Nava Rathri - Nine Divine Nights of The Goddess
"Om Shakthi Om Shakthi Om Shakthi Om" -
Salutations to the Divinity of the Feminine Energy, Salutations to the Divine Mother, Salutations to the presence and awareness of that Divinity in me...Salutations....
Why the Mother Goddess?
Because we identify with Her at our deepest conscious, subconscious and unconscious levels. She embodies life, death, resurecction, power, patience, prosperity, energy, tranqulity and nourishment symbolized by the presence of navals in all mammals.
Who is the Mother Goddess?
"Maha Shakthi Devi " - One who is all powerful. One in who is embodied as the Holy Trio of Feminine Energy - the divine Maha Lakshmi Devi- The Goddess of Wealth, the divine Maha Saraswathi Devi , The Goddess of Knowledge and the divine Maha Kali Devi, The Goddess of Strength.
Sacred legend has it, that The Divine Mother, in the form of Maha Shakthi (The Ultimate Feminine form, empowered by the masculine force of Brahma, male God of Creation, Vishno, male God of Preservation and Shiva, the supreme male God of Destruction) to protect us, Her children from a violent demon, (Mahishasura )fought courageously for nine long days and nine long nights till on the tenth day she beheaded the demon.
In nine mystical forms She appeared in Her attempt to prompt, tempt and thwart the ingorance that prevailed in Mahishasura.
What are the Nine Forms for the Divine Goddess, Maha Shakthi?
There are countless forms of the Divine Goddess. Hindus celebrate the major 3 forms equally divided in sets of 3 nights to invoke all forms of Her power within them. Shakti is the omnipotent power of the Lord, or the Cosmic Energy.
In the first 3 days, she is worshiped as Maha Kaali (Goddess of Power) -in aspect of Durga.
In the second 3 days, she is worshiped as Maha Lakshmi (Goddess of Weatlh) -in an aspect of Durga.
In the last 3 days, she is worshiped as Maha Saraswathi (Goddess of Knowledge) -in an aspect of Durga.
The Divine Mother as Durga Herself, in the course of the 9 day battle to overpower ignorance appeared in Nine Forms, "Nava Durga" to him and to all beings.
Day 1 - Form 1 Shaila Putri
Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila), the Goddess rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.
Day 2 - Form 2 Bharmacharini
Bharmacharini means one who practices devout austerity. Holding a sacred rosary in her right hand and a water utensil in her left hand. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees who worship her.
Day 3- Form 3 Chandragantha
"Chandragantha"- She has a ‘chandra’ or half moon in her forehead in the shape of a ‘ghanta’ or bell. Riding on a tiger she rings the bell for peace, tranquility and prosperity in life for those who forsake ignorance and worship Her.
Day 4- Form 4 Kushmanda
Kushmanda: ‘Ku’ = a little; ‘ushma’ = ‘warmth’; ‘anda’ = ‘the cosmic egg’, the Divine Goddess is worshipped as the co creator of the universe. A universe that when created by Brahma, the God of creation, was no more than a void full of darkness, until Her light spreads in all directions to warm the cosmic egg. She holds weapons, glitter, rosary, etc., in her hands, and she rides a lion.
Day 5- Form 5 Skanda Mata’
‘Skanda Mata’ - the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was chosen by gods as their commander in chief in the war against the demons. A form depicting the love, compassion, genorisity and power of a mother, She holds the infant Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus in her right hand. The left arm is in pose to grant boons with grace and in left lower hand which is raised also holds a lotus, the flower symbolizing beauty, grace , knowledge and power.
Day 6- Form 6 "Katyayini"
Katayayini - or daughter of Kata a very famous and renowned in the lineage of saints. The Mother Goddess who graces the long austerities and penance of a devotee. to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar (divine form) of The Mother Goddess. Carrying four lotuses and a sword, only in self defense, she appears persuasive and keen on pleasing Her devotees.
Day 7- Form 7 "Kaal Rathri" "Shubhamkari"
Shubhamkari" and "Kaal Rathri" Appearing as Kaal Rathri with the intent of doing good as Shubhakumari- are the form and significance of the Divine Goddess on the sevent day. She appears, riding the donkey (symbol of ignorance) fearless, dark and powerful and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand battle all evil. Her gesture of the raised right hand indicating protection, however assures us of freedom from fear and troubles. So she is also known as ‘Shubhamkari’ – one who does good.
