Tips for Navaratri: use red, 5 petalled HIbiscus flowers for pujai, if u can do archanai( recite her names)

do it by offerin kungumam instead of flowers for each name u say..this is called Kungguma archanai, offer Payasam, Laddu, Pomegranate, milk, n any others palagarams if can observe fasting (PUasa/ubavasam) or Vegie meal till 6.10.11 bath early in the morning n light up villaku at yr home altar...\ May God Bless everyone

Fasting in Navratri To keep fast during the period, Eat one meal a day and on one sitting. The food should be cooked without onions and garlic and should be pure vegetarian meal. First the devotee may offer the prayers and food to MataRani and then eat the meal as prasad. Do chant "JAI MATA DI" nine times before starting and after finishing the meal. It should preferably be taken after sunset. (If the time after sunset is not possible, then any other time is also fine, but should be taken after offering prayers and as prasad.) During the rest of the day, fruits, juices, milk and kheer could be taken. (However, some devotees keep fast for all the days by consuming only fruits or liquids This is purely the devotee's choice and offering to the Great Maa Vaishno Devi.) Please be noted that it is not a compulsion to keep fasts for devotees who have health problems, medical reasons or for any other problems. MataRani is all-knowing and kind and showers her blessings on all her devotees. All the time during the period of Holy Navratras, the devotee must keep his mind, body and thoughts pure. Try and visit MataRani temples and offer prayers and Aarti daily during this period. You should start the prayers with the name of LORD GANESHA with Ganesh Vandana. Try and light a JYOT in front of MataRani picture or statue. MataRani is also called JYOTA-WALI and is present in the flame which becomes holy. Try and sleep on the floor during this period. Do not shave or cut hair during this period. Try and avoid wearing black cloths and leather during the period of fasting. (Like leather cloths, belts, handbags etc.) The devotee observing the fasts should avoid sensual and procreation activities during this period.

Points to Remember in Navratri Do not start Navratri Fasting in new moon's pratipada; second day mingled with Pratipada is the best day to start Navratri Fasting. Navratra pooja is done two ways by Kalash Sthapana and without Kalash Sthapana. Navratri Kalash Sthapna should not done at night. Worshiping young girls is also a ritual in Navratri. For worshiping girls, they should be in between two to ten years of age. In an inability situation husband can do the rituals at place of his wife and wife can also do the ritual at the place of her husband. Hawan should be done by a qualified Brahman. Since Lord Shiva is a form of day and Goddess Bhagvati is a form of night so prayers must be offered at night also. Goddess Bhagwati is fond of all kinds of red flowers and loving all white flowers with nice fragrance. Fasting should finish on Navmi or Dashmi

Ninth/Last day of Navratri [6th of October, 2011 Thursday] Daily Schedule Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodshopchar. Worshipping Maa Durga?s incarnation as Siddhidaatri Maa Durga?s incarnation as Siddhidaatri is worshiped on Ninth day of Navratri. Its meditation and Mantras are as follows: Siddhgandharvayakshadhairyesurairamarairpi Sevyamana sada bhuyaat siddhidha siddhidayani Mantra: Om Siddhidatrai Namah Durga Shaptashati Recitation: Same way as the first day?s resolution Durga Shaptashati?s recitation should be done; process is same as explained earlier. If you are reciting according to the Charitras you should worship and do the Hawan. If you want to complete the recitation of Shaptashati in 7 days, then you should do the Hawan on ninth day. Recitation of Shri Ramcharit manas Worship in a same way as the eighth day thereafter recites the couplet, ?Jo sumirat siddhi hoi gan nayak, kari bar badan?..? And after eighth rest recite from 63rd till 68th couplet from Uttara Kand; also do the hawan with following mantra: Shri sitaramebhyah Namah swaha At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Worship of Shree Hanuman Sundarkand: As same as the first day worship Shri Ram Darbar and Hanuman. If you have resolute for once then you should recite only once else, you should recite it nine times thereafter also do the hawan with the recitation of following mantra: Om ham hanumate Namah swaha At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa: After worshiping Shri Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas, recite Hanuman Chalisa 120 times. AT the end Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak, Ram Stuti and Aarti should be done. Like Follow Post Wednesday at 19:28

