Navaratri is
a festival dedicated to the worship of Devi Durga. The word
Navaratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, (nava meaning
is nine and ratri meaning is nights). During these nine
nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshiped. The
tenth day is Vijayadashami. Navaratri is an important major
festival. There are five types of Navaratri in a year, they are
Aashada Navaratri, Maha Navaratri, Vasantha Navaratri, Saradha
Navaratri and Vanni Navaratri. However Saradha Navaratri is the most
celebrated one. Navaratri
represents a celebration of the Goddess Ambika.
Navaratri
or Navadurga Parva happens to be the most auspicious and unique
period of devotional sadhanas. The glorious of Sakthi worship is
absolute ultimate, creativity of the Divine Mother Goddess. It is
said the Sakthi worship is practiced before the Vedic age. A whole
chapter in the tenth mandala of the Rigvedam references the
devotional sadhanas on Sakthi. The "Devi Suktam" and "Isha
Suktam" of the Rigvedam and "Ratri Suktam" of the
Samvedam similarly singing the songs praise on Sakthi sadhanas. In
fact, before the beginning of Mahabharata war Lord Krishna worshiped
Devi Durga for the victory of the Pandvas.
Lord
Brahma is mentioned in the Markandeya Puranam to Rishi Markandeya
that the first incarnation of Sakthi is as Shailputri. Further
incarnations are: Brahmcharñi, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda,
Skandamatha, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri in that
order. These nine manifestations of Sakthi, are worshiped as
"Nava-Durga". The fifth chapter of the Rudra Samhita of
Siva Purana also brilliantly describes the diverse Divine Emanations
of Durga Parameswari.
The
ancient Vedic Rishies, recommended during all Pancha Navaratris
(Pancha means five) are primarily the Gayatri Anushthanam. In the
Vedic Age of the Culture, the religious philosophy and devotional
practices were focused towards true knowledge and ultimate
realization of the supreme power of Gayatri (Brahma Sakti). The
ancient days Vedas were the basic root of all spiritual science .
Gayatri has been the source of the divine powers of the gods and
goddesses. Gayatri Mantram was the core-focus of daily practice of
meditation and devotional worship for everyone. Devi Upasana and
Sadhanas as guided by the Rishis, when sincerely practiced during
the Navaratri irrespective of gender can achieve high spiritual
enlightenment.
