NAVARATRI STORY

You may also be interested in the following(s)


Navaratri History:


      There are many different histories for Navaratri which is described by many Legends. History of  Navaratri according to Markandeya Purana(chapter 81-93) the slaying of demon Mahishasura or Mahisha by Durga and it is reffered as Devimahatmya and is recited during Navaratri and Durga Puja. It symbolize the victory of good over evil. It details the exploits of the Goddess in her three major forms: Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswathi, representing the three fold energy: strength, wealth and wisdom.


Origin of Durga:


      Legend Danu has two sons called Rambha and Karambha performed penances to gain powers. Rambha performed the austerity by standing in the midst of five ritual fires called Panchagni and Karambha by standing in neck-deep in water. Indra, the Lord of all Gods, felts threatened by such severe austerity and took the form of crocodile and killed Karambha.


Rambha came to know about the death of his brother, increased the intensity of his austerities and won several boons from Gods like great vividness, beauty, invisibility in war. Most important boon is that he will not be killed by Man or Deity or Asuras(Demons).


After receiving the boon, he was roaming in the garden of Yaksha and there he fell in love with a female buffalo. To communicate his love Rambha took the form of a male-buffalo and copulated with the she-buffalo. But soon a real buffalo discovered Rambha in the garden and killed him. Rambha's inflated ego made him not to ask the boon of invisibility from or not to be killed by animals. So an animal killed him.


The female buffalo was pregnant at that time, It was decided to kill herself in the pyre of Rambha. She jumped into the pyre and from the pyre Sprang up a mighty Asura with the head of a buffalo and human body. This was Mahishasura. He defeated Gods and demons. He attacked the heaven and captured it and made Devas as his slaves. He proclaimed that he is now Indra- the Lord of the Gods.  


The Gods led by Brahma approached Vishnu and Shiva and appraised them about the situation. The anger emerging out of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined to take the shape of a terrible form of a woman which is called as Durga. Durga is the brilliance of all Gods. The Gods bestowed their own characteristic weapon to Goddess Durga.


They are Shiva - The Trident, Vishnu - the Discus, Varna - the Conch, Agni - the Spear, Yama - the Cudgel, Vayu - the Bow, Surya - the Arrows, Indra - the Vajra, Kubera - the Mace, Brahma - the water pot, Kala - theSword and Vishwakarma - the Axe. Himavan gifted a Mountain Lion as her vehicle. 


When the Goddess was seen by Mahishasura, he fell in love with her and sought to marry her. The Goddess promised to marry him, if he defeated her in the battle. A terrible combat ensued and continued for nine days. Finally, Durga assumed the terrifying form of Chandika and pinned Mahishasura down with her foot and pierced his neck with her spear and she cut his head off with her sword.


Fasting:

Keeping Fasting during the Navaratri days is a important Puja vidhi. Fasting generally is a important thing to be followed by all individuals atleast during pooja days.


Fasting we can some types of food they are as follows, It may vary a little from one part to other of a country.


Flours and Grains :

       Devotees can have Chestnut flour, Buckwheat flour, amaranth flour with these flour you can make some delicious food like halwa, iddli, dosa, etc can be prepared.

Spices and Herbs:

        Cumin, Black pepper, rock salt, Cardamom, cloves, Dry pomogranate seeds, Cinnamon, Ginger, Green chilli these spices varities can be used in the food which is made during Navaratri days.

Vegetables :

        Potatoes, Pumpkin, Yam, Raw banana, Bottle Guard, Cucumber, Carrots, Spinach, tomatoes but some wont add.

Other Foods:

        All Milk products, All Fruits, Sugar, Jaggery, Tamarind, Lemon, Coconut these are all the other food which can be used.

Flour, grains and other which should be avoided:

       Rice flour, Rice, Wheat, Maida, Onion, Garlic Non-veg Should be purely avoided during the Navaratri puja Fasting Days. 
                        





Navaratri Festival:

   Navaratri is a very important Hindu Festival in India, Which is celebrated from our ancient people to till date. It is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is celebrated for nine days, which signifies by the name that Nava means Nine and Ratri means Night. During this nine nights and ten days, nine forms of devi's are worshipped. The tenth day is Vijayadhasami or Dussehra.


It is celebrated in the month of Ashwin i.e., September to October according to English calendar. This year (2015) Navaratri starts from the date of 13th October and ends at 22nd October (Vijayadasami).

The story of Navaratri founds evidence in many Hindu Religious text books like Markandeya Purana, Vamana Purana, Varaha Purana, Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Devi Bhagavatam and Kalika Puranam. However this festival is significance for spirituality, it has a message behind for all mankind. That is to wake up from the slumber of ignorance, removal of all negativities, cleanse the mind and cultivate positive intrinsic worth.

