Subh Navaratri

[Guest guest]

During Navaratri when MAA DURGA visits our houses we can take pleasure

in reading the book.

 

Bengali Religious Lyrics, Sakta, by Spencer and Thompson. It is

available for download at Project Gutenberg, Europe.

 

http://pge.rastko.net/etext/100188

 

This is collection of songs on MAA KAALI/DURGA by Ramprasad Sen and

other poets of Bengal.

 

This also contains Agamani songs which are sung welcoming MAA, and

Vijaya songs which are sung during Bijayadasami.

 

I do not agree with what is written in the introduction about Tantra.

That shows the author's limited understanding. But that does not take

away the beauty of the translation. I am grateful for that.

 

The html version makes it easier to browse through the book.

 

Jai MAA KAALI!!!

[Guest guest]

, "Sankar Viswanathan" <sankarrukku

wrote:

 

Thanks for the Navratri msg. As far as I know, Navratris are

celebrated in Bengal and Northern Belt.

 

What about Rest of Indians ? Do South Indians, Maharashtrians,

Gujaratis etc. also celebrate Navaratri ? In what form ?

 

love

 

baba

[Guest guest]

Navaratri is celebrated all over India in many different ways. All

representing the victory of MAA over evil forces. In Tamil Nadu it is

celebrated as the victory of MAA LALITHA TRPURASUNDARI over Bandasura.

In Gujarat we have the Dandiya Raz. But all over India people worship

MAA during this period.

 

The only peculiarity of some of the North Indian states is the

celebration of Ram Lila during this period. In these places Vasantha

Navaratri is celebrated.

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

Sharada Nava Ratris are being celebrated ending on

Vijaya Dashami, Dassera.

 

I like to post this for our readers on this auspicious celebrations

dedicated to Divine Mother - as Shakti Worship.

 

Dr. Jaya

Barsana, U.P. India

 

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Article of the Month - September 2006

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>From Heaven to Household: The Many Tales of Shakti

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The Great Guru Shankaracharya once went to Kashmir, wanting to

engage in debate the followers of the Goddess (Shakti), known as

the 'Shaktas.' No sooner had he reached the place than he was

rendered immobile by a severe bout of dysentery. So seriously was

he affected, that unable to get up from his bed, he for the

moment, lost the power to speak.

 

Soon after, a twelve-year-old girl came near him and whispered in

his ears: "O Shankara, do you think you can negate the cult of

Shakti?"

 

Feeling helpless, Shankaracharya said, "Devi, I have come here

for this very purpose, but right now I feel devoid of any

potency. When I gain enough power to speak, only then will I be

able to do so. Without Shakti, I cannot do anything."

 

The charming girl replied thus: "O revered preceptor, when you

yourself cannot move an inch without your Shakti, how will you

refute its cult? O Wise One, know me to be Shiva's Shakti - The

supreme power activating this world. Charged by my own energy,

you want to negate me?"

 

His mind now at rest, Shankaracharya bowed to the goddess, and

left Kashmir as soon as he recovered.

 

 

Ignoring Shakti (At Our Own Peril)

 

Indeed, so indistinguishable are we from our Shakti that we often

tend to take it (her) for granted, with sinister consequences.

The Devi Bhagavata Purana, a primary text narrating the goddess,

speaks of an episode where the great gods Shiva and Vishnu were

attacked by a powerful army of demons. It was only after

grappling with them for a long duration that they were able to

vanquish the villains. Even though their success was due to their

respective powers, they were vain enough to think it to be their

individual victory, even going to the extent of boasting of their

prowess before their respective Shaktis. The two goddesses,

Parvati and Lakshmi, found the whole situation comical and

laughed at their naiveté. Thereupon the gods became angry and

addressed their spouses rudely. Immediately, the goddesses

vanished from their midst.

 

No sooner had this happened than the world was plunged into

turmoil. Relieved of their power, the two deities became

lusterless and fell into a lifeless, deranged state. It was only

after a severe penance was performed that the Great Goddess

(Shakti) was pleased enough to restore herself to the two gods,

saying: "The insult shown towards my manifestations has led to

this calamitous state. Such a crime should never again be

committed." Shiva and Vishnu, now devoid of pride, got back their

previous natures and were thus enabled to perform their functions

as before. (Devi Bhagavata Purana: 7.29.25-45)

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/HU31/

 

 

Shakti - The Burning Power of Fire

 

A similar instance occurred when, after the creation of worldly

and heavenly beings, the perplexing question remained of the

latter's sustenance. While creatures of the earth could partake

of the food available there, no provision had still been made for

the gods. Brahma, the creator, then decreed that the offerings

poured into the sacrificial fires (on the earth), would be the

food of gods. Towards this end, they worshipped the Great

Goddess, who appeared before them in the form of goddess 'Svaha.'

