Navrathri

View 2007 Navrathri Schedule of Events | View 2007 Navrathri Daily Alankaram

Navarathri (Nava-Nine, Rathri - Night) is considered by many as the greatest of the Hindu Festivals. For the spiritual seeker, it is a period of introspection and purification. The nine day period of Navarathri is of supreme importance for physical, mental and spiritual health as it lies at the juncture of two seasons. The nourishing energy currents in Nature are at their peak during this transitive phase to eliminate the harmful, negative elements and impressions from our gross and subtle bodies. It thus offers us a rare opportunity of accomplishing the sadhanas of spiritual elevation. It assumes greater significance in the first decade of the 21st Century, which is prophesied to be the heralder of a new era of Divine Manifestation of life, love and light on earth – through humanity.

During Navarathri, we dedicate the first 3 days for worship of Durga and the breeding of courage and valor in the world; the next 3 for worship of Lakshmi for universal prosperity; and the last 3 for worship of Saraswati for growth of learning. The 10th day, though, is the most important and is known as Vijayadasami. It is the ’10th day of victory' signifying the conquest of the spiritual aspirant over his own evils, poverty and ignorance. During this auspicious time, devotees pray to Mother Durga to help surmount obstacles, to Mother Lakshmi to bestow peace and prosperity and Mother Saraswathi to gain knowledge.

 

Religious Ceremonies Conducted  during this Time

Homams:
Each day of the 9 day event will begin with the conducting of a Homam followed by the Maha Chandi Homam on the 9th day. Homam or fire sacrifice is an auspicious way of accessing the divinity within us and manifesting it externally. Fire, unlike earth (solid) and water (liquid), is the first element that is able to make an upward transition, defying as it were, gravity (representing our limitations and attachments). It is this elevating property of the fire – a manifestation of grace and compassion of Mother Durga that allows the divine purpose of our lives to find expression and be manifested here and now.

Abhishekhams:
Each evening, an Abhishekam will be conducted for our Mother Parashakthi and she would be adorned in a different way each day to depict her various forms (First three days as Durga, followed by Lakshmi the next three days and as Saraswathi during the last three days). Various garlands and jewelry will be used to adorn her. Devotees are welcome to sponsor each item used to adorn the deity.

 

Devi Adhi Parashakti

The classic text of the Devi Mahatmya, tells a story of how Shaktis (Energies) emerged from each of the Gods to aid the Supreme Goddess in fighting the asuras (demons). Each shakthi possessed the form, ornament, and mount of the particular god. These are the goddesses who serve Adhiparasakthi and carry out Her functions.The one who rules this world. Everything in this world is contained in HER. All forms in the world are HER forms. All living things are part of HER. It is Devi AdhiParashakti who performs the tasks of the Tri-Murthys, Siva, Vishnu and Brahma. She is the 8 Siddhis, 7 Rishis, Lords of the 8 directions, 11 Rudras and many more. She is not only worshipped by men but also by the devas. She is present in everything we see. She is represented in the plants, the animals, the birds, the sea, the sky and the holy river. She is the Shakti ( power) who drives this world. She is the mother of mankind.

The following is a brief description of various aspects of Mother.

1. Brahmi:
Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesha: creation, development transformation. In creation or production deligence is most necessary and important, as by diligence on contributes to the welfare of others and becomes the object of their thankfulness. Brahmi represents Lord Brahma's energy. She has big eyes. Her body is golden in color with four arms. She is seated on Her vehicle which is a swan.These are the prime attributes of mother Brahmi by whose shakti Brahma becomes capable of producing the cosmos.

 

2. MAHESWARI
Maheswari represents Lord Shiva's energy. She has three eyes (2 normal and 1 in Her forehead). Her body is white in color with four arms. Her hair is shaped into a crown and She has a cobra around Her neck. She also has Her weapon which is a Soolum (trident) and her flag which has a bull on it. She is seated on Her vehicle which is a bull.

 

3. KOWMARI
Kowmari represents Lord Muruga's energy. She is kumkum (red powder) in color with four arms and she wears a diamond studded crown. Her flag  has a peacock on it. She is seated on Her vehicle which is a peacock.

 

4. Visalakshi : She is the aspect of Mother as she appears in Kasi.It is believed that the left hand of Sati fell at Varanasi, and that Annapurna or Visalakshi represent the Shakti Peetham here.

 

5. Rajarajeswari : She is Durga, Saraswathi and Laksmi all rolled into one. She covers all aspects of the Divine Mother.

 

6. Mahalakshmi: Gayatri as the dispenser of material contentment and happiness is lakshmi. By her grace we find our material circumstances aiding us in our self-development and adding to our capacity for social welfare and good conduct. Excess of material riches without the grace of lakshmi is an evil and causes social strife, but the same riches blessed by the grace of lakshmi become a force for social welfare. 


7. Vaishnavi:
Vaishnavi is the power of Vishnu. She is the sustainer, developer and organizer. By another name she is also Lakshmi or the giver of prosperity and culture. Mother Vaishnavi is the sustainer of the good. She has lotus like eyes and Her body is a dark cloud color (blueish) with four arms. She is seated on Her vehicle which is a eagle

8.VARAHI
Varahi represents Lord Yama's energy. She is very dark in color and she is wearing black silk and black jewelry. Her face is like that of a boar and she has four arms. She is seated on a peetam (seat) with her left foot supported by a small stool.


9. Saraswathi:
Awareness has two polar attributes - the perceiving consciousness and the discriminatory intellect. Gayatri is the motivating force of the perceiving conscriousness while the discriminatory intellect functions by the grace of saraswati. Man is nothing more than a brute without right discrimination. Therefore the grace of saraswati is necessary for us to sustain our intelligent humanity. Mother Saraswati holds a pen in one hand which symbolizes the power to communicate through the written word. The name Saraswati is derived from the Sankrit words sara, which means, 'essence';and swa, which means, 'self'. Thus Saraswati means “the essence of the self”. The Vedas that She holds in Her hand, summon the spirit of brilliant knowledge. Many believe that ones self-essence can be found through the use of knowledge and wisdom. The Gayatri Mantra is one of the most well-known invocations to Mother.  Mother’s white saree speaks of Her purity. Her carriage is the swan.The swan is able to separate water from milk.

10: Sarveswari: She is the Universal Mother including all aspects of her Divinity. She is everything

 

 

PARASHAKTHI (The Eternal Mother) Temple 551 W. Kennett, Pontiac, Michigan 48340 Phone - 248 - 322-4731 Maps & Directions e-mail: omshakthi@parashakthitemple.org