Sunday, February 25, 2024

Boboji's Punya Tithi: 26th February,2024

Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji,


Lord Krishna with whose wishes Bhaktimati Usha Bahenji had manifested on earth, forcefully stole her heart today.The purpose for which Bobo, as she was fondly called, had been sent to this temporal world had  reached its zenith and her task was over.

Sakhi Bobo Was Summoned by Krishna

The handsome Shyam summoned her and the question of staying back on earth did not arise.Ardently longing for Krishna, she got an indication to leave this mundane world and proceed to that eternal dham where Radha-Krishna forever dwell, to take part in their divine play.


Gopis Are Drawn by Krishna's Flute Play

Dark-hued Krishna played His flute and the enraptured village girls were passionately drawn.The greatly fortunate cowherdesses were not even conscious of decking themselves and moved in a delicious anguish to the side of their teasing, elusive and insistent paramour.Longing for union with the Supreme Lover. The love of the gopis is seen as transcendental love of the highest order so why would His hungering devotees think of anything else.

Well the joyous and enchanting days of the rainy season transformed into the mild winter of autumn, which was very pleasant. Soon after a biting cold wind banished the autumnal season and reigned supreme. Gathering all its achievements and failures with each passing day,1991 passed away.The year 1992 began with the dawn of a winter morning.

Episodes of joy and sorrow do not have much significance in a saint's life very much like the rotation of a cycle.They hold modakas in both hands. While living in this mundane world the memory of Shyama-Shyama overwhelms them whereas relishing the constant closeness and divine play of Radha-Krishna on going to their nitya dham  is easily feasible for them. Hence it is the society and devotees who have to bear the loss.

The same year snatched away several great siddh luminaries and presented the never to be filled vacuum .Who will ever forgive this year laden with the dreadful kaal (eventual destiny or fate). Oh! How ironical that we lose out on those saints whose separation is so painful. What shall we call this farewell which has been ordained by destiny?Saints are never absent or mortal.They are forever present,giving assurance to their followers in a hidden and visible manner, making themselves available.

Revered Bobo In Meditation

Bobo's physical health was deteriorating.Diabetes had attacked her, and an ailing heart creeped in simultaneously.The cold of the cold season escalated.During this time span her body had become extremely weak but her spiritual strength had become as powerful.She was always indifferent to a medical examination.

Ailments do not have any particular importance for saints. What would be an ordeal of their suffering and condition of inborn virtues? The body becomes the reason for departing, and that is what they have wanted and is meritorious. Taking its support, they reach their destination for which they have taken birth. Thereafter, they rest in the eternal proximity of Shyama-Shayma, the wealth of their hearts, and all this was being completely realised in Bobo's life.

Even in such an ailing condition she was always alert and enthused in attending to the needs of Thakurji, doing His shingara,incessant seva round the clock, and devotedly fulfilling her routine.Gradually the body became increasingly frail and everyone insisted on a medical check up followed by medication.Surprisingly she did not oppose this suggestion very adamantly this time. Absent mindedly she agreed to go ahead which seemed absolutely contradictory to her temperament.Obviously this was the final contribution connected to her body as mentally she had become totally indifferent.

Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

The characteristics of saints are strangely extraordinary.

 “Why don't you ask the Mother Goddess to make you recoup.”Narendra had once told Shri Ramkrishna Paramahamsa, 

“Do you think that I have been undergoing this suffering voluntarily? I do wish to recover. But how is that possible? It all depends upon the Mother,”Ramakrishna Paramahamsa had answered.

“Then please pray to Her for your recovery. She cannot but listen to you,” Narendra had suggested.

“ It is easy for you to say so,but such words I can never utter,” had been Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's response. 

The conduct of saints depends on the Lord's wishes and they are themselves devoid of definite intentions and uncertainty. Therefore Shri Paramahamsa was always disinterested in the body and his mind was way above this mundane world.

Revered Bobo had been sick for quite some time now.

 Once when she had gone into isolation in the afternoon as was her routine, she heard Thakurji's voice, “Everything will be fine, just bring your will power into use.”


The Yugal, Shri Radha-Krishna served by Bobo

“The task of attending to my Thakurji should go on perfectly.He may keep me as He wishes. Should I stoop to use the power of my desire for getting rid of physical illness?”Bobo had said while narrating the above incident to Sushila Bahenji 


Shri Ramana Maharshi

When the disciples of Shri Ramana Maharshi had suggested the surgery of his arm he was quite unconcerned and was supremely indifferent to suffering, “You may throw the leaf plate in which I have eaten by shredding it to pieces or else throw the whole of it. My purpose of attaining the Divine has been fulfilled thus take me as you wish now.”

