What is Navratri ? Nine forms of Goddess Durga


My Dear Young Indians

We just celebrated Navratri नवरात्री.... Did Pooja Aarti and had good food!


What is Navratri नवरात्री ?

Navratri = Nav + Ratri.......नवरात्री = नव + रात्री
Nav नव means Nine, Ratri रात्री means Night
This is celebration and worship that spans over nine nights.

Navratri is observed five times in a year. Two are the important ones.

First is called “Chaitra Navratri” चैत्र नवरात्री

This is also the start of the Hindu year “Vikram Samvat” विक्रम संवत
This is observed in the month of चैत्र “Chaitra” of “Vikram Samvat” विक्रम संवत (March-April of Gregorian Year)

Cahitra Navratri चैत्र नवरात्री ends with Ramnavami रामनवमी - The Birthday of Lord Ram of Ayodhya.

 

The second time Navratri is celebrated as “Sharad Navratri” शरद नवरात्री

Sharad शरद is the season autumn. (October-November of Gregorian Year). Sharad Navratri शरद नवरात्री ends with Vijaydashmi विजयदशमी / दशहरा.

In the eastern part of India, specially West Bengal, “Sharad Navratri” शरद नवरात्री ends with Durga Pooja दुर्गा पूजा

 

नवरात्री is a celebration of Good over Evil. Goddess Durga and also Lord Ram are symbols of victory of Good over Evil.

Each of the nine nights of नवरात्री is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga. 

देवी दुर्गा के नौ रूप

The 9 forms of Devi Durga are

1. Goddess Shailputri देवी शैलपुत्री
 Shailputri means daughter of mountain. This is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati (daughter of Himavat हिमवत -the personification of Himalayan mountains)

2. Goddess Brahmacharini देवी ब्रह्मचारिणी
Brahmacharini is Goddess Sati सती (the unmarried Goddess Parvati)

3. Goddess Chandraghanta देवी चंद्रघंटा
Chandraghanta  Is Goddess Parvati after she married Lord Shiv. She adorned her forehead with "ardhchandra" अर्धचंद्र (half moon)

4. Goddess Kushmanda देवी कुष्मांडा
Goddess Kushmanda Is the power of universe. She has 8 arms and sits on a lion. ‘Ushma' ऊष्मा means energy. ‘'Anda' अंड means egg or the source of creation.
Goddess Kushmanda is the source of Lord Surya’s power.

5. Goddess Skandamata देवी स्कंदमाता
In this form, the Goddess is worshipped as the mother of 'Skanda' स्कन्द or 'Kartikeya' कार्तिकेय

6. Goddess Katyayani देवी कात्यायनी
In this form, the Goddess is worshiped as source of courage. She rides a lion.

7. Goddess Kaalaratri देवी कालरात्रि
This is the most ferocious form of the Goddess. In this form she killed the demons 'Shaumbh' and 'Nishumbh' शुम्भ निशुम्भ

8. Goddess Mahagauri देवी महागौरी
This form of the Goddess symbolizes intelligence, peace and calmness.

And the 9th Goddess is....

9. Goddess Siddhidatri देवी सिद्धिदात्री
This is the form of the Goddess that is complete in every sense. She bestows ‘Siddhi’ सिद्धि meaning perfection/ success/ attainment to her devotees. Lord Shiv attained all the ‘siddhis’ सिद्धि by worshipping देवी सिद्धिदात्री.


 

My Dear Indians,

Did you notice that all nine forms of the Goddess cover the life of a woman-- as a daughter, as an unmarried girl, as a wife and as a mother-- and also the characterstics of a woman-- beauty, courage, intelligence, calmness and source of strength !

Now tell me my dear Indians…..
What is the lesson that we get by celebrating Navratri ?

I derive two lessons from Navratri.

One ---We should try and inculcate these characterstics in yourself.
Worshipping God is not enough.
Learn from the goodness of God.
 
For example, those who consider M S Dhoni as the God of cricket, they learn and practice the Helicopter shot of Dhoni because they want to play like him. Isn’t it?
 
Similarly we can learn and practice good character from Goddess Durga and Lord Ram.

Two, In the Indian culture the females/ women have always been held in high regard. This is the reason why our civilization has sustained and grown over centuries. 

The common perception is that societies are male dominated. But I differ.

We, in India, are a balanced society. The man may be the face of the
household and society but it is the woman of the house that provides courage, strength and stability to the household and society---like the Sun is the source of energy for the universe but it derives its own strength from the female Goddess or Lord Shiv is the supreme God but he attained his supremacy with the help of the Goddess.

Let us maintain this balance by respecting each other.

Everyone has his own important role to play.

May Goddess Durga and Lord Ram bless you with a noble and strong character and may inspire you to live for India.  

Jai Hind !

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chandrashekhar Azad (23 July 1906 to 27 February 1931)

पंडित राम प्रसाद बिस्मिल Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil– The Man with a Pen & Pistol

Order of precedence of the Republic of India- Why is the President the first citizen of India ?