
Almost indistinguishable from Kali, Bhairavi is associated with Kaal
Ratri (literally, "black night of destruction"), a dark force, often
identified with Kali. Bhairavi is also associated with the Mahapralaya,
the great dissolution of the universe at the conclusion of each cosmic
cycle.
Bhairavi is also called Shubamkari, the Mother to the Good People and
the Terrible One to the bad ones. In the battlefield, she kills the
terrible asuras (demons), Chanda and Munda, and drinks their blood.
Hence, she is also referred to as Chamundeshwari. Though associated
with destruction, Bhairavi is portrayed as a young, beautiful Goddess.
Chandi
or Chandika, is also known as Durga Sapthashati. Chandi is believed to
be a combination of Mahakali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati. The
Murti Rahasya hails her as Ashtadasa Bhuja Maha Lakshmi (the Lakshmi
with eighteen arms), bearing weapons. While the Devi Mahatmya (a Hindu
text, which describes the true power of the Mother Goddess, Durga)
gives the origin of the Goddess in the second chapter, some other
scriptures portray her as an "assistant" to Kali; helping her in her
battle with the demon, Raktabija. He was an asura who had a boon of
generating a duplicate of himself from each drop of blood he shed in
the battlefield. When Kali was busy drinking his blood, Chandi
destroyed the many several demons created from his blood, before
finally killing Raktabija himself.
Lalita
(the 'She' Who Plays), who is also called Tripura Sundari,
Rajarajeshwari and Shodashi, is one of the group of ten Goddesses in
Hindu tradition, which is collectively known as the Mahavidyas. The
other nine Mahavidyas are Tara, Bhuvaneshwari, Kali, Bhairavi,
Dhumavati, Chhinnamasta, Bagalamukhi, Kamalatmika and Matangi.
Sri Vidya fiercely guards the panchadashakshari mantra vidya. As the
Lalita Sahasranama says, "Na
shathaya na dushtaya na vishwasaya karhichith sri mathra bhakti yuktaya
sri vidya raja vediney", which means, that the vidya or
divine knowledge should be bestowed only on someone truly deserving, as
this is the king of all vidyas. It should not be given away arbitrarily
to the wicked or sinful. Lalita holds in her hands five flower arrows,
bow, goad and noose. Lalita is described as being very attractive,
sensuous and also erotically inclined.
Bhawani is again a powerful aspect of the Devi. Her name literally means, "The Giver of life", and so, she is considered to be the very source of all creative energy. This aspect of Parvati is vastly worshipped in Maharashtra. She was said to be the guiding force behind Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha leader, to whom she even presented a sword.
Mookambika
prominently features in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. It is said
that Adi Shankara himself installed her idol at the temple in Kollur,
about 12 centuries ago. The Mookambika Devi is revered as one of the
most powerful goddesses. The Temple of Mookambika is considered to be
one of the "Seven Muktisthala" sites. Devi Mookambika is also
worshipped for developing better learning abilities and to beget
knowledge.
Each
day of the Navratri is dedicated to the Puja one particular aspect of
the Devi, as mentioned below:
The
festival of Navratri is split into three sets of three days each, each
set being assigned to the worship of different aspects of the Supreme
Mother Goddess.
The
power of Goddess Durga is worshipped on the first three days of
Navratri. This is done in order to attain spiritual power, which would
destroy the devotee's impurities and dissolve all his sins.
On the very first day of Navratri, a tiny bed of mud is prepared in the
puja room and some barley seeds are sown therein. By the tenth day, the
seeds sprout to about 3-5 inches long shoots. These little sprouts are
then pulled out and given to all devotees as a blessing from the
Goddess.
The forms of Durga, including Kumari, Parvati and Kali are prayed to
during this time. They represent the three stages of womanhood
respectively, namely, childhood, youth and womanhood.