Swami Shivanandji Maharaj

Similarly Swami Shivanandji Maharaj would eat from delicacies offered to him by the bhaktas even though he was suffering from diabetes.How could he disrespect the Supreme Being pervading this temporal world to safeguard his body.

Swami Sharnandji Maharaj

Around this time Swami Sharnanandji Maharaj had suffered seven heart attacks one after the other.All the doctors had recommended that he should not meet anyone and take rest.But he felt that the body has to depart one day as per the laws of nature so why should he hurt the sentiments of those dropping in.


Saints Attain Shri Radha-Krishna's Closeness

On the other hand saints are unanimous in not being bothered whether this earthly body remains or does not-least worried as they are,and there is no uncertainty regarding the protection of their body.When they are getting an indication from Shyama-Shyam who are wanting to take them along,how can they oppose the sacred Couple. Their lot is readily waiting for Radha-Krihsna's constant closeness on getting a signal from the Supreme Lover.

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Sri Sri Radha Baba Janamutsav (19th January,2024)


Sri Sri Radha Baba
In 2011-2012, the birth centenary of Sri Sri Radha Baba is being celebrated at His birthplace, Gorakhpur, Kolkatta and Delhi to spread the message of love. In quest of the divine, He came in contact with Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar through Jai Dayalji Goenka, a spiritual personality and the founder of Gitapress.

The life-story of Sri Radha Baba is beautifully showcased in the book 'Preetirasawtar Mahabhavnimagna Sri Radha Baba' by Bankaji.

Hanuman Prasad Poddar or Bhai ji
I would like to mention the most beautiful relationship Bhai Poddarji shared with Sri Radha Baba. Just like Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu revere each other, in the same manner Bhai Poddarji used to respect Sri Radha Baba and vice versa.
Highly revered Sri Radha Baba had the most devout of parents and used to enjoy the Ramlila since childhood. Being a brilliant student, His proficiency in Hindi, English, Bangla and Sanskrit was most remarkable.

Lord Shiva
A yogbhrasta, He had implicit faith in God ever since His birth on 16-01-1913. During the spiritual journey, He began worshipping Shiva in childhood and was a great Shiva devotee.

Shri Hari
Every week Baba would go for sankirtan of Lord Sri Hari, without fail. Having an instinctive flair for music, He had a melodious voice and other divine traits.

The Freedom Movement of India
1928-1931: Sri Radha Baba actively participated in the Freedom movement and went to jail twice during this period. The first time it was for a span of 6 months and then for 5 months!
1.1.1934 – 14.10.1935: Writing letters to God were a part of Sri Radha Baba's daily regime. These were gathered and complied into the book 'Antarvedana' which has 204 pages. Five such letters have been reproduced in the current book 'Preetiraswawtar Mahabhavnigmagna Sri Radha Baba'.

Sri Sri Radha Baba, the Pride of India
12th October, 1935: Finally the moment of truth arrived with Sri Sri Radha Baba renouncing the world. He became the pride of India till His Golokgaman on 13th Oct 1992, exactly 57 years after His rebirth as a Sadhu.

Radha Baba Becomes a Great Devotee of Lord Krishna
1936: At the young age of 23,Sri Radha Baba first met Ramsukhdasji who gave Him the Gita-commentary of Seth Goenkaji to read. Inspired by this book on 'Bhagavad Gita', Sri Sri Radha Baba travelled to Bankura to meet Seth Jai Dayalji Goenka who in turn directed Him to see Bhai Poddarji. It was on 27th Oct, 1936 that both the sublime Saints met each other. But it was the touching of His feet by Bhaiji, which changed Radha Baba's life for all times to come. He became a Bhakti Margi and staunch devotee of Lord Krishna.

In the year 1936 on Sharad Poornima, Sri Sri Radha Baba heard the mahamantra:
Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare
Hare Krishan Hare Krishan, Krishan Krishan Hare Hare

When Sri Sri Radha Baba had seen God-realised Saints like Jai Dayalji Goenka and Bhai Poddarji, could the first ever darshan of Lord Krishna be far behind? It happened in the same year 1936 when Sri Sri Radha Baba was hardly 23 years of age. Earlier He used to chant:

Sohum, Shivohum, Anadohum and Aum but now

Shri Radha-Krishna
His heart was full of prema for Sri Krishna and Radha Rani.

Hanuman Garhi
Hanuman Garhi: The place where Sri Sri Radha Baba had the very first darshan of Lord Krishna in 1936.

