Latest revision as of 18:03, 19 November 2023

[edit] Chaitra/ Vasant Navaratri

[edit] Fasting

Renuka Narayanan, Wellness Is The Goal Of The Navaratri Holdback, March 25, 2020: The Times of India

With the onset of Chaitra Navaratri or Vasant Navaratri, culminating in Rama Navami, religious fasting, during a pandemic, never looked so good. A periodic dietary holdback is held to be extremely healthy and could help tone up our system in these tense times. The Hindu way of life prescribes a monthly fast on Ekadashi, and on Mahashivratri; also, fasts on Chaitra Navaratri in March-April and Sharad Navaratri in October. In addition, there are individual voluntary fasts like Savitri Vrat and Karva Chauth for women (and men, too, nowadays), and ungendered weekly fasts like the ‘vrat’ on Monday for Shiva, Tuesday for Hanuman and Friday for Devi. It is easy to get updates of other such fasts if we download a Panchang app or just ask at the temple. The pan-Indian word from Sanskrit for fasting is ‘upavasa’, of which ‘upa’ means ‘near’ and ‘vasa’ means ‘to stay’. Stay near whom? Near God, of course, through whichever aspect of divinity that is close to our heart, meaning our ‘ishta devta’, personal deity. So, allied with the physical detox is the attempt to calm our normally agitated minds by focussing on the sacred. Prayers that go with fasting, if said sincerely and with concentration, can be likened to high quality headphones for the mind that filter extraneous sound.

The nature of fasting in Hindu tradition is reassuringly human and accessible. Fasting is not expected of pregnant women, children, travellers, the ailing and the elderly. Those in good health, however, may undertake ‘nirjal’ fasts, going without even a drop of water during the fasting tithi, astrological period, which does not exceed a day. Others may go on a ‘phalahari’ fast of fruit and milk, or fruit and water. Tender coconut water is a winner with its purity and nutrients. What is interesting to note, though, is how some of us have taken the concept of ‘fast food’ to another level by deep-frying potatoes, kuttu ka paratha and sabudana vadas as delicious snacks for the fasting period. No judgments here since we are all frail human beings together, but it is both endearing and amusing, is it not, the way in which we manage to trick ourselves, and hopefully, the gods?

Since the Chaitra Navaratri ends with Rama Navami, a poignant fasting story comes to mind from the Ramayana. On the eve of his anointment as the Yuvaraj, crown prince, Rama is told by Vasishta, the Rajguru, royal priest of Ayodhya, to fast until morning and maintain ritual purity. Kathakars, traditional storytellers, like to recount how Rama was such a stickler for sincerely doing everything he undertook, that when Bhagavati Sita’s ‘pallu’ accidentally blew out and brushed his body because of a truant breeze that stole into the royal quarters, he got up at once and quietly slipped away into the night to take a bath in the Sarayu.

For us everyday people, Rama Navami is the eagerly awaited climax of Chaitra Navaratri. Since Rama was born at noon, temples in the north hold a bhandara, free feast, at lunchtime, which welcomes anyone who walks in. In the south, the prasad at temples for Ram Navami is ‘neer mor’, chaas (buttermilk) and ‘paanakam’ (jaggery water), a gentle reminder that though Rama had every luxury as a prince, he undertook fasting as committedly as he lived his forest life, setting an example that we cannot forget.

[edit] Golu

[edit] Bommai Golu or the Navratri Golu

Jayashree Narayanan, Oct 16, 2023: The Indian Express

The nine nights of Navratri dedicated to nine forms of goddesses Lakshmi, Durga, and Saraswati are celebrated with much fervour across India. While the North celebrates it with a fast and spiritual get-together like mata ki chawki, the West celebrates it with Garba — a popular dance form, even as Durga Puja celebrations and feasts continue in the East. In the South, the Navratri celebrations assume significance with the Bommai Golu or the Navratri Golu which is a beautifully decorated display of dolls and figurines in the states of Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

The dolls comprise a multitude of gods, goddesses, animals, men, and children on a step-like set-up. Notably, characters from Ramayana, Puranas, and Dashavataram are depicted. Golu also depicts particular themes like environment, space, mythology, current affairs, and more. “The Golu tradition doesn’t just display dolls; it brings forth an artistic symphony, creating unique and creative perspectives with themes that vary from epic sagas to rural life and contemporary interpretations,” said Ruchita Bansal, founder and creative director, Izzhaar.

“We have been celebrating Golu since my childhood, so for around 25 years, I have been seeing my mom keeping it and now I have carried the same after marriage. At least we celebrate simply. This time due to my work schedule we are keeping it very simple,” shared Aishwarya D, 28, a civil engineer and a popular food content creator on Instagram whose page Foodies Roof has 401k followers.

