NavaRatri 2006

by Khadgadevi

Salutations to the Divine Mother, Durga, who exists in all beings in the form of intelligence, mercy, beauty, who is the consort of Lord Shiva, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe.

Background on Navaratri

Navaratri is one of the many elegant tools of Indian Tantra that helps practitioners acquire the habits that are useful if one seeks to make progress in alignment with and actually becoming the Divine. The traditional process described below are clearly aligned with the Path of Magick articulated by Shri Gurudev Mahendranath.

I find it useful to “drop into” these more traditional practices precisely because the global stream of consciousness has hundreds of millions of souls paying at least some attention in this direction at this time.

For all those who do not have a daily practice that is steady, taking on sadhanas at particular times of year helps build momentum in progress. Regular festivals like Navaratri provide a way to direct one’s attention to practice without requiring the individual to initiate the momentum on his/her own.

Navaratri means literally Nine Nights, and is celebrated four times a year. They are the Ashada Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, the Maha Navaratri and the Vasantha Navaratri. The beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two important junctions of climatic and solar influence, and these periods find India celebrating the two prevalent Navaratris. They are indicated by the Chaitra Navaratri in Chaitra (March-April) and the Sharada Navaratri in Aswayuja (September- October).

Durga is the great Goddess who is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of the worlds. She famously dispatches demons that threaten the balance of life itself in the known universe. The Devi Mahatmya (also known as the Durga Saptashadi or Chandi Path) is the primary text for the stories of Durga. These 700 verses are embedded in the Markandeya Purana, and are chanted or sung throughout India during Navaratri. The text itself is divided into three main sections, each section being a major story that describes the victory of one of Durga’s forms: MahaKali, MahaLaksmi, and MahaSaraswati. And so, when honoring Durga during Navaratri, the first three days are devoted to the worship of Kali and the breeding of courage and valor in the world. The next three are for worship of Lakshmi for universal prosperity and sustenance; and the last three are for worship of Saraswati for growth of learning. Remember that Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are not different entities, but different facets of the singular Divinity.

Typically, people who observe Navaratri will read the entire Chandi Path each day of the nine days. Many people will fast on fruit and milk during the nine days, or at least for one day for each of the three parts of Navaratri. Navami, the 9th day, can include worship of all things associated with learning and language – books, typewriters, and even computers.

Spiritual Tasks For Observing Navaratri as a Personal Sadhana

I have adapted the more traditional teachings to incorporate Shri Mahendranath’s language and particular references.

The central purpose of existence is to recognize one’s eternal identity with the supreme Spirit. It is to grow into the image of the Divine. To recognize your identity with That, to attain union with That, is to grow into the very likeness of the Divine.

The aspirant, therefore, as his initial step, has to get rid of all the countless impurities, those things that are called Kleshas. Shri Mahendranath lists five: Ego, Ignorance, Repulsion, Attachment, and Clinging to Life. Next she has to acquire lofty virtues and auspicious, divine qualities. Thus purified knowledge flashes like brilliant rays of light. The faculties of Insight, Intuition and Imagination are both necessary for this process, and grow in tandem with the extirpation of the kleshas.

This process demands a resolute will, determined effort, and struggle. In other words, strength and infinite power are the prime necessities. The presence of Durga is the Magick facilitator or catalyst.

Days One Through Three: Destruction of Kleshas

On the first three days, the Mother is adored as supreme power and force, as Kali the Dark One. The aspirant prays to Mother Durga to destroy all his impurities, his vices, his defects. She is to fight with and annihilate the baser animal qualities in the spiritual aspirant. Also, She is the power that protects his spiritual practice from its many dangers and pitfalls. Thus the first three days, which mark the first stage or the destruction of impurity and determined effort and struggle are set apart for the worship of the destructive aspect of the Mother.

Days Four Through Six: Acquisition of Divine Qualities

Once the practitioner has accomplished the task on the negative side (breaking down the old vicious habits), the next step is to build up a sublime spiritual personality, to acquire positive qualities in place of the eliminated kleshas. If this development of the opposite qualities is not undertaken in earnest, the old demoniacal nature will raise its head again and again.

Hence, this stage is as important as the previous one. The essential difference is: the former is a ruthless, determined annihilation of the egoistic lower self; the latter is an orderly, steady, calm and serene effort to develop Insight, Imagination and Intuition. During Navaratri, this pleasanter side of the aspirant’s Sadhana is activated by the worship of Lakshmi. She bestows the inexhaustible divine wealth of equipoise with the Universe. Lakshmi is the sustainability giving aspect of the Divine. These days are therefore dedicated to acquiring and maintaining equilibrium in Shakti.

Days Seven Through Nine: Attainment of Wisdom

Once the spiritual aspirant succeeds in routing out the evil propensities, and develops Sattvic or pure qualities, she becomes competent to attain wisdom. She is now ready to receive the light of supreme wisdom. At this stage comes the devout worship of Mother Saraswati, who is divine knowledge personified, the embodiment of knowledge of the Absolute. The sound of Her celestial veena awakens the notes of Truth, and the sacred monosyllable, “Om.” She bestows the knowledge of the supreme, mystic sound and then gives full knowledge of the Self.

Day Ten: Celebration

The tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, marks the delight of the soul at having attained liberation while living in this world, through the descent of knowledge by the Grace of Goddess Saraswati. The soul rests in its own Supreme Self. This day celebrates the victory, the achievement of the goal.