Devi Navaratri: Worship of Devi as Divine Mother
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Devi
Navaratri:
Compiled by
Tumuluru
Worship of Devi as Divine Mother
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Tumuluru Krishna Murty
Anasuya
C-66 Durgabai Deshmukh Colony
Ahobil Mutt Road
Hyderabad 500007
Ph: +91 (40) 2742 7083/ 8904
Typeset and formatted by:
Desaraju Sri Sai Lakshmi
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Picture courtesy: Desaraju Sri Sai Lakshmi
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Table of Contents
Devi Navaratri: An Introduction ............................................................ 9
Vasanta Navaratri ................................................................................................................... 9
The Story of Vasanta Navaratri ....................................................................... 10
Sharad Navaratri ................................................................................................................... 12
Forms of Shakti....................................................................................................................... 12
Rituals ......................................................................................................................................... 12
First three days ................................................................................................ 13
Second three days ........................................................................................... 13
Final three days ............................................................................................... 13
Vijayadasami ........................................................................................................................... 15
Victory of God Rama over Ravana ................................................................. 15
Victory of Durga Mata over Mahishasura ..................................................... 17
Homecoming of Durga Mata ....................................................................... 17
End of Agyatawas of Pandavas........................................................................ 18
Kautsa's Guru Dakshina..................................................................................... 19
Forms and manifestations of Shakti...................................................... 21
The Three Facets of the Divine Female Principle.................................................. 21
Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati Represent Thoughts, Words and Actions
.................................................................................................................................. 22Prakrithi Shakti .................................................................................................... 23
The need to develop Will power................................................................. 24
The concepts of Sathya and Ritha ................................................................... 25
Divine potencies of the three Goddesses ....................................................... 26
The way to enter the spiritual path ............................................................. 27
Human Intellect Is To Be Used For Righteous Actions........................ 29
The Mother Divine ............................................................................... 31
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8
Principles that constitute the role of motherhood.................................................. 33
The powers of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati............................................. 34
Children require mother's loving grace .......................................................... 35
Mother comes first .............................................................................................. 36
Worship of God as energy principle ............................................................................ 37
True relatives of man .......................................................................................... 38
Compassion is the true friend. .......................................................................... 38
Worship of Devi as divine mother.................................................................. 39
The quest for Truth.............................................................................................. 42
Spiritual truth of Navaratri .................................................................. 43Inner Significance of Navaratri Festival................................................................... 43
The role of Nature in the creative process ..................................................... 44
Maintain steadiness of mind during worship ................................................ 45
Adoration of Nature ............................................................................................ 46
The power of Mantra .......................................................................................... 47
Principle of oneness ............................................................................................ 47
Ways of Worship.................................................................................................................... 55Inner meaning of Dasara festival ..................................................................... 61
The true meaning of Angaarpana Puja ........................................................... 62
Index .................................................................................................... 65
Bibliography ......................................................................................... 67
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9
Devi Navaratri: An
Introduction
Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindudeity Durga. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in
Sanskrit, Nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During
these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are
worshiped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as
Vijayadasami or "Dussehra." Navaratri is a very important and
major festival.
Navaratri is celebrated five times a year. They are Vasanta
Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, the Sharad Navaratri, and the
Paush/ Magha Navaratri. Of these, the Sharad Navaratri of the
month of Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta
kala are the most important.
Vasanta Navaratri
This is celebrated during Vasanta Rhitu (beginning of summer)
(March- April). This is also known as Chaitra Navaratri as it
falls during the lunar month of Chaitra.
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The Story of Vasanta Navaratri
In days long gone by, King Dhruvasindhu was killed by a lion
when he went out hunting. Preparations were made to crown theprince Sudarsana. But, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, the father of
Queen Lilavati, and King Virasena of Kalinga, the father of
Queen Manorama, were each desirous of securing the Kosala
throne for their respective grandsons. They fought with each
other. King Virasena was killed in the battle. Manorama fled to
the forest with Prince Sudarsana and a eunuch. They took refuge
in the hermitage of Rishi Bharadwaja.
The victor, King Yudhajit, thereupon crowned his grandson,
Satrujit, at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. He then went out in
search of Manorama and her son. The Rishi said that he would
not give up those who had sought protection under him. Yudhajit
became furious. He wanted to attack the Rishi. But, his ministertold him about the truth of the Rishis statement. Yudhajit
returned to his capital.
Fortune smiled on Prince Sudarsana. A hermits son came one
day and called the eunuch by his Sanskrit name Kleeba. The
prince caught the first syllable Kli and began to pronounce it as
Kleem. This syllable happened to be a powerful, sacred Mantra.It is the Bija Akshara (root syllable) of the Divine Mother. The
Prince obtained peace of mind and the Grace of the Divine
Mother by the repeated utterance of this syllable. Devi appeared
to him, blessed him and granted him divine weapons and an
inexhaustible quiver.
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Devi Navaratri: An Introduction
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The emissaries of the king of Benares passed through the Ashram
of the Rishi and, when they saw the noble prince Sudarsana, they
recommended him to Princess Sashikala, the daughter of theking of Benares.
The ceremony at which the princess was to choose her spouse
was arranged. Sashikala at once chose Sudarsana. They were
duly wedded. King Yudhajit, who had been present at the
function, began to fight with the king of Benares. Devis helped
Sudarsana and his father-in-law. Yudhajit mocked Her, upon
which Devi promptly reduced Yudhajit and his army to ashes.
Thus Sudarsana, with his wife and his father-in-law, praised
Devi. She was highly pleased and ordered them to worship her
with havan and other means during the Vasanta Navaratri. Then
she disappeared.
Prince Sudarsana and Sashikala returned to the Ashram of Rishi
Bharadwaja. The great Rishi blessed them and crowned
Sudarsana as the king of Kosala. Sudarsana and Sashikala and
the king of Benares implicitly carried out the commands of the
Divine Mother and performed worship in a splendid manner
during the Vasanta Navaratri.
Sudarsanas descendants Sri Rama and Lakshmana also
performed worship of Devi during the Sharad Navaratri and
were blessed with Her assistance in the recovery of Sita.
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Sharad Navaratri
Commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright
half of the lunar month Aswayuja/Asvina.
Forms of Shakti
Nine forms of Shakti are worshipped during the Navaratris. The
Devis worshipped depend on the tradition of the region.
Durga, the inaccessible oneBhadrakali
Amba or Jagadamba, Mother of the universe
Annapoorna devi, The one who bestows grains (anna) in plenty
(purna: used as subjective)
Sarvamangala, The one who gives joy (mangal) to all (sarva)
Bhairavi
Chandika or Chandi
Lalita
Bhavani
Mookambika
Rituals
Navaratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright
fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvin. The festival is celebrated
for nine nights once every year during the beginning of October,
although as the dates of the festival are determined according to
the lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a
day less.
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Devi Navaratri: An Introduction
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Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. The
Chaitra Navaratri culminates in Ram Navami and the Sharad
Navaratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra.
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three
different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses.
First three days
The goddess is separated a spiritual force called Durga also
known as Kali in order to destroy all our, evil and grants boons.
Second three days
The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi,
who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her
devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth.
Final three days
The final set of three days is spent in worshiping the goddess of
wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life,
believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine
femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.
Eighth day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal
and Bihar
In some parts of South India, Saraswati puja is performed on the
9th day. Ayudha Puja is conducted in many parts of South India
on the Mahanavami (Ninth) day with much fanfare. Weapons,
agricultural implements, all kinds of tools, equipments,
machinery and automobiles are decorated and worshipped on
this day along with the worship of Goddess. The work starts
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afresh from the next day, i.e. the 10th day which is celebrated as
'Vijaya Dasami'.
In North India, as the culmination of the Ramlila which is
enacted ceremoniously during Dussehra, the effigies of Ravana,
Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burnt to celebrate the
victory of good (Rama) over evil forces on the 'Vijaya Dasami'
day.
