Devi Pooja during Navaratri

  There is jubilation and festivities all over India celebrating the victory of 'good' over 'evil' and praise of Durga devi, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. There is a function to worship machinery, including household equipment like knife and scissors! What is the significance of all these?

  First, the festivities of Navaratri- celebration for nine days, is dated back to 'tretayuga' when Prince of Ayodhya Sri Ramachandra returned victorious after defeating the Demon King Ravana of Sri Lanka and was installed on the throne as the King by his brother Bharata who was ruling the State 0n his behalf, actually keeping his paduka on the throne. These are the details available from ancient Indian history and epic writings by Valmiki and many others. This is dated roughly about 7500 years ago according to our historians. But there is also the Great epic Ramayana by Sri Krishna Dvaipayana who later became Veda Vyasa. All these are confusing. So many have given commentary on Ramayana and some of them are credited to Sri Tulasidas, Sri Veerappa Moily, Kuvempu (Prof. K. V. Puttappa}   However, it is not necessary to contribute to these views here. The inner meaning (antrartha) of the famous epic Ramayana is altogether different!

   Devi parayana or Devi upasana is a Tantra to appease Her to get her blessinsg. Lalita Sahasranama, Soundarya Lahri, Shree Sharada Chatushyati, Durga Saptashati, and many other scriptures describe Devi as the all-powerful (omnipotent/sarvashakta), omniscient (sarvajnya), omnipresent (sarvantaryami) and the Divine Mother, She, the Devi is the First potent force Adhya Shakti. She is the sovereign supreme Ruler of the three worlds- Tripureshi, Raja Rajeshvari. She is also the Most beautiful one of the three lokas, Trailokya sundari, She is eulogized as the eternal flow of Consciousness in Soundaryalahari. She is Lalita Parameshvari, Durga Devi, the most powerful who sits on a Lion and holds the armaments (ayudha) to punish the evil-mongers and protect the pious ones. She is accompanied by The Deities Lakshmi and Saraswati who are the custodians of Wealth and Knowledge, respectively. There is a huge army of servants, retinue of devis and devatas to serve her and these include- days and nights (nityas), the dik-palas (watch and wards), the deities of our senses (akarshins), etc. (See Soundarya Lahari, Durga Saptashati, Sharada Chatushyati, and Lalta sahasranama). 

   In a way, all these powers are attributed to Devi by the learned poets and Tantra Shastras describe the way to propitiate the Devi. For example, Vaishno Devi in Katra near Jammu is the most sacred and richest shrine in India where people go in millions to worship Ma Durga, Ma Lakshmi and Ma Saraswati. These are three shalagrama or pindis (Rounded stones or rock protrusions in the Himalayan Lower Ranges) There is also the ancient Temple of Sharada at Sarda Village at the confluence (sangam) of three Rivers Kishen Ganga, Saraswati, and Madhumati  near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir ) near Srinagar where the Devi is in the form of a Shlagrama on a high pedestal and there is no roof to this temple. this temple is dated back to the dvapara yuga when the Saraswats worshiped Devi Sharadamba here! These are very interesting things when it comes to worship of Devi.

  The most important thing to remember here is the role of Divine Mother. The Earth is our Divine Mother-Bhu Devi. The Sun is the Divine Mother (suryaah) for the Earth (Bhu) as well as all the other Planets like Budha, Mangala, Shukra, Guru, Shani, and Neptune. However, the Galaxy Milky Way (Akasha-Ganga) holds the olar system and thus, the divine Mother for all the Stars and Planets. But Who is the Father of all? Rk Veda says Narayana is the Father of all that exists! Narayanopanishad explains the creation in detail.
   Now may we presume, believe or say that worship of stones in the form of Lingam, pindis (rounded or just ordinary ones) and the sculptured icons came to be worshiped since very early times. The Agama shastras support this. But, why should we worship stones or objects like that? The answer is very simple. The great sages used to experiment about spiritual powers. It is said that they used to direct faith, devotion, and adoration with love towards an object like a rock and felt very peaceful, happy and joyful. Now also this practice of putting a few stones one above the other and covering it with a red piece of cloth as in Vaishno Devi or Ladakh region could be seen. It is indeed to get peace and joy that we go to temples or pilgrimage and worship devi devatas. It is all about waves and vibrations that create this and this needs a careful understanding.
  Now that we invoke Devi to eliminate the evil forces, may it be like the asuras mahishasura, madhu, kaitabha, dambasura, vrutra or vala, the followers of the evil forces, too, feel hurt and invoke more and more evil forces. This has come to be known as vamachara. Hence, the good and the evil go together; one cannot exist without the other if the world is to go on. The world comes to an end when there is equilibrium of all forces.

   Thus we have the Shakti cult where we worship Devi Devatas as the Divine power that create, sustain, and dissolve all that is created.  May the Navaratri be the festive occasion  that brings joy, happiness and peace to all.
Om | aim hreem shreem shreeh || Om Shree Lalitatripurasunadari padukaabhyam namah ||