Navaratri

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NAVARATRI - An Exposition by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

 

Navaratri

 

Meaning

 

" Navaratri means nine nights. Darkness is associated with night. What is this

darkness? It is the darkness of ignorance. " Sai Baba, SS, 11/92, p. 267

 

" Navaratri means 'nine nights'. What does the nine signify? There are nine

'Grahas' (planets according to astrology). The human body has nine openings. If

a deep inquiry is made, it will be found that mankind is dependent on the

planets (Grahas). Although astrologers speak about nine, in reality, there are

only two planets that matter. They are 'Raga' (attachment) and Dwesha (hatred). "

Sai Baba, SS, 11/94, p. 289

 

" The six enemies of man are eating into his vitals, embedded in his own inner

consciousness. They are the demons to be killed. They are lust (Kama), anger

(Krodha), greed (Lobha), attachment (Moha), pride (Mada), and malice (Matsarya).

They reduce man to the level of a demon. They have to be overpowered and

transmuted, by the Supreme Alchemy of the Divine Urge. Then, the nine (Nava)

nights (Ratri) of struggle will become new (Nava), a new type of night, devoted

to the purification of the mind, illumination of the soul - the night described

in the Gita as " the day of the worldly " . What is clear and attractive to the

ordinary man is uninteresting and unknown to the Yogi. What is clear and

attractive to the Yogi is uninteresting and unknown to the worldly man. This is

the nature of this topsy-turvy world. " Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. VIII, dis dtd

12-10-69, p. 107

 

Shirdi Sai Baba Was Born On The First Night Of Navaratri

 

" All festivals have been designed to teach men how to lead a godly life while

carrying out worldly activities. It is to teach this truth to mankind that

Avatars and saints made their advent on earth from time to time. This day (the

first day of Navaratri) has another special significance. Shirdi Sai Baba was

bom on 27 September 1838. He was born in a poor Brahmin family in a village of

Aurangabad District " .

 

Sai Baba, SS, 11/92. p. 255. Discourse date: 27 September 1992

 

Purpose

 

'The Navaratri is a festival to commemorate the victory of the good over the

evil. The Embodiment of Divine Power (Para-Shakti), in its various

manifestations, Satwic (as Maha- Saraswati), Rajasic (as Maha-Lakshmi), Tamasic

(as Mahakali) was able to overcome the forces of vice, wickedness and egoism,

during the nine days' struggle and finally, on Vijaya Dashami (Dasara, the tenth

Day commemorating victory), the valedictory worship is done " . Sai Baba, SSS,

Vol. VIII. discourse on 12-10-69, p. 107

 

The purpose of the Navaratri celebration is to enable man to get rid of nine

types of darkness, which have taken hold of him. Sai Baba, SS, 11/92, p. 267

 

" The Navaratri festival is observed by contemplating on God for ten days,

cleansing one's self of all the impurities to experience the Divinity within. "

Sai Baba, SS, 11/94. p. 291

 

" This festival (Navaratri) is intended to make man realise his true worth as the

most precious object in creation. All things in the world derive their value

from the labour and skill of man. " Sai Baba. SS, 11/94. p. 289

 

" It is a festival of thanksgiving. Gratitude is Divine. Ingratitude is demonic.

But while offering the homage of gratitude, you must also try to discover who

was killed, who was saved, and why. " Sai Baba, SSS, Vol. VIII, discourse on

12-10-69, p. 107

 

JAI SAI MATHA