Navaratri is also a period of introspection and purification, and
is traditionally an auspicious and religious time for starting new
ventures.
During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed
(ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept lit
in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolises the universe. The
uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship
the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi. During Navaratri,
the principle of Sree Durgadevi is more active in the atmosphere.
Navaratri is celebrated in a large number of Indian communities.
The mother goddess is said to appear in 9 forms, and each one is
worshiped for a day. These nine forms signify various traits thatthe goddess influences us with. The Devi Mahatmya and other
texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited.
- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
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Devi Navaratri: An Introduction
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Vijayadasami
Vijayadasami also known as Dashahara, Dussehra, Dashain (in
Nepal), Navaratri or Durgotsav is one of the most importantHindu festivals celebrated in various forms, across India, Nepal
and Bangladesh.
The name Dussehra is derived from Sanskrit Dasha-hara
literally means removal of ten referring to Lord Rama's victory
over the ten-headed demon king Ravana. The day also marks the
victory of Goddess Durga over the demons Mahishasur. The
name Vijayadasami is also derived from the Sanskrit words
"Vijaya-dashmi" literally meaning the victory on the dashmi
(Dashmi being the tenth lunar day of the Hindu calendar month).
Victory of God Rama over Ravana
On this day in the Treta Yug, Rama, also called Sri Ram, the
seventh avatar of Vishnu, killed the great demon Ravana who
had abducted Rama's wife Sita to his kingdom of Lanka. Rama,
his brother Lakshmana, their follower Hanuman and an army of
monkeys fought a great battle to rescue Sita. The entire narrative
is recorded in the epic Ramayana, a Hindu scripture.
Rama had performed "Chandi Homa" and invoked the blessingsof Durga, who blessed Rama with secret knowledge of the way to
kill Ravana. On the day of Ashvin Shukla Dasami, Rama's party
found Sita and defeated Ravana. Thus it is termed as Vijaya
Dasami. Based on the inferences from Valmikis Ramayana,
Kalidass Raghuvans, Tulsidass Ram Charit Manas, and
Keshavdas's Ram Chandra Yas Chandrika as well as common
perception in India, Rama, Sita, and of Lakshmana returned to
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Ayodhya on the 30th day of Ashvin (1920 days after
Vijayadasami). To mark the return of Lord Rama, in the evening,
the residents of Ayodhya lit their city with millions of earthenlamps (called Deepak). Since then, this day is celebrated in India
as Deepawali or Diwali.
Many people perform "Aditya Homa" as a "Shanti Yagna" and
recite Sundara Kanda of Srimad Ramayana for 5 days. These
Yagna performances are thought to create powerful agents in the
atmosphere surrounding the house that will keep the household
environment clean and healthy. These rituals are intended to rid
the household of the ten bad qualities, which are represented by
10 heads of Ravana as follows:
Kama vasana (Lust)
Krodha (Anger)
Moha (Delusion)
Lobha (Greed)
Mada (Over Pride)
Maatsarya (Jealousy)
Manas (Mind)
Buddhi (Intellect)
Chitta (Will)Ahamkara (Ego).
Some householders perform Yagnas thrice daily along with
Sandhya Vandana, which is also called Aahavaneeya Agni,
Grahapatya Agni or Dakshina Agni. In addition, the Aditya
Homa is performed with the Maha Surya Mantras and the Aruna
Prapathaka of the Yajurveda. These mantras are believed to keep
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the heart, brain and digestive functions in balance in the absence
of adequate sunlight in the winter months.
Victory of Durga Mata over Mahishasura
Some of the demons, or Asuras, were very powerful and
ambitious and continually tried to defeat the Devas, or Gods,
and capture Heaven. One Asura, Mahishasura, in the form of a
buffalo, grew very powerful and created havoc on the earth.
Under his leadership, the Asuras defeated the Devas. The world
was crushed under Mahishasura's tyranny; the Devas joinedtheir energies into Shakti, a single mass of incandescent energy,
to kill Mahishasura.
A very powerful band of lightning emerged from the mouths of
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and a young, beautiful female virgin
with ten hands appeared. All the Gods gave their special
weapons to her. This Shakti coalesced to form the goddess
Durga. Riding on a lion, who assisted her, Durga fought
Mahishasura. The battle raged for nine days and nights. Finally
on the tenth day of Ashvin shukla paksha, Mahishasura was
defeated and killed by Durga.
Hence Dasara is also known as Navaratri or Durgotsav and is acelebration of Durga's victory. Durga, as Consort of Lord Shiva,
represents two forms of female energy - one mild and protective
and the other fierce and destructive.
Homecoming of Durga Mata
Daksha, the Lord of the Earth, and his wife Prasuti, had a
daughter called Sati. As a child, Sati started worshipping LordShiva as her would-be-husband. Lord Shiva was pleased with the
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Agnyatawas. The brothers hid their weapons in a hole in a Shami
tree before entering the Kingdom of Virat to complete the final
year of Agnyatawas. After that year, on Vijayadasami, theyrecovered the weapons, declared their true identities and
defeated Kauravas, who had attacked King Virat to steal his
cattle. Since that day, Shami trees and weapons have been
worshipped and the exchange of Shami leaves on Vijayadasami
has been a symbol of good will and victory. This is also called
Shami/Jammi Puja.
Kautsa's Guru Dakshina
Kautsa, the young son of a Brahmin called Devdatt, lived in the
city of Paithan. After completing his education with Rishi
Varatantu, he insisted on his guru accepting Guru Dakshina, a
present. The guru said, "Kautsa, to give dakshina in return for
learning wisdom is not appropriate. Graduation of the disciple
makes the guru happy, and that is the real Guru Dakshina."
Kautsa was not satisfied. He still felt it was his duty to give his
guru something. The guru said, "All right, if you insist on giving
me dakshina, then give me 140 million gold coins, 10 million for
each of the 14 sciences I have taught you."
Kautsa went to King Raghu. Raghuraja was an ancestor of Lord
Rama, famous for his generosity. But just at that time he had
spent all his money on the Brahmins, after performing the
Vishvajit sacrifice. Raghuraja asked Kautsa to return in three
days. Raghuraja immediately left to get the gold coins from
Indra. Indra summoned Kuber, the god of wealth. Indra told
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Kuber, "Make rain full of gold coins, fall on the Shanu and
Aapati trees around Raghuraja's city of Ayodhya."
The rain of gold coins began to fall. King Raghu gave all the
coins to Kautsa, and Kautsa hastened to offer the coins to
Varatantu Rishi. Guru had asked only 140 millions, so he gave
the rest back to Kautsa. Kautsa was not interested in money,
considering honour to be more valuable than wealth. He asked
the king to take the remaining gold coins back. But the king
refused, as kings do not take back the daan (gift). Finally Kautsa
distributed the gold coins to the people of Ayodhya on the day of
Ashvin shukla Dasami. In remembrance of this event, there has
been a custom of plucking the leaves of the Aapati tree, and then
people present these leaves to one another as gold.
- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vijayadasami is the day when the evil-minded Ravana, who was
well versed in all the sciences and was very powerful, was
destroyed. The Suddha Paadyami in the Aasayuja month was the
day in which the combined powers of the three goddesses,
Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, (Ichcha Shakti , Kriya Shakti and
Jnaana Shakti) put an end to the evil forces represented by
Mahishasura (the buffalo-headed demon). Vijayadasami is alsothe day when the Asura King, Ravana, was destroyed and Sri
Rama was crowned at Ayodhya. It is the day on which the great
Emperor Vikramaditya ascended his bejewelled throne acquired
as a boon. It is also the anniversary of the passing of the founder
of Jainism, Mahavira. (SSS Vol.21)
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Forms and manifestations of
Shakti
During the Dasara festival, the three Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi
and Saraswatiare worshipped according to certain traditional
practices. The tenth day of the festival is celebrated as the Day of
Victory. The celebration has its roots deep in the ancient history
of Bharat. In the Dwapara Yuga, when the Pandavas had to
spend one year incognito, they hid all their asthras (weapons), on
the advice of Krishna, in a Jammi tree which is thick in foliage
and whose branches are filled with latent fire. Vijayadasami wasthe day on which they retrieved the weapons from the tree and
used them to win victory over the Kauravas.