Priyaah Veera Eighth day of Navratri

[5th of October, 2011 Wednesday] Daily Schedule Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodshopchar. Worshipping Maa Durga?s incarnation as Mahagauri Maa Durga?s incarnation as Mahagauri is worshiped on Eight day of Navratri. Its meditation and Mantras are as follows: Shvete vrishaye samaroodha shvetambardhara shuchi Mahagauri shubham dadhaanmahadevprmodada Mantra: Om Mahagauriye Namah Durga Shaptashati Recitation: Same way as the first day?s resolution Durga Shaptashati?s recitation should be done; process is same as explained earlier. If you are reciting according to the Charitras, then you should recite Uttar Charitra. If you want to complete the recitation of Shaptashati in 7 days, then you should recite 13th Charitra and Moortirahasya etc. on Eighth day. Recitation of Shri Ramcharit manas Worship in a same way as the seventh day thereafter recites the couplet, ?Jo sumirat siddhi hoi gan nayak, kari bar badan?..? And after seventh rest recite till 10th couplet from Uttara Kand. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. This is the eighth rest of NAVANHPARAYANA. Worship of Shree Hanuman Sundarkand: As same as the first day worship Shri Ram Darbar and Hanuman. If you have resolute for once then you should recite only once else, you should recite it eight times. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa: After worshipping Shri Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas, recite Hanuman Chalisa 111 times. AT the end Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak, Ram Stuti and Aarti should be done. Like Follow Post Wednesday at 19:27

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Priyaah Veera Seventh day of Navratri [4th of October, 2011 Tuesday] Daily Schedule Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodshopchar.

Worshiping Maa Durga?s incarnation as Kalratri Maa Durga?s incarnation as Kalratri is worshiped on Seventh day of Navratri. Its meditation and Mantras are as follows: Ekvedi japakarnapura nagna kharsthita Lamboshthi karnikakarni tailabhyakt shareerini Vaampaadillsallohalta kashtakbhushna vardhanmoordhdhvaja Krishna kaalraatrirabhayankari Mantra: Om Kalratrayai Namah Durga Shaptashati Recitation: Same way as the first day?s resolution Durga Shaptashati?s recitation should be done; process is same as explained earlier. If you are reciting according to the Charitras, then you should recite Madhyam Charitra. If you want to complete the recitation of Shaptashati in 7 days, then you should recite 12th 13th Charitra and Moorti-rahasya etc. on Seventh day. If you are completing in eight days then you must recite 11th and 12th Charitras on seventh day Recitation of Shri Ramcharit manas Worship in a same way as the sixth day thereafter recites the couplet, ?Jo sumirat siddhi hoi gan nayak, kari bar badan?..? And after sixth rest recite till 12th couplet from Lanka Kand. At the end, do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. This is the seventh rest of NAVANHPARAYANA. Worship of Shree Hanuman Sundarkand: As same as the first day worship Shri Ram Darbar and Hanuman. If you have resolute for once then you should recite only once else, you should recite it seven times. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa: After worshiping Shri Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas, recite Hanuman Chalisa 111 times. AT the end, Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak, Ram Stuti and Aarti should be done. Like Follow Post Wednesday at 19:27

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Priyaah Veera Sixth day of Navratri [3th of October, 2011 Monday] Daily Schedule Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodshopchar.

Worshipping Maa Durga?s incarnation as Katyayini Devi Maa Durga?s incarnation as Katyayini Devi is worshiped on Sixth day of Navratri. Its meditation and Mantras are as follows: Chandrahasojalkara shardulvarvahna Katyayinishubham dadha devi daanvaghatini Mantra: Om Katyayanai Namah Durga Shaptashati Recitation: Same way as the first day?s resolution Durga Shaptashati?s recitation should be done; process is same as explained earlier. If you are reciting according to the Charitras, then you should recite First and Uttar Charitra. If you want to complete the recitation of Shaptashati in 7 days, then you should recite 11th Charitra on sixth day. If you are completing in eight days then you must recite 10th Charitras on sixth day Recitation of Shri Ramcharitmanas Worship in a same way as the fifth day thereafter recites the couplet, ?Jo sumirat siddhi hoi gan nayak, kari bar badan?..? And after fifth rest recite till 29th couplet from Aranyakand. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. This is the sixth rest of NAVANHPARAYANA. Worship of Shree Hanuman Sundarkand: As same as the first day worship Shri Ram Darbar and Hanuman. If you have resolute for once then you should recite only once else, you should recite it six times. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa: After worshipping Shri Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas, recite Hanuman Chalisa 111 times. AT the end Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak, Ram Stuti and Aarti should be done. Like Follow Post Wednesday at 19:26

