Täna algab sügisene Navaratri

Täna algab üheksapäevane sügisene Navaratri.

The Sublime Plan of Navaratri
"During Navaratri, the Nine Days of Mother Divine, the Divine Mother, or Goddess, or Devi, is worshipped for nine days and nights. Although the Divine Mother is One, she is adored in three aspects — Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

During the first three days, the emphasis is given to removal and destruction of the grosser forms of obstacles by Goddess Durga. The heart of an aspirant is tainted by impurities in the form of anger, greed, hatred, lust, pride, jealousy, etc. These invaders must be rooted out and the building cleaned up or leveled before a proper house can be constructed and occupied.

It is Durga, riding on a tiger, who enters the heart of an aspirant, and mercilessly slays all those impurities residing within. She levels the old complex personality and clears the way for the construction of a healthier personality in which divine virtues can unfold.

During the next three days of Navaratri, the same Devi is worshipped in Her constructive aspect as Goddess Lakshmi. Seated or standing on a lotus blossom and holding lotuses in many hands, Lakshmi symbolizes unfoldment. She is seen as the embodiment of gentleness, harmony and goodness, and an aspirant recognizes Her Grace through circumstances of material and spiritual success and glory.

After Durga has leveled and cleaned up the dilapidated old structure of personality, a constructive process can now begin. A plan is made, a foundation is laid down, a house is built and the gardens landscaped. As you see more and more beauty unfold, it fills your heart with joy. This represents the stage in spiritual movement characterized by the advent of Lakshmi.

Lakshmi is the sustainer and nourisher of the constructive expressions of the soul. Durga destroys a dilapidated ruin; Lakshmi erects a shining mansion. Durga removes jagged rocks; Lakshmi produces a green meadow. Durga performs surgery by removing the diseased part of the mind; Lakshmi performs the work of healing.

Lakshmi is the Goddess of material and spiritual prosperity. She is symbolic of Divine Glory.  This phase is marked by the development of  divine qualities such as compassion, dispassion, purity, renunciation, charity, universal love, unity, magnanimity of heart, balance of  mind, etc. Lakshmi brings steadiness of mind by enriching the spirit and removing the distraction.

The last three nights of Navaratri are devoted to the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the bestower of wisdom. Saraswati comes forth to enlighten you by revealing the latent powers and potential grandeur of the soul.  Saraswati is described as having a complexion that is white like the Himalayan snows. She shines effulgent as all her garments and brilliant ornaments emit pure, snowy light.The implication is that the Goddess abounds with sattwa. When sattwa develops in the human personality, it brightens the intellect and leads to enlightenment.

Saraswati is further compared to the jasmine flower. This flower is not only white, but also fragrant. Where there is purity there is also fragrance and luminosity. She holds in her hands a veena, symbolic of harmonization of the personality. Saraswati, Goddess of Wisdom enables you to go beyond the walls of your ego and look into transcendent dimension. The moment you do, creative faculties begin to unfold. Ultimately, Saraswati destroys ignorance and reveals the splendor of consciousness.

By reflecting upon the glory of the Divine Mother during the nine nights of Navaratri, we see she has innumerable manifestations as she guides Her hind, the aspirant, in evolution, internal as well as external. The entire prakriti (nature) is Her sporting ground and all the manifestations of heaven and earth are Her glories. Her Divine ways of guiding the soul are mysterious, yet always deeply compassionate.

The climax of Devi worship – attainment of Self Realization – is symbolized by the celebration of Vijaya Dashami, the celebration of Devi’s final victory over all the demons on the tenth day of Navaratri."
/Andrew L Kerr/

Postkaardid (India) minu kogust. / Postcards from my collection.

Vaata ka:
Hindud ülistavad jumalannat.
Kevadine Navaratri.