In the cosmos of our being there co-exist both negative and positive forces. The negative force thrives in our nature in the form of demons and manifest in our thought, speech and action causing disorder and suffering. While in the positive aspect of our being, there exist positive force granting prosperity, harmony and happiness.
The positive force in the form of undivided energy of self awareness and mindfulness at the core of our inner consciousness continuously destroys the negative force, and protect us, and guide us in living a happy life in this Samsara.
The negative force denoted as demons are nothing external but inherent within us, in our mind, in our thought, in our perception, speech, behaviour and action. Being in us the demons haunt us throughout our life causing us to suffer.
The most potent demons that manifest in our thought, speech, and behaviour are: 1) delusion and irrationality, 2) pride and prejudice, 3) ego, 4) greediness and possessiveness, 5) unclear vision and selfish consciousness, 6) aversion and lustfulness, and 7) fleeting thought and desire.
1…Delusion and irrationality
Delusion and irrationality are presented in the forms of the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, who are evil psychic forces characterized by ignorance. They create obstacles in having orderly existence in harmony and creativity.
These two demons pose first obstacle for right understanding for having right perception. To eliminate these demons we need to cultivate divine knowledge and cherish righteousness in our life.
2…Pride and prejudice
Pride and prejudice are embodied in the forms of demons Chiksura and Chamara. They are the foremost nature of our ego. To evade suffering in our life caused by pride and prejudice, we must have spiritual wisdom.
2…Ego
The ego we live with is the passion for fulfilling the sensuality of our being and it has been depicted in the form of demon Mahishasura. The Mahishasura rightly in the form of wild buffalo embodies anger, pride, and passion which is ever deficient and dissatisfied.
Mahishasura denotes our fickle mind and desires that manifest in all possible manners to foster superiority and satisfy sensual desire.
It is our own ego –the demon Mahishasura, leads us to selfish pursuits of pleasures instead of universal welfare, peace and harmony, and misappropriation of the nature.
To get rid the perils of this most potent demon Mahishasura, we take refuge in Goddess Durga.
3…Greediness and possessiveness
Greediness, vanity and possessiveness are embodied by two demons Shumbha and Nishumbha.
To diminish and subdue the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha we invoke Goddess Durga, who is ever present in us in the form of pure consciousness.
Deep in our being Goddess Durga is inherently present in the form of Goddess Ambika, the embodiment of pure consciousness. With complete stillness and silence of our attentive mind, we invoke Goddess Ambika to dispel the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha from our being.
4…Attraction, aversion, lustfulness and unclear vision
The evil forces of attraction, aversion, lustfulness and unclear vision thrive in the form of the demons Chanda and Munda. They fuel our ego for self-gratification, vanity and possessiveness.
The demons Chanda and Munda are the crude psychic energies that dwell in us as selfish consciousness. Their leader is the demon Dhumralochana who embodies veiled and unclear vision of limited selfish consciousness.
To eliminate these demons we should invoke Goddess Durga in the form of Chamundeswari, the destroyer of the demon Chanda and Munda.
5…Fleeing thoughts and desire
In our egoist mind the fleeting thoughts and desires incessantly evolve naturally in the form of demon Raktabeej. In physical form, the demon Raktabeej has the capacity of multiplying from every drop of his blood falling on the ground, which means it multiplies as it faces mortal danger.
To exterminate this formidable demon, we need to accumulate all the disaggregated and dissipated positive energies. We need un-fragmented, single-pointed attention with highest resolve and decisiveness in our thought, attitude and behaviour.
In Devi Mahatmya of Markandye Puran it has been narrated that to subdue the demon Raktabeej, the Goddess Durga gathers all her denominations –Matrika. In the battle, Matrika Kalika -the dark space of meditative attention injures demon Raktabeej and absorbs all the blood dripping from its body and debars him from multiplication. Finally, Matrika Kaushiki -the light of pure awareness burns Raktabeej to death.
Among many traditions and religious celebrations, and festivities, Dassain is associated with worshiping Goddess Durga for nine days after which Dassain is celebrated on the tenth day. Dassain is so rightly called as it celebrated on the tenth day.
Dassain is a festival of family get together for receiving blessings of Goddess Durga and elders of the family. It is an occasion to refresh and rejuvenate hope and aspiration, self-confidence and instill values. Indeed in Dassain everyone experiences emancipation, and momentarily forgets Dukha –the suffering, and cherish Sukha –the happiness. During the festive day the blessing of Goddess Durga radiates from the heart of everyone in the form of love, respect, harmony and happiness.
There is a firm belief that whoever observes Navaratri Durga Puja with devotion is certain to reap benefits of virtue, prosperity, success and happiness.
Because Goddess Durga is venerated for nine days the occasion is known as Navaratri. It is a unique occasion of spiritual journey. It provides an opportunity to be aware of our defects and have right perception and develop irrevocable determination to completely root out defects we live with.
