Navaratri

‘Nava’ means ‘nine’ and ‘Ratri’ is made up of ‘Ra’ which also means
‘night’ and ‘Tri’ meaning the ‘the three aspects of our life, Body,
Mind and Soul. So ‘Navaratri’ means ‘giving rest to all the three
aspects of our life, for nine days’.

The first three days of Navaratri, are ‘Tamasic’ days, followed by
three ‘Rajasic’ days and ending with three ‘Sattvic’ days. At night
all the artis are performed for the Devi – the enjoyer of everything.
So there is classical dance, music and various musical instruments
being played. Each day has special implications, yagnas, poojas and
homas are performed. Among the things offered to the fire are
hundreds of different herbs, fruits, garments, and mantras, all
creating a gloriously divine atmosphere to drown in? Our ancestors
felt the inadequacy of words and so they expressed themselves with
symbols … for instance, we offer flowers and fruit to God. The
‘flower’ is a symbol of what we are – so full, attractive and so light
– so beautiful. Fruits are symbols of completeness. In the life cycle
of a plant, fruits signify completeness. Also the fruit is the
ultimate result. That is how we feel when we offer the symbolic fruit
to God with all the gratitude for contentment in life. We also light
lamps. Indian tradition involves tall brass lamps with a swan carved
at the top. This is a very beautiful symbol. It means that with the
light of knowledge, one attains ‘Viveka’ a characteristic of the swan.
In Sanskrit, it is called ‘Neerakshiraviveka’ meaning a swan can
differentiate between milk and water even though both may be mixed.
Similarly, in the context of Navaratri, there is a symbolism behind
the ‘bull’ being destroyed by the ‘Devi’. What do we call someone who
is very dull, thick skinned and insensitive? A buffalo! Only the
Mother Divine can destroy this buffalo with the collective energy of
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh! Just as a baby takes nine months to be
born, the Devi took nine days to rest and what was born on the tenth
day was pure love and devotion, with which the Devi conquered the
buffalo of inertia and dullness! Devi Ma is not somebody holding a big
‘trishool’ in one hand. She is a form of energy, a manifestation of
the Divine itself. Therefore, sometimes, the forms taken by this
Divine may be that of Ganesha, Chandi (Devi), Vishnu, Shiva….. and the
manifestation, in this creation, happens in a mother’s womb…. in
silence, secretly. So during these nine days of Navaratri when the
Master goes into silence, the energy is in the process of getting more
and more refined, well-tuned, to welcome the Mother Divine. This is
called ‘Aradhana’. Now these yagnas are not for the sages who perform
them, but for the entire Universe for all the misery, sorrow, and pain
in the world. The blessings of the yagnas and poojas teach the whole
of humanity and a lot of good comes out of these – peace, strength,
prosperity, success and faith – which by itself, is the best blessing.
Gurudev says that the ninth day is a day for honoring everything
that we have, no matter how seemingly insignificant, and the tenth day
is ‘Vijaya Dashmi’ the ‘victory day’. It is only after we have
honored something that we can gain victory over it. This day is
celebrated as the victory of the Devi over the evil forces – which is
also just ‘Maya’.


THE NINE NIGHTS: NAVARATRI

Navaratri means nine nights and the new night. Creation happens in
darkness, in the womb of the mother and underneath the soil. Nine
months in the womb are like nine long nights where the spirit takes
human form.
Night provides rejuvenation and rest. People come home from work at
night and celebrate, rejoice and pray. At night, the entire creation
goes to sleep, including the Ashram night watchman.
These nine nights of Navaratri are precious; they are enriched with
subtle energy. Sixty-four impulses of the Divine Mother govern the
subtle creation and are responsible for restoring all earthly and
spiritual benefits. These impulses are contained within one’s
awakened consciousness. The nine nights of Navaratri are celebrated
to rekindle those divine impulses and to renew the inner depth of our
lives.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar


CLEANSE YOUR BODY AND CLEANSE YOUR SOUL
CLEANSE YOUR BODY WITH WATER
CLEANSE YOUR SOUL WITH KNOWLEDGE, PRANAYAM, SUDARSHAN KRIYA AND MEDITATION