Day 8- Form 8 "Maha Gauri"
Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. Washed clean by Lord Shiva with the water of the Ganges, her body clothed in beauty and grace, she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely pure. Wearing white, with four arms, and riding again on a bull, Her right hand is in the pose of allaying fear and her right lower hand holds a trident. The left upper hand holds a ‘damaru’ (a small rattle drum) and the lower one is in the pose of granting boons to her devotees.....
Day 9- Form 9 "Siddhidatri "
Siddhidatri the sacred blissful happy enchanting form with supernatural healing powers. She rides on the lion as her vehicle. She is the embodiment of Ultimate Grace and blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees in this manifestation of the Mother Goddess.
Lord Shiva Himself is said to have worshipped Her in this forma and was blessed with all Siddhis (supernatural powers). It is then that He realized His latent feminine energy, and upon becoming aware of it - half body became female and other half body male in the avatar of Ardhnarishvara, for ever symbolizing the duality (logic and emotion) of thought and action, that exists in us humans.
Day 10- Form 10 "Durga Devi "
Shakti, as the Goddess Durga Devi, in Her aspect, of Universal Mother, with 10, 000 arms, riding a lion, the embodiment of supreme Grace, Compassion and Power, after destroying the demon she rides in to bestow upon man all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers. Whatever be the particular or special request that everyone may put before the Goddess, whatever boon may be asked of Her, she provides.
Durga is the energy aspect of the Shiva, the Lord of Destruction without who there cannot be any creation.. Without Durga, Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no existence. Shiva is the soul of Durga; Durga is identical with Shiva.
Lord Shiva remains as only the silent witness. He is motionless, absolutely changeless. He is not affected by the cosmic play. It is Durga who is behind all action, all movement, all expression, everything.
She keeps up the play of the Lord through the three attributes of Nature, namely, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Knowledge, peace, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride, are all Her forms...
The central purpose of existence is to recognize your eternal identity with the supreme Spirit. Being conscious, creating that awareness within, that will connect with the Divine, in all states. The state that rests tranquil, in harmony and with love.....
"Om Shakthi Om Shakthi Om Shakthi Om" -
Salutations to the Divinity of the Feminine Energy, Salutations to the Divine Mother, Salutations to the presence and awareness of that Divinity in me...Salutations....
Why the Mother Goddess?
Because we identify with Her at our deepest conscious, subconscious and unconscious levels. She embodies life, death, resurecction, power, patience, prosperity, energy, tranqulity and nourishment symbolized by the presence of navals in all mammals.
Who is the Mother Goddess?
"Maha Shakthi Devi " - One who is all powerful. One in who is embodied as the Holy Trio of Feminine Energy - the divine Maha Lakshmi Devi- The Goddess of Wealth, the divine Maha Saraswathi Devi , The Goddess of Knowledge and the divine Maha Kali Devi, The Goddess of Strength.
Why Nine Holy Nights for the Divine Goddess?
In nine mystical forms She appeared in Her attempt to prompt, tempt and thwart the ingorance that prevailed in Mahishasura.
What are the Nine Forms for the Divine Goddess, Maha Shakthi?
There are countless forms of the Divine Goddess. Hindus celebrate the major 3 forms equally divided in sets of 3 nights to invoke all forms of Her power within them. Shakti is the omnipotent power of the Lord, or the Cosmic Energy.
In the first 3 days, she is worshiped as Maha Kaali (Goddess of Power) -in aspect of Durga.
In the second 3 days, she is worshiped as Maha Lakshmi (Goddess of Weatlh) -in an aspect of Durga.
In the last 3 days, she is worshiped as Maha Saraswathi (Goddess of Knowledge) -in an aspect of Durga.
The Divine Mother as Durga Herself, in the course of the 9 day battle to overpower ignorance appeared in Nine Forms, "Nava Durga" to him and to all beings.
Day 1 - Form 1 Shaila Putri
Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila), the Goddess rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.
