HOLY DAYS OF NAVRATRI FROM 10TH OCTOBER ONWARD FOR NINE DAYS

GODDESS DURGA – THE MAHASHAKTI

Durga means the One who is impenetrable

One who is invincible

Who is undefeatable

By any demonic force imaginable

In Vedic literature we find Her narrative

Even in epics such as Mahabharta and Ramayana

In both these epics, She was invoked for elimination of evil from the earth

In the form of Kaurva in Mahabharta and Ravana in Ramayana

Legend has it that Durg a ferocious Asura

Sequel to his severest meditation

God had granted him the boon of invincibility

But killed only a Devi Shakti – feminine nature of the God

Due to which he was filled with ego-centric tendencies

Started killing the hapless gentry

Even the Gods did not remain unaffected by his cruelty

A meeting by the Trinity – Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

Thus came into existence the Mahashati in the form of Durga

The warrior Goddess for fighting demonic forces for establishing Dharma

Mahashakti Durga appears in various manifestations

All put together, She helps the Gods and populace to attain liberation

From the demonic forces which prevailed then

And even now general masses pay their reverence

Such as remembering Her every time they face difficult moments

And pray for deliver them from their enemies within and without

Goddess talks to us in the language of silence

When mind is in peace

And is away from the desires numberless

Her music could be heard

Everything in the universe is created

Sustained and finally destroyed

To be again Created

That is everything that we make out

Has been created by the Mother Divine, so benevolent

With Her prowess so unlimited. 

NAVRATRI

Navratri is a festival with a difference

The Nine Days have got its own importance

Truly speaking in a Nine days’ wonder

Which helps us to look within

And introspect

About our own faults

And seek ways to rectify

The way we can to add to our growth spiritually

By observance of strict regime of fasts

Which helps purify our thoughts

And thereto our deeds

Thus purifying our body, mind and soul

And with it enhancing our Karmic credit

Navratri is the festival of repute

Wherein the devoted disciples

Of all shades celebrate this festival

Twice in a calendar year

First, it is in the March – April, as Chaitra Navratri

Thence October – November as the Shradha Navratri

This festival is related to  Durga Goddess

The ‘Shakti’  with her immense prowess

Who overpowered  and killed the ferocious 

Demons who killed the hapless Sadhus

Even while performing their sacred Yajunas and meditations

And also defiled the sacredness of Yajna fires.

Goddess Durga in her red attires

Mounted on the lion, so fierce

With all the weapons at her command

Which could inflict havoc on the adversary

Legends abound about the Navratri festival

Demon king Maheshasura worships Lord Shiva

The penance was so severest

That Lord Maheshwara had to grant him a boon of invincibility

That nobody, not even the Gods could kill him

Thereafter Maheshasura starts killing innocents with impunity

Then forcefully

Conquered the Seven Lokas

Including the throne of Indra.