According to Aishwarya, all these are the requirements of humankind. “So we celebrate 3 days/nights for each Devi,” said Aishwarya.

Intriguingly, the Golu tradition’s roots trace back to ancient times, deriving its name from the Tamil word “Ko Lu,” signifying a display or exhibition. “It mirrors the practices of kings presenting themselves in temple mandapams during festivals. As the dolls (made of sustainable substances like clay, husk, and recycled papers) are beautifully arranged to resemble a temple gateway, the Golu tradition carries profound architectural parallels to South Indian temples, capturing the essence of the region’s history and traditions,” noted Bansal. 

Golu represents beauty or divine presence in Tamil. “Golu as we all know celebrates good over evil. Golu is kept in a way to represents three stages of life. First is basic survival, next is growth, and finally is sublimity,” shared Aishwarya, adding that survival represents Durga Devi, growth represents Lakshmi, and finally sublimity is Saraswati.

Interestingly, in Telugu, Bommala Koluvu means ‘court of toys’, and in Kannada, Bombe Habba means ‘doll festival’.

The Golu steps are usually nine, representing each day. But based on convenience, one can keep it 3, 5,7,9, 11. However, only in odd numbers. “So the first three from the bottom represent survival where we keep agriculture sculptures, vegetables sculptures, etc; the next 3 are men, women dolls, marriage dolls, business dolls, houses, etc, and the top 3 are divine dolls like all gods and sculptures.

The steps are covered with decorative cloths and the dolls are placed on them.

“And most importantly, there will be ‘marapachi bommai’ which is made of wood/sandalwood. Every family has their version. It is believed to be the incarnation of Shiva and Parvathi. Pooja is done daily. Even if you don’t keep Golu, we keep ‘marapachi’ alone and perform Pooja for it during this time,” said Aishwarya, who has this time also kept only ‘marapachi bommai’ due to paucity of time.

The pooja place is also adorned with a ‘kalasam’ or pitcher pot. It is a vessel with water and cardamom. Coconut is placed over with mango leaf all around as a marker of good fortune.

Calling Navratri one of her favorite festivals with memories to cherish, 64-year-old Sujatha Krishnamurthy, a community outreach program coordinator for Indo American Cultural Center and Temple), United States, said that for her, the festival is a fusion of spiritual and social aspects all rolled into one. “A few weeks before the festival, I make a list of names of friends, my Bal Vikas students, and their parents on an Excel sheet. A personal call of invitation follows and so does the database updates. Then the fun part of shopping for personalised goodie bag items begins,” said an excited Sujatha, for whom it takes about four hours to arrange the Golu at her place.

“Over the years, my Golu wooden stand has transformed from a three to a five-step assembled by my husband to a seven-step custom made by a craftsman. My global collectibles consist of handicraft items like handmade sandalwood elephants, Dasavatara dolls, wedding scene dolls from India, Russian Babushkas, trolls, and natural rocks from the USA to name a few. Evenings are filled with devotional music, dance and chants on one hand and sumptuous food and get together on the other,” shared Sujatha who has kept the tradition alive even after moving to the United States in 1984.

Colourful kolams, also called rangolis are drawn, lamps are lit and aarti is performed along with shloka recitations. One of the prominent highlights of the nine evenings is the different types of sundals or boiled legumes. There are also offerings of delectable sweets and fruits every day.

“Evening sundals like uppu (salted) sundal and sweet sundal are made more while the morning prasad comprises venn pongal, sweet pongal, variety rice like coconut rice, puliyodharai or tamarind rice,” shared Aishwarya.

Golu set up at A Vishwanathan Sastrigal’s home in Pune’s Rastapeth by his wife Jaya (Source: A Vishwanathan) Golu guests, married women, and children, especially little girls, mostly drop in the evenings to each home in a Golu hopping spree. They are requested to sing devotional songs. They are then honoured by betel leaves, fruits, coconut, bangles, turmeric, kumkum, and gifts too.

[edit] Significance of Navaratri celebrations

[edit] The seven chakras

The Times of India, Oct 13 2015

Bhanumathi Narasimhan 

Navratri is traditionally celebrated in honour of Devi, the Divine Mother. The Divine Mother is symbolic of energy , a manifestation of the Divine itself. Each day of Navratri we honour specific qualities of divinity with different homas and with different intentions. It is this energy , which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction.

Shakti means strength, power and energy , the womb for all creation, expressed as the mother aspect of the Divine. Shakti is the seed for all dynamism, radiance, beauty , equanimity , peace and nourishment. Shakti is the life-force.

