Navratri
Navratri is the celebration of Durga puja for over 9 days & night which begins on 25th of September of this year.
“Adishakti” or “Ma” has primarily taken 9 forms. On the first day she is known as Shailputri, on second day she is known as Brahmacharini, third day as Chandraghunta, fourth day as Kushmanda, fifth day as Skandhmata, sixth day as Katyayni, seventh day as Kalratri, eight day as Mahagauri and on the ninth day as Siddhidatri.
We pray to Durga for fulfilling our wishes for “Dharma, Arth, Kaam and Moksha”. Siddhidatri is the one beyond whom there is nothing. “Siddhi” means – “Siddhaha swayam paripakvaha sa aiva siddhaha” – Siddh is one who is perfect in all i.e for whom nothing is impossible.
“Brahmarakshas vaitala kushmanda bhairavadaya
Nashyanti vyadhaya sarve lutavisthotakadaya”
i.e. whether it is Brahmrakshas, Kushmanda, Bhairav or any other adverse power, Siddhidatri destroys it in no time. She removes all hurdles even to the extent of a small difficulty like a rash or a blister, she cures her bhakta of that too. Such is her kindness.
Guruji said that we owe our birth to our mother who not only gives us birth but also nourishes us and gives us the basic knowledge. When we cannot have a life without a mother how can there be life without “Mahamayi”.
She is “Tvamishwaridevi Characharasya” – i.e. she resides in all living and non living beings. She is omnipresent in all three loks.
Guruji prophisied that a feminine form was critical to life. He said all main function of our body are feminine like – “atma, Drishti, budhi (Soul, eyes, brain) etc. i.e. they are indicative of devi. If “atma swarupa” devi is not in our body we are lifeless therefore we must definitely pray to durga with shradha & bhakti.
Even Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh have prayed to devi. If shiva is separated from shakti “eekar” what remains is “Shav” which is a dead body i.e. he takes Samadhi.
“Shivoapi shavatam yati kundalinya vivarjitah”
In Brahma ‘ma’ is “aakar”, if it is separated what is left is Brahm which is a state of no activity or no deed. In Vishnu “ma” is “ookar” if it is separated what is left is “Vishn”. In Vishn – “Vi” is “upsarg”. The word left is “shn” which means death. As we see even Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are incomplete without shakti of “ma” then what to say of a human.
There are three main forms of Shakti – Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. Once king Surath asked Markandeya Rishi which form of “Ma” he should worship. The king enquired that in Rigveda Ma has stated that –
“Ekaika “ i.e. I am one also
“Aham Bahushyam” i.e. I am countless, even 33 crore devtas cannot count how many I am. Ma says “I am ved”, “I am aved”, “I am knowledge” & “I am ignorance”.
Markandeya rishi an enlightened sage said “Sarvasyadya Mahalakshmi”. The main form of all the numerous devi is Mahalakshmi or Shridevi.
Guruji said Mahakali was “Tamoguna”, “Satoguna” is Mahasaraswati & “Rajoguna” is mahalakshmi and Shridevi is Trigunmayi.
Ma blesses the bhakta, fulfils their desires in different forms.
“Khadagam chakra gadeshu chap parigham
Shoolam bhushumdim shirah.
Shankahm sandhatim kareys trinayanam
Sarvangbhushavritam
Neelashmadyuti masya padyugalam.
Seve Mahakalikam
Yamastauta swapite haraon
Kamalajo Hantum Madhukaitabham”
By worshiping Mahakali one is free from fear of any kind.
“Ya shri swayam sukritinam Bhavaneshu lakshmi
Papatmanam Kritidhiyam Hridayeshu Buddhi
Shraddha satam kulajan prabhvasya lajja.
Tam twam natasmah paripalaya devi vishwam”
Adilakshmi resides with Lord Narayan. She is omnipresent and ensures her bhakt do good karma. She forms wisdom in ignorant. She ensures that respect is intact for all.
