Significance of Navratri 2012

Navratri in 2012 is on 16 October. Navratri is the most auspicious time to worship Goddess Durga. During these nine days her power is said to be at full swing and her worship blesses devotees to fight against any sort of an evil. Devi Mahatmyam or Chandi Path also known as Devi Shaptashati gives complete details about the mighty power and knowledge of Goddess Shakti.

Durga Aarti invokes the Goddess and talks about her boundless power. Mind and words cannot describe the boundless source of energy and power of Mahashakti. Her Cosmic energy is in full swing during Navratri.
Devi is beautiful and bountiful, beneficent and terrifying, compassionate and ruthlessly righteous.She is Durga and Kali in Bengali, Bhadrakali in Gujrat, Vaishno devi in Jammu and Kashmir, Chamunda in Kernataka, Santoshi Ma and Bhavani in Maharastra, Kamakhya in Assam. She is invoked in many more forms and names each derived from her unique character.However for most of us she is just ‘Ma’ the universal mother who protects her children every time they need her.

The 700 verses of Devi Mahatmyam are recited during Durga Puja.She is hailed as the origin of all three worlds and is said to have all three gunas of satva, rajas, tamas, that is purity, passipn and inertia. Yet she is without defect. The ultimate resort of all that is incomprehensible, even to the trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.

The First Three Days of Navratri

The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to the worship of the Goddess Durga. This is the period, when her energy and power are worshipped. Each day is dedicated to a different appearance of Durga. . Kumari, which signifies the girl child, is worshipped on the first day of the festival. Parvati, who is the embodiment of a young woman, is worshipped on the second day. The destructive aspects of Goddess Durga symbolize the commitment to acquire triumph over all the evil tendencies. Hence, on the third day of Navratri, Goddess Kali is worshipped, who represents the woman who has reached the stage of maturity.

Fourth to Sixth Days of Navratri

When a person acquires triumph over evil tendencies of ego, anger, lust and other animal instincts, he/she experiences a void. This void is filled with spiritual wealth. For the purpose, the person approaches Goddess Lakshmi, to acquire all the materialistic, spiritual wealth and prosperity. This is the reason why the fourth, fifth and sixth day of Navratri are dedicated to the worship of Lakshmi - the goddess of prosperity and peace.

Although the individual has acquired victory over evil tendencies and wealth, he is still deprived of true knowledge. Knowledge is required to live the life of a humane, even though he/she is prospered with power and wealth. Therefore, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri. All the books and other literature materials are gathered in one place and a 'diya' (earthen lamp) is lit in front of the deity, to invoke the goddess and seek her blessings. Till the time the books are kept at the puja room, the students would not study.

Seventh and Eighth Day of Navratri

The seventh day is dedicated to worshipping Saraswati, the goddess of art and knowledge. Prayers are offered with an aim to seek spiritual knowledge. A 'yagna' is performed on the eight day. This comprises of a sacrifice honoring goddess Durga as well as bids her farewell. The sacrifice or offering is made out of clarified butter (ghee), rice pudding known as kheer and sesame seeds.

Ninth Day of Navratri

The ninth day is the final day of Navratri celebrations. It is also known as 'Mahanavami'. On the day, Kanya puja is performed to worship nine young girls, who have not yet reached the stage of puberty. These nine girls symbolize one of the nine forms of goddess Durga. The feet of girls are washed to welcome the goddess and show respect to her. The girls are offered a set of new clothes as a gift from the devotees at the end of the puja.

Mahalakshimi could have reduced the demons to ashes merely by looking at them. However she engages in a combat thus purifying the sinner by here divine touch. There is no vendetta only compassion. Detroy the sin not the sinner is the message behind it all. Since Shakti is closely associated with vegetation and nourishment, so important for energy,hence her appearance round the harvest season.