In Hindu calendar, there are two Navaratri celebrations. The first one comes in the Chaitra Shukla Paksha (March-April) also called Vaishnava Navaratri and the other one comes in the Ashwin Shukla Paksha (September-October) also called Durga Puja Navaratri. During these months, weather is changing from winter seasons to summer season in Chaitra masa and in Ashwin masa from rainy season to winter season.
We worship Devi Ma in these months to obtain power and strength to maintain our vigor and exertion. In Hinduism, Devi Ma is the primal cosmic energy that symbolizes the “Power” that is “dynamic forces” that are thought to move through the entire universe.
We obtain our physical energy and power by worshipping Shakti or Gauri or Durga Ma in Ashwin masa, mental power by revering Saraswati Ma in Vasant Masa, and affluence and money power by venerating Laxmi Maa in Chaitra masa. Devi Ma blesses us with her powers in these three forms.
All gods including Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar worship ‘Ma Shakti’ before performing any actions. As gods are incomplete without ‘Ma Shakti” so are the human beings without these five mothers mentioned below. In Hinduism therefore ‘Naris’ are respected in Kanya (girl), Patni (wife), and Matru (mother) forms and worshipped as goddesses of our families and society.
According to Sanatan Hindu Dharma philosophy, every human being has five mothers in his/her life; 1) Devi Durga is the “Jagat Janani” the mother of the universe, 2) “Janma Janani” the genetic mother, 3) “Prithvi or Bhoomi Ma” the earth, 4) “Gou Ma” the cow, 5) “Ganga Ma” the Ganges river. Our life from birth to death starts with Ma Jagath Janani and ends with Ma Ganga. People who have “Yagnapavati or Januvi” are blessed with sixth mother “Gayatri Ma”.
We pay respect to Devi Ma in these main five forms and in Hindu Shastra also Devi Ma gets the first place and we treat her as Supreme Goddess. Devi Ma is believed to be the power behind the works of creation by Brahma, preservation and conservation by Vishnu, and destruction of the bad things and thoughts by Shiva. She is also worshipped in “Kanya Rupa” a girl below 12 years. We perform Devi Homam with dedication to gain her blessings.
We also worship young girls as Kanya on Ashtami or Navami day during both Navaratras. According to Hindu philosophy, we all owe an obligation to Mother Goddess and to our genetic mother. Matru Rina or debt is the highest Rina which we cannot pay back unless and until the Mother herself liberates us from the obligation whereas we can fulfill our Father Rina by carrying his and family name ahead in a righteous way.
On Navaratri days, we should have Satavik pravarti. To worship Devi Ma, place a copper/bronze/steel Kalasham, light the lamps to remove darkness from our, house, heart, and thoughts, prepare some home-made bhoga for prasadam, put barley/jav in a pot with dirt/soil (offer water daily to the pot) which symbolizes prosperity, perform Lord Ganesh Pujan and recite Devi Stuti or Devi Katha or Shlokas from Durga Sepshati or Chant Devi Bija (seed) Mantra which is composed of mantras of the nine forms of Devi as follows: Am Rhim Klim Chamundayai Viche.
This Mantra assures happiness through fame, fortune, prestige, and family happiness from spouse and children and career success. You can also chant just Om Durgaye Namah, Om Saraswatye Namah, and Om Laxmiye Namah to obtain blessings of Devi Ma. On the Ashtami or Navami day, place the barley seedlings in the money place of your business or family and students in their study place or books to get the best benefits.
This Navaratri festival is celebrated all over India. It is celebrated with more pomp in West Bengal as Durga Puja and in Gujarat in the name of Garba. Now Garba has taken the form of Dandiya Raas. On Ashtami or Navami day as per your family tradition, perform Kanya Pujan as well by washing their feet, offering tilak with some gifts and clothes.
Do some charities or give away some donations to temples, schools, or needy people in the name of Durga Ma. The celebration of Navaratri ends on Vijaya Dashami day by Ravan Dahan which symbolizes burning of your bad habits, thoughts, arrogance, pride misconceptions and purifying yourself with new satvik behavior, Dharmik ideas and sympathetic attitudes towards everyone and everything in the world.
Remember that always Satya (truth) and Dharma (includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and ”right way of living”) win. So, do not engage or involve yourself with bad elements in society and get lost in the darkness. Chant this Mantra to obtain right direction in life.
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu matri – rupena samsthita
Namas tasyai, namas tasyai, namas tasyai namo Namah
On behalf of the temple, I invite all of you all to come to the Hindu Mandir of Lake County to participate in Navaratri Pujan from 24th Sep, Ashtami Hawan and Kanya Pujan on 1st Oct by 5:00pm and Rama Leela by children and Ravan Dahan on 4th Oct by 6:30pm. Garba Raas is from 24th Sep to 2nd Oct in the evening by 6:30pm. Obtain the blessings of Ma Devi for your well-being and prosperity.
Pt Anil Joshi
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