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By
TRS IYENGAR
Srivaishnavites
in general observe the Navaratri, well known Dasserah (Dasara) festival, as an opportune
time to mingle with one another, exchange views, cultural, literal and what not!
In all these nine days, they women visit each others home, finely decorated with
choicest handicrafts, toys and arrange it in a neat way, which attracts
attention. This is the modest way for them to prove their imagination, skill and
theme vision. Also, they take pride in proving their talent, viz.; preparations
for the function, recitals, Music - instrumental & vocal; they used to
dress in choicest costumes and attire, that give them a chance to prove the
world of their beauty. This social gathering, celebrated mainly by women and
girl children is meant to prove their merits; A lots of marriage proposals made
during these time around, just simply by visiting one another's home, they get
to know each other, socialize in a free way and exchange views. The significance
of this Navaratri festival just cannot be ignored as a routine
ritual, but it has a lot more inner meaning and refreshing
Lifestyle matters that are embedded in the celebration in
itself!
In
the olden days, they used to exhibit all sorts of toys, made of clay and wooden,
arrange them in a way that looks like a model village or town. This way, a
housewife's imagination and talent is illustrated. This exhibition is known as
Kolu in Tamil and Koluvu in Telugu. Mostly, in all parts of the South India,
(held for full Nine nights - known as "Navaratri") these Kolu type
exhibitions take place. There is a lot more to it rather than just seeing these
exhibits. In real terms, it provides a relaxing mood for women and children, an
opportunity to freely go to others home to take part in the Kolu, Sing their
favorite songs thus proving their ability. Also, this type of get-together
provides ample scope to understand each other's talent and might even lead to
sort of marriage alliance. In psychological terms, it is purely a refreshing
time for women and children in general and girls of marriageable age in
particular.
Though,
this Navaratri Festival is celebrated all over India, different part of it makes
a different way of celebration - but the Name and Aim are the same! Here is an
interesting reading from Dr. Satyavati Kandala, a well-known Sanskrit professor
from the Vedanta Society and at the International Society of Divine Love in Los
Angeles, California.
Navaratri
(Nine Nights) is one of the greatest festivals of India. This festival is
celebrated for nine days, (Oct 14 to 22nd) in
which God is worshipped in the form of Mother.
Divine Mother (Shakti) represents
Prakriti, counterpart of Purusha jointly making possible the creation of the
world according to the religious ideology of Goddess Worship.
According to Vedic scriptures
(The Daksha Yajna) that Lord Vishnu had to cut the body of Sati into pieces to
stop the destruction of Shiva who was perturbed by her death. At fifty-two
places these pieces fell. (See the special attachment) They are called Shakti
Pithas. Through out India this festival is celebrated.
The
beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctions
of climatic and Solar
influence. Vasanta Navaratri in spring season and Sharada Navaratri in Autumn
Season are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship. The Rama
Navaratri indicates
them respectively in the month of Chaitra (April-May) and the Durga Navaratri
in
the
month of Aswayuga (September-October)
The
bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change on account of the
changes
in
Nature. This is a period of introspection and purification. Navaratri is
traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.
Durga
Pooja or Navaratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the
bright half of
Aswayuja .It is held in
commemoration of the Victory of Durga over Mashishasura, the
buffalo-headed demon (who symbolizes Ego with in us).
In
Bengal Durga Pooja is a great festival. Goddess
Durga Image is worshipped for
nine days and
then cast into water. The tenth day is called Vijaya Dashami. According to
Puranas the Mother of Durga
(that is, the wife of the king of the Himalayas) longed to see her daughter
Durga. Durga was permitted by Lord
Shiva to visit her beloved mother only for
nine
days in the year. The festival of Durga Pooja marks this brief visit and ends
with the Vijaya
Dashami day, when Goddess Durga leaves for Her return to Mount Kailash.
Durga
Pooja is the greatest Hindu festival in which God is adored as Mother. Hinduism
is the only
religion in the world, which has emphasized to such an extent the mother hood of
God. One's relationship with one's mother is the dearest and the sweetest of
all human relations. Durga represents the Divine Mother. She is the energy
aspect of the Lord.
