Navratri Special

*** Navaratri Nine Days of Devi Puja? ***

*Sacred Nine Days of Devi Worship October 17- 25, 2020*

"May the sweet smile of the Goddess Durga, which is the stainless light that illumines the cosmos, made of earth and water, drive far into the distance all our sorrow." - Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni.

Shardiya Navratri or Maha Navaratri is a time of deep reverence to the powerful Nine Forms of Shakti Devi, the Divine Mother Goddess. Throughout the world in every Hindu home as well as every Devi worshippers heart, during the Navaratri or Nine days of Goddess worship women play a pivotal role in Shakti worship, connecting deeply to the essence of their Divine Feminine energy and grace. Women are a valuable part of society, and play a very vital and sacred role in human progress and its harmonization.

We have emerged through several months of trying times and our hearts and prayers reach out to all the families who have lost their loved ones during the pandemic. Yet there is deep gratitude to all the sevaks who healthcare workers who have deducted their time tirelessly to guide us though these times. It is important to spiritualize our lives and homes and heal from our pain. We must cherish each other’s space wherever we may be and heal at our deepest core, continuing to inspire future wellbeing, harmony and peace for Mother Earth and every living being.

Every Devi Bhakta performs sacred rituals, austerities, intense worship and celebrates in the fanfare of the Mother Goddess’s festivities. Shakti, the Mother Goddess holds the key to universal healing and well-being and Her worship encompasses women and men from all walks of life. Men draw out their Shakti nature to understand their deeper Selves and to relate with the Shakti form in all its sacredness. A deep understanding and reverence to the feminine spirit draws in the auspiciousness and blessings of the Divine Feminine.

Navaratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. Different parts of India honor the Devi in their own respective traditions, that is the beauty and free spirit of the Hindu dharma.

The ancient Brihat Dharma Purana reiterates the Dasha Mahavidya originating as a powerful form of reverence and worship. Devi assumes the forms of the Divine Mother with intrinsic personalities relating to the Ten Mahavidya Goddesses, drawing Shiva to every form of Her inherent, innate nature.

Sri Ganesha is always worshipped first to remove all negativity, bestowing buddhi to achieve our sacred goals in life. First 3 days Maa Durga is honored, decimating all negativity and misfortune. Next 3 days Lakshmi Devi is worshipped willing both spiritual and worldly prosperity. The last 3 days Saraswati Devi is worshipped bestowing all learning and wisdom, where we honor and revere the Guru and Guru-Jnana. We also worship the Nine forms of Maa Durga through the Navaratri. In the North we worship Maa Kali through the first 3 days, working through the darkness of our karmas.

*** Navaratri Vedic Astrological Significance? ***

An important aspect of Navaratri celebrations is the Navagraha Shanti Puja, a propitiation of all the Nine Planets. Work with the mantras for all the nine planets through he Navaratri.

In the sacred text the Devi Mahatmya the story of Markandeya Purana Maa Durga was bestowed the grace of all the weapons by the Devata forces to fight the negative force of Mahisasura in her form as Chamunda Devi.

Maa Durga appeases, calms and reigns in the energies of Rahu, the lunar north node. Rahu represents the aspect of maya- illusion and delusion in our lives. Only when we spiritualize this Rahu nature can we turn these forces into harmonizing our existence.

As a goddess, Maa Durga's feminine power contains the energies of the gods. Each of her weapons was given to her by various gods: Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandalu, Kuber's Ratnahar.

After 9 days of aggression Maa Durga emerged victorious on the tenth day which is celebrated as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashmi the triumphant victory of the Goddess. In North India, the tenth day, signifying Lord Rama’s victory in his battle against the demon Ravana, is celebrated as Dussehra where effigies of Ravana are burnt.

The Nine days of Shakti worship symbolise dealing with our own samsaric karmas of worldly maya. Connecting with the deeper potential of the Mother Goddess we spiritualise our lives seeking out the higher self. Rahu energy signifies our worldly temptations and distractions. Rahu serves us the higher purpose of grounding in our spiritual self through discrimination and sadhana. The Navaratri is the best time to tame this Rahu force with the Durga Raksha mantra.