Earlier, in the Treta Yuga, Sri Rama's coronation, after his
victorious return to Ayodhya from Lanka, was performed on
Vijayadasami day.
The Three Facets of the Divine Female Principle
What is Dasara? The celebration of Dasara festival is meant to
purify the actions performed by the dasendriyas (5 senses of
action plus 5 senses of perception). Every human being in this
world has to perform some kind ofkarma. The presiding deity or
the driving force behind these actions is Devi, who is the
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personification of energy. She is the bestower of all kinds of
energy to perform various kinds ofkarma by the human beings.
Goddess Lakshmi bestows various kinds of wealth like money,food grains, gold, different kinds of objects, vehicles for
movement, etc., to human beings so that they can lead a happy
life in this world. The third facet of the divine female principle is
Saraswati, the goddess of learning and intellect. Thus, the Trinity
of Durga (goddess of energy), Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and
Saraswati (goddess of learning and intellect) are worshipped
during this festival of Dasara. This is the underlying principle of
worshipping this Trinity of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati
during this Navaratri (9 day) festival. It is essential that man
worships all these three facets of the Divine Principle.
Tridalam Trigunakaram
Trinetram Cha Triyayudham;
Trijanma Papa Samharam
Eka Bilvam Sivarpanam.
(One Bilva leaf with three petals is offered to the three-eyed
Lord Siva who is the embodiment of the three Gunas (attributes),
who holds the trident in his hand and who destroys the sins
accumulated over three births.) (SSS Vol.41), 9-10-2008
Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati Represent Thoughts,
Words and Actions
Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are worshipped during
the Dasara celebrations. Durga is not to be understood as a
ferocious goddess. She is the goddess supreme who protects you.
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Forms and manifestations of Shakti
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Lakshmi is the embodiment of all wealth. Then, Saraswati is the
goddess of speech. Good thoughts, good words and good actions
(behaviour) represent the tatwa (nature) of these three goddesses.He who teaches good things to you is verily the embodiment of
goddess Saraswati. He who teaches evil is verily a demon.
Goddess Durga destroys only such demons. Durga, Lakshmi and
Saraswati are, in fact, not different from you. They are very
much installed in your own heart. They exhort you to lead the
life of a human being, since you are a human being. Durga,
Lakshmi and Saraswati are the three mothers to a human being.
You should treasure these good words in your heart and put them
into action. Thereby you should come up in life and set an
example to others. You should, by your example, spread the
message to the world that Bharatiya Vidya is great. There are
several people in the modern world imparting education that
leads to evil ways. You should denounce such education. You
should not go after it. You must enquire, will it help to purify
my heart or not. If you feel it is not conducive to your progress,
you must give it up immediately. It is only when you are able to
satisfy your conscience that your life will be happy, peaceful and
contented. Do naamasmarnam incessantly. (SSS Vol.39), 28-9-
2006
Prakrithi Shakti
Durga represents the prodigious Prakrithi Shakti (power of
Nature). As against this power of Nature, is theParaShakti (the
power of the Spirit). When spiritual power is predominant, the
power of Nature is kept under control. When spiritual power is
weak, the power of Nature becomes predominant. This is
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illustrated by the example of smoke and fire. When smoke is
predominant, the fire is suppressed. When the fire is blazing, the
smoke vanishes. Hence, to enhance the power of the Spirit andlimit the power of Nature, man has to cultivate Vairagya
(detachment). To the extent the power of Nature is under control,
to that extent spiritual power grows.
The need to develop Will power
Ichcha-Shakti (the potency of Will) arises from thoughts. This
Ichcha-Shakti is the source of several other potencies likeintellectual power, the discriminating capacity and others. To
develop this Ichcha-Shakti (Will power), one has to worship
Devi. This calls for the cultivation of thyaga (renunciation or
detachment). For instance, if one has a desire for various drinks,
he can bring the desires under control by giving up, to begin
with, the desire for some of them.
Thereby the Ichcha-Shakti (Will power) is developed and in due
course it becomes easier to give up other desires. In Vedantic
parlance this is described as Vairagya (renouncing all
attachments).
Vairagya is not abandonment of hearth and home and retiring to
a forest. It means developing Godly thoughts and reducing
worldly feelings. It is when this balanced development takes
place that one acquires Prakrithi-Shakti (control over the power
of Nature). When these powers are got, the mental power in a
person increases.
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Forms and manifestations of Shakti
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Durga represents the Prakrithi-Shakti and Lakshmi represents the
Thought power--Sankalpa-Shakti. Vaak-Shakti, the power of
speech, is represented by Saraswati. It is to acquire these threepowers that the various forms of worship are performed during
the Navaratri festival. But prayers alone are not enough. Prayers
issue from the lips. They should emanate from the heart.
The Hridaya (heart) symbolises the Ksheerasagara (Ocean of
Milk). Lakshmi emerged from the ocean of Milk. When Lakshmi
emerges, purity of speech follows. Whatever you speak conforms
to truth. (SSS Vol.25), 4 Oct 1992
The concepts of Sathya and Ritha
There are two concepts: Sathya (truth) andRitha (conduct based
on unity of thought, word and deed). The triple purity of mind,
speech and body is Ritha. To adhere to Ritha and speak and act
accordingly is Truth. What is uttered with this triple purity is
alone Truth, not other words. The ancients have declared that
adherence to the truth is Dharma (Righteousness). There is no
higher Dharma than Truth---Sathyaannaasthi paro Dharmah.
Without the firm foundation of Truth, the mansion of Dharma
cannot stand.
A life built upon sankalpa (desires) cannot last. The mansion of
desires must be converted into a Mansion of Divine Will
(Ichcha-Bhavanam). When the Ichcha-Shakti (Will Power) is
converted into Kriya-Shakti (power of action), it results in
Jnaana-Shakti (the power of Wisdom). It is through this Divine
Wisdom that spiritual liberation Kaivalyam is secured. (SSS
Vol.25), 4 Oct 1992
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Divine potencies of the three Goddesses
The Navaratri festival should not be observed as a festival for
worshipping the consorts of Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. TheseGoddesses symbolise Divine potencies. All these potencies are
derived from Vishnu. The entire cosmos is a manifestation of the
myriad forms of Vishnu.
People must recognise this oneness underlying the different
forms. All beings breathe the same air as their life-breath.
Likewise all the five basic elements arc common to all. These
elements are the stuff of Nature. But in the Para Thathwa (the
Supreme Principle, the Divine), these do not exist. The elements
are mortal. The Divine is immortal. To proceed from the mortal
to the immortal the easiest means is the cultivation of Prema
(Divine Love).
The heart is like a sky wherein the clouds in the form of thoughts
hide the Buddhi (the intellect) and the Mind representing the sun
and the moon. Vairagya is the means to get rid of thoughts and
the desires arising from them. The Devi Puja performed during
Navaratri is intended to get rid of worldly attachments and divert
the mind towards God.
There are four different qualities in man: humanness, the animal
nature, the demonic nature and the Divine nature. When man
follows the dictates of the body, he is a prey to his animal nature.
When he is subject to the vagaries of the mind, he becomes
demonic. When he is following the Atma, he is manifesting his
Divinity. When he is governed by all three--the body, the mind
and the Atma--he is human. (SSS Vol.25), 4 Oct 1992
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The way to enter the spiritual path
When Ravana fell a victim to the promptings of the mind, his
demonic nature predominated over his other good qualities as aworshipper of Shiva and a master of many sciences. Whenever a
desire arises in the mind, one should exercise the power of
discrimination and decide whether it is good or bad. This is the
way to enter on the spiritual path.