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Priyaah Veera Fifth day of Navratri [2th of October, 2011 Sunday] Daily Schedule Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodshopchar. Worshipping Maa Durga?s incarnation as Skandmata Maa Durga?s incarnation as Skandmata is worshiped on Fifth day of Navratri. Its meditation and

Mantras are as follows: Singhasangata nityam padmashrit kardhya Shubhdastu sada devi skandmata yashasvini Mantra: Om Skandmatraye Namah Durga Shaptashati Recitation: Same way as the first day?s resolution Durga Shaptashati?s recitation should be done; process is same as explained earlier. If you are reciting according to the Charitras, then you should recite Madhyam Charitra. If you want to complete the recitation of Shaptashati in 7 days, then you should recite 9th and 10th Charitra on fifth day. If you are completing in eight days then you must recite 8th and 9th Charitras on fifth day Recitation of Shri Ramcharitmanas Worship in a same way as the fourth day thereafter recites the couplet, ?Jo sumirat siddhi hoi gan nayak, kari bar badan?..? And after fourth rest recite till 236th couplet from Ayodhyakand. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. This is the fifth rest of NAVANHPARAYANA. Worship of Shree Hanuman Sundarkand: As same as the first day worship Shri Ram Darbar and Hanuman. If you have resolute for once then you should recite only once else, you should recite it five times. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa: After worshiping Shri Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas, recite Hanuman Chalisa 111 times. AT the end Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak, Ram Stuti and Aarti should be done. Like Follow Post Wednesday at 19:26

Priyaah Veera Fourth day of Navratri [1th of October, 2011 Saturday] Daily Schedule Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodshopchar. Worshipping Maa Durga?s incarnation as Kushmanda Maa Durga?s incarnation as Kushmanda is worshiped on Fourth day of Navratri. Its meditation and Mantras are as follows: Surasampoornakalasham rudhiraplutmev cha Dadhana hastpadhyabhyam Kushmandashubhdastu me Mantra: Om Kushmandyaye Namah Durga Shaptashati Recitation: Same way as the first day?s resolution Durga Shaptashati?s recitation should be done; process is same as explained earlier.

If you are reciting according to the Charitras, then you should recite Uttar Charitra. If you want to complete the recitation of Shaptashati in 7 days, then you should recite 5th 6th 7th and 8th Charitra on fourth day. You are completing in eight days then you must recite 5th 6th and 7th Charitras on fourth day Recitation of Shri Ramcharitmanas Worship in a same way as the Third day thereafter recites the couplet, ?Jo sumirat siddhi hoi gan nayak, kari bar badan?..? And after third rest recite till 116th couplet from Ayodhyakand. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. This is the fourth rest of NAVANHPARAYANA. Worship of Shree Hanuman Sundarkand: As same as the first day worship Shri Ram Darbar and Hanuman. If you have resolute for once then you should recite only once else, you should recite it four times. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa: After worshipping Shri Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas, recite Hanuman Chalisa 111 times. At the end, Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak, Ram Stuti and Aarti should be done. Like Follow Post Wednesday at 19:25

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Priyaah Veera Third day of Navratri [30th of September, 2011 Friday] Daily Schedule Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodshopchar. Worshipping Maa Durga?s incarnation as Chandraghanta Maa Durga?s incarnation as Chandraghanta is worshiped on Third day of Navratri. Its meditation and Mantras are as follows: Pinjapravararudha chandkopastrakairuta Prasadam tanute maham chndraghanteti vishrushruta Mantra: Om Chandraghantaye Namah Durga Shaptashati Recitation: Same way as the first day?s resolution Durga Shaptashati?s recitation should be done; process is same as explained earlier. If you are reciting according to the Charitras, then you should recite Madhyam Charitra. If you want to complete the recitation of Shaptashati in 7 or 8 days, then you should recite fourth chapter on third day.