It is with the blessings of Mahalakshmi that many yajnas are conducted. Daan, tap, temples and ashram are organised due to her blessing
Baba said – “Buddhiryasya Balam tasya
Nirbudhestu kuto balam”
i.e. where this wisdom there strength and prosperity.
And Mahasaraswati blesses us with wisdom without which money can make one go astray.
“Ya devi Sarvabhuteshu budhirupen sansthitah
Namastasyay Namastasyay Namastasyay namo namah”
Guruji stressed that when there is money without wisdom it makes a man an owl. He will spend time in clubs and non charitable activities. There will be lot of negative impact on the mind and one will fall from grace and indulge in bad deeds.
If there is wisdom the money will be used in creating good karma, will take on to satsang. Yagya, daan etc will be carried out by wise people which not only betters this life but enhances the next life too and will lead the soul to moksha – Narayan lok.
Guruji enlightened his disciples by elaborating the various forms of “Ma Shakti”. He said that she took whatever form in which she was needed by her bhakta at any point of time – Bhramari, sukari, padma, medha, savitri, jaya. She takes form of victory for good deeds. She becomes swaha, swadha, hrishti, pushti, atma swamini.
“Durga Durgatinashini”
She accomplishes the impossible tasks. She won over insurmountable demons like Shumb – nishumbh, madhu, kaitabhi etc.
“Durga durgartishamani durga papnivarini
Durgamachedini durgsadhini durgnashini
Durgatodharini durgnihantri durgamapaha”
Guruji advised that each must worship “Ma”. If we are not able to do so everyday then at least during “Shardeeya Navratri” one must dedicate oneself to her worship.
He said that in anyway which is possible by all they must pray to durga during Navratra by keeping fast or eating less. Those who disregard “durga” there good karma are destroyed.
“Tasya karma nashyanti” so says Rishi markandeya.
Mahamayi’s worship has been spoken about even in Gurugranth Sahib.
Shrimad Bhagavad writes – “devi saraswati Vyasam tato jayamudiryet.”
Guruji said that even in Christianity praying to Mother Mary was an indication of omniscience of “shakti”. Durga is worshiped as “Shakti” or “Jyoti” or “durga” or many other names.
We must pray to her as she is our soul, our wisdom, our strength (both mental & physical).
One must not indulge in laziness or criticism or take it lightly. One should do the paatth. If one is not capable of doing the paatth then one should listen to it wherever it is happening – “Shrutva tasya phalam labhet” i.e. by listening itself one gets the fruits of doing it.
If one is not able to do puja on “ashtami” or “navmi” one can do so on “chaturdashi”.
Whenever there are hurdles created by demons (kaam, krodh, mad, moh etc) then when one remembers Durga, these hurdles are removed. Guruji asked that if one did not believe or know about durga will one call her ?
There are four navratras in the year, two are hidden & two are celebrated openly. (Ashadh & Magh navratras are hidden).
Guruji says that even if one is not able to observe all four Navratra, doing sharad Navratra was enough. Ma shakti cares for us throughout the year and we are obliged to worship her during this time. But Guruji said that we must offer satvik prasad for her. The offering of alcohol or meat was absolutely & completely prohibited.
The “beej mantra” for adishakti is “om ang sring kling chamundayay vichchey”. And after the chanting of this mantra one must do the “Durga shaptshati” patth. This mantra pleases the devi in all three forms – Mahakali, Mahasaraswati and Mahalakshmi.
For those who wish to do Mahalakshmi mantra it is – “om shri shriyay namah”. For those who wish to do Mahasaraswati mantra it is – “om ang saraswatyaya namah”.
But guruji advocated the beej mantra to be done as much as one could do.
Vijay Dashmi – Dussehra
It is celebration of victory of Lord Ram over Ravana. Also when deva’s were harassed by demons like Shumb, Nishumb, Raktbeej they prayed to Ma durga. She killed the demons. The deva’s got together & celebrated Vijay dashmi.
One should celebrate this festival whole heartedly as is the tradition from time immemorial.
May Durga Mata blesses all.
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