Each person has to decide for himself in which of these four
states he is placed. The Atmic principle is fundamental andeveryone should strive to fortify the heart for spiritual ends. This
heart is not the physical heart. It is the abode of the Spirit and is
located in the spinal column between the ninth and twelfth
vertebrae. It shines like lightning in the core of a dark cloud. This
is called Sushumna.
Sushumna refers to the state in which all the sensory organs are
subdued and the mind and desires are under control. It is not the
state of deep sleep, as is interpreted by some. The terms used by
the Vedantins (spiritual philosophers) should be understood in
their deeper sense. This is a difficult exercise. The easier path is
to love God with a pure and unwavering mind. Tukaram
confessed that he was unacquainted with the techniques ofmeditation or the rules for performing sacrifices. "Oh Rama! The
only method I know to attain you is to love you with a pure
heart! Let me have your grace for cherishing this love," he
declared.
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The Ozone layer above the earth faces great danger owing to
atmospheric pollution and intensive afforestation is essential for
controlling this pollution and safeguarding the Ozone layer.
The Navaratri festival was celebrated by kings in olden days for
propitiating Nature before embarking on wars of conquest. The
Navaratri festival has another significance also. It is intended to
secure victory over the Navagrahas (nine planets). Saint
Thyagaraja, however, declared that if only he has Rama's
Anugraha (grace), the Navagrahas would be utterly powerless.
Men today should not seek the earthly victories sought by the
ancient rulers. They should seek the sovereignty of the
Atmasaamraajyam (Kingdom of the Spirit) within them. This
calls for control over the senses and the eschewing of bad
qualities like anger, greed and jealousy. This sadhana must begin
from now itself when you are young. Do not put it off for your
old age.
The students are well behaved while they are here. But they
should carry their good conduct wherever they may be. Only
then will they serve to reform the world. Just as people of all
faiths live in harmony here, you should live in harmony withpeople of other faiths in whatever country you may live. You
will be serving your Motherland well only when you set the
example to the world. (SSS Vol.25), 4 Oct 1992
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Human Intellect Is To Be Used For Righteous Actions
Everyone performs Devi Puja (worshipping goddess Devi)
during the Navaratri festival, which confers energy on theindividual. The worship of Lakshmi brings all kinds of wealth
and that of Saraswati, learning and good intellect. Hence, the
worship of all the three aspects of goddess is very important
during the Navaratri festival. In all this worship, Dharma
(righteousness) is of utmost importance. One should enquire into
oneself what result would accrue on account of a particular
action and then get into it. This reasoning faculty is in thedomain of the intellect (buddhi), which is all-pervading in the
human body. Just as the electric current passes through the wire,
intellect enters and influences all senses of a human being.
Hence, every human being should make proper use of his
intellect and undertake only righteous actions at all times. No
doubt, one is bound by the result of ones own actionsgood or
bad. And, no result is possible without performing an action. The
Pandavas experienced the result of their karmas. So did Sita in
Ramayana. Hence, we should undertake good and sacred karmas
beneficial to the society, thereby sanctifying our lives.
The left side of the chest of Lord Mahavishnu is the abode of
Goddess Lakshmi. Seated in that sacred abode, she showers hergrace on one and all. (SSS Vol.41), 9-10-2008
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The mere removal of hate from the heart will not ensure
Ananda. Love too should be cultivated. That is to say,
uproot hate and plant love. If the absence of hate ensures
Bhakti, hill and anthill, tree and twig, mud and mountain--what do these hate? They have no dislikes. But for this
reason, do we ascribe Bhakti to them at all? We do not, for
that would be absurd. The Bhakta must first be free from
hate and full of Love. Hate breeds fear, hate is the seedbed
of anxiety, scandal and falsehood. It drains your mind of
peace. You may have light without oil, fire without smoke,
breeze without a bearer fanning you, a chilliness in the air
of your room in the sizzling heat of summer--but, unless you
are at peace with yourselves and with those around you,
your pulse will be quick and your blood will be racing in
rage and rancor. Love alone can alleviate anxiety and allay
fear.
- Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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even to sacrifice their lives to safeguard their honour. Without
regard to the difficulties and troubles they may encounter,
women are ready to make any sacrifice to protect their honourand self-respect. When the Tamasic elements attempt to subvert
the Satwic qualities, they are ready to combat and vanquish
them. (SSS Vol.24), 18-10-1991
Everyone should consider it his foremost duty today to revere the
mother as divine and serve her, regardless of country or
circumstance. If a man cannot respect and serve the mother, who
has borne him for nine months, brought him forth into the world
and reared him over the years, whom else is he likely to respect?
Maternal love is akin to that of the Creator who projects and
protects this infinite cosmos in countless ways. One individual
may elect to worship the Divine in the form of his favourite
goddess. Another may worship God in a different form and
derive bliss from such worship. Each one should note that the
forms in which the Divine is worshipped by others are as
important to them as his own chosen deity is to him. If, on the
contrary, he criticises or casts a slur on the deities worshipped by
others, he is committing a grievous sin, however well he may be
performing his own worship. Likewise, a man should show equal
regard and reverence for mothers of others as he shows for hisown mother.
There are several notable examples in daily life of the divine
quality which motherhood represents. The cow converts its own
blood into nourishing milk for man to sustain his body. The cow
is the first example of the Divine as Mother. The Earth comes
next. Like the Divine, the Earth bears man in its bosom and takes
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care of him in many ways. Hence the Earth also is the
embodiment of the Mother. (SSS Vol.21), 14 Oct 1988
Principles that constitute the role of motherhood
In the human body the Divine flows through all the limbs as
Rasa (The Divine essence) and sustains them. This Divine
principle is called Rasaswaroopini (Embodiment of Divine
sweetness). Another name for the same is Angirasa. These
Divine principles that permeate and sustain the physical bodyshould also be worshipped as mother goddesses. Then there are
the great sages, the Maharishis, who investigated matters relating
to good and evil, fight and wrong, what elevates man or degrades
him, and, as a result of their labours and penances, gave to
mankind the great scriptures, indicating the spiritual and
mundane paths and how humanity can redeem its existence.
These sages have also to be revered as Divine Mothers.
The cow, the earth, the presiding deities for the body, the sages
and the guru are all worthy of worship as the embodiments of the
Divine Motherhood. Although these five appear in different
forms and names, they have one thing in common with the
mother. They play a protective and sustaining maternal role formankind and hence should be revered and worshipped as Divine
Mothers.
Conversely, the mother of every child displays in relation to the
child the attributes of these five entities. The mother nourishes
the child, provides the necessaries for its growth, teaches the
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child what it should know and what it should avoid and leads it
on the path of righteousness. (SSS Vol.21), 14 Oct 1988
The powers of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati
The life of a man who cannot respect and love such a venerable
mother is utterly useless. Recognising one's mother as the very
embodiment of all divine forces, one must show reverence to her
and treat her with love. This is the true message that the
Navaratri, the nine-night festival gives us. The supreme Shakti
manifests herself in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
Durga grants to us energy--physical, mental and spiritual.
Lakshmi bestows on us wealth of many kinds--not just money
but intellectual wealth, the wealth of character and others. Even
health is a kind of wealth. She grants untold riches to us. And
Saraswati bestows on us intelligence, the capacity for intellectual
enquiry and the power of discrimination. The Navaratri festival
is celebrated in order to proclaim to the world the power of the
goddesses. One's own mother is the combination of all these
Divine beings. She provides us energy, wealth and intelligence.
She constantly desires our advancement in life. So she represents
all the three goddesses that we worship during the Navaratri
festival.
If the Pandavas were able to become so dear to Krishna and
make their lives worthy by serving Him, it was not on account of
their own merit or austerities. It was mother Kunti Devi's love
for them that brought to them such a great fortune. Even when
they had to live in a forest or in the House of Wax, she always
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stayed with them and prayed for their welfare. The Pandavas also
reciprocated her love, and that accounts for their final victory.