Recitation of Shri Ramcahritmanas Worship in a same way as the second day thereafter and recite the couplet, ?Jo sumirat siddhi hoi gan nayak, kari bar badan?..? And after the second rest, recite till 358th couplet from Baalkand. At the end, do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. This is the third rest of NAVANHPARAYANA. Worship of Shree Hanuman\ Sundarkand: As same as the first day worship Shri Ram Darbar and Hanuman. If you have resolute for once then you should recite only once else, you should recite it thrice. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa: After worshipping Shri Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas, recite Hanuman Chalisa 111 times. At the end, Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak, Ram Stuti and Aarti should be done.

Priyaah Veera Second day of Navratri 2011 [29th of September, 2011 Thursday] Daily Schedule Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodshopchar. Worshipping Maa Durgas incarnation as Brahmacharini Maa Durgas incarnation as Brahmcharini is worshiped on second day of Navratri. Its meditation and Mantras are as follows: Dadhana karpadmabhyaamakshmaala kamandaloo. Devi praseedatu mayi brahmacharinyanuttama.. Mantra: Om Brahmacharinyay Namah Durga Shaptashati Recitation: Same way as the first days resolution Durga Shaptashatis recitation should be done; process is same as explained earlier. If you are reciting according to the Charitras, then you should recite First and Uttar Charitra. Recitation of Shri Ramcharitmanas Worship as same as the first day; thereafter, start couplet recitation of Baalkand from Ramcharitmaanas, Jo sumirat siddhi hoi gan nayak, kari bar badan.. And after first rest start recitation from Baalkands 120th couplet till 239th couplet. At the end, do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Worship of Shree Hanuman Sundarkand: As same as the first day worship Shri Ram Darbar and Hanuman. If you have resolute for once then you should recite only once else, you should recite it twice. At the end do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Hanuman. Hanuman Chalisa: After worshipping Shri Ram, Hanuman and Tulsidas, recite Hanuman Chalisa 111 times. AT the end Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak and Aarti should be done.

First day of Navratri [28th of September,2011 Wednesday] Daily Schedule: - Early in the morning after waking up, resolute for the way you want to pray for nine days. - After bathing, daily worshiping must finish first. Kalash Stahapana: According to your family's custom, if you are doing Kalash Sthapana on the first day of the Navratri, then it would be done in the ABHIJINH MUHURAT. For different places Abhijinh Muhurat's time would be different, so you should do your Kalash Sthapana according to your nearest place's Abhijinh Muhurat. - At the time of Kalash Sthapan you should reap the barley as per your family custom. Worshiping Maa Durga - Maa Durga should be worshiped with PANCHOPCHAR (Fragrances, Flowers, Inceses, Diayas and Rice) or Shodoshopchar. Worshiping Maa Durga?s incarnation as Shailputri On the first day of Navratri Maa Durga's form of Shilputri is being worshiped. Maa Shilputri's meditation and Mantra's incantation is as follows: Vande Vanchitlabhaya Chndrardhkritshekhram. Vrisharoodhaam Shooldharaam Shailputreem Yashasvineem.. Mantra: Om Shailputraye Namah Kumari Pooja: Kumari Pooja should be done on daily basis as per system. However, in this matter Family's custom is more important. The days are fixed for Kumari Poojan and it depends upon the custom of family or clan, it can be done from sixth day till ninth day of Navratri. Saptshati Recitation: In Maa Durga's worshiping recitation of Durga Shaptshati is very popular, it is done in Navratri. It is having 13 chapters. By reciting the Durga Saptashati, deep wishes can be fulfilled. Here?s how you can do it: 1. All three Charitras should recite of Durga Shaptshati. 2. In a condition of inability, read first till middle Charitra. 3. In case of inability, you can only recite the following Mantra: Namo Devyay Mahadevyay Shivaya Santatam Namah. Namah Prkratyay Bhadraye Niyatayah Pranatah Smataam.. 4. Read the Mantras by keeping the Shaptashati on a wooden stool, after putting the new cloth on it. 5. Reading should not be done silently and in hurry. 6. Read its third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh and twelfth chapters in sequence for peace, sickness of family member, nasty violence or epidemic and for the devastation of the enemy. 7. Read it for 100 times in case of distress, physical problem, ineffectiveness of medicine, distraction of age and clan, enhancement of illness, loss of property and to expand empire. 8. Those who reads Shaptshati on Sunday, get nine times benefit, on Monday get Thousand times benefit, on Tuesday get hundred times benefit, on Wednesday get one Lakh times benefit, on Thursday and Friday get two Lacs times benefit and on Saturday get one Cr times benefit by its reading. 9. The devotee who starts reading from sixth day till fourteenth day of Shukl Paksha, they get benefit in all areas of life. 10. By disciplined recitation of Durga Shaptshati, all wishes can be fulfilled. Following are some important Mantras from Durga Shaptashati:

