Beautiful Navratri: Meaning & Significance of this Fun festival

Navratri or Durga Puja, is one more colorful flower in the fragrant bouquet of Indian festivals. Intense worship of Goddess Shakti/ Durga and the Divine Feminine forces is what Navratri is about. Her blessings for wealth, happiness, prosperity is sought after in this 9-day extravaganza complete with prayers, fasts, katha, garba, dandiya and japa hailing her many incarnations and ending with Dussehra (Vijayadashami) on the 10th Day. This post breezes over the spiritual significance of Navaratri, its celebrations, key mantras/prayers, along with the wonderful stories attached to the Goddess.

 Sharada Navaratri falling in Sept-Oct is the most widely celebrated of all 4 Navratris in the year. 

The many Hindu Goddesses would naturally confuse someone new to Hinduism. So first lets better understand the concept of Goddesses and their avatars and their role with respect to the Gods. 

The relationship between the Navratri goddesses’ and the Divine Mother, Goddess Shakti:

Most Hindu sects/philosophies agree on this relationship of the visible Universe with respect to

Brahman, Shakti and Prakriti/Maya.

Brahman (The Ultimate Truth/Divinity) is Pure, All knowing, All pervading static consciousness while Shakti is the inseparable active energy aspect of this Divinity, that manifests the worlds. Shakti the doer gets this done through Maya or Prakriti.

Take the case of creation of a chapati. The one who orchestrates this cooking is the first cause, the instruments needed like the rolling pin, bowl, pan, fire etc are instrumental causes while the flour, water and salt are the material causes. Similarly in Hindu Philosophy it is believed that in the Creation-Sustenance-Dissolution, Brahman is the first cause, Shakti is the instrumental cause that gets everything done and Maya or Prakriti is the material cause, the material that goes into making this gross/subtle worlds.

Maya achieves this through two powers. The first is through the veiling power , Avarana Shakti that makes a Jiva forget his real Divine Self . Next is through the projection power, Vikshepa Shakti through which one feels that this world of objects is the Ultimate, Final reality.

Goddess Shakti/Durga

Goddess Durga then is the Life force/Divine Energy that manifests in all things seen, heard and felt. She is considered the Divine Mother, the Goddess Shakti.

Further the mind, body intellect, senses, ego, prana, the manifested world etc are all manifestations of Shakti. It is Devi Shakti who activates the latent Kundalini and propels it to pierce all six chakras from the Muladhara chakra to the Sahasrara chakra leading to highest perfection of Man.  

So, Shakti is the energy that links Brahman (called as Siva-Vishnu-Brahma) and Maya. 

With the 3 gunas of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas she manifests herself as Iccha Shakti (desire), Kriya Shakti (action) and Jnana Shakti (knowledge). She literally executes the creation-preservation-dissolution aspects that the Trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva are known for.

Therefore, the Devi Shakti manifests as Goddess Saraswati for Creation as Brahma-Shakti, Goddess Laxmi for Growth/Expansion as Vishnu-Shakti and Goddess Durga/Parvati/Gauri for Dissolution as Shiva-Shakti respectively.

She is therefore also called as Tripurasundari. Her many manifestations and names are Kali, Uma, Chamundi, Rajarajeshwari, Chandi, Amba, Ambika, Bhuvaneshwari, Matangi, Bagalmukhi, Tara, Dhumavati, Bhairavi, Shodasi etc.

More on the spiritual significance Of Navratri

It is the peculiarity of Hindu festivals, events and rituals that they have a deeper meaning attached. But unfortunately, that is mostly lost in time and only the external aspects, remembered

Navaratri has the following key significances that go beyond the external flamboyance. 

      1.    Navratri’s significance as an ebullient festival that helps cope with Seasonal/ Planetary changes.

 As per Hinduism, Man is but a microcosm of the larger macro-cosmic universe. He is the Virat Purusha, the Vishva-Nara, the Cosmic Man. As he is inextricably connected, changes in the universe affect his body, mind and soul.

 So, the 4 Navaratris in a year fall during the four seasonal transitions all on the bright half of the Hindu lunar calendar. These are Sharada Navartri (Sept-Oct; monsoon-autumn), Chaitra/Vasantha Navaratri (Mar-Apr; winter-spring), Magha Navaratri (Dec-Jan; autumn-winter) and Ashadha Navaratri (June- July; summer to monsoon)

 To sum up, Navaratri is a nine-day window filled with body-mind-soul purifying devotion, diet and positivity that gives a fillip to cope with the ill-effects of seasonal/planetary position changes.