Lakshmana, likewise, was able to dwell in the forest with his
brother Rama, serving him ceaselessly, only because of his
mother Sumitra's blessings. She told her son that Ayodhya
without Rama was like a forest, and that the forest in which
Rama lived would be a veritable Ayodhya to him. It was on
account of the hearty blessings of his mother that Lakshmana
was able to while away fourteen years in the forest even without
food or sleep. (SSS Vol.21), 14 Oct 1988
Children require mother's loving grace
All our epics and sacred books emphasise the power of the
mother's love, her blessings and grace. Consider the story of
Gandhari and the Kauravas. When Krishna visited Gandhari to
console her after the Kurukshetra war, she accused him of
partiality towards the Pandavas.
"Though You are God, how could You be so partial? Why did
You support the Pandavas in full measure, and allow the
destruction of all my sons?" she asked Him. Krishna replied to
her that she herself was to blame for the death of her children. Hereminded her that though she gave birth to a hundred sons, she
didn't cast her loving glance on even one of them at any time. As
she chose to remain blindfolded, she never looked at any of her
sons with great care, attention and affection. "How could such
sinners who couldn't even enjoy their own mother's loving glance
thrive and flourish?" He asked her.
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There is no need to propitiate Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati for
energy, material prosperity and worldly knowledge. If we love
and adore the mother, we shall be showing our love and devotionto all goddesses. (SSS Vol.21), 14 Oct 1988
Mother comes first
One's mother is greater than heaven itself. Sri Rama Himself
declared that one's mother and Motherland are greater than even
heaven. The Navaratri festival teaches this profound truth. One
must remember that reverence to one's own mother is one'sparamount duty. If one's mother is unhappy, all the expenditure
one incurs and all the worship one offers in the name of Durga,
Lakshmi and Saraswati in the Navaratri festival will yield no
fruit.
Even in the ancient teachings about the persons who are to be
revered as Gods--mother, father, teacher and guest--the first
place is given to the mother, when it says, "Mathru Devo
Bhava."
Even in our casual talk we say mother, father, teacher and God.
God is relegated to the last position but the mother is given the
first place. This reveals the attitude of Bharathiya culture towardswomen in general and the mother in particular.
It is the mother that holds the child with her hand and teaches it
how to walk. It is the mother that feeds the child and teaches it
how to eat. It is again the mother that teaches the child how to
utter meaningful sounds and speak. Thus the mother is one's
foremost teacher. Vemana observed that a son who does not care
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for his parents is no better than the worms that are born and die
in an anthill.
We should deem our parents as Eswara and Parvathi and serve
them wholeheartedly. If we cannot please them, how can we
hope to please God? Consider the story of Lava and Kush. Sita
gave birth to them in the hermitage of Sage Valmiki. They were
taught various branches of knowledge by him. Sita also was
teaching them many lessons and imparting to them many skills.
What happened when Sri Rama Himself came to fight with
them? Lava and Kush remembered their mother with great
reverence and aimed an arrow at Him. Rama fell into a swoon
when the arrow struck Him. Such is the power of one's mother's
blessing. (SSS Vol.21), 14 Oct 1988
Worship of God as energy principleTruth is your true mother and Wisdom the true father,
Dharma is the true brother and Compassion the true friend;
The true wife is Peace and the true son Forgiveness
These six are in fact the true relations of man.
[Sanskrit sloka]
In this world, every individual has a mother. The entire humanity
has also one mother, and we should try to know her. This mother
is Truth. Those who follow this mother will never face any
problems in life.
This mother, Truth, remains the same in all periods of time and
in all three worlds, and this mother transcends all the three
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attributes satwa (purity, serenity), rajas (passion), and tamas
(dullness, inertia). The physical mother may die or go to some
other place, but this divine mother, Truth, remains one and thesame beyond time and space and to every individual. It is
therefore necessary that every person follow this noble, divine
mother (Truth). (SSS Vol.31)
True relatives of man
Who is father? Wisdom is the true father. Wisdom is not
ephemeral, mundane, physical, secular knowledge. Advaitadarshanam jnanam (Wisdom confers the experience of non-
duality).
So, Truth and Wisdom are the true mother and father of man.
Dharma is the brother. Dharma may vary depending upon time,
country, religion, and tradition. However, dharma is loved by the
entire humanity irrespective of caste, creed, nationality, and
religion. This brother is the very embodiment of love. On this
basis, the Vedas gave utmost importance to Truth and
Righteousness. In the great epic Ramayana, Lakshmana
personified the Principle of dharma. When he fainted in the
battlefield, Rama lamented, saying that he could get a consort
like Sita and a mother like Kausalya, but not a brother likeLakshmana. Rama said that His divinity blossomed because He
had a brother like Lakshmana. (SSS Vol.31)
Compassion is the true friend.
In this world, a friend today may become an enemy tomorrow.
But there is no greater friend than Compassion. Peace is the wife.
Peace is the previous jewel of saints, and it is the royal path in
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the spiritual field. Forgiveness is the son. There is no greater
quality than Forgiveness. It encompasses all the good qualities,
like Truth, Righteousness, and Nonviolence, and it is the essenceof all the Vedas. Therefore, for every individual, the true
relations are Truth, Wisdom, Righteousness, Compassion, Peace,
and Forgiveness.
The whole world is full of agitation and disturbance because of
lack of these sacred qualities. You should always remember your
true mother and father. You cannot exist without them. The
whole creation has emerged from Truth and merges back into it.
There is no place where Truth does not exist. It is the good
fortune of human beings to have this eternal Truth as their
mother. But, today, humanity does not follow such a sacred
mother. (SSS Vol.31)
Worship of Devi as divine mother
You worship Devi (goddess) in these nice days of Devi
Navaratri. You consider Devi as your divine Mother. This Devi
is called Sathya Swaroopini, which means she is the embodiment
of Truth. So, worshiping Truth amounts to worshiping Devi. If
you understand and follow this truth, you will be successful in
every field.
The Vedas also proclaim this Principle of Truth. There are many
in this world who chant the Vedas. Many have gone through the
sacred texts. But they do not seem to follow the right path. In
fact, only when we tread the right path will we know the true
meaning of the Vedas and the sacred texts.
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Since ancient times, the sages and saints undertook many
spiritual practices in their quest for Truth. They were determined
not to give up till they had the vision of Truth. Ultimately, theydeclared to the world that they had seen God, who is all
brilliance, is full of effulgence, and is beyond the darkness of
ignorance. They also declared that God is not far off in a distance
land but is present in the human body.
The saints had the vision of God, who is chinmaya (full of
effulgence) in the body, which is mrinmaya (made of clay). So,
we should not underrate the human body and use it for mean and
worldly pleasures. The body is the temple of God. This body
may be compared to an iron chest. Just as the precious jewels are
kept in the iron chest, so also God is present in the human body.
So, the body has to be maintained and made proper use of, for
the sake of the precious jewel, the Atma. You get jewels only
from the earth. Similarly, you have to search for the jewel of the
Atma only in the body, which is made of clay.
Let us investigate what comes in the way of experiencing the
Atmic Principle. Ego and attachment stand as obstacles in our
path. Only when you give up your ego and attachment will you
have purity of heart, which in turn will lead you to theexperience of Supreme Wisdom.
The more you develop attachment, the more restless you
become. Ego is much more dangerous. It has become an
incurable disease in human beings. So, you have to keep ego and
attachment under control and engage yourself in the quest of
Atmic bliss.
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During Navaratri (sacred nine days), people go through the
sacred texts such as Devi Bhagavatham, Ramayana, and
Mahabharata. People also worship the deities Durga, Lakshmi,and Saraswati. Goddess Gayatri has three aspects. They are:
Gayatri, Savitri, and Saraswati. Gayatri is the presiding deity of
our senses. Savitri is the presiding deity of the life principle.
Saraswati is the presiding deity of speech. All these three are
within the same Principle of Truth.
Gayatri Mantra beings with Om Bhur Buvah Suvah.
Bhur means materialisation (body), bhuvah means vibration (life
principle), and suvah means Atma (radiation).
