Navaratri 2009
Navarathi is one of the most observed festivals performed by Hindus all across the material world. The word Navaratri (nava-nine and ratri- nights) literally means nine nights dedicated to the worship of the Mother in her three main forms i.e. Durga Devi, Lakshmi Devi and Saraswati Devi. This fast is observed twice a year, one March-April and again in September-October and is observed for nine days and nights. During this period devotees of the Mother observe a fast, feed Brahmins and prays to the Mother for protection, better health and the fulfillment of one’s desires. Jai Mata Dhi
The beginning of summer and winter are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of Durga Devi, the “warden of the material world.” Jai Mata Dhi.
Many misunderstand the importance of Mother Durga and Lord Shiva. So we shall explain briefly. Mother Durga is the warden of the material world. Durga means “fort, prison house”. So this material world is a mega prison house where one who has committed a great sin is sent. What is this great sin I am talking about? Well at one stage we where very envious of Lord Krsna and thought that we are greater than Lord Krsna and due to this grave sin we were cast into this prison house we suffer in this material world. And guess what most it seems have not learnt their lesson. Don’t you find so much of envy still taking place? It seems this world is being engulfed with hate and enviousness. In this material world Mother Durga punishes us with the Trishul (the 3-pointed spear), which she holds in the hand. The 3-pointed Trishul represents the three fold miseries of life, which are as follows: - miseries caused by the higher beings, miseries caused by natural disasters and finally miseries caused by envious people. Now in the prison if the warden is favourable to one then that person’s prison life can be heavenly, but if one is not in favourable terms with the warden, then life can be worse than hell. That’s why we should be very humble towards Mother Durga. And remember that she is no ordinary personality. One of her names in the Durga Sahasranama is “Vaishnavi” - the female devotee of Lord Krsna. Also in Shree Krsna Lila Mother Durga appears as Lord Krsna’s sister. Now when one serves his sentence he is sent to the spiritual world. But waiting for you on the outskirts of the spiritual world is Lord Shiva (Vaishnava yatha shambu –the greatest devotee of Lord Krsna) in Shiva-loka. If one has even the slightest amount of materialism, desire, or obstacle he is sent back down by Lord Shiva to rid himself of that desire, etc. Lord Shiva’s duty is to make sure that only qualified persons are allowed to enter the spiritual world. So the husband-wife team of Durga-Shiva really plays an extremely important in Sanatana Dharma (the eternal religion). Lord Krsna would not have given these important jobs to just anyone other than the two most qualified personalities who are also great devotees of Lord Krsna.
There are many versions of Mother Durga’s activities. Many ask but isn’t this confusion? …which do we believe? Well all are correct. You see different pastimes are enacted in different Yugas hence there are many many pastimes. Now who said Hinduism is boring. So some of the Kathas are as follows: - Mother Durga mother desired to see her daughter. So Lord Shiva permitted her to go and see her mother only for nine days in a year. The festival of Durga Puja marks this brief visit and ends on Vijaya Dasami, when Mother Durga leaves for her return to Mount Kailash. Another katha is that these nine days are held in commemoration of the victory of Ma Durga over the great demon Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. Another version is that Mother Durga fought with Bhandasura and his forces for nine days and nine nights. This Bhandasura had a wonderful birth and life. When Lord Shiva burnt Kama (Cupid) with the fire from his third eye, Shree Ganeshji playfully molded a figure out of the ashes, and the Lord breathed life into it. Thus the terrible demon Bhandasura was created. He engaged himself in great penance and on account of it obtained a boon from Lord Shiva. With the help of that boon, he began harassing the three worlds. Then Mother Durga could not stand this and fought with him for nine nights - the demons have extraordinary strength during the night - and killed him on the evening of the tenth day, known as Vijaya Dasami. This year Vijaya Dasami falls on 28th September.
(Vijaya Dasami is a very auspicious day since learning of any science is begun on this day. It was on this day that Shree Arjuna worshipped Mother Durga before starting the battle against the Kauravas on the field of Kurukshetra. Also Shree Raam worshipped Mother Durga at the time of the fight with Ravana, to invoke her aid in the battle. This was on the days preceding Vijaya Dasami. He fought and won through her grace. (But please understand that Shree Raam did not need Mother Durga’s help, after all He is the Supreme Lord, but to engage His devotee He allowed it. This is the Lord‘s mercy upon His devotees.)
