The nine days of a spiritual war

October 18, 2010

Navaratri literally means the nine nights. It is believed that the Divine Goddess fought with Mahishasura for nine nights and became victorious on the tenth day. These 10 days, that begin with the "pratipada" - the first day of the lunar month of Ashwin in the Indian calendar, are celebrated marking the victory of the good over the bad. It, rather, signifies the fight between the good and bad qualities within each one of us. It is the ten days of actual contemplation by each individual and the effort to help the good qualities within each of us to win over the bad.

DC ashram turned into such battlefield for the same, from October 8th, 2010 through October 18th, 2010; the weapons being devotional singing, chanting, meditation and the like. It was not just yet another celebration time at the ashram, but rather a time for serious thinking of spiritual progress, overcoming our bad qualities.

Daily celebration included the chanting of the 108 names of the divine Goddess, chanting of verses from the Devi mahatmyam, devotional singing of bhajans. The daily prayers concluded with the all energitic singing of the Mahishasuramardini stotrams as the arati was performed to Devi, with the atmosphere positively charged with the blowing of the conch and the ringing of the bells. Amma’s arati followed finally

During the Navaratri celebrations, ashram was all more beautifully decorated, especially with the traditional, elaborate "Golu" arrangement. Devotees contributed idols, dolls etc. made of different materials, representing different religions and practices, all organized on a step like arrangement next to Amma’s altar. Focus lights and decoration lights added to the beauty of the arrangement.

The AYUDH chapter of DC also organized a night of Garba/Dandia raas dance, as a fund raiser for the relief activities MA Center has taken up at Haiti after the devastating earthquake. The AYUDH youth successfully raised a considerable amount for the noble cause.

As per the tradition, the Ashtami day, the eighth day dedicated to the Goddess of Knowledge, is spent in sincere prayers and thoughts preparing the self for the right knowledge. Children place their books and other sources of knowledge for pooja; elders surrender their ayudha, their tools of profession to Devi. Ashram altar was also surrounded with tools of knowledge and profession, like books, pens, laptops, musical instruments etc.

On the tenth day, the day of victory, when one finally is prepared for acquiring the right knowledge, Vijayadasami is celebrated, which literally means the tenth day of victory. As per the tradition, all the chants of vidyaarambham, the new cycle of knowledge acquisition, were chanted by the devotees, on the morning of October 17th. Everybody was provided with a plate filled with rice grains to write the initial of letters "Aum Hari Sri Ganapathaye Namah" upon. It was touching to see the mothers make their children help write the initial letters, irrespective of their ages. Br. Ramanand gave an insightful talk, throwing light on the significance of each of the ritual that was performed during the navaratri celebrations. He provided simple explanation to how spi"ritual" the rituals are.

All throughout the ten days of the celebrations, devotees were feasted with a variety of delicious prasads that devotees volunteered to bring in.

View pictures of Navrathri celebrations.