Sarvamangala mangalye shivesarvarth sadhike.
Sharanye tryambake Gauri Narayani Namostute.
Meaning : All Mars are in the form of Mars; Self in the form of Kalyan Shiva; Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the four purusharths that give them; worthy of surrender; Such Narayani Devi with three eyes, I salute you.
This one verse reveals the incomparable qualities of Shri Durga Devi. Adi Shakti Shri Durga Devi is the symbol of all perfect for life. Shri Durgadevi is called the mother of all the worlds. Being the mother of the world, she is the mother of all of us and runs away from the cry of the children.
Navratri is the celebration of Shri Durga Devi who took an incarnation for the destruction of Mahishasura. Establish Ghat in Navratri. Worshiping Navratri festival for nine days is like worshiping the glorious Adi Shakti i.e. Nanda Deep, who has descended in the universe in the form of Ghat, through the continuous Nanda Deep of Shri Durga Devi.
This year Navratri festival is being celebrated from 7th October to 14th October. Navratri is a fast of the goddess and is also celebrated as a malachar. In this fast for nine days, the goddess is worshiped reverently. Today it has become a festival in many states. Hindus get the benefit of divinity in this festival; However, due to the perverted nature of the Navratri festival, the benefits of divinity are far away from it; But its purity has also diminished.
Maintaining its sanctity by stopping the inappropriate forms of this festival is also a religious practice according to the times. Let us know in this article compiled by Sanatan Sanstha the history behind Navratri fast, the importance of this fast and the science behind celebrating it.
Start from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami
Past of Navratri
With the aim of killing Ravana at the hands of Rama, Narada asked Rama to observe a fast on Navratri. After fulfilling this fast, Rama attacked Lanka and finally killed Ravana. The goddess fought with Mahishasura for nine days from Pratipada to Navami and killed Mahishasura on the night of Navami. Since then she came to be called Mahishasurmardini.
Importance of Navratri
Whenever tamasic, demonic and cruel people prevail in the world and oppress the sattvik and pious gentlemen, the goddess incarnates again and again to establish dharma. During Navratri, the Goddess element is active 1000 times more than normal. In order to get maximum benefit of the Goddess, this chanting of ‘Shri Durgadevyai Namah’ should be done more and more during Navratri.
Fasting method
Navratri fasting is a form of adultery in many families. This fast begins with Ashwin Shukla Pratipada.
An altar should be established in a holy place in the house and on it the Ashtabhuja Devi and Navarna Yantra should be installed on a lion. By setting up a Ghat next to the Yantra, worship of him and the Goddess should be done by law.
In Navratri festival, installation and garland should be done according to the rituals. After bringing soil from the field, make a square layer as thick as two fingers and put five or seven types of grains in it. Barley, wheat, sesame, green gram, resin, sev and gram are the seven grains.
Take an earthen or copper urn and put water, smell, flowers, doob, akshat, betel nut, panchapallav, panchratna or coin etc. in it.
If the Vedic mantra for the establishment of the seven grains and the Kalash (Varuna) does not come, then the Puranokta mantra should be said. If even this does not come, then after taking the name of the object, say ‘Samarpayami’ and say the name mantra. Tie the garland in such a way that it reaches the Kalash.
Worship the unmarried girl daily for nine days and feed her. Suvasini means manifest power, while Kumarika means unmanifested power. Due to little dissipation of manifest power, the total power in a virgin is more than that of Suvasini.
The Navratri festival should be celebrated according to one’s ability and strength by lighting an unbroken lamp, reciting the greatness of that deity (Chandipath), Saptashati text, Devi Bhagwat, listening to Laltopakhyan in Brahmanda Purana, Lalita-worship, Saraswati worship, fasting, awakening etc.
Even if the worshiper is fasting, food should be offered to the deity as usual.
During this period, as a part of good manners, one should observe various things such as not shaving (beard hair and head hair), strict celibacy, not sleeping in bed, not crossing the border. Do not use shoes.
Emphasizing on the number of Navratras, some people also keep Navaratri on the last day of Navratri; But according to the scriptures, Navratri immersion should be done on the last day. If there is time left after samaradhana (food offerings) then on the same day all the deities Abhishek and Shodashopachar puja should be performed. If this is not possible, then on the next day all the deities should be consecrated.
At the time of immersion of the idol of the Goddess, the sown grain plants are offered to the Goddess. Women take the plants for immersion by assuming the form of ‘Shakambhari Devi’ on their heads.
At the time of the establishment of Navratri, the deities should be cleaned. Lemon, ash etc. should be used. Do not use Rangoli or dish washing powder.
In the end, do the established ghat and immersion of the goddess.
Keeping the lamp intact in Navratri or other religious rituals, which is an important part of the ritual, if extinguished due to wind, low oil or other reason, the lamp should be re-lit by removing the cause and one hundred and eight or so. Chant one thousand eight times as atonement.
We pray to the Goddess in this way: O Goddess, we have become powerless, we have become engrossed in Maya by enjoying infinite enjoyment. You are the mother who gives us strength. With your power, we can destroy demonic tendencies.
Blowing smoke
On the day of Ashtami, women worship Shri Mahalakshmi Devi and burn Gagar. In Gujarat, a lamp placed in an earthen pot with many holes is worshiped on Navratri as a symbol of motherhood. The word ‘Deep’ has disappeared in ‘Deepgarbh’, which is worshiped for nine days as a symbol of woman’s creativity, and the word ‘Garbh-Garbo-Garbo’ or ‘Garba’ has come into vogue.
Meaning: The etymology of the word Asur is – ‘Asushu ramante iti asurah’.
That is, those who are engrossed in life and enjoyment are demons. Today such Mahishasura resides in the heart of every human being in less, more evidence and has established dominance over the inner divine instincts of man. To recognize the illusion of this Mahishasura and get rid of his demonic clutches, worship of Shakti is needed. For this, Shakti should be worshiped for nine days in Navratri. The festival of victory should be celebrated on Dashami. It is called Dussehra.
Keep the sanctity of Navratri festival by stopping incest
Earlier, during the ‘Garba’ dance, only the songs composed by Devi, Krishna Leela and saints were sung. Today this collective dance worship of God has become perverted. In films, Garba is played with obscene gestures to the tune of songs. Incidents of sexual harassment of women are due to Garba. There is also tobacco, alcohol, noise pollution etc. in places of worship. This malpractice is the loss of religion and culture. Stopping these malpractices is a necessary dharma over time.