Navratri is divided into sets of three days to adore three different
aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses but also varies and depends
on the regional belief systems of India.....(PVAF
News Archive contains posting of previous years regarding Indian
regional beliefs and different methods of navaratri celebration...please
visit the PVAF Archive postings to expand your vedik knowledge
base.......
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First three days
The goddess is invoked as a spiritual force called Durga
also known as kali in order to destroy all our impurities and other
things .
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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. She is the goddess of wealth.
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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.
In South India, Saraswathi pooja is performed on the 7th day. Eight
day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal. The 9th day is
Ayudha Pooja when everyone gives their tools of the trade -- pens,
machinery, books, automobiles, school work, etc. a rest and ritually
worships them. They start afresh from the next day, the 10th day which
is considered as 'Vijaya Dashami'. Many teachers/Schools in south India
start teaching Kindergarten children from that day onwards. Students
also pay homage to their respective teachers as they are considered the
third god (Maathaa, Pitha, Guru, Daivam - Mother, Father, Teacher &
God). On this tenth day of Navratri in October - the holiday of
Dussehra or
Dasara,
an effigy of
Ravana
is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama))
over evil.
NAVARATRI
FASTING AND PUJAA FOR 9 FORMS OF DURGADEVII......
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.
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