RELIGIOUS IMPORTANCE OF NAVRATRI
In Navratri, we observe fast, patience, rituals and perform meditations. The term Navratri is given to nine auspicious nights. In this time the nine forms of Goddess Shakti are worshipped.
The first Navratri of 2011, is on 28th September. Including Navratri of Chaitra and Ashwin Paksha, we have two other Navratris as well, the Gupta Navratri of Ashadh Shukla Paksha and Gupta Navratra of Magh Shukla Paksha. These two Navratras are used to learn occult sciences,supernatural science or unreathly science. It is also used for accomplishing aim(Sadhana Siddhi).
SIGNIFICANCE OF NAVRATRI
During Navaratri, we get the energy in the form Maa "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries and all problems from our life. Maa is also observed as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). With this energy, we consider that God does the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words the followers of Maa Durga believe that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Actually it is our firm believe that worship of Shakti verifies the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there in all of us.
SHAKTI, DURGA OR A MOTHER
Navratri is an important Hindu festival, celebrated with religious fervor and great enthusiasm by the Hindus in different parts of the country. The ninth day of Chaitra Navratri is celebrated as Ram Navami, the festival commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. In Gujarat, the festival is celebrated to worship Maa Jagdamba, while in West Bengal it is celebrated as Durga Puja. In the south India, people worship the three forms of Goddess Shakti - the first three days to Goddess Durga (the Warrior Goddess), the next three days to Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth) and the last three days to Goddess Saraswati (the Goddess of Knowledge).
We observe fast for either seven or eight days, to honor Goddess Shakti. While many people break their fast on the eighth day (Ashtami) of Navratri by worshipping young girls, few people do the same thing on the ninth day (Navami) of the festival, to climax the celebrations. Navratri is a combination of two words. 'Nav' means nine while 'ratri' means night. Therefore, this celebration is literally reffered as 'nine nights'. The celebrations begin on the first day of the month of Ashvin according to the Hindu calendar and it ends in the festival of Dassera, on the tenth day of the month.
AIM OF HAVING NAVRATRI
According to hindu mythology Durga is also considered as the combination of the Trinity of goddesses. They are Saraswati, Parvati, and Lakshmi. During Navratri, these three main goddesses are worshipped as well. The main aim of Navratri is the triumph of good over evil.
CELEBRATION OF NAVRATRI ACCORDING TO DAYS
We celebrate navratri for nine days. However, each day has its own special significance and is celebrated separately. Along with the nine forms of Durga, we offer puja to all the Trinity of goddesses as well.
PRATHAM, DRITIYA AND TRITIYA-
On these days we worship the energy and power of Maa Durga. On the first day, Kumari is worshipped, which symbolizes the girl child. The second day is dedicated to devi Parvati, who represents a young woman. On the third day, Kali is worshipped. This form represents the woman who has reached maturity.
On the first day of Navratri, barley seeds are planted in a small bed of mud. This mud bed is kept in the pooja room. By the tenth day, each seed has sprouted into a shoot which is between three and five inches long. After the pooja performed on the tenth day, the shoots are plucked and given to the attendees. They are said to be a blessing from God.
CHATURTHA, PANCHAMI AND SHASHTHAMI –
These three days Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and peace is worshipped. The goddess Saraswati is worshiped on the fifth day. This day is considered as Lalita Panchami. All books are worshiped on this day.
SAPTAMI, -
The seventh day is also dedicated to Maa Saraswati, the goddess of art and knowledge. Prayers are offered to her, seeking the spiritual knowledge. The knowledge of the spiritual world is said to free us from our earthly bonds. This, in turn, will bring us closer to God.
ASHTAMI –
On this day a YAGYA OR HAWAN is performed. This represents sacrifice, which is offered to the sacred fire. The sacrifice honours the goddess Durga. We offer clarified butter (ghee), rice pudding (kheer), and sesame seeds in yagya as in the form of sacrifice.
NAVMI –
The ninth day is considered as the farewell of the entire Navratri celebrations. This day is referred to as 'Mahanavami'. On this day, a Kanya pooja is performed. Nine young girls, who have not yet attained puberty are worshipped during this pooja. Each one of them symbolises one of the nine forms of goddess Durga. Each girls feet are washed, as a mark of respect for the goddess. At the end of the pooja, each girl is given a set of new clothes as a gift from the devotees.
Coming to a temporary end we can say that Durga Puja,or Navratri is ritualistic worship of the three forms of Durga to keep us in harmony with cosmic forces, thereby helps us in removing and overcoming the sorrows of life and bringing spiritual upliftment. By doing this puja, thoughts and vibrations of spiritual forces are created around us. These spiritual forces work to eliminate the negative influences from our life and help us to create positive energy which can bring peace of mind, material prosperity and enable us to more clearly touch the Divine, our true nature. Have faith in Maa durga, do this puja with full of your energy and dedication and get the all blessings of Maa durga. No doubt Maa can bring a lot of happiness, prosperity and contentness in our life
About Author
Jyotishacharya Vinay Sheel Saxena "Bajrangi" “Bhagya Samhita wale” is a well known indian Vedic Astrologer Horoscope reader and Vastu expert and provides best vedic astrology solutions, vastu remedies, astrology forecast, Horoscope matching and other astrological solutions.
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