 2.    Navratri’s significance as a celebration of the Feminine Forces:         

Navaratri reminds us of the Advaitic truth that Shakti, the powerful life force that illumines everything around us, is within us.

 Through its folk lore and the nine different aspects of the Devi, humans especially women are reminded that they are gifted. There is no single mould that they can be fitted into. They can be the devoted wife/loving mother Parvati or the ferocious warrior Durga/Kali destroying demonic forces or the beautiful auspicious Lakshmi bringing glory and success to her kin or even the scholarly Saraswati, being the wisdom repository of this world.

 Navratri is a reminder that women must always be aware of the multiple ‘Shaktis’ within them.

And praying to Goddess Durga and her valiant, beautiful, endearing as well as intimidating forms during Navaratri reinforces exactly that.  

       3.    Navratri’s significance as a festival that reinforces stepwise evolution in goals,  Evolution process from Man (Jiva-atman) to Super-Man (Param-atman)

Often times we want to make changes in ourselves and in others but we want it fast. That really does not work

For example, we want money, success, fame but all very quickly. If that actually does happen, then it certainly leaves us too, just as fast.

 That’s because deep within, we haven’t really cleared the ground for the sowing of fresh seeds. Spiritually, we are still so impoverished inside that no amount of easy money can hold up.

Further, some crave knowledge, so they can look like an erudite scholar. So, they cram up. But that fades just as quickly as it has been stuffed into the brain. Because this kind of wisdom (if it can be called that) hasn’t been earned with true character or sweat, blood and tears.

 That is why the 9 Navadurga days have been divided into 3 phases that exemplify that only after the destruction of ignorance and negativity, the process of creation, sustenance, as well as growth and expansion can take place organically.

 The 9 Days of Navratri and its true essence  

Navratri significance of Days 1-3:

The first three days are dedicated to Goddess Durga is revered in her warrior avatars. Devi Durga as a consort of Lord Shiva destroys all that is evil and toxic, all that is Tamasic

 This translates to a genuine effort in us to destroy all that is Toxic, negative and impure in us so that fresh goodness can be sowed and nurtured

Navratri significance of Days 4-6

 Next three days are dedicated for sowing the seeds of goodness and nurturing the shoots. These pleasant spiritual virtues are embodied in Goddess Lakshmi who is serene, calm while working overtime to confer endless spiritual wealth on her devotees.

She personifies optimal Rajas and action that we must take for successful sustenance of a good life.

Navratri significance of Days 7-9

 This last phase is when, the aspirant cleansed of his flaws and replenished with spirituality and right action is ready for eclectic wisdom. Now pristine pure Goddess Saraswati shines over him blessing him with Sattva, knowledge and goodness

Dussehra/ Vijayadashami

Finally  Vijayadashami/ Dussehra is celebrated on teh 10th day as the triumphant day when the soul has evolved to the highest truth or Sat-Chit-Ananda, Existence-Consciousness-Bliss.

Navratri celebrations and  spiritual practices, The Image of Durga Symbolism

 Durga in Sanskrit means that which is incomprehensible or difficult to reach. As Parvati she is the beautiful consort of Shiva. But as Kali she is the destroyer of evil. She is pictured as riding a lion. She has ten arms wielding different weapons of like a conch, a disc, rosary, shield, bow, arrow, whip, bell etc. She is always in gorgeous red and decked with ornaments. Her hair is let loose secure on the top with a crown.

Navratri celebration

·      Images and Idols of the Goddess is consecrated then immersed at the end of the festival just like Ganesh Chaturthi.

·      On the first day barley seeds are sown in a small bed of mud in the Pooja room. The shoots that appear on the 10^th day are distributed as prasad

·      Devotees fast with milk and fruits

·       Children are initiated into learning alphabets

·      Disciples are initiated with a mantra

·      Literature Books are worshipped on the 5^th or the 9^th day as well as Vijayadashami

·      On the last day, Kanya Puja through the worship of nine girls below 10 years is done. They are treated with sumptuous feast and gifted new clothes. They are considered a manifestation of the Goddess while being fed.

·      Women dress up in traditional finery in the colour code as defined by that particular day.

·      In some places, effigies of Ravana are burnt to signify the victory of good over evil.

·      In many states Garba and Dandiya are huge crowd pullers that specifically attract a large audience.