Banks of Rapti River: The glimpse of saints leads to darshan of Lord Krishna

Gita Press, Gorakhpur
The pride of India,Sri Sri Radha Baba is said to belong to Gita Press which lies to the north of Gorakhpur. 

The Radha Bhava
Geeta Vatika: However, the place where Sri Sri Radha Baba attained the gopi bhava in 1937 was Bhai Poddarji's room at Geeta Vatika. Radha Baba was a follower of Vedanta philosophy and very much an intellectual. But after coming into contact with Shri Bhai ji, He followed the path of Braj Sadhana and worshipped Lord Krishna in the Radha Bhava.During his life time, Sri Sri Radha Baba used to always say that it was by only because of the grace of Bhai Poddarji that He switched over to worshipping the sakar  form of God, having name, form and qualities.

'Gita Tattva Vivechani'
Bankura: The place where Sri Sri Radha Baba had continuous raasmayi position, is situated in West Bengal. Highly revered Sethji belonged to this place and invariably Sri Sri Radha Baba used to accompany Him to hear the religious discourse on 'Bhagvad Gita'. ( Later the discourses were published as 'Gita Tattva Vivechani' by Gitapress , Gorakhpur.

Sri Radha Baba describes the instruction given to Him by Bhai Poddarji of the final stage of worship, which is to discontinue preachings and concentrate on the gopi bhava of madhurya, the sweet and total commitment and love for Krishna; as mentioned in verse 15 of chapter 44 of Xth Canto of Srimad Bhagwatam. ('Preetirasawtar Mahabhavnimagna Sri Radha Baba',pages 199-203)

An account of the divinity experienced by Sri Radha Baba from 1939-45 at Ratangarh, the ancestral place of Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddarji. It's here that the foundation of books like 'Satsung Sudha Mala' and 'Keli Kunj ' were laid. Keli Kunj is a separate publication which showcases 29 out of 38 lilas in all. Mainly they relate to Sri Radhakund at Goverdhan.('Preetirasawtar Mahabhavnimagna Sri Radha Baba',pages 204-223,

1943: While many thought Poddar ji was sick in 1943, Lord Krishna revealed to Sri Radha Baba that it was actually his sickness which was being taken over by Poddar ji !

And then this page is most vital as it describes the secret incarnation of Supreme Godhead, Shri Radha Krishna.(page 217)
The Playful Dalliances of Shri Radha-Krishna
Manju Shyama, the younger sister of Radha Rani is more vocal than Shri Radha and has the colour of Lord Krishna. Both Sri Radha-Krishna respect her highly as she understands the emotions of both side. Therefore she plays an important in the lilas or playful dalliances of Lord Krishna( Sri Krishna Kripakataksha Stotram's 9th verse ) .

The Manjari Bhava of Radha Baba
Sri Radha Baba regards Himself as the true companion of Manju Shyama ji and hence this manjari-bhava (distributing the love of Krishna as that possessed by the handmaids of Radha) or gopi dasha of Sri Radha Baba is understandable.
How Chakradhar Baba came to be known as Sri Radha Baba: The next few pages reveal the secret why Baba who was earlier famed as Sri Chakradhar Baba became renowned as Sri Radha Baba. The reason being earlier He used to chant the mahamantra
Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare
Hare Krishan Hare Krishan, Krishan Krishan Hare Hare

Chanting Sri Radha-Radha
Thereafter he recited the Sri Radhakrishna Mantra and finally he just chanted Radha-Radha as this pleases Lord Krishna the most. Sri Radha Baba considered Himself a sakhi of Sri Radha and such a bhava is the most sublime of them all.

Then we have a 'Projection of Astral Body 'book. (page 239)

Disclose how the chanting of " Sri Hari : sharnam " saved Radha Baba's father. Actually his father had expired on 9th April, 1943 but did not get mukti or salvation because he had erred by not endorsing renunciation of his son, Sri Radha Baba . (pages 240-242)So Sri Radha Baba arranged for 1.25 lakh japa of " SRI HARI : sharnam "and His father got mukti. In fact , his father got immersed in Sri Bhaguri Rishi ( Kulpurohit of Sri Vrishbhanu Baba just like sage Shandilya is of Nandbaba. )

The next few pages are about helping the poor parents of a marriageable girl. Radha Baba believed in
denhaar kou aur hai , det rahat din rain,
log bharam mope karein , yate neeche nain
which means that God is the real donor whereas we mortals are just distributors of that money ! (pages 243-246)

'Preetirasawtar Mahabhavnimagna Sri Radha Baba,'Pages 251-258

Sri Radhashtami
Radhashtami Utsav, At Delhi in 1941 and at Ratangarh from1942 to 1944.
Since 1945 Radha Baba in Gorakhpur. In the year 1945 at Geetavatika, in 1946 at Palri-Bazar, and then stayed at Geeta Vatika from 1947 onwards.