There are five aspects of creation: asti, is-ness; bhati, knowledge and expression; preeti, love; nama, name and rupa, form.Matter has two aspects, name and form.Consciousness has three aspects, asti, bhati and preeti. Maya is ignorance or delusion, not being aware of the three aspects of consciousness and getting caught up in name and form. Different functional aspects of the divine energy , Shakti, have different names and forms.The “i“ (ee) in Shakti is energy. Without the “i“, “Shiva“ becomes “shava“ which in Sanskrit means lifeless.

There are seven centres of energy or Shakti in the body called chakras in Sanskrit. The Sri Chakra is thought to represent the whole body with the Devi in different forms, residing in different chakras.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has spoken in detail about the chakras. He says, “Different emotions are linked with each of these energy centres.“ The first chakra, muladhara, is located in the base of the spine.Here, the energy manifests as inertia or enthusiasm. The Devi residing in this chakra is five-faced representing the five sense organs. Musical instruments are also associated with these energy centres.Sound vibrations produced by bass drums are connected to this chakra.

The second chakra, swadhistana is the sex centre just four inches above the base of the spine. Here energy manifests as pro-creativity or creativity. Here, the Divine mother has four faces representing the four Vedas. The third chakra, manipura, is the navel centre where energy manifests as four emotions: Generosity , joy, greed and jealousy (two positive and two negative emo tions). Here, Devi has three faces representing srishti (creation), stith (maintenance) and laya (dissolution). Wind instruments like trumpets and clarinets are connected to this energy centre.

The fourth Chakra, anahata, is located in the chest region where energy manifests as three emotions ­ love, fear and hatred.Devi is represented with two faces, signifying inward and outward focus. This energy centre is influenced by the sound vibrations of string instruments like the violin and harp. The fifth Chakra, vishuddhi, is located in the throat region where energy manifests as two emotions ­ gratitude and grief. In the vishuddhi chakra, Devi's form has a single face.She is beyond all duality . The melody of the flute connects with this chakra.

The sixth Chakra, ajna, is located between the eyebrows where energy manifests as anger and alertness. Here, Devi is six-faced, representing the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste) and the mind. Cymbals, chimes and bells connect with this energy centre.

The seventh chakra, sahasrara, is located on the top of the head where energy manifests as bliss. It is also called brahmarandhra. Devi is represented as a fully blossomed lotus of a thousand petals. All the qualities in creation belong to her and are blossomed to their complete potential.The conch is the musical instrument connected with this energy centre. ==

[edit] Navratri, Sharad (autumn)

[edit] Nine different names for the nine days

Daily Excelsior , Sharad Navratri "Daily Excelsior" 17/9/2017

Navratri is a nine-day festival which holds immense significance for the Hindus. Moreover, it is also one of the most ancient festivals.

The festival was held in its most elemental form even in prehistoric times as Maa Shakti was worshipped. In order to have the blessings of Maa Shakti in human life, Hindus worship Maa Durga and all her feminine aspects of divine femininity over nine days and nine nights. The essence of the festival has found its way into the collective consciousness of the devotees.

As most festivals are intertwined with their seasonal aspect, Navratri is hardly an exception. Navratri is held at the two most important junctions of the year – during the onset of spring season and again during the commencement of the winter season. Navratri is celebrated four times in a year, but the most significant in terms of public celebration and elaborate rituals are Chaitra and Sharad Navratri. Chaitra Navratri marks the first day of Luni-Solar calendar of the Hindus, which generally falls in March or April. Similarly, Sharad Navratri marks the glorious period starting during the months of September-October. The ninth day during Chaitra Navaratri is celebrated as Ram Navami as the birthday of Lord Rama while Sharad Navratri culminates in Dussehra or ‘Vijayadashmi’.

In both Chaitra and Vasant Navratri, all nine days are dedicated to the worship of the nine forms of Maa Shakti with the elaborate customs and rituals. Chaitra Navratri is also known as ‘Vasant Navratri’ and is rooted in the legend of prince Sudarsana, who emerged victorious in war with the blessings of Maa Shakti and performed ‘havan’ in her honour during Vasanta Navratri. Sri Ram and Lakshman, during their ordeal to save Mata Sita from her captivity, performed a simiar ‘havan’ and emerged victorious in their task. Both Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are dedicated to nine forms of Maa Shakti – Durga, Bhadrakali, Jagadamba, Annapurna, Sarvamangala, Bhairavi, Chandika, Lalita, Bhavani and Mookambika and honour the nine forms of Maa Durga. During Sharad Navratri, VijayaDashmi is celebrated to mark Shri Rama’s victory over Ravana, creating an exhilarating mood.