Goddess
Lakshmi is paid obeisance on the fourth, fifth and sixth days of
Navratri. Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, is considered to be the giver
of both spiritual and material wealth, peace, prosperity and
ultimately, bliss. Lakshmi is also said to bestow fame and all types of
good fortune on all her devotees. Hence, the Lakshmi Puja is one of the
most auspicious rituals performed during Navratri.
Many people also conduct elaborate homas (fire rituals) to please and
appease the Goddess of Wealth. This is also followed by offering food
to all the devotees attending the homa. This ritual is particularly
auspicious during the Navratri period.
The fifth day, commonly referred to as Lalita Panchami is yet another
very auspicious day. On this day, children place their books and study
materials in front of Goddess Saraswati's idol, light the holy lamp and
prostrate before the Goddess. This day is also considered vishesha
(important) for artisans and artists, who plays all their tools and
beseech the Deity, seeking her benediction.
The
last three days of the festival are spent in the worship of Goddess
Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Learning. It is believed that
Ma Saraswati's wisdom would free devotees from their material bondage
and lead them on a path towards spirituality.
On the eighth and ninth days of this festival, various yagnas
(sacrificial rituals) are performed so as to give a fitting farewell to
the Mother Goddesses. Ghee or clarified butter, kheer or paayas (rice
and sugar cooked in condensed milk) and sesame seeds are offered in the
yagna's agni (holy fire), along with mantras (chants).
The
ninth day is the Saraswati Puja. It is believed that Goddess Saraswati
rests on this day, and so, all students, artisans and artists lay down
their books and tools in front of the Goddess. In spiritual terms, this
ritual is carried out in order to remain in complete contemplation of
the Sacred Feminine Energy called Saraswati and gain spiritual wealth
from her.
The ninth day also marks the Mahanavami, when the Kanya Puja is
performed. Nine young girls, who have still not attained puberty, are
invited to attend the function. These girls represent the nine forms of
Goddess Durga. Women wash and wipe the girls' feet and offer them
various gifts and new clothes. This ritual is performed almost
throughout India.
The
ninth day of Navratri is also the day of the Ayudha Puja. This ritual
is especially vital to Maharashtrians. Like the traditional Saraswati
Puja, the Ayudha Puja too involves worshipping all implements one uses
for one's livelihood. This is done so that the seeker learns to see the
Divine in all his tools as well, so as to motivate him to do better in
his work and surrender his work at the feet of the Goddess, treating it
as an offer to the Mother.
In Indian culture, it is common practice to prostrate before one's
tools each day, as a mark of respect to those very tools that help the
seeker earn his daily bread. No other work or study is normally
undertaken on the day of the Ayudha Puja.
The
tenth day is the Vijayadashami or the Dusshera. This day marks the
culmination of the Navratri festival. While artists and artisans bow
down before the Goddess and take to their work yet again. Artists and
artisans prostrate in front of their tools and take up regular practice
yet again, while students respectfully put their books to their eyes
and then start studying as usual.
Students also visit their teachers on this day and pay their respects
to them. This is done as a mark of gratitude to the teacher, for having
taken the trouble to teach them their subject.
As the
name, 'Vijayadashami', suggests, this is an auspicious day for
beginning anything new, be it academics, art, skill or work. This is
the reason why Vijayadashami is also termed as Vidyarambham.
"Vidyarambham" is a combination of "vidya" (knowledge) and "arambham"
(commencement), thereby literally meaning, "starting the process of
acquiring knowledge".
The unique thing about Vijayadashami is that every minute of this day
is a 'Shubha Muhurat', meaning, the day is entirely auspicious. One
does not have to be limited by Rahu Kaalam. The Rahu Kaalam occurs for
a period of one and half hours every day, the timing varying each day
of the week. This is considered an inauspicious time to start anything
new, so people generally avoid undertaking auspicious activities during
this time.