A child is more familiar with the mother than with the father, because the mother is very kind, loving, tender and affectionate, and looks after the needs of the child. In the same way we cannot go to Lord Krsna, Lord Shiva, Lord Rama, etc without the mercy of their consorts (wives), i.e. Radharani/Rukmini, Ma Durga, and Sitadevi respectively. So in the same way one can easily attain the mercy of the Lord once one receives the mercy of Their consort. So one has to receive the mercy of Mother Durga first to receive the mercy of Lord Shiva. Durga Devi’s grace and mercy, compassion, knowledge, power, glory are endless. She can bestow upon the devotee material prosperity as well as spiritual freedom. Remember she is a devotee of Lord Krsna, and to go to Lord Krsna one has to receive the mercy of a devotee and who better than Mother Durga.
Approach Ma with an open heart. Lay bare your heart to her with frankness and humility. Be as simple as a child. Ask Ma to remove your egoism, pride, vanity, envy, cunningness, selfishness and meanness but also pray to Ma to bless you with wealth (material and spiritual), auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge and so forth. Make a total, unreserved self-surrender to Ma. Sing Ma’s glories and chant Ma’s names with total faith. Navaratri is one of the most suitable times to perform intense spiritual practices. So do not waste this opportunity.
Navaratri is actually divided into three days. The first three days is dedicated to Mother Durga, the next three days are dedicated to Mother Lakshmi and the last three days are dedicated to Mother Sarasvati.
The first three days we pray to Mother Durga, we pray to Ma to destroy our impurities, our vices and our defects. We pray to Ma to guide and protect us from the many dangers and pitfalls that we experience in our lives. Thus the first three days, marks the first stage of the destruction of impurities and the determined effort to root out the evil tendencies in us.
Once you have accomplished your task on the negative side - that of breaking down all the impure propensities and old, vicious habits - the next step is to build up a sublime spiritual personality, to acquire positive qualities in place of the demoniac qualities. Now the devotee must cultivate and develop all the auspicious qualities that a devotee should possess. The devotee has to earn spiritual wealth to enable him/her to receive the rare gem of divine wisdom. If this is not achieved then the old demoniac natures will surface again and again. Hence, this stage is as important in a devotee spiritual life as the first step. The difference between the first step and the second step is that the first step is ruthless and determined annihilation of the impure egoistic self and the latter is an orderly, steady, calm and serene effort to develop purity. Now this serene side is depicted by the worship of Mother Lakshmi. Ma (being the wealth – giving aspect of Lord Narayana) bestows upon the devotee the inexhaustible divine wealth.
Once the devotee succeeds in rooting out the evil propensities, and develops pure, divine qualities, he/she becomes competent to attain wisdom. He/she is now ready to receive the light of supreme wisdom and divine knowledge. At this stage comes the devout worship of Mother Saraswati, who is divine knowledge personified, the embodiment of knowledge of the eternal truths. Ma bestows on the devotee the rarest gem i.e. knowledge of the Supreme Lord. (Please note Mother Saraswati is no ordinary personality. Besides being the wife of Lord Brahma, Ma along with Shree Ganesh-ji is always worshiped first at the commencement of any studying or pujas. In the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.4 Shree Sukadeva Goswami chants “Devim sarasvatim” – “Before reciting this Srimad Bhagavatam I offer my respectful obeisance’s to Lord Narayana, Mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning and to Srila Vyasadeva.” So for Sukadeva Goswami to chant Sarasvati Devi name says it all. He gives Ma plenty of importance. Then on the next day i.e. the 9th on Vijaya Dasami great celebrations are held.
So briefly once again during on the first three days worship a Mother Durga murti/picture at your altar place. The murti/picture should be garlanded and looking very beautiful. Offer Ma arati (incense, lamp, flowers and finally sweets/fruits/or milk). The sweets/fruits/ or milk should be eaten later. Then you should chant the mantras that we have supplied below as a guide. If you have a special mantra you can also chant that as well. If it’s possible try to perform a salt less fast until the evening in these nine-days or try to perform it according to your abilities. (If you suffer from diabetes, etc it will not be possible, so as I mention perform this vrata according to your abilities. The idea is to try to perform the vrata with faith and not be fanatical.
On Vijaya Dasami i.e. the 10th day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls below the age of 10 are worshipped as the embodiments of the Divine Mother. They are fed sumptuously and, amongst other things, presented with new clothes (or give something as a present according to your convenience). On this day you can perform a grand havan glorifying the three mothers.
Mantras of Mother Durga to chant during this period: -
Please note the n and d are pronounced with the tip of tongue on the roof of your mouth.
Mantras of Mother Lakshmi to chant during this period: -
Mantras of Mother Sarasvati to chant during this period: -
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