Significance of Navaratri:


   Navaratri is celebrated with reason and significance for each one. During Navaratri we Pray to nine forms of Durga where all provide lots of significance, Here the major forms of Durga are Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathy.


The nine nights are split up into three parts, on the first three nights Goddess Durga is worshipped; this worship goes in a way to attain ultimate strength from Goddess Durga. The Second set of three days Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, this worship goes in a way to attain ultimate wealth to our family. The Third set of three days Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped, this worship goes in a way to attain ultimate knowledge in all aspects.


Navaratri festival Puja may bring devotees all success. If devotees Pray to Maa Durga with pure hearted and purity she showers her blessings. Likewise She eradicates evil from our soul and body. 

Navratri Golu:
   
     Golu is one of the ritual during Navaratri. Golu means arrangement of dolls in an orderly manner. The decoration of the Golu dolls may vary by individuals but the steps which is to be kept is in the order that it starts with five steps it can be seven or eleven steps.




Mantra:


       Mantra is a word which is derived from Sanskrit Mantrana. Mantra means advice or suggestion. Chanting Durga Mantra during Navaratri days brings all kind of happiness to your family. The mantra or slogans as follows are,

This is the famous and powerful slogan of maa Durga,

Sarva mangala mangalyae shivae sarvaartha saadhike
Sharanye trayambake Gauri
Narayani namosthute  

Meaning:

sarva mangala mangalye - To auspiciousness of all auspiciousness
shiva - To the Good
sarvarrtha saadhike -  To the accomplisher of all objectives
sharanye - To the Source of Refuge
tryambake - To the mother of the three worlds.
Gauri - To the Goddess who is Rays of Light
Naaraayani - Exposer of consciousness
Namostute - We bow to you again and again. We worship you.





Mantra:


Ya devi sarva bhutesu, shanti rupena sansitha
Ya devi sarva bhutesu, shakti rupena sansthita
Ya devi sarva bhutesu, matra rupena sansthita
Namastasyai, namastasyai, namastasyai, namo namaha!


Meaning of the slogan:


The goddess who is omnipresent as the personification of universal mother
The goddess who is omnipresent as the embodiment of power
The goddess who is omnipresent as the symbol of peace
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her again & again.

 


Navaratri Puja and Fasting vidhi(Procedure):


Navaratri  fasting and puja has some procedure to followed. they are as follows
 

  • Start with cleaning the house because you going to worship Maa Durga and invite her home. If possible sprinkle some Gang aeater in your house.
  • Many people keep Fasting for all the Nine days, If  not possible because of any reason Each day one of the family member can fast.
  • Some people Keep fast during the first and the last day of the Navaratri. In that case you can fast during the last two days of the Navaratri.
  • Make puja to Goddess daily by preparing prasadam and decorating the and the puja area with the flowers. If you have the practise of keeping Golu in home you can decorate it with different kinds of Golu dolls.
  • Daily in the puja there must atleast two girls if they can be more than two but not lesser than two. Provide some eatables and gift to them and get ashirvad from them.
  • You can get participated in Golu which is in some other home and sing Goddess Durga songs and pray to Maa Durga.
  • Some people grow the Barley seeds in the house in puja area which is grown in the Holy Mud or the Pure mud. This procedure is followed and how much the barley seeds grow they believe that this much will be the fortune of their family. It is observed and protected daily.
  • One Light must be lighten on the first day of the puja and this must be lighten through out the end of Navaratri. A Kalash is keot and praised.
  • Daily in the morning take bath and do aarthi for the Goddess. Make some
  • Bhog with milk, banana, mishri or other fruits.
  • Please donot Taste the food ingredients while preparing.



Do's:

  • Take fasting during nine days of Navaratri or have some satvic food.
  • Light Jyothi/lamp in your puja area, and light it daily during Navaratri.
  • Visit nearby Temple on Navaratri days else Do puja in your home.
  • Prepare and Offer Prasadam to God and provide it to your neighbors.
  • Do Anadanam for poor people.
  • Do take bath well before puja/ Japa.
  • Try to give Gifts for Small girls during Navaratri
  • Pray God with Whole Hearted to get blessings to live a happy life.

Don'ts :

  • Must avoid eating Non veg on the nine days
  • Don't cut Your Hair or nails During Puja days.
  • Should not engage in any Wrong doing. Drinking Alcohol and smoking are strictly prohibited during Fasting.
  • Don't make the Deepam to over burnt, cut down its light using some flowers.