 

The assembled deities then addressed her: "O Goddess, Let

yourself become the burning power of fire; who is not able to

burn anything without thee. At the conclusion of any mantra,

whoever taking thy name (Svaha), will pour oblations in the fire,

he will cause those offerings to go directly to the gods. Mother,

let yourself, the repository of all prosperity, reign over as the

lady of his (fire's) house."

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/ES04/

 

Later, Agni, the deity of fire, approached her with some fear,

and worshipped her as the Mother of the World. Then, with the

chanting of sacred mantras, they were tied in the knots of holy

matrimony. From then, it is believed, that whosoever pours

libations in the sacrificial fire accompanied by the sacred name

'Svaha,' has all his dreams immediately fulfilled. (Devi

Bhagavata Purana: 9.43)

 

 

Shakti - The Power of the Gods

 

The Kena Upanishad, a major text of Indian philosophy, narrates a

profounder story, where the gods, having defeated the demons,

puffed up with pride. The Highest God (Sanskrit: Brahman), that

formless entity who is beyond any gender, realized their folly

and revealed itself before their eyes, to grace them with

repentance. However, blinded with the veil of egoism, the gods

were unable to understand the vision revealed to them.

 

The deity of fire was then deputed by the gods to enquire who the

divine person in front of their eyes was. When Agni reached the

Great Being, the latter asked him as to what power he (fire)

possessed. Pat came the reply: "I can burn down the whole world."

The manifested Brahman then placed a blade of grass between them

and asked him to burn it. Using all his might, fire tried his

utmost to set the twig ablaze, but could not do so. Unable to

know the Brahman, he then returned dejected to the waiting gods.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/artimages/agni.jpg

 

Next came the god of wind. He too bragged about his ability to

carry along anything with his mighty power. Faced with the same

miniscule twig, he had to retreat.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/artimages/pawan.jpg

 

It then fell to the lot of Indra, the king of gods, to approach

the Great Being. No sooner had he tried to do so, than the latter

vanished, and instead appeared in the sky, the beautiful goddess

Uma, also known as Parvati. (Kena Upanishad: 3.1-12)

 

The Devi Bhagavata Purana describes the physical form of this

goddess:

 

A virgin blooming with fresh youth, the luster of her body was

like the rising sun. Shining on her crown was the digit of the

moon. She was holding a noose and goad in her two hands and the

other two arms displayed the mudras of boon granting (varada) and

fearlessness (abhaya) respectively.

 

Her body, decked with various ornaments, looked auspicious and

exceedingly lovely. She was like the wish-fulfilling tree (Kalpa

Vriksa). Three-eyed, her face was endowed with the beauty of ten

million cupids (Kamadeva).

 

Her clothing was red and her body was covered with sandal paste.

She was the Cause of all causes, and the embodiment of compassion

(karuna-murti).

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/WG49/

 

Seeing her, the hairs on Indra's body stood on ends with ecstasy.

His eyes were filled with tears of love and deep devotion and he

immediately fell prostrate at the feet of the goddess, singing

hymns in her praise. (Devi Bhagavata Purana: 12.8.52-60)

 

The goddess then instructed Indra regarding the essence of the

Supreme Reality, stressing that it was the power of Brahman

(manifested as herself), which was responsible for victory over

the demons, and the gods were but instruments in the grander

design.

 

 

The Strange Couch and the Vision of Shakti as the Power of All

 

The goddess is however sometimes more assertive in driving home

the truth. When the three gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, on eve

of the creation of the world, sat perplexed as how to go about

it, she appeared before the trio, seated them on a golden chariot

and took them on a round of the numerous universes created by

her.

 

Illustration:

http://www.exoticindia.com/artimages/goddess_trinity.jpg

 

At one instant, they came upon a strange and beautiful bed, with

Lord Shiva forming its mattress. Its four legs were Brahma,

Vishnu, Shiva and Dharma respectively. Seated over it was a

divine lady, wearing red garments, garlands, and also smeared

with sandal paste of the same color. Her eyes were dark-red and

the beautiful crimson-lipped lady was lustrous like the rising

sun; beautiful like ten million Lakshmis. She had a sweet smile

on her face and held in her four hands a noose, goad, and two

mudras indicating readiness to grant boons and fearlessness

respectively. Never before had the gods seen such a form. All

merciful, and in the full bloom of youth, the goddess had

blossoming breasts which surpassed even the buds of a lotus (in

softness).