Navaratri
symbolizes different things in different regions besides the worship of the
Mother Goddess. Ayudha puja (worship of whatever implements one may use in
one's livelihood. This is
an expression of gratitude to God for helping one too fulfill one's duties)
and Bommala
koluvu in Southern India and Rama Lila in North. Graba or Dandiya in Gujarat.
Navaratri
is also called Dasara (Dasha Hara), which means the cutting the ten heads
of Ravana
(who signifies the demon Ego). The story of Sri Rama is known in almost all
parts of the
globe. Navaratri highlights the principles elucidated by the Ramayana. (Ramayana Navaahnam reciting the whole Ramayana in Nine days is a special feature observed
these days.
The
Following are the regular features of this festival:
A
special ritualistic worship of the Mother Durga; this includes the
recitation of Durga Saptashati or Devi Mahatmaya.
Recitation
of Lalaitha Sahasrnama or Durga Sahasranama
(Laksharchana 100,000 times too repeat
the name of the Divine Mother)
Devotees
are exhorted to do the maximum number of Japa of the Navaarna Mantra AIM
HREEM KLEEM CHAAMUNDAAYAI VICHHE or the Mantra JAI SHRI DURGA.
Some
devotees observe fasting with milk and fruits only on all these nine days or at
least three
days. Visiting Temples and participating in-group chanting and seeking the
blessings of the
Divine Mother is the common feature in all these nine days.
Let us
celebrate Dasara in the right spirit by making honest efforts to destroy the
demon Ego, the
ten headed i.e. passion, pride ,anger ,greed, infatuations, lust, hatred,
jealousy, selfishness and crookedness) and
radiate peace and love wherever we go, and get the blessings of the
Divine Mother.
Three
aspects of the eternal smother has been depicted in this Devi Sapta Shloki
-The Goddess Lakshmi represents Iccha shakti
(wealth) Goddess Saraswati represents Jnana Shakti
(knowledge) and Goddess Kali represent Kriya Shakti
(strength). All three merge in one form as Durga.
The glory of Durga is described in Markendeya Purana,. It is known as Devi
Mahatmyam or Durga Sapta sati (700
Mantras). Allegorical representation of the constant war going on within all of
us--- between our divine and demonic natures. In the Saptasati legend
every dominant passion and vice has its special Demon representative.
Shumbha is the embodiment of Lust, Nishumbha is Greed and Mashishasura
represents Anger.
We celebrate Victory of Good over the evil. Durga sapta shloki (the seven
mantras) is the essence of the Durga Sapta sati (seven hundred mantras). It is very powerful to achieve Health, wealth and
education.
Bija Mantra of Goddess Durga is to be recited silently for meditation.
Om
hréà çréà
kléà durgati näçinyai
mahämäyäyai svähä ||
çré
durgä sapta çloké ||
om asya çré çré
durgä sapta
çloké stotra
mantrasya näräyaëa
åñiù
anuñöubh
chandaù çré mahäkäøé çré mahä lakñmé çré mahä sarasvatyoo devatäù
çré durgämbä prétyarthaà
sapta çloké durgä päöhe viniyogaù
1. om jïäninä
mapi cetäàsi
devé bhagavaté hi sä
balädäkåñya
mohäya mahä mäyä
prayachcati ||
2. om durge
småtä harasi
bhéti maçeña
jantooù
svasthaiù
småtä mati matéva çubhäà dadäsi
däridrya
duùkha bhayahäriëi
kä tvadanyä
sarvopakära
karaëäya sadärdra cittä||
3. om sarva
maìgaøa mäìgalye
çive sarvärtha
sädhike
çaraëye
tryambike devi
näräyaëi namostute
||
4. om çaraëägata
dénärta pariträëa
paräyaëe
sarvasyärti
hare devi
narayaëi namostute
||
5. om sarva
svarüpe sarveçe
sarva çakti samanvite
bhayebhyaù
trähi noo devé durge devi namostute||
6. om roogänaçeñä
napahaàsi tuñöhä
ruñöätu
kämän sakalän abhéñöhän
tvä mäçritänäà
na vipannaräëäà
tvä mäçritä
hi äçrayatäm
prayänti||
7. om sarva bädhä
praçamanaà trailokya syäkhileçvari
evameva
tvayä käryaà asmat vairi vinäçanam
||
om
çantiù çantiù
çantiùhi
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Prabhandam Part - 1