Saint Surdas
The 33 verses of Surdas ji's meaning were written by Sri Radha Baba but as Bhai Poddarji wanted His name to be published in monthly Kalyan, it got discontinued somehow . In 1952, Poddarji published them as ' Satsung-Sudha' from Gitapress.

Similarly 'Sri Krishna Leela Chintan' contains series of articles published from 1946 onwards in Kalyan for about 10 years. In 1948, revered Baba gave 4 articles for the special Naari-edition later which were published as Brajleela's main woman characters and the headings were :--
Jagajnanni Sri Radha, Mata Yashoda, Mata Rohini and Ashtsakhi.
The first Jagajanni Sri Radha was most dear to Maa Anandmayi and has been published separately so many times.

'Preetirasawtar Mahabhavnimagna Sri Radha Baba'pages 259-268: reveal the divine relationship Sri Radha Baba shared with Thakurjee, Ghanshyam Bhaiya :--

In 1949, Thakur Ghanshyam Bhaiyaji sang exactly the same pada
banyo mor mukut natwar vapu Shyam Sunder kamal nayan
which Sri Radha Baba had thought of. Soon after Ghanshyam ji danced also in the same style as Baba was thinking of.

Another incident shows that Thakur, Ghanshyam Bhaiya placed two garlands on Sri Radha Baba's bed in exactly the same manner as He had seen in His dhyan or Lord Krishna's divine play. Sri Radha Baba was convinced now that Thakur Ghanshyam Bhaiya had vibrations of Lord Sri Krishna.

Sage Narada
Pages 273-274: Around the year 1950 when Sri Radha Baba and Thakur Ghanshyam Bhaiyaji wrote a play depicting Sri Kishoriji 's kripa or grace on sage Narada under the inspiration from Bhai Poddarji. On Sharad-Poornima this year, the play was enacted in Geeta Vatika under instructions of both the saints! Devotees reached the heights of elation and ecsatasy, and it seemed as if Sri Radha Rani was performing Herself and others were simply following Her directions.

9th May , 1951-- Goddess Sri Tripura Sundari (Parvati, beautiful goddess of the three cities) also called Sodasi [sixteen],Lalita [she who plays] and Rajarajesvari [queen of queens] She is one of the group of ten goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called the Mahavidyas) gives darshan to Sri Radha Baba. Sri Radha Rani's parents Kirti Devi and Vrishbhanu ji worshipped Goddess Sri Tripur Sundari, and by Her kripa Sri Radha Rani incarnated in their home. As Sri Radhaji was Isht of Radha Baba, in 1951 , Lord Sri Krishna instructed Him to worship Goddess Sri Tripura Sundari. But the mischievous Lord Krishna did not give Baba any instuctions. Therefore Baba Himself made 1,000 mantras on the basis of Sri LalitaSahstranaam.

Goddess Tripura Sundari
Now started the worship of Goddess Sri Tripura Sundari. At least 1000 lotuses were required daily. As it was difficult to arrange for them, akshat chawal or unbroken rice was a substitute and kumkum was the third alternative. This is how 1 crore mantras were chanted in honour of Goddess Sri Tripursundri for several weeks. And on 9th May, 1951 Goddess Sri Tripursundriji gave darshan to Sri Radha Baba. The anushthaan was successful and finally Baba had the grace of Sri Kishori ji.

Soon after, Baba started the mansic pooja of Goddess Tripur Sundari. Friday used to be the special day of Devi .Once in 1960 when He was at Rishikesh ( Swargashram with Bhai Poddarji ) and could not keep track of Friday, an old lady at Ganga Ghat invariably reminded Him of the weekly -pooja . This is how Goddess Tripur Sundari became the centre-point of Sri Radha Baba's sadhna.

Sri Radha
Pages 282-283: Describe that when Sri Radha Baba was doing kirtan of SRI RADHA ....RADHA ..RADHA ..... , an 8 year old girl appeared and attracted all those who were present. Who knows She could be a divine Gopi of Vrindavan or Kishoriji Herself ....Jai Kishoriji ki .... !

