Chinmaya Mission Khargar – Navaratri Celebrations
Navaratri is a very ancient festival! Even Shri Ramachandra and Pandavas prayed to Mother before their fight! Today on the 3rd day, Devi is worshipped as Chandraghanta – one who has Ardhachandra (crescent moon) on the head! She is becoming the consort of Shri Shiva today and hence she is in the bridal dress! Since now she will be His sahadharmacharini, she gets the Ardhachandra from Lord Mahadev!! Let’s surrender unto the Lord. Make Him the most imp person in our life! He will give us everything; what we desire, what we deserve n even that which we don’t deserve!!!
Navaratri comes in Shukla-paksha (bright fortnight), when the glow of moon goes on increasing night by night! Along with that the positive energies and the womanhood in man, society and the world also grows through nine steps!! Today on the 4th day mother is worshipped as Kooshmanda – one who is carrying the entire world in her womb as an egg. She is a pregnant lady today!! May the divine Mother bless all of us! May we grow in our spiritual sadhana! May Mother grant us Mukti!! Prostrations to all the mothers, without whom we will be nothing!!!
Along with the celebrations, Navaratri is a very good time for spiritual sadhana! Generally during these days Durga-saptashati parayana is to be performed along with the japa of navakshari mantra – Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai vichche| Today on the 5th day, mother is worshipped as Skandamata – the mother of Kartikeya/Shanmukha – the mother of entire universe! Today is also a very imp day in Navaratri called as Lalita panchami! Mother is in her most auspicious form today!! May the divine mother bring all auspiciousness and prosperity to all of us!!
There are not many Goddesses. There are different forms of the same Goddess! The Supreme Goddess alone manifests as Jnanashakti, Ichchhashakti and Kriyashakti – Power of knowledge, will and action – as Saraswati, Mahalakshmi and Durga! This Supreme Goddess is not only the power of Brahman, but she is Supreme Brahman in a female form!!
Today on the 6th day, Mother is worshipped as Katyayani – a kind Mother who accepts and protects us!! It’s believed that the gopikas prayed to Katyayani and being blessed by Her got Lord Krishna as their Pati – the one who protects!!
Mother is the one who grants us both Bhoga (worldly enjoyments) and Moksha (spiritual enlightenment)! May She bless us all!!
Bhaarat is the land of festivals! Numerous festivals celebrated here are not only for fun or just to bring everyone together! They are to remember God and divinize our life!! Navaratri is the festival celebrated in each and every corner of India which serves all these purposes!!!
Today on the 7th day, Mother is worshipped as Kaalaratri – the savior in our dark times!! In every Sadhaka-s journey, there comes a time when everything looks impossible! Mother helps him to come out of it!! Many of us don’t start new endeavors in fear of being lost on the way! We may not be strong enough to complete the task; but the Divine Mother is always there to help us, elevate us and make us reach our goal! Have faith in Her and she will make us achieve the impossible!!!
Ahimsa is a very important value in Hinduism; then why all of our Gods n Goddesses are endowed with so many weapons? Our scriptures say that the weapons are – to destroy demons, for the welfare of Devata-s and most importantly to protect the devotees!!!
Today on the 8th day, Mother is worshipped as Mahagauri – one who shines in a beautiful golden colour! Today is also the most auspicious day of Durgaashtami!!
Like our Gods, we should also have all the weapons with us!! Not to trouble others but to destroy negativities in us! Satyam (truth), Brahmacharyam(self-control), Viveka (discrimination) and Jnana (knowledge) are the weapons that we should all carry always!! May the Divine Mother give us strength!!!
The goal of human life is Moksha – liberation. Liberation is not to go somewhere after death! It is attaining permanent happiness without a dash of sorrow, here in this life itself!!!
Today we have Navami (upto 9am) and Dashami together!!! On the 9th day, Mother is worshipped as Siddhidatri – one who gives Siddhi. The real Siddhi is Liberation, the culmination of our upaasanaa! Being pleased with the upaasaka, Mother blesses him with Moksha!!
Today is a very very auspicious day of Dassera, also known as Vijayaadashami! This is a day of victory; not over someone outside, but on our own negativities!! If Navaratri shows different sadhana-s, Vijayaadashami shows the dawn of the Supreme Knowledge! Mother is worshipped as Shree Saraswati – the Goddess of Knowledge!!!
May by Mother’s grace we kill our negativities, like Shri Ramachandra killed Ravana! May She give us the Knowledge by which we will be able to attain the Liberation!! Om Shrimatre Namah!!!