The devotees sincerely worship the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga for nine days to overcome the effect of negative forces through her blessings and protection. Each day has its own significance as it is dedicated to one of her forms: Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Devotees observe fasting, chant mantras, sing hymns, recite chapters from Markandeya Purana and sing devotional songs during Navratri to be blessed with prosperity, health and wisdom in their life. While fasting and praying is a strong practice, it is believed abstinence from alcoholic drinks, grains, wheat and onion help seekers to be better able to imbibe the traits that Maa Durga in her different forms represent. ‘Jaagran’ and ‘Mata ki Chowki’ are an integral part of the tradition to invoke the goddess name and to be in harmony with the divine energy of Maa Durga.

Nine Days of Navratri

‘Nava-ratri’ is one of the most important Hindu festivals in the country. It is celebrated with immense zeal and enthusiasm all over the country. It is celebrated twice a year -once in Chaitra (March-April) and the other in Ashwin (September-October). Navartra literally means ‘nine auspicious nights’. It is actually the worship of the Goddess of power in order to seek her protection from any possible kind of threat and calamities that may destroy the peaceful life of people on earth. As she is the goddess of power, she is believed to have the power of creation, preservation and destruction.

Nine Days Navaratri Celebrations

Navaratri is separated into sets of three days i.e. into three sets. These sets are made in order to adore different facets of the supreme goddess. On the initial three days, the Goddess is invoked as the supreme powerful force called Durga. Goddess Durga is meant to all our contaminations, evils and defects. On the next three days, she is worshipped as the mother of spiritual wealth, Goddess Lakshmi, She is the one who is considered to have the power of showering on her devotees with the blessings of never-ending wealth. In the final set of three days, the Goddess is worshipped as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. The one is responsible for spiritual enlightenment and overall success in life.

She is also worshipped under nine different names for the nine days in Navratri. Every day, she assumes a new character, a new look and a new duty. She is worshipped as Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri. For the initial six the Pooja celebrations are limited to home. The celebrations acquire a festive form since the seventh day when the festivities of Navratri surround the atmosphere.

[edit] The nine- nights

Shaildeep Singh Raina , The Nine Nights Festival "Daily Excelsior" 10/4/2016

Different forms of Goddess Durga

Though, every region in India celebrates this festival in its own way, Navratri Festival is dedicated to the three avatars of Goddess Shakti – Durga (the warrior Goddess), Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth), and Saraswati (the Goddess of knowledge). Cultural diversity is shown along with the cultural unity of all the regions of India.

India is a land of festivals fasts and festivals are of great importance here. All these fasts and festivals are celebrated in all over India with great zeal and faith. Among all the fasts and festivals, Sharda Navratra holds a place of great importance. Navratri” or “Navratra” is a combined word which translated means nine nights. “Nav” means nine and “Ratri” means night, so combined it means Navratri or Nine nights. In northern parts of India this festival is called ” Navratra”.

Navratri is a nine day holy festival, which is celebrated to propitiate Goddess of Shakti or Divine Mother. Many devotees keep fast on all the nine days of this holy festival of nights. Devotees throng the Devi temples all over India where Goddess Idol is decorated beautifully. Navratri celebrations are observed very enthusiastically in the state of Gujarat where all nine nights of Navratras are spent in vibrant Garba and Rasa dance. In West Bengal Durga Puja is the most important festival and is celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm.

The festival of Navratri is celebrated with prayers and gaiety in the beginning of the Ashwin (autumn) and the beginning of Chaitra (spring). This period is a time for self-referrae. During this time of transformation, nature sheds the old and gets rejuvenated and life emerges back afresh in the spring.

Chaitra Navratri is nine days festivity which starts on the first day of Hindu Lunir-Solar calendar and falls in the month of March or April. Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama usually falls on the ninth day during Navratri festivity. Hence Chaitra Navratri is also known as Rama Navratri.

SIGNIFICANCE OF NAVRATRAS

Symbolizing victory of positivity over negativity, Navratri literally means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit; Nav – Nine and Ratri – nights. During these nine nights and ten days, the three forms of the goddess -Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati – are invoked.

Amidst great celebration, the mind can be carried away and easily go off-center. Usually in any celebration, the mind goes everywhere. So to bring back the mind to the centre, we keep a joyful silence with awareness. The mind is always conditioned to patterns.

When a person gradually gains victory over evil tendencies, there is a void or emptiness. If left empty, the new found victory over evil tendencies will be lost soon. Therefore, this void should be filled with spiritual wealth.

Goddess Lakshmi. Represents ‘Sri, Tejas, Aishwarya’ – prosperity, peace, purity and serenity.