Pages 310- 321: Describe Lord Rama's Chitrakoot, pious river Mandakini and a Goverdhan type parikarma of Kamadgiri.
Pages 311-313: Tour of Ayodhya, Namisharnay, Haridwar, Kurukshetra, mazar of Saint Sarmad in Delhi.
Pages 314-317: Ethereal darshan of Yamunaji, Braj-Bhoomi, Vrindavan, Kusum Sarovar while touring Mathura-Braj.

Bhakti Poet, Mirabai
A tour of Ujjain, Meerabai's places in Rajasthan .....Saint Meera Bai

Sri Nathji
Sri Sri Nathdwara .....let us humbly bow to Bhagwan Vallabhacharyaji for kripa of Sri Nathji or Giriraj Goverdhan ....
The tour of Ajmer, Sidhpur, Dwarka , Joonagarh, Dakor, Nasik, Pandarpur , Kishkindha , Mysore, Kallhasti and Tirupati Balaji.
Darshan of Sri Raman Maharshi Samadhi at Tirvanmallai, Adishankaracharyaji 's birth place Kalri.
Pages 322 onwards: describe further actual pilgrimage sites visited by the duo of Bhai Poddarji and Sri Sri Radha Baba.
A visit to Kanyakumari where the famous Vivekananda rock is situated.
Sri Rameshwaram
A trip to Sri Rameshwaram, Ma Meenakshi Devi darshan at Madurai, Lord Shiva's darshan at Chidambaram, Ma Arvind Ashram at Pondicherry, Prabhu Sri Jagannathji darshan at Puri ... Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the pilgrimage of entire India got over on 26th April 1956 !

Sharad Purnima
Page 330 describes that divine SRI Radha Radha kirtan in 1956, on the utsav ofRadhashtami! Actually on Sharad-poornima in 1956, Sri Sri Radha Baba took kashtha-maun and this kirtan took place just before this vow of silence. Sri Sri Radha Baba had reached the heights of ecstasy and was chanting with loving tenderness :--
hamaro Dhan RADHA RADHA RADHA
And only a few, internal devotees like Sri Ghanshyam Bhaiyaji were present.

Shri Yamuna Maharani
Baba sang with enthused exultation :--
kalindi , dheere baho, mere priytam utrenge paar
asking Sri Yamujanji to flow slowly as our dearmost Lord Krishna wanted to cross over!

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Navratri: 15th October to 24th October, 2023

Navratri means nine nights. Nav means nine and ratri stands for night, so combined it means Navratri. In northern India the festival is called Navratra. A nine day religious festival, Navratri is celebrated to propitiate Goddess Durga, the Mother Goddess.

In Hindu mythology Durga is Shakti, the divine feminine energy. According to a legend, Lord Brahma granted a boon to Mahishasur, the buffalo demon. As of now armed with infinite power, the asura created havoc in the universe, and no one could dare defeat or kill him. Equipped with unprecedented might he became so atrocious, that he started terrorizing the deities as well. One fine day he ventured to Heaven or Swargaloka to kill Indra, the King of the Gods. Greatly distressed, Indra and other deities entreated Lord Shiva for help. Enraged at such blatant misuse of Brahma’s boon, Lord Shiva along with Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, released their energies. The shaktis of the gods flashed forth and fused together, bringing to life a magnificent Goddess resplendent with many arms.

Acclaimed as Durga, she was ravishingly beautiful and deadly. The armed Durga rode a Lion and fought a fiercely bloody battle with Mahishasur, raging for nine days and nights. During the course of this combat Mahishasur changed his form many times. Finally on the tenth day, Durga trampled him under her foot and Mahishasur was killed, saving the universe from his reign of terror. The Goddess’s triump because of her innate divinity symbolizes the victory of good over evil. These nine days are solely devoted to propitiation of the Mother Goddess or Shakti Incarnate.


Navratri is Celebrated Twice a Year

As per astrological predictions there are two major solar influences each year, the seasons being determined by the directions in which the sun moves. So one is the Dakshinayana period when the Sun crosses the Equator moving towards the southern hemisphere, heralding the start of winter. The second is the Uttarayana period when the Sun crosses the Equator moving towards the northern hemisphere, indicating the onset of summer.

The arrival of the summer and winter seasons are two crucial junctures of solar influences when people undergo a substantial change physically and mentally due to climatic variations. These two periods are cited as the sacred time for worshipping the Mother Goddess or Shakti Incarnate and chosen for celebrating Navratras. Ram Navratri is celebrated in the Chaitra Month (first month of the year according to Hindu Calendar, beginning on 22 March and ending on 20 April) and the Durga Navratri in the first nine days of the light half of the month Ashvin (seventh month of the year as per the Hindu calendar, starting on 23 September and ending on 22 October).


