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DURGA......LAKSHMI......SARASVATHI
Why do we observeNAVARATHRI?
What’s the Significance of Navratri?
DuringNavaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universalmother, commonly referred to as “Durga,” which literally means the remover ofmis-eries of life. She is also referred to as “Devi” (goddess) or “Shakti”(energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the workof creation, pres-ervation and destruction. In other words, you can say
ThatGod is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, doeseverything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientifictheory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It isalways there.
Why Worship the MotherGoddess?
Thisenergy is a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of usare her children. “Why mother; why not father?”, you may ask. Let me just saythat we believe that God’s glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness andsupremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a childfinds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look uponGod as moth-ER. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, whichgives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe thatmother is the creative aspect of the absolute.
Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratriis divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supremegoddess.
Onthe first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga inorder to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.
Thenext three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi,who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees theinexhaustible wealth.
Thefinal set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess ofwisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need theblessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship fornine nights. Navaratri: the 9 Divine NightsNavaratri: the 9 Divine Nights
RitualsThe Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight ofthe Hindu lunar month of Chaitree&Ashwin. The festival is celebrated fornine nights once every year during the beginning of March-April and October,although as the dates of the festival are determined according to the Hindulunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less.
Navratriis divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of thesupreme goddess or goddesses.
First three days
Thegoddess is invoked as a spiritual force called Durga-Kali in order to destroyall our impurities, vices and defects.
Second three days
TheMother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered tohave the power of bestowing on her devotees in exhaustible wealth.
Final three days
Thefinal set of three days is spent in worshipping as the goddess of wisdom,Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek theblessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nightsof worship.
DuringNavratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for theprotection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification,Navratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.Duringthis vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) in asanctified place at home.
Alamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe. Theuninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgentAdishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi. During Navratri, the principle of SreeDurgadevi is more active in the atmosphere.
Onthe tenth day of Navratri in October - the holiday of Dussehra, an effigy ofRavana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.
Navratriis celebrated in a large number of Indian and Nepalese communities. The mothergoddess is said to appear in 9 forms, and each one is worshipped for a day.These nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with.The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demonsare cited.
Sage of Kanchi
Jambunathan