Day 2 - Form 2 Bharmacharini
Bharmacharini means one who practices devout austerity. Holding a sacred rosary in her right hand and a water utensil in her left hand. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees who worship her.
Day 3- Form 3 Chandragantha
"Chandragantha"- She has a ‘chandra’ or half moon in her forehead in the shape of a ‘ghanta’ or bell. Riding on a tiger she rings the bell for peace, tranquility and prosperity in life for those who forsake ignorance and worship Her.
Day 4- Form 4 Kushmanda
Kushmanda: ‘Ku’ = a little; ‘ushma’ = ‘warmth’; ‘anda’ = ‘the cosmic egg’, the Divine Goddess is worshipped as the co creator of the universe. A universe that when created by Brahma, the God of creation, was no more than a void full of darkness, until Her light spreads in all directions to warm the cosmic egg. She holds weapons, glitter, rosary, etc., in her hands, and she rides a lion.
Day 5- Form 5 Skanda Mata’
‘Skanda Mata’ - the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was chosen by gods as their commander in chief in the war against the demons. A form depicting the love, compassion, genorisity and power of a mother, She holds the infant Skanda in her right upper arm and a lotus in her right hand. The left arm is in pose to grant boons with grace and in left lower hand which is raised also holds a lotus, the flower symbolizing beauty, grace , knowledge and power.
Day 6- Form 6 "Katyayini"
Katayayini - or daughter of Kata a very famous and renowned in the lineage of saints. The Mother Goddess who graces the long austerities and penance of a devotee. to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar (divine form) of The Mother Goddess. Carrying four lotuses and a sword, only in self defense, she appears persuasive and keen on pleasing Her devotees.
Day 7- Form 7 "Kaal Rathri" "Shubhamkari"
Shubhamkari" and "Kaal Rathri" Appearing as Kaal Rathri with the intent of doing good as Shubhakumari- are the form and significance of the Divine Goddess on the sevent day. She appears, riding the donkey (symbol of ignorance) fearless, dark and powerful and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand battle all evil. Her gesture of the raised right hand indicating protection, however assures us of freedom from fear and troubles. So she is also known as ‘Shubhamkari’ – one who does good.
Day 8- Form 8 "Maha Gauri"
Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. Washed clean by Lord Shiva with the water of the Ganges, her body clothed in beauty and grace, she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely pure. Wearing white, with four arms, and riding again on a bull, Her right hand is in the pose of allaying fear and her right lower hand holds a trident. The left upper hand holds a ‘damaru’ (a small rattle drum) and the lower one is in the pose of granting boons to her devotees.....
Day 9- Form 9 "Siddhidatri "
Siddhidatri the sacred blissful happy enchanting form with supernatural healing powers. She rides on the lion as her vehicle. She is the embodiment of Ultimate Grace and blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees in this manifestation of the Mother Goddess.
Lord Shiva Himself is said to have worshipped Her in this forma and was blessed with all Siddhis (supernatural powers). It is then that He realized His latent feminine energy, and upon becoming aware of it - half body became female and other half body male in the avatar of Ardhnarishvara, for ever symbolizing the duality (logic and emotion) of thought and action, that exists in us humans.
Day 10- Form 10 "Durga Devi "
Shakti, as the Goddess Durga Devi, in Her aspect, of Universal Mother, with 10, 000 arms, riding a lion, the embodiment of supreme Grace, Compassion and Power, after destroying the demon she rides in to bestow upon man all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers. Whatever be the particular or special request that everyone may put before the Goddess, whatever boon may be asked of Her, she provides.
Durga is the energy aspect of the Shiva, the Lord of Destruction without who there cannot be any creation.. Without Durga, Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no existence. Shiva is the soul of Durga; Durga is identical with Shiva.
Lord Shiva remains as only the silent witness. He is motionless, absolutely changeless. He is not affected by the cosmic play. It is Durga who is behind all action, all movement, all expression, everything.
She keeps up the play of the Lord through the three attributes of Nature, namely, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Knowledge, peace, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride, are all Her forms...
The central purpose of existence is to recognize your eternal identity with the supreme Spirit. Being conscious, creating that awareness within, that will connect with the Divine, in all states. The state that rests tranquil, in harmony and with love.....
