Author: Team Amrita Yoga, Amritapuri
Summary
Navaratri is a nine-day festival that celebrates the power of the mother and the victory of good over evil. It is a time for spiritual purification and gaining knowledge through prayer and fasting. The festival is not only important for spiritual aspirants, but also for those leading a worldly life. It teaches us to invoke the power within us and to have a loving and forgiving attitude towards God, just like a child with their mother. Join in the celebration and discover the power of the Divine Mother during Navaratri.
The nine nights of Navaratri are a time of religious observance – for prayers to purify the mind, to remove ignorance, and to awaken right knowledge. The tenth day of Vijayadashami celebrates victory and new beginnings. Worship of Goddess Jagat Janani’s nine faces of femininity, childhood, girlhood, youth, and motherhood are related to the primordial power of the mother, the substratum of the universe.
Without knowledge, human beings will become like animals. MahaSaraswathi, the educator, is the embodiment of all art. Vidya is worshiped during Navratri. Vidya Vyasani worships the Goddess with fasting for Mahanavami. Durgashtami, Mahanavami, Vijayadashami, these three days are the most important days in the worship of Goddess Vidyadhi – all the devotees worship their instruments with devotion during Navratri.
At one level, Navaratri signifies the progress of a spiritual aspirant. The mind is purified through Yajna or ritual sacrifice. Without this knowledge, human beings become like animals. Negativities such as sloth, lust, anger, pride, envy, and impatience are obstacles to spiritual practice. Conquering them through penance, and thus attaining spiritual fulfillment – this is the principle of Navaratri. Through prayer one gains power, auspiciousness, and knowledge. Through vows, we increase our will power and gain greater self-control. Vijayadasami marks the successful completion of this occasion.
The spiritual aspirant passes through three stages personified by Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi, before entering the realm of infinite realization of the Self. The significance of each stage of worship has clear parallels in the different stages of sadhana (spiritual practices): first, negative tendencies need to be controlled; second, virtues need to be ingrained; third, after gaining the necessary mental purity, spiritual knowledge needs to be acquired. Only then will the spiritual aspirant attain spiritual illumination.
Navaratri is important not only for spiritual aspirants but for those who lead a worldly life. All may invoke Durga’s help to surmount obstacles; pray to Lakshmi for peace and prosperity and contemplate on Saraswathi for knowledge. Thus, we invoke the Shakti or power that is within us. Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi are not different deities, but facets of the one Divinity.
We have the freedom to worship God in any form we like. We can worship God as Mother, Father, Guru, Friend, Lord, or even as our own child. Among human relationships, the one between mother and child is the highest. The child has total freedom with his mother. He gets what he wants by crying or through willfulness. Even if the mother spanks him, he will hold on to her tightly. “I have no other refuge than her” – this is his attitude. No matter what the cause of his distress, he finds consolation in his mother’s lap. This is the attitude we should have towards God. The mother is the embodiment of patience. No matter how many times the child errs, she forgives him and showers her affection on him. While most mothers have such love only for their own, the Divine Mother loves all, and teaches them through spiritual discipline.
Thank you for explaining the importance of this auspicious 9 day festival.
I was not fully cognizant of what it represents especially in these challenging global times.
May the Universal Mother continue to bless, protect and teach her children for it is sorely needed on planet Earth.
Offering my thanks and gratitude and seeking forgiveness at the lotus feet of our beloved Amma.