Navratri Holy recitation/ Chanting of scriptures:

·      Durga Saptashati or Devi Mahatmya

·      Devi Suktam, Ratri Suktam

·      Lalita Sahasranama

·      Navarna Mantra : Aim Hreem Kleem Chaamundaayi vichche

·      Devi Bhagavata Purana

·      Devi Atharvashirsha Upanishad

 The 9-Navadurga Goddesses prayed to in the 9 Navratri days and corresponding colour scheme:

Navratri Day 1:

Colour: White, Goddess: Shailaputri

Shaila means mountain, so shailaputri means ‘daughter of the mountains’. This refers to Goddess Parvati, the daughter of the kind of the mountains Himayam.

As per legends Parvati is the re-incarnati of Sati, the first wife of Shiva. One day Daksha (Sati’s father) organized a grand havan inviting all Gods but deliberately ignored inviting Shiva. Incensed Sati reached the venue for a hearty confrontation with her dad post which she chose to jump into the sacrificial fires.

Distraught Shiva descended upon Daksha and that’s when the famous Tandav Nritya happens.

Parvati is actually Sati reincarnated in the next birth.

 Navratri Day 2:

Colour: Red, Goddess: Brahmacharini

This goddess is Parvati before marriage when she undertook severe penance to win over Shiva.

 Navratri Day 3:

Colour: Royal Blue, Goddess: Chandraghanta

 Chandra-Ghanta means moon-bell. On the day of their wedding Shiva lands up dishevelled with ashes and snakes all over his body shocking Parvati’s family. To match his countenance Parvati first assumes a fierce form of Chandra ghanta, with a crescent moon on her head. Later, upon her request Shiva assumes a finer form.

 Navratri Day 4:

Colour: Yellow, Goddess: Kushmanda

Kushmanda i.e a pumpkin is a unique vegetable very high on natural prana. The name here refers to the Universal Prana

 Navratri Day 5:

Colour: Green, Goddess: Skandamata

Skanda or Kartikeya is Parvati’s son who is a both a warrior and an intellectual. This day is dedicated to the Goddess who combines knowledge and action

 Navratri Day 6:

Colour: Grey, Goddess: Katyayani

Goddess Katyayani is the fiery angry incarnation of Goddess Durga when she actually slays Mahishasura and restores peace and order

 Navratri Day 7:

Colour: Orange, Goddess: Kalaratri

 A fearsome reincarnation of Goddess Durga when she slays the terrible demon Durgamasura

 Navratri Day 8:

Colour: Peacock Green, Goddess: Mahagauri

 This is one of the most beautiful forms that the Goddess assumes after her exploits in the terrible incarnations when she roots out Evil.

Navratri Day 9: 

Colour: Pink, Goddess: Siddhidatri

Siddh means perfected. This is one of the earliest forms of Goddess that Shiva manifested from the left side of the Ardhanarishwara Shiva-Shakti incarnations.

 Some interesting Navratri Stories 

1. Navratri and the visit to the Mom

Parvati’s mom (The queen of mountain Himalaya) longed to meet her daughter. The Goddess who was permitted to be gone for 9 days by Shiva returned back to mount Kailash on the 10^th day celebrated as Vijayadashami

2.    Navratri and Mahishasura:

Navratri also celebrates the victory of the Goddess over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. This monstrous demon had become invincible with his incredible powers acquired through boons after severe austerities.

The Gods were worried because even the Trinity could not get rid of him.  Therefore on their request the Trinity Gods (Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva) united their energies into a feminine form creating Goddess Durga

She waged a war on his forces eventually vanquishing him over the 9 days of Navaratri.

3.    Goddess Shakti and  Kena Upanishad:

Goddess Shakti as Uma gives the egoistic gods a wake-up call by assuming a gigantic Yaksha’s form when they become too sure of their powers. Hapless, they realize that all their victories were thanks to the grace of Shakti

4.    Goddess Shakti and Vak :

In the Rig- Veda, Vak (speech) sings a beautiful hymn called the Devi Sukta when realizes her oneness with the Divine Mother and how through Her, Vak manifests across the creatures of the world.

5.    Goddess Lalita Tripurasundari/ Durga and Bhandasura:

Once when Shiva burnt Lord Kama with his third eye, his son Ganapati playfully made a figurine out of the ashes. Shiva breathed life into it thereby creating Bhandasura.  A boon from Shiva made him vain and soon a powerful menace. Lalita Tripurasundari, the Goddess’s incarnation fought him for 9 days and 9 nights and finally killed him on Vijayadashami.