In Navaratri our wish is that may Goddess Durga manifests in us in the form of pure perception, will power and as a teacher, and root out all evils prevailing in our nature and causing us to suffer. We worship Goddess Durga for spiritual cleansing and to draw inspiration to have right understanding and perception, and to aspire for attaining excellence.
In Hindu Dharma Goddess Durga is primeval, absolute and complete, who embodies all other Goddesses of Hindu theology. Hence when we worship Goddess Durga, we will be worshipping all other Goddesses by virtue of being one. In Dassain we pray to Goddess Durga to bestow us with positive attribute and divinity and grants us spiritual values.
It is with the blessing of Goddess Durga we will be endowed with knowledge, skills, intelligence, creativity, wisdom, prosperity and good health. It is the blessing of Goddess Durga that sets us free from illusion and ignorance. For her blessings, it is inevitable that we embrace righteousness and exercise self discipline, self-control and sacrifice.
In Navaratri, we worship nine manifestations of Goddess Durga in the sequential order and the essences of their manifestations are:
1…The Navaratri Day -1: the Ghata Sthapana Day
May we all with great vow invoke Goddess Durga and consecrate her in the form of a Ghata called as “Ghata Sthapana” in the sanctum sanctorum physically and spiritually in the ether of our hearts!
On this first auspicious day, may we all venerate Goddess Durga in the form of Goddess Shailputri, who is the embodiment of primeval purity of our inner consciousness! Goddess Shailputri is unborn and she is the power of our pure consciousness.
By nature our consciousness constantly flow outward seeking pleasure on sensual objects being not aware that it only causes suffering. With this awareness let us all worship Goddess Shailputri to enable us to revert the outward flowing energy inward in search of perfection of the inner consciousness within.
May we all on this very first day of Navaratri take refuge in Goddess Shailputri, and with her blessing may we all be awakened and with her begin our spiritual journey in pursuit of eternal peace and happiness.
2…Happy Navaratri Day-2
May we all, on the auspicious second day of Navaratri, worship Goddess Durga in the form of Goddess Brahmacharini, who is the embodiment of purity of mind, self-confidence, ethical conduct and resolute determination. With her blessing may we all remain unshaken and do not deviate from the path of our duty even in the worst physical and mental pressures.
With purity of mind, devoid of ego, having boundless space of pure awareness and spiritual wisdom granted by Goddess Brahmacharini; may we all be able to accept things and situations as they are with humility and promote love and loyalty among people across societies.
3…Happy Navaratri Day -3
May we all, on the third day of Navaratri, worship Goddess Durga in the form of Goddess Chandraghanta, the inner vibrations of our being calling us for equipoise mental state of pure consciousness!
May we all take refuge and worship Goddess Chandraghanta for she provides justice, protects us from evil forces, removes obstacles on our spiritual path, and enables us to cultivate courage and fearlessness!
Contemplating on the perfect awareness embodied by Goddess Chandraghanta, may we all be able to purify our body, speech, and mind, and dedicate ourselves on action. With her blessing may we be endowed with serenity and humility, and bravery and fearlessness, and with her grace may we defeat all the evils thriving in our being.
4…Happy Navaratri Day -4
May we all, on this auspicious fourth day of Navaratri, worship Goddess Durga in the form of Goddess Kusmanda, the core of our inner consciousness, the Surya Loka of our being! She is indeed our deepest inner consciousness.
Reverence to Goddess Kusmanda who embodies Sankalpa -the mental projection, and the underlying energy with which the universe is created, and the phenomenon that continue without end.
May Goddess Kusmanda bestow us with long life, good health, and name and fame! With her blessings may we all be relieved from suffering here in Samsara and beyond.
5…Happy Navaratri Day -5
May we all, on the fifth day of Navaratri, worship Goddess Durga in the form of Goddess Skandamata. Reverence to Goddess Skandamata the embodiment of the energy who enables us to generate single-pointed mind yearning for liberation.
With the blessing of Goddess Skandamata, may our mind become pure, void of thought waves! At the purest state of our mind, may all of us be liberated from illusion and ignorance!
6…Happy Navaratri Day -6
May we all Let’s all, on the sixth day of Navaratri, worship Goddess Durga in the form of Goddess Katyayani for her benediction. Reverence to Goddess Katyayani the embodiment of faith and confidence.
With the spiritual vision of Goddess Katyayani, may we all receive her blessing for being confident in our own self and decisive in our action!
Being confident in our own self and decisive in our action, may we get rid of fear and doubt, the root causes of defeat and failure!
May the blessing of Goddess Katyayani protect us from suffering caused by fear and doubt and grant us self confidence and victory.
6…Happy Navaratri Day -7
Happy Maha Saptami! Happy Phul-Pati!
