My NAVRATRI GREETINGS TO YOU ALL AND YOUR FAMILY.

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.

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