1. For relief from grief and poverty Durge Smrata Harsi Bhitimsheshjantoh Swasthayeha Smrata Matimteev Shubhaam Dadasi. Daaridraya-Dukh-bhayaharini ka tvadanya, sarvopkar-karnaay sadadrachitta.. 2. For peace from various violences Rakshansi yattrogravishashach naga, yatrarayo dastu balani yatra Davanalo yatra tathabdhimadhye, tatra sthita tvam paripasi vishvam 3. For happiness and destruction of adversity Karotu sanh shubhetureeshvari ,shubhani bhadranyabhihantu chaapadah 4. For destroying worldwide disasters. Devi: prapanartihare praseed,praseed matrjagtokhilasya. Praseed visheshvari pahi vishvam,tvameeshvaree Devi:chrachrasya. 5. For objection savior Sharnagat-deenarth-paritraan-parayne, Sarvasyartihare devi, narayani,namostute Recitation of Shri Ramcharitmanas Devotees of lord Ram are reciting Ramayana in Navaratri. For this Tulsidas, Valmiki, lord Shiva and Hanuman should be worshiped on the first day. Thereafter, Shri Ram-Seeta and their brothers (Bharat, Laxman and Shatrughna) should also be worshiped. Afterwards, NAVANHPARAYANA should be recited, which is in Balkand as follows: Hiyam Harshe Kaamari Tab Sakar Sahaj Sujaan. Bahu Bidhi Umahi Prsansi Puni Bole Kripanidhan.. At the end, do the Aarti of Shri Ram and Seeta ji. Worship of Shree Hanuman: Devotees of Hanuman are worshipping Shri Hanuman in Navratri. There are two ways of worship: 1. Sundarkand: Devotion of Shri Hanuman?s is done by Sundarkand from Ramcharitmanas. There are two ways in prevalent. Reading one chapter of Sundarkand daily and increasing one chapter daily of Sundarkand in all nine days one by one. In second way, you recite one chapter of Sundarkand. Recitation of Sundarkand should start after 29th couplet of ARANYAKAND till 60th couplet. 2. Hanuman Chalisa: Hanuman Chalisa is most popular way of worshiping Hanuman. It is being recited 108 times daily; in that way Hanuman Chalisa is being recited 1008 times in Navaratri. For this, it should be recited 111 times daily instead 108 times and 120 recitations on the last day of Navratri. At the end Bajrang Baan, Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak and Aarti should be done. Like Follow Post Wednesday at 19:22

Priyaah Veera

Awesome pics!!! Just AWESOME...!!!! by: Raj Kumar Bangari Like Follow Post Wednesday at 19:14

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Priyaah Veera Navratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses. [edit]First three days The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities. [edit]Second three days The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth. [edit]Final three days The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship. Eighth day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal. In some parts of South India, Saraswati puja is performed on the 9th day. Ayudha Puja is conducted in many parts of South India on the Mahanavami (Ninth) day with much fanfare. Weapons, agricultural implements, all kinds of tools, equipments, machinery and automobiles are decorated and worshipped on this day along with the worship of Goddess. The work starts afresh from the next day, i.e. the 10th day which is celebrated as 'Vijaya Dashami'. Many teachers/Schools in south India start teaching Kindergarten children from that day onwards. In North India, as the culmination of the Ramlila which is enacted ceremoniously during Dussehra, the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil forces on the 'Vijaya Dashami' day. During Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and prosperity. A period of introspection and purification, Navratri is traditionally an auspicious and religious time for starting new ventures. During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept

lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe. The uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi. During Navratri, the principle of Sree Durgadevi is more active in the atmosphere. Navratri is celebrated in a large number of Indian communities. The mother goddess is said to appear in 9 forms, and each one is worshipped for a day. These nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with. The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited. During the eight or ninth day, Kanya Poojan, pre-pubescent girls are ceremonially worshiped. Like Follow Post Tuesday at 20:19

