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NAVARATRI

The Hindu calendar is full of festivals; Navaratri among them is the longest. In

addition to the nine nights as its name implies, there is an additional tenth

day - Vijaya Dasami!

 

We have heard the statement: that Hinduism is more a way of life than a

religion. Festivals like Navaratri reinforce the strength of such declarations.

A festival initially attracts us through the color, gaiety, music and dance

associated with it. As we grow older, we start understanding the significance of

the festival and turn our mind inwards.

 

The attractive aspects are plenty in the case of Navaratri: colorful dolls

representing all aspects of God's creation are bought, dressed up and displayed

proudly on nine decorated steps. We worship this sample of creation and the

power behind it all by singing songs in praise of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

We invite friends and family to come and share in this celebration and feed them

with sweets and shundal and presents!

 

Slowly, we begin to grasp the significance of Navaratri and the symbolism behind

the festival. The power behind creation is Shakthi in its three aspects: Durga,

Lakshmi and Saraswathi. This power, we are assured by the Rishis-- the Seers,

resides in each one of us. We have to invoke this Shakthi to assist us in

reaching our ultimate goal which is realization of Oneness with the Divine Self

in us.

 

Navaratri aptly starts on the first day after Amavasya, the New Moon day. The

moon was steadily waning and reached its last stage of losing the entire luster

from the bright Sun. In Hindu mythology, the unsteady mind with its varying

moods and modes is represented by the waxing/ waning moon. In the ideal state,

the mind must be always illumined by Divine Knowledge represented by the Sun.

But due to ignorance, we manage to cast upon it the dark shadow of our selfish

ego which is bent upon fulfilling its worldly selfish desires. As a result, we

progressively descend into the depths of spiritual darkness comparable to the

full moon steadily declining over the fortnight into Amavasya or New-moon. Hope

still exists because the Sun of knowledge continues to shine in the deep

recesses of our hearts. We have only to know this, make a determination and

reach it with great effort, overcoming the obstacles in the way caused by our

misdirected ego.

 

 

Durga Mata

 

This determination and effort is indicated by the commencement of the navaratri

celebration starting with the worship of Durga, invoking her Shakthi for the

removal of the obstacles in our spiritual path; these obstacles were responsible

for our decline into the lack-lustre new-moon mind-set. Mythology tells us that

Durga is the One who destroyed the powerful demon Mahishasura (Mahisha = Bull;

asura = demon, our undisciplined self).. The Bull is characterized by great

inertia and also great rage - a very apt model for our own ego. (Remember the

bull in the china shop!) All our spiritual practices are hindered by inertia; we

start, but soon stop, like the immobile Bull on the street blocking all traffic.

No wonder we make very little progress. We are also swayed by extreme passions

like the enraged Bull which then charges wildly. The slaying of this demon by

Mahishasuramardhini (another name for Durga) symbolizes the taming of this

ego-bull and putting it to productive use in the service of God. Observe how the

same Bull under the total control of its master Shiva becomes Nandi whom we

worship - Nandi always faces the Lord and is eternally in His service. The Durga

Shakthi, if invoked through prayer, will help us to yoke our ego and plow the

spiritual field for us.

 

 

Sri Lakshmi

 

The next three days are devoted to the worship of Lakshmi. The yoked ego is now

ready for Karma Yoga which ensures a dynamic life filled with selfless activity.

This helps to cleanse the mind of selfish desires. Any action needs resources

and Lakshmi is the provider of every resource needed by us. When you need

courage, Dhairya Lakshmi provides it for you; Valor by Virya Lakshmi; material

resources by Dhaanya Lakshmi and Dhana Lakshmi and so on: that is why Lakshmi in

eight forms known as Ashta Lakshmi is worshipped. Whereas all the resources

needed for Karma are provided by Lakshmi, we need Vidya (knowledge) and Viveka

(power of discrimination) to use these resources in the right manner.

