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Navaratri – Festival of victory of good over evil

4/28/2018

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सर्व मंगलमांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके शरण्ये त्र्यंबके गौरी नारायणि नमोस्तुते ।

The Navratri festival is celebrated to mark victory of Good over Evil. It is associated with the prominent battle that took place between Ma Durga and demon Mahishasur. Ma Durga is worshipped as goddess of Shakti to seek her blessings for prosperity, success, power, longevity, healthy life etc. Special sadhna is done to earn divine powers. Devi Ma is the primordial energy for creation, preservation and destruction. Ma Durga and its all forms are equipped with weapons and worship of “Ma” signifies that in case demonic power rises, weapons should be used to destroy the demons.

When Celebrated –
Navratri is celebrated mostly twice in a year after harvest seasons in many states:

Vasanta Navaratri - Near spring season – in Shukla paksh of Chaitra month (March – April) commences from first day (Pratipada),
Sharada Navaratri - Near autumn season – in Shukla paksh of Ashwin month (September – October) commences from first day (Pratipada)

Other two Navaratris are observed regionally in Magh (January – February) and Ashada (June – July).

Scientific significance:
Navratri has not only religious importance but also spiritual & other significances. Due to rotation of earth, sun crosses the plane of the earth equator in March & September and changes the directions of sun’s rays falling on earth. This phenomenon brings change in the seasons (summer to autumn and winter to spring). The Navratri festival in Chaitra and Ashwin months coincide with these two junctions of seasons. The change of seasons brings climatic changes and changes in energy levels in the human bodies. Further, the climatic changes increase influx of bacteria and other germs. Fasting, Yogic procedures, observance of discipline for nine days, sadhna, japa etc. purify the body-mind and enhances fighting power of the body against the microbial infections. In addition, the celebrations marked by music, dance and drama etc., during Navratri which elevate the positive energy levels among people.

Spiritual significance:
Traditional worship practices include installing beautiful statues of Mahishasur Mardani, setting up of Kalash, chanting of bells, blowing of conch, and lighting of lamps for nine days uninterruptedly. Special form of Ma Durga murti and various practices of worship have special significance.

Installing of revered Ma Durga murti (statute) – Ma Durga is sitting on lion, having ten hands duly equipped with various weapons viz. conch, discuss, lotus, sword, bow with arrow, trishul, mace, thunderbolt, snake and club or axe, indicating her as saviour of devotees from all ten directions. The weapons are to cut the evil tendencies.
1. Lion is indication of nature. It also symbolizes unlimited power.
2. Sudarshan chakra (Discuss) means Suva-darshan (to introspect & destroy evil tendencies of self). It signifies to destroy evil and produce an environment conducive to the growth of righteousness.
3. Trishul (Trident) is formed of one long rod and three small rods. The long rod is to develop strong will-power and three small rods are to kill the evil tendencies by the three modes viz. action, thought and speech. It also symbolizes three attributes - Satva, Rajas and Tamas and she is remover of all the three types of miseries - physical, mental and spiritual.
4. Shankh (Conch) – Sound of Shankh produces the divine Om sound. It unites the worshippers with divine power and unifies mind, speech and actions with it.
5. Sward symbolizes the weapon to cut evil tendencies by wisdom.
Bow & arrow symbolizes to keep one target i.e. to be liberated and to work in life keeping this target in mind. The bow and arrow also symbolizes energy while the bow represents potential energy, the arrow represents the kinetic energy.
1. Mace is to fight with five defects.
2. Thunderbolt signifies firmness in convictions.
3. Snake symbolizes consciousness and the masculine energy of Shiva.
4. Club or axe - Both symbolise the powers of Vishwakarma, and have the power to destroy as well as create.
5. Lotus signifies to live in life as lotus stays pure even in sludge. Lotus stands for the continuous evolution of the spiritual quality of devotees amidst the worldly mud of lust and greed.
Setting of Kalash – it signifies the storage of wisdom.
Lighting of lamps uninterruptedly – lighting of lamps do away darkness. By bhajan sandhya, study of scriptures etc. ignite wisdom to illuminate our inner self.
Kanya pujan (worshipping of young girls) – The formless almighty has created maya or prakriti. Brahman is action-less and maya or prakriti is Shakti which is kinetic power. Maya becomes the universe, living beings, and the twenty four cosmic principles. Devi is symbolic representation of the omnipresent cosmic Energy or maya. The whole Creation is permeated by this Energy.The worship of young girls signifies the powers of prakriti such as prosperity, success, intelligence, etc.
The sound of the bells and conch kills germs up-to far-away places.
Navratri puja is done at the night as it is easy to concentrate and chanting of Mantras in a peaceful environment yield auspicious results. The nine-day long worship is aimed at removing the inner enemies viz. lust, anger, greed, attachment, ahamkar (inflated ego), fear, jealousy, hatred, guilt etc.

Religious Significance:
Nav means nine and ratri means night. Hence, Navratri is traditionally being celebrated in night for nine days all over India marked by worship Ma Durga and her various forms. It is unclear how and in which century the festival began. Devi's epithets synonymous with Durga appear in Upanishadic literature, such as Kali in verse 1.2.4 of the Mundaka Upanishad dated to about the 5th century BCE. Surviving manuscripts from the 14th century provide guidelines for Durga puja, while historical records suggest royalty and wealthy families were sponsoring major Durga Puja public festivities since at least the 16th century.