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Priyaah Veera Why Navaratri Pooja? The Goddess, who is the invisible divine feminine, lives both in the human male and the female. Within the human body, the Goddess energy is called the power (Shakti); she is the power of economy, beauty, luxury, joy, physical strength, fertility, and what not! The yogis and tantrics developed secretive methodologies to access the divine feminine both within the body-mind of human men and women. They came up with the sacred diagrams called Yantras and the magical sounds known as mantras, as tools to bring the Goddesses to the earth plane. Time and space are also important factors. The goddess descends into the earth during these 9 days. This year these 9 days fall on September 19th 27th. There are three dominant Goddess categories that are known as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswathi. Durga represents the powers to destroy negativity in the form of poverty, laziness, fear and evil and criminal tendencies. Lakshmi is predominantly the energy of luxury, wealth and material power. The third divinity is Saraswathi; who is in charge of inspiration, motivation, discrimination, knowledge, music, fine arts, science and technology. They each share three nights of the nine nights of the Goddesses each; called as Navaratri. Like Follow Post Tuesday at 20:15

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Priyaah Veera History of Navratri

Navratri is a very important Hindu festival celebrated in India, which is devoted to Goddess Durga. The festival is celebrated with great reverence and faith across the country. It stretches over a period of nine days, with each of the nine days being dedicated to one of the nine forms of the Goddess. Talking about the history of Navratri festival, it can be explained through the stories mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. In case you want to know more about them, explore the information given below History & Origin Of Navratri In different parts of India, different legends describe the history of Navratri: North India The legend in North India goes that Mahishasura, the mighty demon, worshipped Lord Shiva and obtained the power of eternity. Soon, he started killing and harassing innocent people and set out to win all the three lokas. The gods in swargaloka appealed to Lord Shiva, to find a way to get rid of the demon. To protect the world from the atrocities of Mahishasura, the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva united their powers and created a divine female warrior, known as Goddess Durga. Mahishasura, when he saw the divine beauty of Goddess Durga, got mesmerized. So fascinated was Mahishasura by Goddess Durga's beauty that he approached her with the intention of marriage. The goddess agreed to marry him, but put forth a condition - Mahishasura would have to win over her in a battle. Mahishasura, proud as he was, agreed immediately! The battle continued for 9 nights and at the end of the ninth night, Goddess Durga beheaded Mahishasura. The nine nights came to be known as Navratri, while the tenth day was called Vijayadashmi, the tenth day that brought the triumph of good over evil. Eastern Belief As per the legend prevalent in East India, Daksha, the king of the Himalayas, had a beautiful and virtuous daughter called Uma. She wished to marry Lord Shiva, since her childhood. In order to win over the Lord, she worshipped him and managed to please him as well. When Shiva finally came to marry her, the tiger-skin clad groom displeased Daksha and he broke off all the relationships with his daughter and son-in-law. One fine day, Daksha organized a yagna, but did not invite Lord Shiva for the same. Uma got so angry at her father's rude behavior, towards her husband, that she decided to end her life by jumping into the agnikund of the yagna, where she was united with eternity (since then, she came to be known as Sati). However, she took re-birth and again won Shiva as her groom and peace was restored. It is believed that since then, Uma comes every year with Ganesh, Kartik, Saraswati and Laxmi and two of her best friends or 'sakhis', called Jaya and Bijaya, to visit her parent's home during Navratri. Another Legend - Ram and Ravana Yet another legend of Navratri relates to the Hindu epic Ramayana. It goes that Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga in nine aspects, for nine days, in order to gather the strength and power to kill Ravana. He wanted to release Sita from the clutches of powerful demon king Ravana, who had abducted her. Those nine nights became to be known as Navratri and the tenth day, on which Lord Rama killed Ravana, came to be called Vijayadashmi or Dusshera, signifying Rama's (good) triumph over Ravana (evil). Like Follow Post Tuesday at 20:11