This year Navratris are from 26th September to 5th October 2022.


Navadurga


Durga, the Mother Goddess of the Hindus is an amalgam of Devi (consort of a God) and Shakti (the energy of a deity personified as his wife). Believed to have manifested in various forms, the Navadurga are said to be the most sacred aspects of Durga. According to Hindu tradition, Durga incarnated herself in three major forms of Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali who owe their origin to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva respectively. These three further appeared in three more forms of Durga each and thus the nine forms of Durga collectively called the Navadurga or Nine Durgas evolved.


Navratri's each night is dedicated to one form of Goddess Durga who creates, sustains and destroys the Universe. Mahakali Goddess of valor, power and energy is propitiated for the first three days to end our vices.


Durga Shailputri

Shailputri is the daughter of Himalaya, king of the Mountains. Shail means mountain and putri stands for daughter. She is the first among the nine Durgas married to Lord Shiva and mother of Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and Kartikeya, god of war. The first navratra is devoted to the worship of Shailputri. Her two hands hold a trident and a lotus. Her mount is a bull.


In her previous birth she was Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva and daughter of Daksha and Bhavani. Once Daksha had organized a grand Yagna and did not invite Shiva. Sati being obstinate however reached there and consequently Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not tolerate her husband being slighted and burnt herself in the fire of the Yagna. In the next birth she was Parvati, born as the daughter of Himalaya and married to Shiva. As per the Upanishadas she had shattered the egoism of Indra and other Deities. Ashamed, they made obeisance to her, "In fact, thou are Shakti, we all - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv are empowered by getting Shakti or power from you."


Ma Brahmacharini

The second Durga Shakti is Brahmacharini, the personification of love and loyalty, spreading the message of pristine love to the world. A trove of knowledge and wisdom, the rudraksha beads are Her most treasured ornaments. Brahma means one who observes penance or tapa and endowed with good conduct. The idol of this Goddess is very gorgeous. There is a rosary in her right hand and k umbha or water pot in the left hand. She is awash with merriment.


A tale is famed about her. In her previous birth she was Parvati or Hemvati the daughter of Himvan. Once when she was busy frolicking with her friends, Naradaji came and seeing her palm predicted, "You will get married with a naked-terrible Bhole Baba who was with when you were Sati, the daughter of Daksha in your previous birth. But now you have to perform penance for him." There upon Parvati insisted and told her mother Menaka that she would marry none except Shambhu, or remain unwed. Saying this she did austere penance. Ever since she is famed as tapacharini or Brahmacharini and since then her name Uma became familiar.


Ma Chandraghanta

The name of the third Shakti is Chandraghanta who establishes righteousness. There is a crescent moon on her forehead. She is charming and radiant. Her colour is golden and She is endowed with three eyes and ten hands. Eight of her hands display weapons like swords and arrows while the remaining two are in the mudras of giving boons and warding off harm. Chandra plus Ghanta signifies supreme bliss and knowledge, the showering of peace and serenity. This power of Durga rides a tiger ready for waging a battle. An unprecedented image of bravery, the frightful sound of her bell terrifies all the villains, demons and danavas. Changraghanta is mainly worshipped in Tamil Nadu.


Mahalakshmi Goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped for the next three days to awaken divine qualities in a devotee’s mind.


Ma Kushmanda

Name of the fourth Durga is Kushmanda. The Shakti bestows the basic necessities and everyday sustenance to the world, creates the Universe merely by laughing. Residing in solar systems, She shines brightly in all ten directions like the Sun beaming with a radiant aura. Equipped with eight hands, She holds seven types of brilliant weapons gleaming in her seven hands and a rosary in her right. She seems resplendent mounted on a Lion. Kumbh Bhand means seeing the cosmic dance in the form of Pindi; the knowledge of cosmic intricacies in humans. She likes the offerings of Kumhde, leading to her name Kushmanda. Her abode is Bhima Parvat.


Skand Mata

She blesses the world with the gift of differentiation and discrimination of right from wrong. The fifth name of Durga is Skanda Mata. Riding a lion, Her chosen vehicle, She holds Her son Skanda on her lap. Endowed with three eyes and four hands; two hands holds lotuses while the other two display defending and granting mudras, respectively. It is said that by the grace of Skanda Mata even a fool transforms into an ocean of knowledge. The fifth name of Durga is Skanda Mata. The daughter of Himalaya, after observing penance She got married to Shiva. She had a son named Skanda who is a leader of the army of Gods. The Shakti is a deity of fire, white-hued and seated on a lotus.