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/HT86/

 

Suddenly, the four-armed lady transformed herself, and instead

revealed to them a young woman with infinite eyes and limbs. The

gods stood transfixed, dazzled by this spectacular vision

celebrating the supremacy of Shakti.

 

Wishing to pay obeisance to her, the gods then got down from

their chariot and approached the goddess. No sooner had they done

so than she transformed them all into beautiful, young maidens.

When they reached near her smiling form, the goddess looked at

the female-gods affectionately, and the latter too stood around

her, admiring each other appreciatively. When they bowed at her

feet, they beheld in her mere toenails, a reflection of the

entire universe.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/artimages/female_trinity.jpg

 

The three then sang hymns in her praise, asking her: "We have

forgotten your sacred mantra of creation. To be able to continue

the cycle of creation, preservation and destruction, kindly

initiate us again into your mystery."

 

To this, the Great Goddess replied:

 

"There is no difference at all between the Great God (Purusha)

and myself. It is only for the sake of the world that we appear

as two. In absence of this manifested world, there is neither the

male, not female nor androgyne."

 

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"Nothing in this world is devoid of me. I enter into every

substance, and making Purusha the instrument. I do all the

actions. I am the coolness of water, the heat of fire, the luster

in the sun and also the soothing rays of the moon, which are but

manifestations of my power."

 

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"If abandoned by me, this universe becomes motionless. If I leave

Shiva, he will not be able to kill demons. A weak man is declared

to be without any Shakti, nobody says that he is without Shiva,

or without Vishnu. Those who are timid, afraid, or under one's

enemies - they are all called Shakti-less; no one says that this

man is Shiva-less and so forth."

 

"So, the creation that you are about to perform, know Shakti to

be the cause thereof. When you will be endowed with that Shakti,

you will be able to create the world. Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Agni,

Moon, Sun, Death, and all the other deities are able to do their

karmas only when they are united with their respective Shaktis.

This earth, when united with Shakti, remains fixed and becomes

capable to hold all beings inhabiting it. If it be devoid of this

power, it cannot support even an atom." (Devi Bhagavata Purana: 3.6)

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/ZW12/

 

She then created from her body the three goddesses - Saraswati,

Lakshmi and Parvati, and offered them to Brahma, Vishnu and

Shiva, entrusting the couples with the functions of creation,

preservation and destruction respectively.

 

 

Power in the Household - The Strange Story of Tulsi Devi

 

An enlightening case is of the demon named Shankhachuda, who

defeated in battle even the mighty army of Shiva, which was led

by the latter's wife, the great Kali herself and their son

Karttikeya.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/artimages/shankhachuda.jpg

 

Puzzled, Shiva reasoned with Vishnu regarding the

villain's apparent infallibility. The two deities then came to

the conclusion that his invincible Shakti stemmed from the

unflinching devotion and chastity of his loving wife Tulsi.

 

Vishnu, then taking on the form of Shankhachuda, approached the

innocent Tulsi, who, mistaking him for her husband, welcomed him

into her arms with rapturous joy. Vishnu, the great lord of the

world, then shared her bed and engaged in physical union with

her. But the chaste wife, finding this time her experience quite

different from what she used to enjoy before, argued all the time

within herself and at last questioned him: "O Magician! Who are

you? By spreading your magic, you have enjoyed me. As you have

taken my chastity, I will curse you."

 

The lord, fearing the curse of a pure woman, assumed his original

self. Seeing his divine form, Tulsi fainted. When she regained

her consciousness, she cursed Vishnu: "You merciless lord, your

heart is hard as a stone, so may you too turn into a stone."