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Priyaah Veera Navratri Fasting Procedure On the festive occasion of Navratri, fast is observed by people for seven or eight days, depending upon when they want to conduct the Kanchika Pujan (when young girls are worshipped). The devotees, who have observed fast, would get up early in the morning, take bath and offer prayers to the deity. People follow a specific diet for Navratri, if they

haven't observed a nirahar (waterless) fast. Most people nowadays perform partial fasting. They would abstain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol and those dishes that are made of common salt or any kind of spice. Singhare ka atta (kuttu ka atta) is used to prepare rotis or puris, for the fast. One may drink beverages like tea, coffee and milk, on Navratri. Dishes made of sago and potato is generally consumed by the people, when they observe fast on Navratri. Sendha namak (rock salt) is used instead of common salt, for cooking on the festival. All fruits and foodstuff made of fruits are eaten during the seven days. Nowadays, ready-to-eat snacks are available in the stores, especially prepared for Navratri. In addition to this, certain restaurants in the northern parts of India would offer special menu for the people, who have observed fast on Navratri. After seven days of fasting, people would break their fast on the eighth day - Ashtami - by worshipping young girls. The ritual of offering prasad to the young girls is called Kanchika Pujan. As per the tradition, puris (deep fried Indian bread), halwa (sweet dish made of suji) and Bengal gram curry are served to the young girls, called upon by the people who have observed fast. After seeking the blessings of the young girls (kanchikayen), the devotees would break their fast by consuming the prasad (puri, halwa and sabzi) that they have prepared for them. While this is the tradition followed by majority of people, Navratri fast is also broken on ninth day (Navami), wherein the fast is observed until Ashtami. The same procedure is followed in that case as well.

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navaratri fast The Hindu festival of Navratri, which extends for nine days, is celebrated with gusto in different regions of the country. In the eastern state of West Bengal, the festival takes the shape of Durga Puja, when the devotees of the deity celebrate the triumph of good over evil. There, Ma Durga is worshipped as Goddess Shakti. In north India, Maharashtra and Gujarat, people observe a seven day fast during Navratri and break their fast on Ashtami (the eighth day of the festival) by worshiping young girls. However, some people observe fast until the Ashtami and break their fast only on Navami (the ninth day). If you want to know more about Navratri fast, then explore the article.

Ratri means night and Nava means nine . At Navarathri (nine nights), the Lord in the form of the Mother Godness is worshipped in Her various forms as Durga , Lakshmi , Saraswati. Though the Godness is one, She is represented and worshipped in three different aspects . On the first three nights of the festival, Durga is worshipped . On the following three, Lakshmi and then Saraswati Devi on the last three nights . The following tenth day is called Vijayadasami. Vijaya means victory. The victory over our minds that can come only when we have worshipped these three : Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati Durga To gain noble virtues, all evil tendencies in the mind must be destroyed. This destruction is represented by the Godness Durga. Durga is durgati harini : She who removes our evil tendencies. This is why she is called Mahishasura Mardhini, the destroyer of Mahishasura (demon) , mahisha meaning buffalo. Isn't there a buffalo in our minds as well ? The buffalo stands for tamoguna, the quality of laziness, darkness, ignorance and inertia. We have these qualities too. We love to sleep. Although we may have a lot of energy and potential inside us, we prefer to do nothing- just like the buffalo that likes to lie in pool of water. In the Puraanic story, Durga Devi is killing of the Mahisha demon is , symbolically the destruction of the tamoguna within us that is very difficult to destroy . In the Durga Devi Havana (sacrifice), we invoke that Divine Power within us to destroy our animalistic tendencies. Lakshmi For knowledge to dawn within us, we have to prepare our minds. The minds must be pure, concentrated, and singlepointed ; this purification of the mind is obtained through the worship of Lakshmi Devi. In our society today, however when we think of Lakshmi , we think only of money counting gold and dollar bills! This is why if one goes to a Lakshmi temple, one will find a crowd. Everybody likes Lakshmi Puja (Lakshmi worship) because they think she represented material wealth. But what is real wealth ? Even if we have material wealth but no self-discipline or selfcontrol, or the values of love, kindness, respect and sincerity, all our material wealth will be lost or destroyed . The real wealth is the inner wealth of spiritual values that we practice in our lives, by which our minds become purified. Only when we have these noble values will we able to preserve our material wealth and make good use of it. Otherwise money itself becomes a problem. In the Upanishads, the Rishis never asked for material wealth only . In the mantra of the Taittriya Upanishad, they first asked to have all the noble virtues fully developed in them. Having gained the noble virtues, thereafter Lord please

