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Navaratri - Three aspects of the Divine Mother - Durga (Shakthi), Spiritual wealth(Lakshmi) and Wisdom(Saraswati)
by Sarma Sastrigal, A Performing Sastrigal and an Author
Navaratri starts this year on Tuesday, the 13th October 2015 and concludes on Thursday, the 22nd October 2015. Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit 'Nava' meaning nine and 'ratri' meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of the Supreme Goddess are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadasami or Dasera.
Hinduism is encompassed entirely by Lords Brahma-Vishnu and Siva, and this Trimurti itself is considered complete only along with their consorts Saraswati, Lakshmi and Shakthi (Durga).
A brief explanation would help understand this:
To create, knowledge is required and that’s the reason for Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom) being Brahma’s consort. To protect and sustain, resources are required, and that’s the reason for Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity) being Vishnu’s consort. To destroy, power is required, and that’s the reason for Durga (Goddess of Energy and Power) being Siva’s consort. It is important to recognize that the Destroyer role in Hinduism is not one of narrow or sinister intent as we have come to associate in society today. The Destroyer is required to eliminate evil, to demolish to enable re-creation.
This Principle of Srishti, Samrakshana and Samhara, Creation, Protection and Destruction are applicable as much to each of us individual, as they are applicable to society in its entirety.
Navaratri is the festival of nine nights to worship and celebrate the divine glory of these three Goddesses who themselves are all-important to complement and fulfill the roles being played by Brahma-Vishnu-Siva.
Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati:
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to worship different aspects of the Supreme Goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful Shakthi called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next 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 the inexhaustible prosperity. Wealth here refers to not mere financial or monetary wealth, but all resources that are required for prosperity. The last leg of three days of Navaratri is devoted to worship the Mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the Divine Mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.
Navaratri, like Deepavali is very important for people living in all parts of our country. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in every state like Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal with its own social flavor.
A simple but powerful puja :
In Tamilnadu this Navaratri is generally considered as a woman-centric festival. It is marked by chanting of slokas, Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam occupying pride of place. Parayanam of Devi Mahatmyam is done as a routine in many households. The reading of this Devi Mahatmyam has to be done with great care taken not to mutilate the syllables .
It is suggested a simple but powerful puja (October 13-22) in this context can be observed by the lady folks. Lighting of a kuthu vilakku (all faces) and doing archana reciting Lakshmi ashtotram. then one has to do nine pradikshana and nine namaskarams. Deeparadana and arati with simple neivadyam will complete the ritual. Women may do this in their traditional attire.
After the nine days and nights, the festival culminates with the celebration of Vijayadasami. Vijay means ‘victory’, and Vijayadasami celebrates the victory over evil. And the cycle of life goes on....
Contact Sarma Sastrigal at sarmasasthrigal@gmail.com
by Sarma Sastrigal, A Performing Sastrigal and an Author
Navaratri starts this year on Tuesday, the 13th October 2015 and concludes on Thursday, the 22nd October 2015. Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit 'Nava' meaning nine and 'ratri' meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of the Supreme Goddess are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadasami or Dasera.
Hinduism is encompassed entirely by Lords Brahma-Vishnu and Siva, and this Trimurti itself is considered complete only along with their consorts Saraswati, Lakshmi and Shakthi (Durga).
A brief explanation would help understand this:
To create, knowledge is required and that’s the reason for Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom) being Brahma’s consort. To protect and sustain, resources are required, and that’s the reason for Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity) being Vishnu’s consort. To destroy, power is required, and that’s the reason for Durga (Goddess of Energy and Power) being Siva’s consort. It is important to recognize that the Destroyer role in Hinduism is not one of narrow or sinister intent as we have come to associate in society today. The Destroyer is required to eliminate evil, to demolish to enable re-creation.
This Principle of Srishti, Samrakshana and Samhara, Creation, Protection and Destruction are applicable as much to each of us individual, as they are applicable to society in its entirety.
Navaratri is the festival of nine nights to worship and celebrate the divine glory of these three Goddesses who themselves are all-important to complement and fulfill the roles being played by Brahma-Vishnu-Siva.
Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati:
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to worship different aspects of the Supreme Goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful Shakthi called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next 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 the inexhaustible prosperity. Wealth here refers to not mere financial or monetary wealth, but all resources that are required for prosperity. The last leg of three days of Navaratri is devoted to worship the Mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the Divine Mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.
Navaratri, like Deepavali is very important for people living in all parts of our country. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in every state like Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal with its own social flavor.
A simple but powerful puja :
In Tamilnadu this Navaratri is generally considered as a woman-centric festival. It is marked by chanting of slokas, Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam occupying pride of place. Parayanam of Devi Mahatmyam is done as a routine in many households. The reading of this Devi Mahatmyam has to be done with great care taken not to mutilate the syllables .
It is suggested a simple but powerful puja (October 13-22) in this context can be observed by the lady folks. Lighting of a kuthu vilakku (all faces) and doing archana reciting Lakshmi ashtotram. then one has to do nine pradikshana and nine namaskarams. Deeparadana and arati with simple neivadyam will complete the ritual. Women may do this in their traditional attire.
After the nine days and nights, the festival culminates with the celebration of Vijayadasami. Vijay means ‘victory’, and Vijayadasami celebrates the victory over evil. And the cycle of life goes on....
Contact Sarma Sastrigal at sarmasasthrigal@gmail.com