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How Dussehra precedes Navratri ?

Oct8

How Dussehra precedes Navratri? Ever wondered, while we are praying to the various forms of Durga Maa, the Navdurgas, playing dandiyas and celebrating women power for all the nine days and suddenly on the tenth day it’s Vijay Dashmi or Dussehra?

I always, was curious on this sudden drift and could not ever relate, while it is the time of Durga Maa’s victories of destroying the evil demons, from where does the Lanka pati Raavan comes into the picture on the tenth day of the festival and Shubh Navratri becomes Happy Dussehra?

Hence I started with my reading and continued with the Durga Saptashati path, researching on nine forms of Adishakti and tried to understand the festivals’s significance.

Here is what I could infer out of my readings and understanding:

Navratri for all is known as the nine divine days of fasting for goddess Durga, praying for more power and strength,playing garba/dandiya and enjoying the celebration of womanhood.

It is believed that during these nine days, the destroyer of demons and demolisher of evil, goddess Durga had been battling with the various evil heads to destroy and remove the unacceptable form of species from this planet.

She fought alone with the asuras like Mahishahsur, madu-ketab, shumbh-nishumbh,chand-mund. You must have heard these names in the arti we recite during the Durga puja.

The battle continued for nine days and nights and finally on the tenth day she kills the most malicious demon Mahishasur and brings peace to the earth,and then bids adieu to all of us ,reminding that she will be always there to confront all the evil and destroy them forever. Giving us immense strength and power.

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On the other hand, with reference to Ramayana, Lanka pati Ravana had kidnapped Mata Sita (Lord Rama’s Wife) and to bring back the honour of Ayodhya, Lord Rama was fighting the battle with the Lankans and the asuras in the same period of time.

It was on the tenth day when Lord Rama could finally win by killing Ravana. Hence Dussehra is celebrated as the Lord Rama’s victory over the demon Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife Sita.

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Thus both the mythological stories implies winning of good over bad and signifies that people need to overcome fear, greed, negative thinking and move towards positive thoughts and deeds.

Happy Dussehra!!

Priyanka

#virtualsiyahi

Navratri -Day 9 – Siddhidatri

Oct7

Day nine belongs to Siddhidati maa.

We are on day 9 of Durga Festival– The divine nine Navratri days comes to an end here, I being a true follower of Durga Maa pledged this year to read and understand more about the various Durga forms and tried to share with you all with the help of Wikipedia ofcourse 🙂  and I feel accomplished today when I draft this last token of devote to Durga Maa.

Ninth form of the Goddess Durga, Siddhidatri is worshiped on the ninth day of Navratri. She is Goddess of all eight siddhis and is worshipped by all Yogis, Sadhakas, Siddhas and Rishis-Munis.Siddhi means supernatural power or meditative ability, and Dhatri means giver. She fulfills all the divine aspirations and completes the mundane.

She holds a lotus, mace, Sudarshana Chakra and shankha. In this form Durga removes ignorance and she provides the knowledge to realize that or Brahman.

She is surrounded by Siddhas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Devas (Gods) and Asura (Demons) worship her. The Siddhi that she provides is the realization that only she exists. She is the mistress of all achievements and perfections.

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Amazing Fact:  She is served among the eight supernatural powers or the siddhis named Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakambya, Ishitva and Vashitva. Anima means to reduce one’s body even the size of an atom; Mahima means to expand one’s body to an infinitely large size; Garima means almost becoming infinitely heavy; Laghima means becoming almost weightless; Prapti means having unrestricted access to all places; Prakambya means to realize whatever one desire; Ishitva means to possess absolute lordship and Vashitva is the power to subjugate all. 

Lord Shiva was blessed by Siddhidatri by being given by all the eight powers, they were requested and required to run the creation in his Ardhanareshwar form of half Shiva and half Shakti.

This was all for Navrati 2019, I hope I was able to give an insight about the different forms of Durga Maa. Even I learned a lot while drafting these posts.

Read about Mahagauri Maa here.

Priyanka

#virtualsiyahi

Fact Courtesy: Wikipedia

Image courtesy: Roova Lijuan

Navratri -Day 8- Mahagauri

Oct6

Day eighth of Navratri belongs to Mahagauri Maa

We are on day 8 of Durga Festival– Navratri also famous as Durga Ashtami.

Durga Ashtami is one of the most auspicious and remarkable days of this long Durga Festival.In India fasting is undertaken by many people on this holy occasion. It is believed that Goddess Kali appeared on this day from the forehead of Mother Durga and annihilated Chanda, Munda, and Rakthabija (the demons who were associates of Mahishasura).

The 64 Yoginis and Ashta Nayikas (the eight consorts of Goddess Durga) are worshiped during the Durga Puja rituals on Mahashtami. The Ashta Nayikas, also known as Eight Shaktis, are interpreted differently in different regions of India. But ultimately, all the eight goddesses are incarnations of Shakti. They are the same powerful Divine Feminine, representing different energies. 

This brings a old tradition on Durga Ashtami originated in North India, to honor the kanjaks( little girls)in the home. A group of young, unmarried girls  are invited into the home to honor them. The tradition is based on the belief that each of these young girlsrepresents the shakti (energy) of Durga on Earth.

The group of girls are welcomed by washing their feet, welcoming them into the home, and the girls are fed with sweets and foods and honored with small gifts.

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On this day the devotees worship and adore the Goddess Maha Gauri.The goddess of beauty and women, clean and bright like a ray of light.

Mahagauri is the eighth manifestation of goddess Durga and amongst the Navadurgas. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Mahagauri has the power to fulfill all the desires of her devotees. The one who worships the goddess gets relief from all the sufferings in life. 

Mahagauri has four arms. Her right arm is in the pose of allaying fear and right lower hand holds a trident in it. She holds a tambourine in her left upper arm and the lower one is in the form of a blessing.

Watch out this space for another one day , to know more about various forms of Durga Maa.

Read about Kalratri Maa here

Priyanka

#virtualsiyahi

Fact Courtesy: Wikipedia

Image courtesy: Roova Lijuan