bring wealth to us . The Rishis express here that in the absence of right values and good qualities, all our money will be wasted, and there are countless examples of this in the world around us . Our wealth of virtues is our true Lakshmi. Its importance is shown by the fact that Adhi Shankarachaya himself, in Vivekachudamani, describes that sat sampati , or six forms of wealth (calmness of mind, self-control, self-withdrawal, forbearance, faith and single-pointed) that are to be cultivated to attain wisdom. These virtues are important because is victory over the mind a victory such that we do not get disturbed by ever change by ever change that takes places in our lives. This victory comes only when the minds is prepared , and this mental is the symbolism of the Lakshmi Puja. Saraswati Victory over the minds can be gained only through knowledge , through understanding ; and it is Godness Saraswati who represented this highest knowledge of the Self. Although these are many kinds of knowledge in the vedas phonetics astronomy, archery, architecture, economics and so on the real knowledge is the spiritual knowledge. Lord Krishna himself says in the Bhagavad Gita ; The knowledge of the Self is the knowledge , and He adds , It is my vibhuti, my glory. In other words , we may have knowledge of many other subject and sciences but if we do not know our own Self, then that is the greatest loss. Therfore the supreme knowledge is the knowledge of the Self that is represented by the Godness Saraswati.

Navarathri Thus, at Navarathri , Godness Durga is invoked first to remove impurities from the mind. The Godness Lakshmi is invoked to cultivate the noble values and qualities. Finally Saraswati is invoked for gainning the highest knowledge of the Self. This is the significance of the three sets of three nights when all these three are gained subjectively , and then three will be Vijayadasami , the day of true victory.

At Navarathri time , the Rasa dance (dance of joy) of Sri Krishna and the gosips is also performed . As the mind becomes purer, calmer quieter and more cheerful and greater understanding is gained , do we not feel happier? Similarly, the Rasa dance is the dance of joy and realization. But , nowadays the name of Sri Krishna and the gosips dancing around the Rasa seems to have been lost in our society . The true meaning and purpose of the ritual is often forgotten , as more importance is given to other types of dancing. Why is the Navarathri festival is celebrated at night rather than in day time? This is another interesting question. Night time generally the time when we go sleep . So the spiritual message is You have lived long enough in the sleepy ignorance of tamoguna. It is time to wake up now. Please wake up! For a puja , unfortunately we are never willing to stay up late and so we ask what time will it end? For a party, we never ask this question. If the party ends at 10.00 pm . We say What! The party is finished ? What kind of a party is that ?! Yet we find it difficult to stay awake for a puja !

The Importance of Ritual Not everyone, it is true will be fine of the intellectual type to appriciate everything philosophically. Therefore , philosophy or spiritual truth must be demonstrated visually in some ritualisticform. In this way, when children are first introduced to it , they enjoy a dance or a festival and then later begin to question , What is this dance ? Why are we doing this Puja? What is the meaning of Navarathri ? so the purpose of the concretized ritual is fullfilled when these question begin to arise in the children's minds.

Unfortunately, when we take our children to functions at the temples and they begin to ask qusrtions about what they see, we cannot answer them. Yet when the children revolt later as teenagers, we say . What happened to the children? These kids are terrible. We never used to question our religion!

We take pride in the fact that we we never used to question anything, but it would have been better if we had asked questions and found out. Why did we not ask ? Because of the intellectual inertia . Inertia is of different kinds. Physical inertia is not as bad because it is usually temporary. These are also mental or emotional stupors that some people remain in . But the intellectual inertia is the worst kind because under its influence, we do not want to think at all. It is said that people can live without air for two minutes , without water for a few days , without food for a month or so and without thinking of generations! Some people just do not want to think . This is our inner Mahisha ( the lazy buffalo) and our spiritual Mahisha is that we do not want to wake up from this sleep of ignorance.

As we can see, of the entire Vedas is reflected in the Navarathri festival : Purify the mind and remove all negativities ; cultivate positive virtues gain spiritual knowledge and transcended limitations. This is the real victory the dance of joy ritualistic performed at night , as its also on Sivarathri ( auspicious night) , to signify our spiritual awakening . Mantras For Navaratri 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! Sarva mangala maangalye shive sarvaartha saadhike Sharanye trayambake Gauri Narayani namosthute Namoh devyai mahadevyai shivayai satatam namah Namah prakrutyai bhadraayai niyataah pranataahsma taam Annapoorne sadapoorne shankarah praanavallabhe Njana vairaagya sidhyardham bhikshaam dehi cha parvati