Sarada Navaratri – Maha Navaratri
The festival Navaratri has a profound religious significance. It is believed that during these days, Goddess Durga specially descended on the earth to bless Her devotees to annihilate evil and establish ‘sanatana dharma’ firmly in the world.
Goddess Durga is seen as a lion in a sitting posture. The lion is a symbol of uncontrolled animalistic emotions such as excessive anger, arrogance, selfishness, greed, jealousy and a strong desire to harm others.
Goddess Durga is the Goddess of Power or the Supreme Energy and the lion is the embodiment of destructive powers which are controlled by the goddess. Navaratri is celebrated four times in a calendar year and each time it is done with a definite focus.
Navaratris
The Navaratri are named after the lunar month in which they are celebrated as Chaitra Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, Sharada Navaratri and Magha Navaratri. Though four in number, Chaitra and Sharada Navaratris are more prominent and the other two are known as hidden or ‘gupta Navaratris.’
The word Navaratri is a combination of two Sanskrit words. ‘Nava’ means ‘nine’ and ‘Ratri’ means ‘night’.
Chaitra Navaratri
Chaitra Navaratri is observed during the lunar month of Chaitra (March-April), the spring season and hence, its other name Vasanta Navaratri. It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year in many regions of India.
In Maharashtra, it is celebrated as Gudi Padwa, marking the Marathi New Year. In Kashmir, it is known as Narveh, signifying the Kashmiri Hindu New Year. In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and, Karnataka it is celebrated as Ugadi.
The ninth day of this Navaratri is celebrated as Sri Rama Navami.
Sarada Navaratri
Sarada Navaratri is also known as Maha Navaratri which is the most popular one and is widely celebrated with much enthusiasm, eagerness and devotion. It falls in the month of Ashwini (September -October).
This celebrates the divine feminine energy of Durga, the powerful goddess who conquers the demon Mahishasura. It also signifies the triumph of good over evil and the importance of conquering the inner enemies of every individual. On the tenth day, Vijayadashami marks the victory of Goddess Durga.
This tenth day of Sarada Navaratri is also called ‘Dussehra‘. This marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana, symbolizing the destruction of evil. People burn effigies of Ravana, Meghanatha and Kumbhakarna to symbolize the victory of good over evil as Ramleela.
Vijayadashami
Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura is celebrated as Vijayadashami in West Bengal and southern parts of India. In West Bengal, people come together and celebrate the last five days in a pandal where beautifully decorated clay statues of Maa Durga, goddess Lakshmi and goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya are worshipped.
On the tenth day, the idols are taken out on a procession to a river or oceanfront and are immersed in the waters for dissolution and farewell with the words that Maa Durga should come again soon to bless them all.
In other places like Gujarat and Rajasthan ‘Ram Leela’ is celebrated on the tenth day. Men and women adorned in traditional attire with bright hues perform energetic Dandiya Raas and graceful Garba dance that forms to vibrant, joyful creative and rhythmic music.
In South India, it is celebrated in individual houses since special steps are built and idols are arranged on them in such a way to depict mythological stories in each step, which is called Golu. Friends and relatives are invited to take part in daily ‘pooja’. Mysore and, Karnataka are traditionally major centres for Dasara celebrations.
Mysore palace is illuminated with thousands of lights, huge ‘golu’ steps are decorated with images of deities. All ten days the palace gates are open to the common man to visit and take part in the royal celebration and pooja.
Ten Inner Enemies
Dasara has a special message and a symbolic meaning as well. At the individual level, it motivates every individual to strive hard to defeat his ten inner enemies namely Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Maatsarya, Aalasya, Dirgha sutrataa, Niraasha and Ahamkara by focusing his mind on the Almighty and become victorious. Cleansing one’s inner impurities makes him an appropriate receptacle to receive His blessings and acquire spiritual growth.
Though Vasanta and Sarada Navaratris are more prominent and widely celebrated, Aashadha and Magha ‘Gupta Navaratri’ are celebrated mainly by Shakti Upasakas or divine feminine energy worshippers. These days are important for observing various tantric practices, many intense and severe penances with the desire to acquire more spiritual powers and to attain inner peace. In these two ‘Gupta Navaratris’ Maa Durga is worshipped in all Her nine forms with utmost devotion.
There is an interesting feature about the starting day of these Navaratris. Every year Maa Durga arrives on a specific vahanam to shower Her blessings on Her devotees. If Navaratri begins on a Sunday or a Monday, She comes on an elephant and this indicates more rain and prosperity to the world.
If it commences on a Tuesday, She comes on a horse which indicates natural calamities and war-like situations and unrest among people. If it begins on a Wednesday, Durga Maa arrives on a boat and it is considered to be very auspicious and beneficial to the world.
If it begins on a Thursday or a Friday, She comes on a palanquin which is indicative of epidemic fear.
Each ‘vahana’ carries specific connotations, and reflects rich Hindu tradition and beliefs. It also displays the multi-faceted nature of religious practices and its impact on our daily routine life.
Interesting Practices
A few more interesting practices observed during the festival, Navaratri:
- People observe fasting on all nine days. They take only liquids. Some consume only fruits and nuts.
- Consumption of sattvic food—garlic, onion, and any other spicy items are avoided.
- Usage of rock salt instead of regular salt.
- All nine days only sprouted beans, green dal and peas are boiled and consumed.
- Tubers and root vegetables are boiled and sprinkled with rock salt.
- Sago food items are consumed.
- Shakti worship is done.
- A lamp is lighted on the first day of Navaratri and kept alight on all nine days. It symbolizes dispelling the darkness of ignorance and acquiring knowledge.
- All devotional lyrics eulogizing goddess Devi are chanted. Raja Rajeshwari stotram, Durga Saptashati, Sridevi Mahatmyam, Mahishasura Mardini stotram, Sri Suktam, Sri Lakshmi Sahasranama, Sri Lalita Sahasranama and, Sri Shyamala Dandakam are chanted every day.
- In certain areas, all nine forms of Maa Goddess Durga namely Maa Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandra Durga, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhi Daatri are worshipped.
- Commencement of learning or ‘Vidyarambham’ is done on Vijaya Dashami.
- The blessings of ‘gurus’ and elders are sought.
Final Word
Thus, we find Navaratri displays a spectrum of activities such as religious practices, good dietary discipline, sacred rituals, brisk and vibrant dance forms, community pooja and individual observance of Golu. The common thread in all these is the destruction of evil and the victory of the feminine power and the re-establishment of ‘sanatana dharma’ on earth in all its glorious form.
