{"id":575,"date":"2018-10-11T06:10:41","date_gmt":"2018-10-11T06:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chinmayaupahar.in\/blog\/?p=575"},"modified":"2018-10-12T11:47:46","modified_gmt":"2018-10-12T11:47:46","slug":"navratri-trishakti-durga-lakshmi-and-saraswati","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.chinmayaupahar.in\/index.php\/2018\/10\/11\/navratri-trishakti-durga-lakshmi-and-saraswati\/","title":{"rendered":"Navratri Trishakti – Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati"},"content":{"rendered":"

Navratri<\/h2>\n

Every Hindu festival has a spiritual message for the sadhaks. This nine-day festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil. In fact the theme of the entire Vedas is reflected in the Navratri festival: first remove all negativities; then purify the mind and cultivate positive virtues; finally, gain spiritual knowledge and transcend all limitations. (You can also read our blog on the\u00a0<\/span>9 Navratri Essentials)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em> ‘Nava<\/em>‘ means ‘nine’ and ‘Ratri<\/em>‘ means ‘night’. During these nine nights, the Mother Goddess is worshipped in her variously manifested forms as <\/span>Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Why ‘Navratri’ or Nine-Nights?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The spiritual message of night-time worship is that \u201cyou have lived long enough in the sleepy realm of tamas, it is time to get up now. Please, wake up!!\u201d<\/span> On the first three nights, Durga is invoked for her strength and ferocity which are required to cut out from the mind it\u2019s strong-rooted, deep-seated negative tendencies. <\/span> Goddess Lakshmi is (then) worshipped on the next three nights. She is invited to bring in her wealth of noble values to nourish and purify the cleansed mind.<\/span> Finally, Goddess Saraswati is invoked on the last three nights to bestow the Higher Knowledge of the Self possible only after cleansing and purification have taken place.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Maa
Image Source: https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After Navratri comes Vijayadashmi<\/h2>\n

With the dawn of spiritual wisdom, the little ego is destroyed. This destruction is commemorated on the 10th night with the burning of an effigy. This 10th day is called Vijayadashmi (Vijaya-victory, dashmi-ten); or Vidhyarambha (Vidhya-wisdom, knowledge, rambha-joy) Victory Day or the Joy of Enlightenment respectively.<\/span> At Navratri time the Rasa (dance of joy) of Shree Krishna and the Gopis is also performed. As the mind becomes purer, calmer quieter, a greater understanding of the nature of the Inner Self is revealed, giving rise to joy and happiness which is expressed in this dance of Realisation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Durga – The Power Terrible<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Man the imperfect is riddled with negative thoughts, fears, and prejudices which are the cause of selfishness, jealousy, hatred, anger, etc. Mother Durga represents the Power Terrible. Her ferocious sword and other destructive weapons are employed to annihilate these negative forces.<\/span> She is also called Mahishasura Mardini the destroyer of Mahisa (buffalo) Asura (demon). The buffalo symbolizes Tamas, the quality of darkness, ignorance laziness and inertia which must be overcome before spiritual progress can be made.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Durga
Image Source: http:\/\/www.prabhusharnam.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lakshmi – Goddess of Wealth<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Purification of the Mind is obtained through worship of Lakshmi Devi. Contrary to popular belief, Mother Lakshmi is worshipped not for material wealth, but for good and noble values\u00a0<\/span>(spiritual wealth). More important than material wealth is the inner wealth of spiritual values such as love, kindness, sincerity, self-control, self-discipline, etc. By the practice of such spiritual values in our daily lives, our minds become purified. The lotus on which the Goddess is seated symbolizes the Supreme Goal of Self -Realisation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Goddess
Image Source: https:\/\/www.youtube.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saraswati – Goddess of Knowledge and Learning<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Vedic Tradition in India has given women the highest place of respect and recognition. The Bhagawad Geeta is known as Mother Geeta; Knowledge itself is personified as a feminine deity – the Goddess Saraswati. The Goddess represents the ideal Guru<\/a><\/span><\/span>, sitting on a lotus holding the sacred scriptures in one hand and a mala in the second hand. With the other 2 hands, she plays the Veena (an Indian flute). (Read\u00a0why is the lotus so special<\/a><\/span><\/span>.)<\/span><\/p>\n