Navaratri observances:

The saga of Mother Divine

By Sivanandini DURAISWAMY

(Today is Vijayadasami - the tenth day of the Navaratri observances - the day of Victory. Having invoked Durga and adored Lakshmi we are ready to enter the Temple of Saraswathi who leads us away from evil tendencies, passions and lusts to enlightenment).

The traditional observances, customs and ceremonies of the Hindus reflect the profound yearnings of the community for peace and harmony. The repeated observances down the corridors of time give a vision of the glorious ancient culture - the past becomes a moment of the living present and guides one into the future. A look into the value of the observances opens vistas of religious treasures which are a treasure trove of the ancient thought and wisdom.

Traditional observances

The wise ancients, in order to guide humanity to achieve the goal in life, devised many beautiful and inspiring legends weaving an embroidery of stories around auspicious moments and periods of time by association with events or divine personages. These legends are the Puranas and generally the Hindu fasts, observances and festivals are associated with some Puranic story or other. These instill discipline, provide enjoyment and at the same time create an inner change for the better in the life of the people who participate in these observances. The Navaratri observances are replete with the wonderful message of getting rid of evil tendencies within, seek prosperity, love and goodness and attain enlightenment.

Life is a constant battle, a war between good and evil, light and darkness, knowledge and ignorance, truth and falsehood, immortality and death. Sri Aurobindo compares the Soul of man to a kingdom in which armies clash to help or hinder a supreme conquest, a house where the Gods are our guests and which the demons strive to possess. Thus in the battle of life man must ally himself with the Divine forces of Truth and Light and face a relentless battle with the asuric forces within us.

A unique feature of Hinduism is its capacity to lend itself to various human needs. This rich compassion is reflected in the tradition of Mother worship. The Navaratri observances culminating in the Vijayadasami puja is not merely a religious festival where the social bonds of a life of culture are strengthened, but is also a realisation that the Navaratri signifies the prowess of the Divine Mother and the battles She fought in various aspects to vanquish the asuras, are in reality battles waged in one's life.

Our life is imperfect and full of sorrow since we have a thousand enemies within. We are riddled with negative thoughts, fears and yearnings all of which have to be annihilated. And it is to get rid of these negative forces that we invoke the Mother Divine during Navaratri

Mother Divine

The Hindus from time immemorial have worshipped God the Supreme One as the Divine Mother of the Universe. The conception of God as the Divine Mother is realistic for it brings Him very close to one just as the mother is the closest person to her child. Human beings know and understand a mother's love and will naturally be able to approach the Universal Mother with greater ease. A mother is aggressive when she is protecting her young ones.

The devotees would feel strengthened to realize that while nestling in the warm protection of her all compassing power, she will look after all the needs and ward away all evil and provide nourishment

It is this Divine Mother who comes in answer to the prayers of the devotee and helps to break the shackles of delusion, guiding him on the correct path. Sri Aurobindo very succinctly reminds us that we should surrender ourselves to the Divine Mother in the words,

''Self- surrender to the Divine and Infinite Mother, however difficult, remains our only effective means and sole abiding refuge; self-surrender to Her means that our nature must be an instrument in Her hands, the Soul, a child in the arms of the Mother.''

The scientist and the Rishi

Hindus regard nature as part of the manifested Divine Energy, while scientist, till radio activity was discovered, thought that matter and energy - the two fundamental entities of the Universe were distinctly separate from each other. Now we know that matter can be converted into energy and back to its original form as water to steam and back again through condensation to water. Matter can also be changed into another through pressure - the chief agent being energy - Shakti. Modern science recognizes nature as part of a manifold energy which produces the phenomenal Universe and says that this Universe existed in a potential state in that energy. This eternal energy is Cosmos, a combination of matter and mechanical forces guided by regular laws for a definite purpose.

The ancient Hindu rishis conceived the whole Cosmos, as revolving in constant rhythmic vibration, where the minutest particles of electrons and protons and the mightiest galaxies of the Universe move in a definite fashion. It is a harmonious whole with an orderly chain of changes, namely evolution.

These are the processes of creation, preservation and dissolution performed by the three significant manifestations of the Divine Mother, the Primordial Sakti or the Divine Principle beyond form and name. Her glory is ineffable and Her splendour is indescribable. The three forms as Consorts of Brahma as Saraswati, Vishnu as Lakshmi and Rudra as Durga are inseparable from their Lords as heat from fire conveying the prime truth that manifestations of Sakti are ultimately the God Almighty, Brahman in action.

The ancient rishis knowingly declared, "There is only One, the Cosmic Energy which pulsates, pervades and permeates and interpenetrates every atom in the Universe: that the world evolves out of it, revolves round it and resolves into it," while the scientist are synthesising the microcosmic and macrocosmic laws of the Universe into one unified theory.