During these nine days, Goddess Shakti (the Energy Principle) is
worshiped. Truth, Righteousness, Peace, and Forgiveness are all
expressions of the Principle of Shakti. Truth is the primal cause.
There is nothing other than this. All faculties of energy are
present in this Truth. So, consider Truth as your mother and
follow it.
The Vedas proclaim, Sathyam vada; dharmam chara,which
means: speak the truth and follow righteousness. Unfortunately,
people today do not follow this. On the contrary, they followasathya and adharma. (untruth and anti-dharma) This is the cause
of all suffering. The ancients gave utmost priority to Truth and
Righteousness.
Before undertaking any work, they enquired whether it was right
or wrong. They followed the dictates of their conscience. But
today, such an attitude is lacking.
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The quest for Truth
Many people say that they are in search of Divinity. Once you
follow the path of Truth, you will find Divinity everywhere. Hereis a small example. The same eyes see the mother, daughter,
wife, and sister. Here, you need to enquire as to what kind of
feeling you should have toward each. This is the quest for Truth.
Mother should be viewed with reverence and respect. Daughter
should be considered as part of your own being. In this way, you
should enquire and understand the Truth.
If you just go by the direct evidence of what you see, you will
never know the Truth. All that you see is bound to perish. There
are many things that cannot be perceived by the naked eye. On
the spiritual path, everyone wants pratyaksha pramanam (direct
evidence). But direct evidence cannot constitute the entire Truth.
For example, you see a person who is five feet five inches tall,weighing forty-five kilograms, and fair complexioned. All these
can be seen by the naked eye. But you cannot go merely by these
physical qualities. You should also take into consideration the
unseen qualities, such as love, compassion, anger, etc. It is utter
foolishness to go by the physical form, which is direct evidence.
It is not possible to see the direct manifestation of God. Truth is
everywhere. Dharma is everywhere. God, who is theembodiment of Truth and Righteousness, is everywhere. So, you
should practice Truth and Righteousness and enjoy the bliss.
(SSS Vol.31)
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Spiritual truth of Navaratri
Dasara is the festival that celebrates the victory of the forces of
good over the foes that resist the progress of man towards light.
The sages who have decided on these festivals have a high
purpose. They want us to imbibe the inner meaning and use each
such day as a step in sadhana, as a reminder of the journey
which each person has to undertake alone to the Feet of the Lord.
The forces of good (devas) are combating with the forces of evil
(asuras) in every living being and if they only rely on Maha-
Shakti, the great Divine Force that fosters and fends the
Universe, they can easily win and reach the goal. (SSS Vol.6) ,15-10-1966
Inner Significance of Navaratri Festival
Navaratri means nine nights. Darkness is associated with night.
What is this darkness? It is the darkness of ignorance. The
purpose of the Navaratri celebration is to enable man to get rid ofnine types of darkness which have taken hold of him. When a
reference is made to Devi, it signifies the unified form of Durga,
Lakshmi and Saraswati. The three together represent Shakti.
Shakti is the energy that accounts for all the phenomena of
Prakrithi (Nature). Nature is energy and the controller of that
energy is the Lord.
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Prakrithi (Nature) is made up of the three qualities, Satwa, Rajas
and Tamas. Saraswati represents the Sathya Guna. Lakshmi
represents the Rajo Guna and Parvathi represents the TamoGuna. As Prakrithi (Nature) is made up of these three qualities
(Satwa, Rajas and Tamas), to get control over Nature, man has
been offering worship to Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. These
are not goddesses but deified symbols of the three qualities. (SSS
Vol.25), 27 Sep 1992
The role of Nature in the creative processTo acquire the grace of the Lord, man has to offer worship at the
outset to Prakrithi. On the one hand you need human effort and
on the other you have to acquire the grace of the Divine.
Prakrithi (Nature) and ParamAtma (the Omni-Self) are like the
negative and positive poles in electricity. However powerful the
Lord may be (as the positive pole), there can be no creation
without Prakrithi (representing the negative pole). The basis for
creation is Prakrithi. For instance, however good the seeds you
may have with you, without planting them in the ground you
cannot reap the fruit. The role of Nature in the creative process is
similar.
When man forgets God and desires to enjoy the benefits ofNature, he becomes ultimately a demon like Ravana who brought
about his own destruction. To secure the grace of the Lord, one
has to have purity of the heart, purity in speech and purity in
action. This triple purity is described in Vedantic parlance as
Tripurasundari. Lakshmi, who is the embodiment of all
prosperity, is represented by the heart. The mouth represents
Saraswati. Kriya Shuddhi (Purity in action) is represented by
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Durga. The observance of the Navaratri celebration is to get rid
of the darkness in which man is enveloped, by cultivating the
triple purity of thought, word and deed.
The human body emerged from Nature. Nature has two forms:
AparaPrakrithi and ParaPrakrithi. AparaPrakrithi includes
Ashta Aiswarya (eight forms of wealth), and Kama, Krodha,
Moha,Lobha, Mada, Maatsarya and the three mental faculties in
man: Manas, Chitta and Ahamkara. Para Prakrithi (the higher
Nature) represents the consciousness in man.
Without the Prana (life force) and Chaitanyam (consciousness)
man is only a corpse. True humanness consists in controlling the
five elements which make up the Apara Prakrithi (lower Nature)
and merge in the higher Nature represented by the life force and
Chaitanyam (consciousness). (SSS Vol.25), 27 Sep 1992
Maintain steadiness of mind during worship
The Navaratri has been divided into three parts the first three
days being dedicated to the worship of Durga, the next three days
to the worship of Lakshmi and the last three days to the worship
of Saraswati. All Hindu festivals have a sacred purpose.
Unfortunately, nowadays the festivals are observed only withexternal rituals without understanding their inner meaning. In the
performance of all forms of worship there should be steadiness
of mind and body. Only then concentration can be achieved.
Today men are unable to maintain steadiness of body and mind.
The basic significance of Devi Navaratri is the adoration of
Prakrithi (Nature). Devi refers to Bhudevi (Mother Earth). All
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the vital requirements of man can be found in the earth. Those
who travel to the moon have to carry with them the oxygen,
water and food they need from the earth. None of these can befound on the moon. (SSS Vol.25), 27 Sep 1992
Adoration of Nature
The progress of modern technology, by polluting the atmosphere
with Carbon dioxide smoke, is causing a threat to life on earth.
This smoke has already created a hole in the ozone ring above
the earth which has been serving as a protecting cover againstharmful radiation from the sun. If the ozone layer is destroyed,
the effect of the sun's rays may be disastrous. All nations are now
worried about this threat. All that needs to be done to avert this
danger is to reduce the pollution of the atmosphere caused by
automobiles and industrial effluents. The uncontrolled
development of industries has to be checked. Development
should be in the common interest, to promote the welfare of all.
The Navaratri celebration is an occasion for revering Nature and
considering how natural resources can be used properly in the
best interests of mankind. Resources like water, air, power and
minerals should be used properly and not misused or wasted.
Economy in the use of every natural resource is vital. Pollutionof the air has many evil consequences. The inner significance of
observances like Nagarasankirtan and bhajans is to fill the
atmosphere with sacred vibrations and holy thoughts. (SSS
Vol.25), 27 Sep 1992
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The power of Mantra
Today we know how radio and television broadcasts are
transmitted to all parts of the world by radio waves. Is itunbelievable that Krishna was able similarly to appear in the
homes of Gopikas simultaneously? If a Yantra (machine) could
achieve such a result, how much more power should be
attributed to Mantra? The power of the divine name and form is
all pervading. The electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere can
preserve sounds and forms for all time.
When Swami was recently in Hyderabad, His activities there
were seen on the TV in various parts of the country. If a
mechanical contrivance could achieve this, is it incredible that
much more could be done by the divine power of mantras? What
is needed is the power to tune in to the Spirit just as appropriate
tuning is needed to receive a radio or TV broadcast. Regard yourheart as a radio receiver. Your concentration is the tuning device.