1. Navratri’s each night (ratri) is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga. That is every night (ratri)of the Navratri corresponds to worship of different forms of Goddess Durga.

• Maa Shailputri : The daughter of Parvatraj Himalaya (King of the Mountain Himalaya). She married Lord Shiva and is known as mother of Lord Ganesha (The Remover of obstacles) and Kartikeya (The God of War).

• Maa Brahmachaarin : She gives the message of pure love to the world.

• Maa Chandraghanta : She establishes Justice. She wears the crescent moon on her head.

• Maa Kushmaanda : She provides the basic necessities, and every day sustenance to the world.

• Skand Maa : She gives the gift of differentiation & discrimination of right from wrong to the world.

• Maa Kaatyayini : She persistently & relentlessly battles against the evil and deceitful & devious entities.

• Maa Kaalratri : She killed Raktabeeja (A demon who had the power to produce a demon from every drop of blood that fell from his body. Goddess & Divine Mother eventually licked the blood before it could reach the ground and hence conquered & over powered him).

• Maa Chaamunda : She killed two demons–Chanda and Munda and restored tranquility & order in the world.

• Maa Maha Gauri : She also liberated the world from the evil forces.

• Mata Sidhidaarti : She is a treasure house of Mystic Powers (Yantra Tantra) and Knowledge (Gyaan).

The devotees worship these nine incarnations of goddess Durga till nine days to get blessing of Maa Durga. It is believed that People who worship Maa Bhagwati, do fasting and chant mantras during Navratri will be blessed with prosperity, health and wisdom in their life. Jaagran also made by the devotees during Navratri nights.

It also proves that “God is One”.

These nine days are an opportunity to be completely in Sadhana, Seva, Satsang and of course, the grace of the Master is already with us.

[edit] The nine colours

Pranav Pandya, Navratri, A Festival Of Joy And Colour, October 9, 2018: The Times of India

The nine-day festival of Navratri provides a twice-a-year opportunity for the seeker to prepare himself for changing weather. If Navratri is celebrated with dedication, it is bound to provide energy to the seeker for the next six months. Apart from weather change in the gross world, the subtle world also goes through transformation at this time, for sadhana performed during this period has special significance. It drains out impurities from within, which prepares the ground for the practitioner to get ready to receive divine blessings.

Navratri provides the seeker with an auspicious occasion to awaken the nine power points in the body that are dormant due to non-use or misuse. Awakening energy sources results in creating a large power bank in the practitioner.

The nine-day occasion is connected with colours, too. The aware practitioner will know the significance of these colours and identify himself with the relevant deity so that he can get more benefits by concentrating on the colour of the day.

Pratipada, the first day, is dedicated to Shailputri. This denotes nature and the special colour this day is yellow, a symbol of happiness and joy. The second day, dutiya, is the day of Brahmacharni. It denotes constant endeavour for spiritual knowledge. The colour is green. Goddess Parvati performed tapas in order to gain Shiva as her husband. The sadhak should concentrate on the colour green and pledge to engage in self-study to acquire knowledge.

The third day of Navratri is dedicated to Devi Chandraghanta, who carries the grey half-moon on her forehead. Grey colour represents Devi’s readiness to diminish our enemies. The seeker should meditate on this colour and pray for diminishing of internal enemies like anger, unbridled desires, jealousy, ego, and ill will.

The fourth day of Navratri is for Goddess Kushmanda. Her colour is orange, representing brightness, which symbolises the sun, happiness and energy. The fifth day of the festive season is of Goddess Skandamata. Skand is the lap of the Mother. This represents her selfless love. The colour of this day is white which represents purity and prayer. The seeker can resolve to make his inner Self pure while meditating on white colour.

The sixth day of the nine-day festival is of Devi Katyani. The colour is red, representing the anger of Devi towards enemies of devtas. The seeker resolves to fight against ills of society.

The seventh day is of Devi Kalratri and the colour is dark blue. Devi is also Ma Kali. The immense power of Devi is represented by the dark blue colour. The sadhak readies himself to fight against and overcome evils in society.

The eighth day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri. She fulfils the wishes of the seeker for the betterment of society. The colour pink represents hope and freshness of perspective. The practitioner meditates on the colour pink with the resolve to work for self-refinement and social uplift. He overcomes the tendency to work for fulfilment of narrow-minded petty wishes.

The ninth day of Navratri is special to Devi Siddharaatri. She blesses knowledge and fulfils expectations. Her colour is violet. This colour represents aspiration and power. The sadhak meditates on this colour and resolves to progress on the path of jnana, knowledge.