Om Sai Ram!
Jai Maata Di!
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This year the Navratri poojas fall between 19th September 2009 and 27th September, 2009.
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Navratri is a festival of Hindus celebrated with devotion, love and fervour all over India. It is also called as Navratras. The mood of Navratri is very colourful & unique. It incorporates veneration along with commemoration by means of song and dance. Navratri ("Nav" meaning nine and "Ratri" meaning nights), These nights are devoted to the reverence of Goddess Durga (Maa Durga) who exists in many forms and is the manifestation of the absolute energy that pervades the Universe. During these days and nights prayers are offered to Mother Goddess. For the devout these days are the sacrosanct for it is during these days when Goddess Durga takes a stock of her devotees and grants all blessings, removes ills and evils and ensures unproblematic life for her devotees.
Navratri's each night is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga. That is every ratri of the Navratri corresponds to worship of different forms of Maa Durga.
This embraces Maa Shailputri, who was the daughter of Parvatraj Himalaya (King of the Mountain), wife of Lord Shiva and mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. Mounting a bullock the mother has a lance in her right hand and the lotus flower in the left. She is the first one among the nine aspects of Durga.She is the First among the Navdugra. In her earlier life she was born to Daksha Prajapati. In that life she was known as Sati. Once Daksha organised a pompous yajna and invited all Gods but neglected Lord Shiva.
When Sati came to know about the festivity arranged by her father, a strong desire arose in her heart to participate in the ceremony. She expressed her desire to Lord Shiva and solicited his permission. Considering all pros and cons Lord Shiva said - 'Prajapati is displeased with me for the reasons known to him only. He invited in his function all gods and offered their sacrificial share to them. He did not invite me purposely; not even informed me. Under such circumstances it will not be proper for you to go there.'
Sati was not convinced with the piece of advice given by the Lord. The eagerness to see the ceremony and the prospect of seeing the mother and sisters did not subside. The Lord saw that Sati was very keen to go there so he gave her green signal.
A sense of strange joy started waving in her heart. She made necessary preparation and started. But all her enthusiasm subsided like the bubbles the moment she reached there. She found no affection in any eyes except her mother. Only she embraced her. She noticed not even a scintilla of cordiality for her. Not only this she felt a sense of sarcasm and ridicule in what her sisters remarked. She was greatly pained with the insulting attitude of her own relatives. The entire atmosphere was surcharged with a sense of disrespect for Lord Shiva. Daksa passed certain humiliating remarks intended for Lord Shiva. She watched all this and lost her balance. A mental storm made her full of remorse and anger. She repented on having overruled objection by her Lord.She could not bear the insult of her spouse. Realizing this as a disrespect of her dear Husband Sati decided to burn herself with yoganidraa and died. In her next life she took rebirth as Shail -putri. The news of her demise reached Lord Shiva and he decided to give a good lesson to Daksha. The entire sacrificial canopy along with all paraphernalia was completely destroyed by his lieutenants.
Maa Shailputri is the mother of Lord Ganesha & Lord Kartikeya.
According to one of the Upanisadic tales she in her Haimavati aspect defeated all prominent gods. Like her previous birth in this life also Sailaputri got married with Lord Shiva. The first and the most prominent among Nava Durgas, Sailaputri is of immense importance and her glories are endless.
On the first day of Navratra worship it is she who is worshipped. In this puja of the first day Yogi's keep their mind concentrated on Muladhara. This is the starting point of their spiritual discipline.
Maa Brahmachaarini- Who gives the message of pure love to the world.Brahma means tapasya or meditation. Maa durga 's second form is of Maa Brahmacharini - one of the Navdurga . Brahma-charini means one who practices tapasya. One hand holds a "Kumbha" or water port and the other rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Bhramcharni is store-house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is HER most adorned ornament.In her last life she was born as the daughter of Pravatraj Himalaya. At that time she followed the guidelines of Devarshi Narad and meditated for more than one thousand years to have Lord Shiva as her husband. She is worshipped on the second day of Navratri.
Maa Chandraghanta - Who establishes Justice and wears crescent moon on Her head. The third form of Goddess Durga, referred to as Chandraghanta, represents bravery. The charming, bright Chandraghanta looks gorgeous. She has a half-circular moon in her forehead, hence the name 'Chandraghanta'. With three eyes, she is golden in color. Ten types of weapons, including sword and arrows are held by her ten hands. Seated on a lion, she is always ready to go to war. Maa Chandraghanta punishes the demons and devilish persons. She ensures justice by saving her devotees from all kinds of dangers.The unprecedented bravery of Chandraghanta is worshipped on the third day of Durga Puja.
Maa Kushmaanda- Who provides the basic necessities to the world.She is worshipped on fourth day of Navratri or Navratra.When the world was not in existence, there was darkness all around. At this time, Maa Kushmandaa created the Brahmand with her 'Ishat' laughter. This way, she is the creator of the whole universe and she is the aadi shakti.She is believed to reside in the innermost core of Sun. Her light and energy energizes all ten directions.