Katyayani Devi

The sixth Durga is Katyayani. The son of Kat is Rishi Katyayan born in the Katya lineage. Katyayan had observed penance with a desire to get Paramba as his daughter. Consequently she took birth as his daughter. Therefore her name is Katyayani. She has three eyes and eight hands. There are eight types of weapons in her seven hands. Her vehicle is the lion. She persistently and relentlessly battles against the evil, deceitful and devious entities.


Mahasaraswati Goddess of Knowledge, Learning and Art is revered for the further three days. It is an implicit belief that her worship enhances the spiritual knowledge of a devotee, freeing him of all materialistic bonds and earthly attachments.


Ma Kaalratri:

She killed Raktabeeja (A demon who had the power to produce a demon from every drop of blood that fell from his body.) The Goddess eventually licked the blood before it could reach the ground and hence conquered and overpowered him. Black or blue-hued like the ratri or night with flowing tresses, Kaalratri is the seventh form of Nav-Durga. Having four hands; two of them clutching a cleaver and a mashal or torch; while the other two are in the mudras of blessing and protecting thus making her devotees fearless. Her vehicle is a faithful donkey.


Acclaimed as the destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Kaalratri stands for scourer and enemy of darkness. Adorned with necklaces shining like lightening, She has three bright eyes which are round like the universe. Thousands of flames emanate while respiring from Her nose. Being auspicious she is acclaimed as Shubhamkari.


Maha Gauri

The Eighth Durga is Maha Gauri. She is pristine white as a conch, moon and the jasmine blossom. She is eight years of age equipped with four arms and the fairest complexion of all the Durgas Shaktis. Maha Gauri radiating peace and compassion is usually draped in a white or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted as riding a bull. Maa Maha Gauri also liberated the world from the evil forces.


She is endowed with three eyes, rides a bull and has four hands. The above left hand is in the fearless mudra and the lower left hand holds the trishul or trident. The above right hand has the tambourine and lower right hand is in a blessing mudra. She is calm, peaceful and exists in serenity. It is said that when the body of Gauri became dirty due to dust and earth while doing austere penance, Shiva cleansed it with the water of Ganges. Soon after, Her body became bright like lightening leading to her name Maha Gauri.


Ma Siddhidatri

The ninth Durga is Siddhidatri. There are eight siddhis or supernatural powers, Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva and Vashitva. It is stated in the ‘Devi Purana’ that the Supreme God Shiv acquired all these siddhis by worshipping Maha Shakti. With Her grace the half body of Shiv is composed of Goddesses leading to his name ‘Ardhanarishvar’ which is famed the world over. Usually shown ensconced in a lotus with four arms, She looks pleased.


iding a lion, She is the bestower of 26 different wishes to Her bhaktas or devotees. A treasure house of mystic powers or yantra tantra and knowledge or gyaan, this form of Durga is worshipped by all Gods, Rishis-Munis, Siddhas, Yogis, Sadhakas and devotees for attaining the best religious asset. On the ninth day of the Navratras is Ramnavami when Lord Rama is worshipped.


Navadurga is the Kuldevi (family goddess) of several Gaud Saraswat Brahmins in India. There are many Navadurga temples in Goa such as at Madkiam, Kundaim, Pale, Poingueinim, Borim. The temples at Redi and Vengurla of Maharashtra are famed.


The Mother Goddess

Hinduism is the only religion in the world which has glorified to such an extent the motherhood of God. Durga represents the Divine Mother and is the energy aspect of the Lord. Shiva and Durga are in essence a singly entity.


Shakti is the Cosmic Energy of the Lord. She keeps up the play of the Lord through the three attributes of Nature, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Knowledge, peace, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride, are all Her forms.


You will find in the Devi Sukta of the Rig Veda Samhita that Vak, the daughter of sage Anbhirna, realised her identity with the Divine Mother, Power of the Supreme Lord, which manifests throughout the universe among gods, men and beasts and creatures of the ocean.


In the Kena Upanishada, the Divine Mother bestows wisdom on Indra and the gods, affirming that the gods were able to defeat the demons only with the help of the power of the Supreme Lord.


The worship of Devi, the universal Mother, leads to the attainment of knowledge of the Self. The story in the Kena Upanishad known as the ‘Yaksha Prasna’ endorses this view. Goddess Shakti thus showers wisdom on Her devotees


Adi Shakti is beyond human comprehension. Bhagavan Krishna clarifies in the Gita: "This is only My lower nature. Beyond this is My higher nature, the life-principle which sustains the universe"


The Spiritual Significance of Navaratri


The focus of existence is to comprehend your eternal identity with the supreme Spirit. The aspirant has to get rid of countless impurities and acquire divine virtues. When purified, knowledge dawns upon him.