Today, the seventh day of Navaratri, the Maha Saptami is celebrated as the Phul-Pati day. On this auspicious day may we all worship Goddess Durga in her most wrathful form Goddess Kalratri, who strikes evils with thunderbolt! It is Goddess Kalratri who represents time and embodies both the creative and destructive nature.
Emanated out of love and compassion, may Goddess Kalratri, the most benevolent Goddess, destroys the most potent evil Raktabeej which is invincible and difficult to subdue!
Reverence to Goddess Kalratri the embodiment of discerning wisdom. It is you who destroys the demon Raktabija, the embodiment of fleeting thought and sensual desire. With your blessing may we be able to discern between the underlying truth and surface illusion.
May you empower us with divine blessing of discerning wisdom to overcome obstacles and grant us success! With your blessings may we become fit to earn virtues!
The Maha Saptami day, the Phul-Pati day, is a day of sacrifice. May we all on this auspicious day sacrifice our ego along with all its denominations! May we all pray to Goddess Kalratri to reveal the true nature of ours by transcending the egoistic human nature we live with!
6…Happy Navaratri Day -8
Happy Maha Asthami !
May we, on this auspicious day, the eight day of Navaratri, worship Goddess Durga in the form of Goddess Mahagauri, the embodiment of perfection and purity of our inner consciousness which inherently resides in our heart! On this auspicious day, may we also venerate Astha Nayikas, the eight companions of Goddess Durga along with 64 Yoginis.
With the blessings of Goddess Mahagauri, may we all immerse our mind in the eternal light of the Supreme Being!
Reverence to Goddess Mahagauri, the form in which Goddess Parvati eternally united with Shiva.
Reverence to Goddess Mahagauri, who on this day subdues the demon Mahishasura, the embodiment of ego, the Mara -the most powerful evil.
May we all celebrate Maha Asthami as the day of victory of good over the evil!
6…Happy Navaratri Day -9
Happy Maha Navami!
May we all on the Maha Navami, the ninth day of Navaratri, worship Goddess Durga in the form of Goddess Siddhidhatri.
May we all worship Goddess Siddhidhatri, the embodiment of abundance and pray to her to dispel our ignorance and bestow us the divine knowledge.
Let us all worship Goddess Durga, who on this day having eliminated all the evil causes of suffering emanates in the form of Goddess Siddhidhatri.
Reverence to Goddess Siddhidhatri, for you are the wish fulfilling Goddess. May you grant us the blessings of wellness, prosperity, abundance, and success! May you grant us perfection and power for fulfilment of righteous goal of human life!
With blessings of Goddess Siddhidhatri, may all material desires and propensity of ours are transcended. With your blessing, may the only intension of ours that remain in us is to help and free others from ignorance, illusion and negative emotions.
Reverence to Goddess Durga
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you for you are the cause of all causes but you without any cause! Aadi (primeval) Shakti (cosmic energy) you are, independent of dependent origination and perfect you are for you rely upon none! Supreme you are. Omniscient you are. Transcending all created and uncreated beings you are omnipotent.
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you for you are our saviour, the utter destroyer of our enemy (unrighteousness)! May you destroy all our adversaries and let no one rule over us.
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you for you are Chaitanya –the pure Consciousness! You are all that is propitious! Samaya (commitment) you are, savvy (skilful) you are, serene you are. Aroopa (formless) you are, Roopa (form) you are and Sunyata you are without beginning and end!
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you for you are the essence of all Mantras, the soul of all Yantras and embodiment of all Tantras! Jnana Mudra you are, Siddha-Vidya you are; and you are the mother of all Siddhas whose seat is Sattava.
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you for you are the personification of time, Kalachakra (wheel of time) you are. You are the Guhya-Vidya (secret knowledge) that removes our Avidya (ignorance) and illusion from our mind and heart.
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you for you are above duality who demolishes all devils. You are the brilliant light that dissipates the dimness of all obliviousness! You are the expanse of empathy and the epitome of loving kindness and compassion! With your blessing may we gain ultimate intelligence and spiritual knowledge, and realise oneness and harmony across societies.
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you for you are the soul of Shiva! Shiva you are and Prakruti you are and you are the three ‘gunas –operational principles’ of the nature. You are the awareness in Brahman. Brahmn you are (the universal oneness above duality) –the source and ultimate repose of every existence.
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you for you are Guna-Dhara –the eternal fountain of goodness! You are Narayani –the ultimate refuge of humans for you bless us with good health and you are Sri –the giver of all types of wealth and you are the primeval source of happiness.
Reverence to Goddess Durga! May we take refuge in you! May you sanctify our mind, our heart and our intellect, and with your blessing we delight in worshipping you with wholeness of our being. May we fix all our desires on the fruits of our righteous actions bringing us the prosperity, harmony, peace and happiness!
Glory to Goddess Durga! With your blessing may we experience divine happiness with harmony within, with others and nature!
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