 

Thus because of this curse does Vishnu manifest himself in the

stone known as Shaligrama, found only on the banks of the river

Gandaki in Nepal, where, with tiny teeth, millions of insects

incise slow rings of torture into his body of stone, carving

strange and sacred sculptures. Those of these pieces, that fall

into the river, are considered the most auspicious. Hence did the

lord take upon himself the anguish of Tulsi on separation from

her husband.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/EP87/

 

Before leaving however, Vishnu did not neglect to bless the

virtuous lady, who by her chastity and unblemished character, had

acted as the power behind the scenes, protecting her spouse. The

lord hailed her saying: "Your hair will transform into sacred

trees and as being born of you, they will be known by the name of

Tulsi. The whole world will perform their rituals with the leaves

and flowers of this Tulsi plant. Therefore, O fair-faced one! You

will be reckoned as the chief amongst all vegetation. All the

sacred pilgrimages will reside at the bottom of the Tulsi tree,

where I and all the other deities will sit, waiting in

anticipation to be blessed by a falling leaf."

 

To this day, this auspicious plant occupies a place of honor in

the homes of devotees, as the archetypal symbol of our 'Shakti at

home,' venerated by innumerable modern day women, still following

the glorious standards laid down by Tulsi.

 

Illustration: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/OQ57/

 

Truly does say the Devi Bhagavata Purana elaborating on the

concept of Shakti:

 

She is the Heavenly Lakshmi (Swargalakshmi), residing in the

heavens, the Royal Lakshmi (Rajalakshmi) in the palaces of kings

and in the ordinary families of the world, she is the Household

Lakshmi (Grihalakshmi). (9.1.26)

 

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This article by Nitin Kumar

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References and Further Reading:

 

Date, V.H. Upanisads Retold (2 Volumes): New Delhi, 1999.

 

Kenopnishad (With the Commentary of Shri Shankaracharya):

Gorakhpur, 2000.

 

Menon, Ramesh. The Devi Bhagavatam Retold: New Delhi, 2006.

 

Goswami, Chimmanlal and Hanumanprasad Poddar (eds.). Shrimad Devi

Bhagavatam (Hindi): Gorakhpur, 2005.

 

Pandey, Shri Pandit Ram Tej (tr.). Shrimad Devi Bhagavatam

(Hindi): Delhi, 2004

 

Poddar, Hanumanprasad. Shakti Anka (Special Issue of the

Spiritual Magazine Kalyan): Gorakhpur, 2002.

 

Sarma, Dr. S.A. Kena Upanishad: A Study from Sakta Perspective:

Mumbai, 2001.

 

Sivananda, Swami. Lord Siva and His Worship: Shivanandanagar,

2004.

 

Vijnanananda, Swami (tr.). The Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (English):

New Delhi, 1998.

 

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[Guest guest]

, pyari_h <no_reply wrote:

>

Welcome Dr.Jaya and thanks for the beautiful post on Shakti !!

Hope we will continue receiving such good posts from you

 

love

 

baba

[Guest guest]

Uma, the great Godess Parvati, is the supreme Mother of the World. If

you move the words of UMA, you get AUM, the mystic mantra. Uma hence

is the personification of the great AUM mantra.

 

Whenever a baby is born, it cries, making a sound like uvaaaaai. If

you listen carefully, the baby is actually saying Uma, Uma. Since all

people are manifestations of Shakti(even men), the baby, who is Self

Aware, shouts out "I am Uma! I am here. Uma! Uma!". But with the

passage of time, people forget their divinity, and get stuck in

mundane pleasures.

 

Festivals like Navratri are a good chance to get back to our Spiritual

source, and remember the Divine Mother who gave us and the whole

Universe birth.

[Guest guest]

Someone had mentioned Navaratri in Maharashtra.

 

The Sakthi worship in Maharashtra is very old. Kolhapur has one of the

oldest Sakthi temples in India. The term KolhapuraVasini occurs

repeatedly in many Devi slokas. She is in the form of Mahalakshmi,

Maha Kaali and Maha Saraswathi ( of Devi mahatmyam) here though the

temple is known as Mahalakshmi temple.

 

Tuljapur Bhavani temple is another famous Sakthi temple. This was the

Kuladevata of Chatrapthi Shivaji Maharaj, the great Mahratta King. His

sword was called Bhavani. Then we have the Sapthashringi temple which

is associated with Guru Mahendranath.

 

The 10-day Dassera celebrations in Mysore is renowned throughout the

world. It is a big tourist attraction. It was done by the Mysore

Maharajah earlier, it is now a state festival. The Kuladevata of the

Maharajah is Chamunda and there is a old and renowned Chamunda temple

in Mysore on Chamundi Hills in Mysore.

 

Jai Ambe Bhavani !!!

[Guest guest]

, "kaliupasaka" <kaliupasaka wrote:

>

 

Thanks kali upasaka.. the information you proved is valueable and

great.