The festivities extend beyond goddess Durga. Various other goddesses such as Saraswati, Lakshmi and gods such as Ganesha, Kartikeya, Shiva and Krishna are regionally revered. In Vasanta Navaratri, Ramayana recital is done for nine days followed by Rama Navami to remember the birth of Rama. In Sharadai Navratri, re-enactment of dance drama on life of Rama, based on Sri Ramcharitramanas is staged for nine days followed by Dussehra, where the effigies of Demon Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burnt to celebrate the victory of good over evil forces.

History:
Legend has it that the demon king Mahishasura was granted immortality by Lord Brahma, with the condition being that he could only be defeated by a woman. Mahishasura attacked all the three spheres, Trilok, which includes Earth, Heaven and Hell, and nobody could defeat him. Then Brahma ji, Vishnu ji, Shiva ji and other deities combined their powers to create Goddess Durga.

During 15-day long battle between Mahishasura and Goddes Durga, the demon king kept changing his form to confuse the goddess. When, Mahishasura turned into a buffalo, Goddess Durga slayed him with her trishul. It was the day of Mahalaya when Mahishasura was killed.

Day-wise worship:

On day 1 (Pratipada): Shailaputri, (lit. Daughuter of mountain), an incarnation of Parvati. She is depicted as riding a Bull, with a Trishul in her right hand and Lotus in left. The color of the day is Red, which depicts action and vigor. During fasting on this day, pure cow ghee is offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings of health.
On day 2 (Dwitiya): Brahmcharini, another incarnation of Parvati, is worshiped. In this form, Parvati became Sati. Brahmcharini is worshiped for emancipation or moksha and endowment of peace and prosperity. Depicted as walking bare feet and holding a japamala and kamandalu in her hands, she symbolizes bliss and calm. The color of the day is Royal Blue which depicts calmness-cum-energy. During this day, shakkur (grinded sugar) is offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings of long life of all family members.
On day 3 (Tritiya): Chandraghanta, - the name derived from the fact that after marrying Shiva, Parvati adorned her forehead with half-chandra(lit. moon). She is the embodiment of beauty and is also symbolic of bravery, and hence, the color of the day is Yellow. During this day, sweets or gheer is offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings of doing away miseries.
On day 4 (Chaturthi) : Kushmunda, believed to be the creative power of universe, Kushmunda is associated to the endowment of vegetation on earth and hence, the color of the day is Green. She is depicted as having eight arms and sits on a Lion. During fasting on this day, mallpua (a kind of sweet) is offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings of intelligence.
On day 5 (Panchami) : Skandmata, is the mother of Skand(or Kartikeya). The color Grey is symbolic of the transforming strength of a mother when her child is confronted to dangers. She is depicted riding a ferocious Lion, having four arms, and holding her baby. During fasting on this day, bananas are offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings of healthy body.
On day 6 (Sashti) : Katyayani, born to a sage, Katya, she is an incarnation of Durga and is shown to exhibit courage which is symbolized by the color Orange. Known as the warrior goddess, she is considered one of the most violent forms of Goddess Parvati. In this avatar, the Devi rides a lion and has four hands. During fasting on this day, honey is offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings of attractive power.
On day 7 (Saptmi): Kalratri, is considered the most ferocious form of Goddess Durga. It is believed that Parvati removed her fair skin to kill the demons Shumbh & Nisumbh. The color of the day is White. During fasting on this day, jaggery is offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings to do away sudden misery.
On day 8 (Ashtmi) : Mahagauri, symbolizes intelligence and peace. The colour associated to this day is Pink which depicts optimism. During fasting on this day, coconut is offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings of children.
On Day 9 (Navmi): Sidhidatri, is believed to possess and bestows all type of Siddhis. She has four hands, sitting on lotus. During fasting on this day, back sesame is offered to feet of Ma to obtain the blessings to avoid fears.

Modes of celebrations in various parts of Bharat:
The temples are decorated and illuminated during the period. Special puja, havan, arti and kirtans are done. During Durga puja there are performances of music, dance and plays, making the cultural event. Durga Puja or Durgotsav is celebrated pan India.

In Eastern & North eastern Part of India, big Pandals are erected with major deities such as Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. On tenth day, idols are taken in procession, married women apply sindoor to idol and bid her farewell and immersed in pond, river or sea.
In Gujarat, woman prepares earthen pots with various pulses and then worships the sprouts for nine days. Every evening people gather in open space in ethnic colourful dresses and dance garba in big circles to the tune of folk songs and rhythmic clapping of the hands. In the centre of the circle a pot with holes and burning lamp called Garba or Garba Deep is placed. Younger generation participants dance with dandiyas, a pair of sticks.
In south India, houses display Navaratri Kolu. Colorful dolls are placed in rows on decorated tiers. Women and children go visiting to pay respect to each other kolu.

In North India, people worship nine forms of Durga and give respect, special dishes and gifts to young girls (6 girls and one boy below 11 years) called as Kanya Langra on ashtmi or navami. Prasad of black channa and puri are prepared.

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FESTIVALS

Navaratri – Festival of victory of good over evil

Ganesh Chaturthi – Festival for wisdom & Prosperity

Krishna Janamashtmi – Birthday of Shree Krishna

Holi – Festival of Colours, love & Friendship

Makar Sankranti – Festival of kites, bullfights & bonfires

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