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Navratri
 What is Navratri ? Well, it is the nine days when we
are suppose to thank the female principle of nature and
the goddesses connected to them. As the agricultural
communities had free time only in the evenings (days being
too busy with manual labour in the fields), evenings and
nights were chosen as the ideal times to celebrate the
festival of the goddesses.
In brief, the nine nights are dedicated to the three main
goddesses of Hinduism - Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarasvati.
The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess of
action and energy. Her different manifestations viz Kumari,
Parvati and Kali are worshipped during these days. They
represent the three natures/ classes of womanhood - the
virgin young girl, auspicious wife/ mother and the angry
old hag ! This is not a criticism of women, just a
classification. It helps us recognise the different
aspects of our own nature.
Lakshmi is worshipped for the next three days in her
various aspects as the goddesses of peace, plenty and
bliss. Fulfilment is more important than wealth itself. As
the goddess of wealth, she governs not just the bank
balance, but also such basic things as family, friends,
food etc.
Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge. Not just the
knowledge of how to earn a living, but how to "live" as
well. She is the goddess of the spiritual knowledge and
the knowledge that frees us from this bind of Samsara. She
is worshipped during the final three days of the Navratri.
The nine nights are there for us to revel in the knowledge
of the goddesses that live within us, imbibing us with
their spiritual energy and power. Used for the good, they
help liberate us from the mire of this world. Use these
energies unwisely, and they will snare us in the maya of
this world.We should meditate of these aspects of the nine
nights, that was the reason they originally came into
being.
Of course, much has been "added on" since and the nine
nights are now as commercial as any other festival. The
Gujaratis enjoy the nine nights by dancing them away to
the blare of loud music and scant attention is given to
the spiritual aspect of the festival. Even the Durga Puja
of the Bengalis has been hijacked by commercialism. If you
want more info on Kali or Lakshmi and their various
aspects, please read the articles on my site - or indeed
follow the links to other sites that have info on Hindu
gods. |