"Sarva Mangala Mangalye,

Shive Sarvartha Sadhike,

Sarnye Tryambike,

Gowrie Narayani Namosthute," says the Devi Mahatmyam, delineating the Mother as the auspicious One. 'Thou art Sarva Mangala the auspicious; Sive the bountiful; Triyambike the protectress; Gowrie Narayani - I prostrate at Thy Feet.' This adoration has grown down the ages into a philosophical and mystic worship of Sakti as the most auspicious One and the inherent power of the Divine.

God as Mother Supreme in Her threefold aspect as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, is annually worshipped in the nine day observance called Navaraatri which falls in the first nine nights of the bright half of the month of Purattaadhi,( mid September to mid October) a period of prayer and meditation for moral, material and spiritual upliftment, culminating in cultural festivities.

This is the call that awakens the Hindu, year after year to experience and express afresh, the inherent divine nature, to make manifest the eternal truth and love, to subdue and finally eradicate the evil forces within himself. Goodness, prosperity and knowledge are the three aspects of the Navaratri which have to be brought into our lives. Goodness reveals love, while prosperity brings happiness through selfless service and lastly knowledge leads the way to Truth and God realisation.

The translation through the outward rituals of worship and prayer into the practical aspect, is the real invocation and adoration of the Divine Mother, for this truly transforms and spiritualises one.

Durga

In the Navaratri puja, the glorious Mother in Her aspect as Durga is first worshipped for three nights in order that the evil nature in man could be destroyed. She as Durga, fought the demon Mahishasha and killed him and is referred to as Mahishasura Mardini. Here, She is the Samhara Sakti, the all destroying Power of the Almighty as Rudra.

She is dipicted astride a lion and is the symbolic annihilator of evil. She is represented with many arms each bearing a weapon. She thrust Her trident into the chest of Mahishasura who emerges in human form, from the carcass of a buffaloa. This is allegorical for there is in each one of us a buffaloa demon in the form of ignorance and dullness, which has to be removed.

Lakshmi

The next three nights are dedicated to Mother Divine in Her aspect as Maha Lakshmi. Blessings for material and spiritual welfare are sought. She is portrayed on a red lotus draped in a red saree. She is the protective and sustaining power of Vishnu and the Goddess of Wealth. She blesses Her true and sincere devotees. Wealth has to be acquired by man's endeavours and Maha Lakshmi blesses the endeavours of one who strives in a dharmic way.

Saraswati

The Divine Mother in Her aspect as Maha Saraswati is worshipped during the last three nights of Navaratri . She is the creative power of God as Brahma and worshipped as the Goddess of Learning. - the wisdom which will guide one on the onward march to the final goal of liberation.

She, the Goddess of Learning is depicted seated on a white lotus draped in a white saree playing the veena a picture of purity, spiritual transcendence and perfection singing the melody of life inviting devotees to merge into the Naada Brahman.

In the outward rituals of the puja, the devotee invokes Mother Durga, the Mahishasura Mardini first in order to remove the demonic qualities which enmesh the embodied Soul in ignorance. These negative tendencies have to be first broken to free oneself from the grip of matter. Mother Lakshmi is next invoked so that one's spiritual life is sustained, nourished and preserved. Lakshmi is the Goddess of Aiswarya which is not mere wealth but is the Divine wealth of love, kindness and devotion - these are the noble values which should blossom from within oneself. From this stage, when one's base qualities have been removed and noble ones instilled, he proceeds through constant prayer and meditation and invokes the great Mother in Her aspect as Maha Saraswati, the bestower of knowledge to give him wisdom in order that he may unite with the Paramaatman, the Lord Almighty.

On the tenth day is the day of victory - Vijayadasami, when the Mother is adored in the written word. Literally the little ones are initiated into the three Rs namely (w)riting, reading, (a)rithmetic on this day.

Colourful rituals

Each Hindu family generally observes the Navaratri fast and ceremonies at home. The outward rituals of the puja are very colourful, inspiring and grand. These rituals form the outward scaffolding of worship that man in this material world needs.

He stands on this scaffolding and over several births build up in him the Temple of the Spirit that brings him eternal bliss. Rituals, fasts, festivals and observances help to form this all important scaffolding. It is only when the temple is completed that the scaffolding can be removed.

As we stand year in and year out on the scaffolding, may we remember during the hallowed days of Navaratri, that the real worship of Mother is our inner co-operation with Her in breaking our mundane egoism, limitations and weaknesses in our march towards realizing the ultimate goal in life.

We should consecrate Devi in the holy altar of our hearts in order that She may manifest Her Divine Power within us. The worthiest and loftiest form of aaradhana to Devi would be to serve, do good and bring prosperity into the lives of all.

From the author's work: - "Remembering Hindu Traditions."