Skand Maa - Who gives the gift of differentiation of right from wrong to the world. Maa Durga's fifth form is Maa Skandmata. She is worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri.During Navratra her worship blesses the saadhak is blessed with bounties of all kinds. She is also known as Padmaasanaa as she sits on a Lotus.
She is known as Skandamaata because she is the mother of Skanda or Lord Kaartikeya. Lord Kartikeya was the Chief of God's army during devaasur sangram.
Maa Kaatyayini - Who persistently battles against the evil and deceitful entities. Maa Durga's sixth form is Maa Katyayini. There is an interesting story behind her name - there was a very famous Rishi named Kat. Her son was known as Kaatya. Famous Rishi Kaatyayan was born as his successor only. He did a very tough anushthaan to worship Bhagwati Durga. He desired to have Maa Durga as his daughter.Maiya accepted his request. Later when the Demon Mahishaasur created havoc around the World then all three top gods contributed their energies to request Maiya to take a new form to end Mahishasur. As magharshi Kaatyayan had worshipped first she took the new form and was adorned with the name of Kaatyayini. Maa durga's Katyayini is worshipped on sixth day of Navratras.
Maa Kaalratri, who killed Raktabeej ( a demon who produce a demon from every drop of blood that fell from his body. Goddess eventually licked the blood before it could reach the ground and hence conquered him).
Maa MahaGauri - Who also liberate the world of evil forces. She is dressed in white and is one of the most soft-spoken and simple form of Maa Durga.
Mata Sidhidaarti - Maa Durga's ninth form is Maa Siddhdaatri. She is a treasure house of Mystic Powers (Yantra Tantra) and Knowledge (Gyaan). She is worshipped by all whether its rishis, munis or Gods.-----------------------
It is also said that the nine days are divided and devoted to the Trinity of God worshipped in a female form in which for three days Maa Durga (Goddess of valor, Power & Energy ) is worshipped, for three days Maa Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth & Prosperity) and three days for Maa Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge , Learning and Art) is worshipped.
Following rituals are observed in these nine days:
Rituals for the First Three Days of Navratras :During the first three days of Navratri Maa Durga -( The Goddess of Valor, Power and Energy ) is worshiped in its manifestations as Kumari, Parvati and Kali. These three forms represent the various nature or classes of woman - as a young virgin girl, as a wife and mother and as an old mature woman respectively. On the first day of Navratri barley seeds are sown in a small pot (mostly earthen pot or container) in the Puja (worship ) room. On the tenth day when these seeds grow into small shoots these are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god and are received as Prasad.
Rituals for Fourth - Sixth Days of Navratras :
During these three days it is Maa Lakshmi - ( The Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity ) who is worshiped. This is done to rekindle divine qualities in a devotees mind. Prayers, Kirtans and Jagratns are organized in various temples and community halls by the religious minded people. On the fifth day which is known as Lalita Panchami, it is traditional, to gather and display all literature available in the house, light a lamp or 'diya' to invoke Saraswati Maa, the Goddess of knowledge and art.
Rituals for Seventh - Eighth Days of Navratras :
On the seventh and eighth day of Navratri Maa Saraswati - (The Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Learning & Art) is worshiped. It is believed that worshiping Maa Saraswati enhances the spiritual knowledge of a devotee and makes a person free of all bonds of the Sansara ( Material World). This in turn will free a devotee from all earthly bondages.
On the 8th day of this colorful festival, Yagna or Homam (holy fire) is performed. Pure Desi Ghee (clarified pure butter), kheer (rice pudding) and sesame seeds form the holy offering to Goddess Durga Maa ( Divine Mother). Many people in north India worship the 8th day as ashtami .
Rituals of the Ninth or Mahanavami Day :
The festival of Navratri culminates on Mahanavami . This is the most important day of the festival. On this day 'Kanya Pujan' is performed in Hindu households. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper. They are also treated with a Prasad of Puri, Black Chanas ( Chhole) and Halwa , small token of money , red bangles and red scarf . On this day these little girls usually move from house to house and enjoy and relish this special treat. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country.
Wishing you all a very Happy Navratri..May the blessings of Durga maata always be with us and teach us to follow the right path and destroy all the evil within us ..Click Here to read all the Magazines and Newsletters related to Shri Shirdi Sai baba
Message from the teachings of Saibaba for 20th September
Playing Game of Marbles With Baba
Oh children, hear my words attentively,
Marbles is not an easy game to take lightly,
Aiming right, the other marble should be hit,
How to play, should be your mind's ploy instant,
On losing the game, won't you feel like weeping
Won't victory be yours on patiently playing,
With devotion should any work be done,
With right spirit any study should begun,
Forever shall I remain your companion,
It's time to mature into a righteous human.
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