 

 

Saraswathi

 

To make an intelligent choice, we need a well-informed mind: the education

needed for this is given by Saraswathi whose Shakthi we invoke in the final

three days of Navaratri. You may have seen in paintings of Saraswathi a peacock

rapturously listening to the music played on the Veena by the Goddess. When we

pray to Saraswathi, she plucks our heartstrings from which divine music issues

forth. Our ego, tamed and trained by the power of Durga and Lakshmi then starts

listening to the dictates of the pure Intellect and the divine music of

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/>OM. The Bull has been transformed into Nandi, ready to serve our spiritual

purpose. Nothing then prevents us from proceeding further in the path of

Self-Realization and reaching the ultimate goal of Sat Chith

Anand.(Reality-Consciousness-Bliss)

 

We are aware of the power of the untamed ego and how it can take us along the

wrong path. Who would not therefore, celebrate ultimate victory in this battle

and taming it for spiritual use? At the conclusion of nine days of prayer and

meditation, we celebrate our spiritual victory on Vijayadasami day. (Vijaya =

Victory; dasami = tenth day). On this day, students rededicate themselves to

their study through formal recitations from their books and paying their

respects to their Guru; professionals rededicate themselves to their work

symbolically by worshipping the tools of their trade. Mentally, every devotee

renews the determination to work towards the spiritual goal of Sat Chit Ananda.

 

Whatever our age, we are all students trying to learn Truth, Reality in various

ways. The Navaratri celebrations every year help us to invoke the divine power

which resides in everyone of us and through the Grace of Shakthi, to proceed

further on the path of self-realization with faith and renewed vigor to the

ultimate goal of Sat Chit Ananda.

 

In Bengal the festival is known as Durga Puja and is the most important one for

the people and is an occasion for family reunion. The image of the Goddess is

worshipped in the home and in public places where community worship is

organized. This is an occasion for the potter to display his skill in making

images and other artists in decoration, music. Worship is offered for nine days;

the tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, marks the triumph of the soul at attaining

liberation through descent of knowledge by the Grace of the Divine Mother. The

image is taken in a procession and immersed in the sea or a lake.

 

In South India, the festival is celebrated as a colorful exhibition of dolls

arranged on ascending steps; families and friends are invited to come and join

in the celebration, sing and worship. The ninth day is Saraswathi Puja day when

the Goddess of learning is worshipped. On the tenth day, Vijaya Dasami is

celebrated when new students get enrolled and new projects are commenced, after

offering worship to the Goddess; old students continue their studies, invoking

the Goddess' Blessings and and renewing their contact with their revered Gurus..

 

In Gujarat, the most common form of public celebration is the performance of the

popular folk-dance - Garba. Ladies wear ethnic Chania Choli and Males wear

Dhoti-Kurta and dance through the Night. The participants move round in a circle

around a mandvi (garbo), a structure to hold earthen lamps and to house the

image or idol of mother goddess. Pandals are erected over these madvis and

decorated with date palm leaves, flowers and electric light. As the dancers

whirl around the pot, a singer and a drummer provide the musical accompaniment.

Another popular Gujarati dance during Navaratri is the dandia-ras or 'stick'

dance, in which men and women join the dance circle, holding small colorful,

polished sticks or dandias. As they whirl to the intoxicating rhythm of the

dance, they strike the dandias together creating rhythmic beats, adding to the

joyous atmosphere. The costumes worn for the dances are traditional and alive

with color.

 

In the northern states of India, the festival is called Dussera; it celebrates

the home-coming of Rama the hero of the epic Ramayana, after his victory over

the ten-headed Ravana, the king of Lanka. In vast open spaces, Ram-leela

folk-plays with music and impromptu dialogues re-telling the story of the life

of Rama are enacted late into the night. Songs are sung in praise of Rama and

people throng in thousands to witness this traditional theatre. Larger-than-

life figures of Ravana and other demons are burnt on cold dark nights with

fire-works lighting up the sky.

 

Dussera is also reminiscent of the end of the exile and banishment of the

Pandava princes in the Mahabharata and their return with their weapons to

reclaim their kingdom. In memory of this epic story, people in Maharashtra

worship the implements of their professions and distribute the leaves of the

Shami tree as gold and express their goodwill.

 

All over India, this ten-day period is observed as a festival of thanks-giving

and celebrated in diverse, colorful ways to celebrate the glory of Devi, the

Shakthi Goddess and the victory of good over evil. The diversity is

characteristic of the Indian way of life.

 

 

 

 

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Take a deep breath and say the powerful "Om" once, twice, thrice and many

more.you will find a lot of relaxation and on the path of peace and harmony.

Amma