ABCD of Navratri 2012

Navratri in 2012 is on 16 October. According to Sanskrit grammar, the word ?navratri? is incorrect. This word should be used in masculine gender due to the application of ?copulative compound? as per the rules of Sanskrit grammar describing a set of nine nights.

What is Navratra?

There are four junctures in a year during the movement of earth around Sun. Two main Navratras fall during the junctures taking place around the months of March and September. There is a high possibility of the contagious disease caused by harmful germs in this time. The numbers of diseases increase when changes in the climate occur during these junctures. So the process of staying healthy, keeping body clean and the mind in order is named Navratra.

Navratri: Nine Nights or Nine Days

From the night of new moon (Amavasya) to the eighth day (ashtami) or from the first day of the fortnight (padva) to the ninth day?s (navmi) afternoon, fasting with other rules and rituals go on for nine nights that justify the name of the festival ?Navratra?. Nights are counted here usually, that?s why it is called Navratra.

Why Nine Only?

Metaphorically, our body has been called as having nine main doorways. And the vital energy residing in it is named as Goddess Durga. This nine day long festival of purifying these nine doorways is celebrated in order to discipline, sublimate and harmonize the senses, so that our bodies can work efficiently and actively throughout the year. To give them importance at personal level, these nine days are dedicated to nine different forms of Goddess Durga.

Why to observe fast during Navratri?

We routinely perform purgation, cleansing or purification etc to keep the body healthy, but sometimes it becomes necessary to overhaul all the body parts. After every six months, fasting should be performed for this reason. Pure or Sattvik food and fasting make the body pure, immaculate body makes the mind sublimate that, in turn, sprouts good ideas, good thoughts foster good deeds, and these good deeds ultimately transform themselves into virtuous character that makes the heart pure and honest. The power of God resides only in pure mind.

What is Navdurga?

These nine days, starting from the first day to the ninth day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu months of Chaitra and Ashwin, have a ruling deity for each day depicting nine different forms of Goddess Durga or vital energy inhabiting in the metaphorical fort with nine doors signifying the human body. The nine forms of Goddess Durga are known as Shailputri, Brahmcharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyaini, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhatri. They are also related with nine herbs or with nine things associated with fasts, which are used in Navratra - Kuttu (Shailaan), milk-curd, chaulai (chandraghanta), petha (kushmanda), shyamak chawal (skandmata), green vegetable (katyaini), black pepper and tulsi (kaalratri), sabudana (mahagauri), amla (siddhiratri). These are nine natural eatables used while fasting, which are found in jungles.

When the fast cannot be observed

Fast means resolution, pledge or vow. If one cannot keep the fast because of one?s hectic routine or of his body conditions, one can observe the fast for 9, 7, 5, 3 or just for a single day as per one?s own accord. If it is not possible to keep the fast for even one day, then at least try to avoid misuse of body doorways or senses. For example, restrict your tongue and do not overeat, do not listen bad things, do not backbite or complain, keep righteous vision, eat food, sleep and bath on time, do not force yourself to restrict call of the nature, and abstain from flirting, romance and sexual relations during this time. Or at least leave two habits during these days. To finish the fasting, Ashtami or navmi is decided according to the family tradition. According to ?Bhavishyaottar Purana? and ?Devibhagwat?, a family which has sons or who want a baby boy should finish their fasts on Navmi. The importance of Ashtami, Navmai and Chaudas, which comes after four days of Dusshera have been described in Durgasaptashati too.

When one is not able to feed kanya during Navratri

It is considered pious to offer food or gifts to girls by increasing a girl every day or, if possible, offer food to nine girls and a boy daily during Navratra. To feed nine kanyas (little girls) on Ashtami or Navmi once is believed to be of medium kind of ritual. Those people who live alone or because of busy schedule can?t feed girls according to the custom, they can offer readymade food items as well as things like: comb, hair band, cream, oil, mirror, copy, pencil, toys, utencils, cloths, toffies, sweets, fruits, flowers and money and any other useful thing to little girls.

What to do for special votive?

Read at least nine chapters of Saptshati during these nine days. If it is not possible, sow barley and khetri in home, lit a lamp, keep water beside it and chant a mantra daily for 10, 28 or 108 times as per your convenience, or just the recitation of Kunjikastutra, Durga Chalisa and Durga Aarti is enough too. Choose a time in morning, day and night. Make sure to follow the time rule. After Jaap, water should be offered to the sun. Shakti Upasana means to believe on yourself and to believe in the almighty god. To sit beside the almighty and to stop the ripples in the lake of mind is known as Shakti Upasana. It has been said that thoughts which we entertain and what we always think about, we become like that after a while. One sees the world in accord with one?s own thought, i.e. if one has positive outlook, s/he founds world to be good. One the other hand, if one has negative thoughts, entire world looks bad to him/her. Therefore Navratra, the festival of Shakti, is the occasion of having faith in oneself and to stride on the path of virtue. Struggle (Mahakali), cleanliness or honesty (Mahalaxmi), intelligency (Mahasaraswati), when combined and utilized with the unwavering self-belief, is called the true worship of primordial divine power or Shakti.