To eliminate demon Maheshasura

Then there was confabulation between the Trinity

Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma

Along with Demi-Gods too in the company

To defeat and kill this demon turned killer and usurper 

Maa Shakti was thus created

The Mother with a boundless prowess

Or The Durga, the Warrior Goddess

The war between Maheshasur and Mother Divine

Which lasted for Nine Days

On day 9^th  she killed this evil demon

Navratri symbolizes the victory of good over wickedness

On day ninth which is termed as Mahanavami

Nine young girls are worshipped

Personifying Nine Forms of Durga Goddesses

                                   These venerated young girls’ feet are washed

With fresh water and given clothes and food

Navratri too is linked with fertility of land
Folks observe the fitness of earth
By testing seeds germination in earthen pots.
Another legend tell us
King Daksha the King of Himalayan Kingdom
Was blessed with a daughter named Uma
A most beautiful one
She worshipped Lord Shiva immeasurably
So that He may accept her in marriage easily
Having pleased Lord Shiva
Thus she marries Uma
Against the wishes of his father King Dhaksha
One day King Dhaksha held a grand Yagna
All Gods except Shiva were invited
Uma wanted to attend Yagna
With Lord Shiva’s reservation 
And against His wishes even
King Daksha reprimanded her for coming uninvited
In rage, she jumps into Agni Kund (Fire-grate) and perished
And was termed as Sati
Madev as Virbadhara took King Daksha to task for this
On rebirth (as Parvati) she marries Lord Shiva again
She comes to Her parents to stay for Nine Days
And thus we celebrate these Nine Days as Navratri.
Legend also has it that Lord Rama
Worshipped Goddess Durga’s
Nine Forms for nine days
On day tenth He was able to kill powerful demon king Ravana
Thus day tenth is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra
First three days are dedicated to Goddess Durga
In the form of child; young girl and mature woman
The three varied stages of womanhood
Symbolizing victory of evil over falsehood
Next three days are dedicated to Goddess of Wealth & Prosperity
Her name is Goddess Lakshmi
She symbolizes wealth; peace and prosperity
Last three days are commemorated in the name of Goddess Saraswati
The Goddess of knowledge
In snowy white dress
Mounted on a white swan
Thus Navratri is termed as the sign
Of purity and well-being

Let this Nine Days wonder 

Be the game-changer 

And engenders peace and prosperity

And enough Wellness for all and sundry 

This is my the most sincere prayer to thee, my Mother Divine

 

NAVRATRI – THE FESTIVAL FOR USHERING PURITY OF BODY, MIND AND SOUL

MEANING OF NAVRATRI

The word NAVRATRI is composed of two syllabuses; NAVwhich means NINE and RATRI mean NIGHTS. Meditation/prayers and fasting are observed by devout during these nine days.

PURPOSE IS TO PURIFY BODY, MIND AND SOUL

A lighter refreshment of milk made products besides fruits, if taken at all, to keep light and pure in body and mind thus helping an individual to keep the body and mind pure. This also provides the devotees’ freedom from adulteration and contamination both in body. mind and soul pure.

A lighter refreshment consisting of milk made product, fruits, and nuts, keeps the body light and the digestive system gets improved thus there is a spread of fragrance of Satoguna and alleviation of Tamoguna and Rajoguna traits. Freedom from contaminated thoughts purifies our mind. Thus observance of fast or vrat (also means resolve) continuously for nine days brings about the stability of our mind and helps in enhancement of our concentration. Besides these, we exercise maximum restraints in our thoughts and deeds and behave in a dignified manner by remaining within confines of decency. All these facilitate generation of the feeling of love and affection for others, enhances peace and tranquility, a feeling of compassion for others and above all a Godly feeling. 

INTENTION IS TO LIVE A SPIRITUAL ORIENTED LIFE

Navratri is one of the most sacred festivals that the devout celebrate. It is not merely celebrated by observing some particular rituals but the devotees live a spiritually oriented life in all manifestations. The purpose is to follow the way of life which puts more stress on the subjective experience of sacred dimension. We undertake those karmic deeds during Navratri which transform some of the debit-karmic-deeds to credit-karmic-deeds which makes our personal growth and development individually and also collectively who celebrate this festival with religious fervor and enthusiasm. Moral and ethical values when followed sincerely could be imbibed as permanent habits to be followed in future too thus Navratri could prove to be a life-evolving.

All these traits enhance the credibility of an individual devotee who observes the fasts and also offers sincere prayers during these nine days with utmost devotion. The fasts help us to purify our mind, provides lightness to our body provides us an opportunity to devotees for prayers to Goddess Durga Maa – an embodiment of SHAKTI or reservoir of energy.

GODDESS DURGA WHO KILLED THE FEROCIOUS DEMON KING DURG

Mention of Goddess Durga has been found in Vedas and Puranas. Durg was a ferocious demon and Durga, the invincible warrior who killed Durg with her immense prowess. She is the warrior Goddess since she fought evil and forces which spread death and destruction. She works for demolishing demonic forces who want to establish their writ and establish the reign of terror and mayhem amongst the society besides spreading prosperity and goodwill in general masses. She defeats mythical buffalo demon – Meheshasura who had obtained a boon of invincibility from Lord Maheshwara. She is Goddess Parvati, also termed as Durga Saptashati – the consort of Lord Shiva. With her prowess, she proved herself to be unbeatable with limitless mystical powers.