On Vijayadashami day, one is not bound by the limitations of Rahu Kalam
and such other influences. One can freely commence whatever they wish
to do on this day. This day is also invaluable to the business
communities, which start off new businesses and open their annual books
of account.
As
mentioned earlier, Navratri is celebrated in different ways all over
the country. All three Navratris are celebrated with great fervour and
devotion in North India. Many people here undertake fasts on all nine
days and spend their entire day in the worship of the Mother Goddess.
The Chaitra Navratri concludes with the Ram Navami and the Sharad
Navratri ends with the fabulous Durga Puja and Dusshera.
There are many and varied legends surrounding Navratri. They are almost
as diverse as India herself. Here are some interesting stories about
how the Navratri festival came to be:
Mahisha,
the buffalo demon, was blessed with a boon from the Divine Trinity
(Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) that no man would ever be able to win
against him and kill him. Empowered by the boon, the egoistic demon
proceeded to attack the heavens and laid siege on the Devas (Gods).
Indra, the King of Devas, approached the Trinity for help. They jointly
created Durga, through their own Shakti (power). Durga turned out to be
a formidable opponent for Mahisha. She relentlessly fought him for nine
days and, on the tenth day, she finally managed to behead him. Here,
the Vijayadashami marks the ultimate victory of good over evil.
In places like Delhi and Punjab, people observe the Navratras, when
they undertake fasts for a period of seven days. The devotees break
their fast on the eighth day and invite young girls home, treating the
girls as manifestations of Durga Mata herself. These girls, called
"Kanjak Devis", are offered the traditional food of "Puri", "Halwa" and
"Chana". They are then offered red bangles and chunnis (veils) to wear,
along with some money, known as "Shagun".
Many
North Indians also celebrate Vijayadashami as the day Rama fought and
won against the terrible demon king, Ravana. It was on this very 10th
day after Ashwina, during the Satyuga, that Dusshera is
celebrated with great fervour in the North. The name, "Dusshera" is
indicative of the ten-headed demon being vanquished by Lord Rama ("Dus"
in Hindi means "ten" and "Haran" means "defeat"). Ravana had abducted
Rama's wife, Sita Devi and the latter, along with his Vanara Sena (army
of monkeys), fought a great ten-day battle against the demon king. He
finally won and brought home his beloved Sita.
In order to commemorate this day, huge effigies of Ravana are erected
in open lawns and other public places. These giant Ravana dummies are
stuffed with fireworks and are shot with arrows, unitl they blow up in
the presence of a large, applauding audience.
Ramlilas
are an integral part of Dusshera celebrations in many parts of North
India. The Ramlila is an enactment of Rama's story and, indeed, the
entire Ramayana epic. Huge pandals and stages are erected and Ramlila
artists are invited to perform at the event. The Ramlila starts on the
first day of Navratri and is designed to end exactly on the eve of the
Dusshera. The enactment of the Rama-Ravana battle takes place on the
tenth day, after which, the effigies of Ravana and those of his
brother, Kumbhakarna and son, Meghanath, are burnt to ashes. There is
also an abhishek (bathing ritual) of Rama's idol taking place at
Ayodhya at the same time.
Most of the Ramlilas in North India are based on 16th Century Avadhi
versions of the Ramayana, including Ramacharitamanas given to us by
Gosvami Tulsidas. The entire 10-day function is financed by local
Ramlila committees, as also the local community itself. The Ramlila
here is very similar to the other folk theatre form, the Raas Lila,
which depicts the life and times of Lord Krishna.
The Ramlila, which encompasses the Avadh, Braj, Madhubani and Ayodhya
traditions, is popular globally for its diversity and colourful
presentation. Some Ramlilas staged in Lucknow even include Muslim
youths playing the lead roles in the epic. This proves that this
festival goes beyond religious and communal boundaries.
In the times of yore, Dusshera was regarded as the start of the war
season. According to legend, Arjuna, one of the Pandavas princes, had
gone back to fetch his hidden weapons after the Pandavas' one-year
Agyaat Vaas (living in anonymity). This is how the custom of
worshipping weapons started.