You will experience the Divine when you tune your heart
properly. This calls for firm, unwavering concentration. The
inauguration of the Navaratri celebrations means that you should
use this occasion for offering worship to Nature and resolving to
make sacred use of all natural resources. (SSS Vol.25), 27 Sep
1992
Principle of oneness
The Navaratri festival is celebrated all over India, but nobody
seems to make any effort to comprehend the inner significance of
this festival. The Hridaya (heart) is the abode of the Atma. No
being can exist without the principle of Atma. God, who resides
in all as the principle of Atma, has no specific name and form.
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But, People attribute various names and forms to Him. The
Gaanapatyas (worshippers of Ganapathi) consider Lord
Ganapathi as great; the Shaivites consider there is none superiorto Lord Siva. The devotees of Sai consider Him to be the
greatest. Some devotees say all are one. In fact, all names and
forms belong to the same God. He responds to the prayers of
devotees in whatever form they worship Him. Hence, each one
considers the form he worships to be superior to the other forms.
It is a sign of ignorance to consider one form superior to the
other. What is important is that your prayers should not be
confined to mere words. They should be translated into action. It
is easy to speak but not so easy to practice. True prayer is that
which is translated into action.
During the Navaratri celebrations, the Divine Mother is extolled
in various names and forms. All names and forms are based on
your feelings. God has no differences whatsoever. No one can
comprehend the nature of Divinity. Actually, the principle of
love that exists in all beings is the principle of Divinity. Love has
no specific form. Divinity transcends name and form. Love is
God. Live in love. Truth is God. Truth is all-pervasive.
The creation emerges from truth and merges into truth,Is there a place where truth does not exist?
Visualise such pure and unsullied truth.
(Telugu Poem)
There are no different truths for different countries such as
American truth, Russian truth, Indian truth, Japanese truth, etc.
Truth is one and the same for all. It is uniformly present in
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everyone. True celebration of Navaratri festival lies in
contemplating on Sathya Swarupa (the embodiment of truth).
Respect one and all, for; the divine Atma is present in all. Torespect all is true worship. If you want to be respected, you
should respect others in the first instance. Give respect and take
respect.
Understand the principle of oneness, that is Divinity. The Vedas
declare, Ekam Sath Viprah Bahudha Vadanti (truth is one, but
the wise refer to it by various names). You may call Him by any
name and form, but God is one. This principle of unity should be
firmly installed in your heart. God is present in everyone in the
form of love. Wherever you go, He is with you. He is the eternal
witness. Share your love with others and receive their love in
turn. Love is your greatest virtue. Love confers the ultimate joy
and bliss. God resides in the heart filled with love. Hence, it is
essential that you fill your heart with love. Where there is love,
there is God. You don't need to search for Him. He is always in
you, with you, around you, above you and below you. Adhere to
the principle of love.
Never hate anyone. Hatred is your worst enemy. Once you
develop love in you, hatred will naturally vanish. If you were tocome across your bitter rival, greet him with love. He too will
reciprocate the same feeling. How can you expect love from
others when you do not have any love for them? It is love and
love alone that I practice and propagate. Try to understand the
power of love. It is your greatest wealth. None can estimate its
value. What does God expect from you? It is only your love.
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Love is the tax that you have to pay to God for all that He has
given you.
What is the inner significance of Devi Navaratri? People worship
the Triune Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati during
these nine days. Who is Durga? She is the embodiment of all
powers. Saraswathi is the presiding deity of speech and wisdom.
The Gayatri Mantra begins with Om Bhur Bhuvah Suvah.
Bhuh means materialisation. It represents matter, which is
subject to change. Bhuvah represents life principle, i.e.,
vibration. Savitri is the presiding deity of life principle. You
must have heard the story of Savitri, who restored her dead
husband back to life with the power of her devotion and
surrender. Saraswati is worshipped as Jnaana Devata as she
confers good intellect and wisdom. This is described in the
Vedas as Prajnanam Brahma. Prajnanam does not mean worldly
knowledge. It is Constant Integrated Awareness, which is
changeless and eternal.
The Divine Mother has three names: Gayatri, Savitri and
Saraswati. Gayantham Trayathe Iti Gayathri (Gayatri protects
those who sing her glory). Gayatri, being the presiding deity of
our senses, helps us to master the senses. Savitri, being presidingdeity the life principle, protects our life. Saraswati bestows on us
the changeless and eternal wisdom. Gayatri, Savitri and
Saraswati are present in every man, but he is not able to
understand and experience their presence. Consequently, he is
giving room to wicked qualities and indulging in evil deeds,
thereby ruining his life. His bad habits are responsible for his
downfall. First of all, man has to develop good habits and
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transform himself. How could Savitri revive her dead husband
back to life? She transformed the vibration by contemplating on
God incessantly. That led to the resurrection of her husband.When you develop divine feelings, nothing is impossible for you.
Any mighty task can be accomplished through pure and selfless
love. Love develops divine power in you.
Human being is the repository of divine energy. Durga (Goddess
of Energy). Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and Saraswati
(goddess of Wisdom) are present in the human. Man is not weak
or forlorn. He has all the capacity to experience divine bliss. In
spite of being endowed with all powers, man is weak. This is the
effect of evil company. You should not take it amiss, but the fact
is that the modern system of education is ruining the lives of
many. Modern education is leading to agitation instead of
elevation. It is giving rise to evil qualities like anger, greed,
desire, jealousy, etc. In fact, people who unlettered have the
virtues of humility, obedience, love and peace. Humility is the
hallmark of education. One may acquire high qualification, but
all his knowledge becomes useless if he lack humility.
You must manifest love and be embodiments of love. Love is
God, live in love, you can achieve anything. Hence develop thespirit of love. Love is the most potent weapon that can win over
anyone. What was the weapon that protected our ancients who
lived in the forests? It was not hydrogen bomb or atom bomb; it
is enough if one has the weapon of love. You can conquer the
entire world with the power of love.
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People worship Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati during these nine
days. Durga destroyed the demons. As the weapons are no longer
needed, people perform Ayudha Puja. When we pray to Durgawholeheartedly, she will protect you in all your endeavours.
You are not able to understand the principle of divinity. Nobody
in this world can help you the way God helps you. Hence
surrender yourself to God and pray for His help. Also devotion to
God safeguards our ancient culture. People are haunted by
misery and grief as they have forgotten God.
Control your emotions. Develop love. Do not entertain evil
thoughts. Nothing can confer the experience of bliss that
proximity of God gives. Love all and all will love. (DD on
9.10.2002)
On the eight day of Navaratri festival you enter into the worship
of Saraswati. .All types of instruments and weapons and those
things, which are used in ones profession, are all worshipped on
that day. This illustrates the aspect ofSarva Devata Swaroopini,
Kali. The inner meaning of all this is that everything in the world
there resides the Divinity. Everything is pervaded with the
DivineVishwam Vishnu Swaroopam. This is not Mithya. Thisis the Truth. If you cultivate this feeling at all times, you attain to
this Supreme State. Yad Bhavam Thad Bhavathi As you
think, so it happens. We should develop good thoughts. All that
we do should be transformed into worship. That is the secret of
success in spiritual life.
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Day commemorating Victory), the Valedictory Worship is done.
(NNSG Vol.8, pp. 68-70)
As a part of Navaratri celebrations people worship different
forms of divinity. You should develop sacred feelings and
experience divinity. What is the inner meaning of Navaratri
celebrations? These nine nights represent nine planets. Each
planet has its own significance. However these planets are not
outside, they are within. If your feelings are impure and
unsacred, the result also will be the same. You are responsible
for the good and bad you think and experience. They are not the
products of the outside world. They are the reaction, reflection
and resound of your inner being. Man faces vicissitudes of life as
he is bound by these three. But he forgets these three and tries to
search for solutions to his problems. He thinks he is highly
intelligent. In fact that is not true intelligence. He lacks faith in
divinity. That is real cause of his suffering. God is one. Likewise
human beings are one though Akara (form) and Achaean
(behaviour) may vary. But due to his narrow mildness, man is
unable to understand this unity.