SINGING OF DEVOTIONAL SONGS IN PRAISE OF THE GODDESS

Besides observing fasts, devotees organize congregations in the form of fairs and also enact programs and cultural functions in the form of group dances and devotional songs in praise of Goddess Durga and beseech her blessings  and She being such a benevolent Mother comes to their succor.

FESTIVAL IN ALL THE STATES OF INDIA CELEBRATED DIFFERENTLY

Different states in India celebrate Navratri differently but the spirit of all the celebrations is similar in nature. For example, famous ‘garva dance’ is organized in the state of Gujarat and devotional songs and dance competitions are organized in West Bengal besides prayers in the specially erected and decorated pandals is a usual phone. People visit the famous temples of Vaishno Devi in Katra (in Jammu province) besides all the temples of Goddess Durga in its different forms/manifestations attract devotees in these nine days.

The main driving force of the Navratri is to purify our thoughts and deeds thereof. During these nine days, the devout observe strict fasts; remain chaste and desist from telling lies or do anything which may tarnish their Karmic deeds. My fond wish is that  people should always behave like these NINE DAYS WONDER.

NAVRATRIS ARE THE FORERUNNERS DUSSEHRA FESTIVAL WHICH TELLS US ABOUT THE WIN OF TRUTH OVER EVIL

The Navratri festival is the forerunner for Dushera festival wherein the effigies of demon king Ravana, his brother Kumbhkaran and Meghnath (Ravana’s son) are consigned to flames to showcase to the general public as a lesson that evil, in all its dimension comes to an end and truth wins ultimately.

The first three days are celebrated on the name of Goddess Durga Mata – Goddess with immense power. For next three days she is worshipped as possessing spiritual wealth – Mata Lakshmi.

Subsequently, for next three days, she is Goddess of wisdom – the Goddess Saraswati. It bestows spiritual enlightenment besides showering an individual with success in life.

It is useful for our benefit to know the importance of each day.

1. First Day. On the first day, Mata Durga is termed as Shailputri – the daughter of Himalaya and the consort of Lord Shiva.
2. Second Day. Mata Durga on the second day is called as Brahmacharini which represents worship. She is the embodiment of huge reserve of power – Shakti.
3. Third Day. On the third day, the Goddess is venerated as Chandraghanta. She is the embodiment of power and beauty.
4. Fourth Day. On the fourth day, Maan Durga is worshipped in the form of Kushmanda – the creator of the whole universe by the power of her laughter.
5. Fifth Day. Here on this day, Skandha – the main warrior of Gods’ army.
6. Sixth Day. On the sixth day, Mataji takes the form of Katyayani with three eyes and four hands – all powerful and with immense grace.
7. Seventh Day. On this day, Maan Durga takes the form of Kalratri – she is shown as black as dark night with four hands and makes the evil doers fearless.
8. Eighth Day. On the eighth day, the Mata Durga takes the form of Maha Gauri – with beauty besides having calmness and exhibits immense wisdom.
9. Ninth Day. On a ninth day, Maan Durga is worshiped as Siddidatri – with all the eight siddhis. In this form, she is worshiped by all.

Benefits of observing Navratri with devotion:-

• Strict observance of fasts keep our digestive system in order and helps maintain our body healthy.
• Fasts help in purifying our mind because we pray Goddess continuously for nine days/nights. It also enhances our focus on the subject we contemplate for completion.
• Purification of body and mind means spiritually directed conscious mind thus a shift from negativity to positive thinking. 
• Congregations in melas and group processions help the people to people contacts thus animosity, if any, gets obliterated and a feeling of fellow feeling and cooperation sprouts. Contact with each other enhances our outreach in the society.
• Group dances and spiritual song competitions enhance competitive spirits in the youth and also help them direct their latent energies to productive use.
• Devotees, in their zeal to show earnest desire to have total connectivity with Goddess Durgaji, offer singular devotion to Her during these auspicious days, reap the harvest of getting their problems solved and get ETERNAL PEACE  in their lives as a reward of this worshiping.