Those
living in Eastern India believe in Ma Shakti as the Ultimate Supreme
Being. According to legend, Daksha (the king of the Himalayas) and his
wife, Menaka, have a lovely daughter by the name of Uma. The girl
adores and worships Shiva right from her childhood and mentally treats
him like her husband. Pleased with her one-pointed devotion, Shiva
comes to her and wishes to marry her. But Daksha takes one look at
Shiva's ash-smeared, tiger-skin-clad appearance and is unhappy at his
daughter's choice of groom. Uma gets married to Shiva anyway.
Daksha then conducts a yagna, where he invites everyone but Shiva. Uma
desires to visit her father and leaves for his abode in spite of
Shiva's obvious displeasure. When she reaches Daksha's palace, though,
her father insults both her and Shiva. Unable to bear the insult and
hurt, Uma commits Sati by jumping into a burning pyre.
Shiva is furious when he comes to know Sati died. He visits the site,
takes Uma on his shoulder and dances madly. This angry Tandava (cosmic
dance) created an imbalance in nature, which resulted in the world
being on the verge of destruction. Narayana then came forward as the
saviour and used his Chakra (discus) to cut Uma's body into pieces.
Those pieces slipped off Shiva's shoulders and fell in different parts
of the world. Narayana then revived Uma and granted her a new life. The
places where the pieces fell are known today as the "Shakti Piths".
Ever since then, Uma is said to visit her parents' home during the
Sharad Ritu, when the Durga Puja is celebrated.
In West
Bengal, the last four days of Sharad Navratri take on a dramatic form.
Devotees conduct the Durga Puja during this time - a festival that is
famous all over the world for its sheer grandeur. Beautifully crafted
larger-than-life clay idols of Goddess Durga, killing the demon
Mahisha, are set up in equally huge public pandals, temples and so on.
Various pujas and cultural programmes, including dance and music shows,
are performed during this period. These Durga idols are worshipped for
five days and then immersed in the river on the fifth day.
The Durga Puja is one of the biggest festivals in West Bengal; in fact,
it is a festival that brings crowds of devotees and tourists from many
parts of India and abroad. Huge idols of the Devi are worshipped
through the ten days and different manifestations of the Devi are
worshipped each night. The Durga pandals are decorated brightly and the
Devi herself is adorned with the finest silks and jewellery. Prayers,
bhajans (singing of hyms) and homas (fire rituals) are conducted, after
which there is also the Annadaan (mass feeding).
In
Western India, the festival of Navratri is celebrated in a unique way,
that sets it apart from all the other regions of the country. The most
important feature of the Navratri here is the Dandiya Raas, also known
as Garba. Garba is the traditional folk dance of Gujarat, but it has
now become popular all over the country, with many Raas Pandals being
set up in many parts of the country, during Navratri.
An ornamented pot is placed in the centre, with a bright diya (lamp)
kept inside it. Womenfolk dance around it in a circle, singing
traditional garba songs. Mother Durga, who is referred to "Ambe Maa",
is worshipped for joy, prosperity and happiness. Certain schools of
thought believe that the word, "Garba" might have come from "Garbha",
which means the womb of a woman. In this sense, the lamp inside the pot
represents life within the womb.
The Dandiya Raas is a vibrant, joyous dance that is played with
dandiyas or wooden sticks. The dancers, both male and female, dress up
in colourful traditional costumes and spin around forming patterns,
while also dancing to the rhythm of the music. While the men wear
churidar-kurtas or the traditional Gujarati apparel, the women wear
colourfully embroidered, mirror-work ghagra-cholis
(flare-skirt-and-blouse sets). The Dandiya Raas is now popular in
almost all Indian cities, especially in Ahmedabad, Vadodra, Surat and
Mumbai.
