There
are 6 Navarathris in Honour of Divine Mother of our Universe - one for
each Rithu (season), and this navarathri falling in the sharad rithu
is the most important one as it is the one recommended for
householders.
Navarathri schedule for different parts of the world.
Navaraathri
austerities begin from October 13, 2015 for those living in India and countries to the west of Indian sub-continent (all countries in Middle East, Europe, Africa, and American continents, Bangaladesh and Myanmar). Those living in Malaysia, and countries to the East of Malaysia (including Japan, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand) must observe this from October 14, 2015.
Durga pooja is to be observed
on October 20, 2015 in U.K. and countries to the West of U.K. (all countries in the American continent). It is to be observed on October 21, 2015 in rest of the world - including India.
Mahaa Navami (Saraswathy Pooja, Ayudha pooja) should
be celebrated on October 21, 2015 throughout the world - except in Australia, New Zeland, Far East regions of China, Japan, and Fiji, where this should be observed on October 22, 2015.
Vijaya Dasami should
be observed on October 22, 2015 throughout the world - except in Australia, New Zeland, Far East regions
of China, Japan, and Fiji, where this should be observed on October 23,
2015.
Methods of celebrating Navaraathri.
It
is traditional to keep "Kolu" - an arrangement of dolls during
Navaraathri. This is to signify that Our Divine Mother resides as Inner
Soul in all Forms. Some people make the arrangement in such a way that
the various steps of the kolu represent the Order of Evolution - like
keeping invertebrates and such other forms of lives in the bottom step,
keeping dolls representing human life in the middle of the kolu steps,
and keeping dolls representing Divine Legends, Dasa Avataars, etc. on
the top most step of the kolu arrangement. It is traditional to keep 5
rows (to represent Five Elements of Life), 9 rows (to represent the Nine
Forms of Divine Mother), 11 rows (to represent the 11 forms of Lord
Rudra), 13 rows (one in Honour of each chapter of Durga Sapta Sati), or
15 Rows (one in Honour of each syllable of Shri Vidhya
panchadasaakshari mantra) as per one's convenience; traditionally,
people avoid arranging the kolu in 7 rows for sentimental reasons
(there is a belief that such an arrangement in 7 rows might affect
financial prospects).
I request all our members to
perform simple worships as per their convenience during the Navarathri
period and become recipients of Divine Grace. This is a period when we
Celebrate our Universal Mother - so, that joy should be there in our
minds when we observe this austerity (we should not be unnecessarily
tensed or make this too complicated with too many taboos! One does not
think of protocols when approaching one's mother - but just go with the
moment with unbounded joy and affection; such should be our attitude
when we worship Our Universal Mother during this period - assuming we
are all Her Children and we are invoking Her Presence in our homes -
celebrating this with affectionate respect and joy).
Recital
of Lalitha Sahasranaamam, Dasa Mahaa vidhya sthothrams, simple Devi
sthothrams, Abhiraami Andhaadhi, Lalitha Anubooti, Soundarya Lahiri,
Dugra Sthothram, Chandi Path (Durga Saptasathi), etc. can be auspicious
during this period.
During this period, we should
consider all women as Forms of Divine Mother and treat them with
courtesy and respect. One who observes the Navarathri austerities
intensely, but insults women knowingly/ unknowingly does not get the
benefit of the austerities. Remember this, and treat women (including
those in your own family) with affection and respect [Ideally that
should be the case always! Because Shastras say that where virtuous
women are honoured, Divine Grace visits even in an uninvited manner!
This is the reason why women should take special care to safeguard
their basic dignity, be affectionate and gentle in dealings with family
members, avoid letting corrupting thoughts/ behaviour patterns enter
their life styles, etc. in an attempt to maintain their Divine nature
that is intrinsic to them; All higher forms of lives spring from the
feminine gender of the species, and a virtuous woman is a living Form
of the Universal Mother - and can be a source of happiness and Grace to
herself and to everyone who is blessed enough to move with her).
Those
who have Tulsi plant in their houses, can offer prostrations to that
Divine Plant and pray for prosperity and Divine Grace in its vicinity.
(All the Holy Rivers are in subtle forms in the roots of the tulsi
plant; All Divine Forms are manifest in the middle portion of the Tulsi
plant, and All Vedas and Holy Scriptures are manifest in the tips of
the Tulsi plant, as said in the Puranas).
Offering
Go-Poojaa (prayers to Cow visualized as embodiment of all Divinities)
on Fridays and Tuesdays of Navarathri period can give unlimited merit.
It
is also auspicious to read a small portion of Divine Legends that
depict how the Gracious and Kind Mother Manifested in Angry Forms to
annihilate all enemies to peaceful life on Earth every night during this
navaraathri period, and invoke such Manifestation of Power in our
lives also to annihilate all our enemies (both intrinsic like anger,
greed, laziness, and ignorance within us, and our external enemies/
unruly elements who try to disturb peaceful and gentle citizens in the
society unnecessarily).
Recital of Chandi Paaraayanam
is a powerful remedy not merely for our families but for ensuring peace
in the land where we live in. In fact, if austere persons of Faith
keep reciting the Chandi Path and Shri Rudram regularly, and if there
are many of them in a land, shastras proclaim that the elements of
nature's Fury like floods, pestilence, droughts, etc. will never harm
that land and prosperity will rein in that land. So, it is partly our
duty as Universal Citizens to offer special worship to Divine Mother
during this period and pray for relief to all the distressed souls who
have been harassed much by natural calamities in various parts of the world, and also pray for peace throughout the world in these troublesome
days where you can never read a newspaper without coming across some
inauspicious event/ mishap in one corner or other of the earth.
SPECIAL WORSHIPS AT MY PLACE DURING NAVARATHRI.
As
usual special worships will be done in this regard at my place
Blessed be.
Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI
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