Navaratri celebrations are symbolic of nine forma of energy.
What we have to cultivate during this Navaratri is the feeling ofoneness. Though there are nine forms of energy, the underlying
truth in all of them is one and the same. That is the principle of
the Atma. It is all pervasive. It is present not only in Human
beings, but in all living beings. (DD on 17.10.04)
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Ways of Worship
During the Navaratri worship, you have to express your love to
the Divine Mother in nine different ways. Shravanam (listening),Keerthanam (singing), Vishnusmaranam (contemplating on
Vishnu), Padasevanam (serving His Lotus Feet), Vandanam
(salutation), Archanam (worship), Dhaasyam (servitude),
Sneham (friendship), Atmanivedanam (self-surrender). God
wants your love and nothing else. Your love should not branch
out in different directions. It should flow directly towards God. If
you love others, you will be loved in turn. If you utter harsh
words, they will come back to you as resound. Fill your heart
with love and compassion. Hridaya is that which is filled with
Daya (compassion). Compassion is the hallmark of a true
devotee. One who lacks compassion cannot be called a human
being. When you practice truth and righteousness, you will be
successful in all your endeavours. That is why the Vedas teach,Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara (speak truth, practice
righteousness). Your heart should melt with compassion when
you see the poor and needy.
Having spent this Navaratri in the worship of Divine Mother,
your heart should be filled with love and compassion. The heart
bereft of love and compassion is verily a cemetery. Right fromdawn to dusk, love should be the undercurrent of all your
activities. The moment you get up from bed, resolve that you
would tread the path of love. Only then can you have the vision
of God, who is the very embodiment of love. True spiritual
practice lies in connecting love to love. Love can transform even
a hard stone into butter. Swami always teaches the principle of
love. It is enough if You call 'Baba' with love from the depth of
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your heart. He will come to your rescue. Consider love as your
life breath. If there is no love in your prayer, it will prove futile.
Love should be 'heartful' and not artificial. Be friendly with alland have a smiling countenance always. What is the use of
talking sweetly if your heart is filled with bitterness? Only love
can fill your heart with nectarous feelings.
Your entire life is based on love. Without love, you cannot exist
even for a moment. Hence, develop love considering it as the
very form of God. Vijayadasami marks the culmination of
Navaratri festival. Worship of Divine Mother is meant to destroy
evil qualities and foster virtues in you. The more you distance
yourself from evil, the nearer you will be to the principle of love.
You don't need to make any efforts to acquire love. The moment
you eschew evil, love will automatically enter your heart.
There is love inherent in all of you. But, you are diverting it on
worldly matters. True love is related to the Atmic principle.
Worldly love is bound to change with the passage of time,
whereas spiritual love is permanent. Even your breathing process
speaks of the presence of love in you. When you inhale, you
make the sound 'So' and When you exhale 'Ham'; together
'Soham' means, 'I am That'. The principle of 'I' is uniformlypresent in all. This can be experienced by following the nine
paths of devotion. Never give scope for differences. Understand
the unity, "I and You are one". Your love gets fragmented when
you fail to visualize unity in diversity. There is only one heart,
which is changeless. Your words may vary, but your heart
remains steady. The Gopikas used to pray,
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O God, I offer you the heart which You have given me.
What else can I offer at Your Lotus Feet?
I pray to You I to accept it.(Telugu Poem)
Heart is not your property; it belongs to God. There is nothing in
this world that you can call as your own. You may consider the
worldly wealth and materials as your property. But, they are not
permanent.
Lord Krishna declared, Anityam Asukham Lokam Imam Prapya
Bhajasva Maam (as the world is temporary and full of misery,
contemplate on Me constantly). Divine love alone is true and
changeless. The mariner's compass always points towards
northern direction; likewise your love should always be directed
towards God. You cannot claim to belong to the mankind unless
there is kindness in you. Your life should be suffused with love
and kindness. You should dedicate your life to love. You may
wonder as to how to pray to God. In fact, you don't need to pray
to God. You should let your love flow incessantly towards God.
Then you will understand the unity, "I and You are one." There
is no second entity.
You see the body but you don't understand the feelings
associated with it. The body is made up of five elements and five
senses. But you are not the body. The body is made up of five
elements and is bound to perish sooner or later but the In-dweller
has neither birth nor death.
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The In-dweller has no attachment whatsoever and is the eternal
witness. In fact, the In-dweller who is in the form of Atma is
verily God Himself. (Telugu Poem)
You say it is my head, my heart, etc., then who are you? When
you engage in self-enquiry in this manner, you will realize that
YOU are different from the body. God pervades each anga
(limb) of your body in the form of essence. Hence, He is extolled
asAngirasaya Namah (salutations to the one who is in the form
of essence in all my limbs). It is a mistake to confine God to a
particular form. So long as you limit God to a form, you cannot
attain Him. You should realize that God is attributeless, formless
and He is the very essence of life. Physical form is bound to
change. A child becomes a boy, boy becomes a man who in turn
becomes a grandfather. In this manner, your physical form
undergoes constant change. But you will remain the same. You
are the embodiment of God. Once you understand this truth, you
will not be affected by physical changes.
Realize the Atma as your very life. Every one of you is endowed
with divine energy. But you are misusing it. Your youth is in
your hands. Your very life is in your hands. You are not the
body; you are the life principle. Body is meant to serve as aninstrument in your quest for truth. The same Atma is present in
all. Here you see a silver tumbler with water. The tumbler is the
basis for water, silver is the basis for tumbler and Divinity is the
basis for silver. Divinity is not made up of material. Hence, give
up the materialistic standpoint.
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Sage Viswamitra was taking Rama and Lakshmana along with
him for the protection of the Yajna he had undertaken. When
they reached the banks of Sarayu, he told them, "My dear ones,you are coming with me for the protection of Yajna. In order to
do so, you have to remain without food and water and wage a
fierce battle with the demons, for extended periods without
respite. Hence, I will teach you two Mantras, which will make
you free from hunger and sleep." This is the power of Maya.
When King Dasaratha, fearing danger from the demons, was
reluctant to send his sons with Viswamitra, the sage counselled
him, saying, "Oh king, do not get deluded by seeing the physical
forms of your sons. They are not ordinary mortals. They are
verily divine." But when they reached the banks of Sarayu, the
sage was overcome with Maya and taught them the Mantras as if
they were ordinary humans. He told them, "Do not identify
yourself with the physical body. You are the embodiments of the
Atma. You are Chaitanyaswarupas. You are endowed with
divine power. Always bear this in mind. You will be free from
hunger and sleep."
After the protection of the Yajna, Rama went to Mithila with the
sage. They walked a long distance for sixteen days. Yet, Rama
was always cheerful and full of bliss. In fact, bliss was His form.Hence develop bliss more and more. Do not confine God to a
physical form. Body is made up of food materials. This body is a
den of dirt, and prone to diseases; it is subject to change from
time to time; it cannot cross the ocean of Samsara. It is nothing
but a structure of bones.
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Oh mind! Do not be under the delusion that body is permanent.
Instead take refuge at the Divine Lotus Feet. (Telugu Poem)
It is a grave mistake to identify yourself with the body. Give up
body attachment and develop Atmic consciousness. Only then
will you understand and experience your true form, i.e., Atma.
Otherwise, even the smallest physical ailments like stomach-
ache, headache etc., will make you feel anxious. Physical
ailments are like passing clouds. So long as you are deluded by
body consciousness, you will be affected by them. Once you give
up body attachment, you are no more bound by the body and its
limitations. When you sit in meditation, you forget your body.
Meditation means giving up Dehabhimana (body attachment)
and developing Atmic awareness. Everyone While referring to
one's self uses the term "I", the principle of Atma. Hence, you
are not related to the body. It is only an