South
India too has its own unique way of celebrating Navratri. In Tamil
Nadu, women traditionally display a Kolu, also called Bommai Kolu and
Golu. They erect a series of "padis" or steps in tiers, usually of an
odd number (like 3, 5, 7, 9 and so on) and placed various dolls on
them. The women coming to visit the Golu are asked to sing a song or
two, after which they are handed the Prasad, kumkum (vermilion) and
haldi (turmeric) sachets, coconut, betel leaves, flowers and, many
times, a small packet of gifts. This is largely a ladies' festival.
In the evenings, a Kuthuvilakku (lamp) and is placed in the centre of a
kolam (rangoli) drawn before the Golu. Devotional hyms and bhajans are
then sung in praise of the Goddess. After performing the puja
that day, Naivedyam (or food) is offered to the Goddess.
Navratri is celebrated with great pomp and show in Mysore. The whole of
the Mysore Palace is lit up brilliantly during this time. Women
exchange haldi-kumkum, coconuts and sweets here as well.
Though
there is no hard and fast rules as to the placing of the dolls in a
Golu, idols of Gods and Goddesses and scenes from mythology are
predominantly exhibited in a Golu. Usually, the topmost steps include
all the major Devatas, the Dasavatars of Vishnu and so on. The next
steps are dedicated to saints and Gurus from all religions. The lower
steps depict various social functions such as weddings and so on;
business activities; families and so on.
Some women use new dolls each year, while others add just a couple of
new ones. Some follow theme Golus, such as portraying just a single
story from mythology.
It is necessary to have a pair of wooden dolls in any Golu. They
include one male and one female doll and are called "Marapaachis".
Additionally, dolls of a Chettiyar (businessman) and his wife have to
be placed together too. Fruits, vegetables and pulses are also played
in front of the Golu. This is symbolic of the devotee praying for
prosperity.
The Golu dolls are then finally "put to sleep" on the tenth day, after
a final aarati and thanksgiving to the Goddess for having successfully
completed the Golu. The Golu is dismantled the very next day and the
dolls are neatly packed back into their respective boxes.
Today,
the Navratri festival has lost much of its spiritual significance and
exists merely as a social festival - a reason for people to get
together and spend quality time in a busy, unrelenting world. What most
people do not realize is that the Navratri festival has a deep
spiritual connotation as well.
The festival celebrates Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, the Goddesses of
Power, Wealth and Knowledge respectively. Praying to them gives the
seeker all material good and also the inner strength to triumph against
all odds of life and fight against social evils that plague our society
today.
Mahishasura symbolically represents the vast darkness or Tamas of ego
and arrogance within a human being. So do the other demons like Chanda,
Munda, Shumbha and Nishumbha. These Tamasic forces come in
the way of higher spiritual development, thereby creating a veritable
tussle of good and evil within the mind of the seeker. The victory of
the Devi over these demons represents the ultimate triumph of the
Satvik (good) forces within, finally leading the true seeker towards
moksha or liberation.
No
matter how Hindus all over the world celebrate Navratri, there are some
common ties that bind them together. Firstly, Navratri is closely
associated with fertility. The Mother Goddess is likened to Mother
Earth, who always feeds and nourishes all her children.
Secondly and more importantly, Navratri is considered to be symbolic of
the victory of good over evil. Sri Rama killed Ravana on this very day.
Durga slayed the terrible Mahishasura. Both these stories reflect the
final triumph of the good forces over the evil ones.
That is the most vital implication of the wonderful festival of
Navratri. It teaches the seeker that no matter how tough the going
gets, he always stands to win if he sticks on to the path of good.
This article was written by:
Priya Viswanathan, a teacher/performer of Bharata Natyam, Classical Music and Classical Instrumental Veena. A recipient of several awards for both music and dance, Priya is also a freelance writer online. She currently writes for About.com, a subsidiary of IAC - the parent company of Ask.com. (http://mobiledevices.about.com)