Thus it is the Divine Mother who has to operate through the aspirant. On the first three days, you pray to Ma Kali to destroy all your vices. She is the power that protects your spiritual practice from its many pitfalls so we worship the destructive aspect of the Mother.


The next step is to build a spiritual persona. Divine virtues that Lord Krishna enumerates in the Gita, have to be acquired for divine wisdom. This pleasanter side of the aspirant's sadhana or devotion is depicted by the worship of Mother Lakshmi who bestows inexhaustible divine wealth on Her devotees. Epitomizing purity, Ma Lakshmi is propitiated during the second set of three days.


Once the aspirant imbibes Sattwic or divine qualities, he is competent to attain wisdom and knowledge of the Self. At this stage comes the devout worship of Ma Saraswathi, the embodiment of knowledge of the Absolute, represented by Her pristine white apparel.


The tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, marks the triumph of the soul at having attained liberation while living in this world, through the dawning of knowledge by the grace of Goddess Saraswati. The soul rests in his own Supreme Self or Satchidananda Brahman.


Celebration

Many devotees fast on all the nine days of this celebration of nights. Devotees throng the Devi temples all over India where the idol of the Goddess is adorned beautifully. The festivities are observed with joyous abandon in Gujarat where the nine nights of Navratris are enthused with the joyous abandon of the Garba and Rasa dance performances. Ma Durga is an object of widespread public worship as the Mother Goddess in West Bengal’s Durga Puja. Undisputedly the most important festival in this state it is celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm.


On the first day of Navratri barley seeds are sown in a small earthen pot in the Puja room. When these seeds sprout into small shoots on the tenth day they are uprooted and given to devotees as blessings. During Navratris most people eat vegetarian food, some do not have cereal while others fast for all the nine days.


Kirtans or devotional songs and jagratas are in full swing in various temples and community centres bythe religious-minded. On the fifth day known as Lalita Panchami, it is a tradition to exhibit all literary texts in the house and light a lamp to invoke Saraswati Ma, the Goddess of knowledge and art.


On the 8th day of this colorful festival, yagna or religious sacrifice and homa or holy fire is performed. Pure ghee, kheer and sesame seeds are offered to Goddess Durga. Many people in north India celebrated the 8th day as ashtami when nine young girls symbolizing Navdurge are fed with halwa, puri and kale chane.


Sri Rama is worshipped during Ramnavami, the ninth day and Ma Durga during Navaratri. The tenth day of this festival is celebrated as Vijaydashmi or Dussehra.


People in North India invariably visit the famed holy shrine of Ma Vaishnodevi, situated on Trikoot Mountain near Jammu during this time span. Bhandaras or meals for devotees are organized in temples and community centres.


The potter flaunts his skill in making images, the painter in drawing pictures, the songster in playing on his instrument, and the priest in reciting the sacred texts. The Bengalis save money throughout the year only to spend lavishly during the Puja days. Cloth is freely distributed to the Brahmins and they are fed.


In West Bengal during Navratras, Goddess Durga is worshipped. The pujas are held over a five day period, viewed as the home-coming of the married daughter, Durga, to her father, Parvatraj Himalaya's home. It is considered to be the most important festival when Bengalis buy new clothes, exchange sweets and make new purchases. Decked in the best of finery, the family goes out to see the 'pandalas' (temporary structures set up to venerate the goddess Durga) with musical evenings being organized. On the last day of the puja, the idol of the Goddess is taken with great fanfare and immersed in the river.


Another version states that Durga’s mother (wife of the King of the Himalayas) longed to see her daughter. Durga was permitted by Lord Shiva to visit her mother only for nine days in the year. The festival of Durga Puja marks this brief visit and ends with Vijaya Dashami, when Goddess Durga leaves for Her return to Mount Kailash.


The woman of Bengal welcome the Goddess with maternal tenderness and teary-eyed send away the idol on the last day, adorned with every ceremony associated with a daughter's departure to her husband's home. This signifies the parting of Durga from Her beloved mother.


But the basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate Shakti, the Goddess of Power, to bestow wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge and other powers upon us. By relating with Her we are blessed with Her loving mercy and protection.


Apparently, the nine-day worship of Durga is a celebration of triumph, propitiating the Mother for Her successful struggle with the formidable demons led by Mahishasura. On the spiritual plane it epitomises the stages of the evolution of man, from jivahood or the state of an individual to Shivahood or the state of self-realisation.


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