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Navaratri - The Nine Nights of the Goddess
The Hindu festival of Navaratri (the nine nights of the goddess) occurs each year during the months of September-October. This year it runs for nine nights from either September 22 or 23, depending on which part of the world you live in. It ends on the 10th day, known as the day of victory.
Navaratri is a time when we attempt to invoke the power of the cosmic mother, known as Durga (the remover of difficulties), to help us remove obstacles and to better face the difficulties of existence.
Although Navaratri is celebrated by Hindus as a religious festival, yogis see this as an opportunity to utilize the cosmic power available at this time to tune into higher existence and to invigorate their spiritual practice. For the yogi, Durga is an aspect of their own higher consciousness, and yoga and tantra are methods by which we aim to consciously recognize and identify with the higher parts of ourselves.
By utilizing yogic and tantric ritual practice in an authentic way we can invoke the higher forces to consciously inject positive, strengthening, nourishing, enlivening and uplifting qualities into our inner being. This spiritual empowerment creates a more aware life that helps us to feel more connected to life and more able to participate in all aspects of existence with a sense of universal knowledge, wisdom and compassion.
Two forms of ritual
There are two main forms of ritual that can be used at this time to uplift ourselves. The first is the formal and orthodox method of outer ritual as prescribed in the worship of the cosmic mother as Durga; Durga Puja. Puja (worship) has thousands of years of tradition associated with it and requires time and sincere dedication to learn how to use these methods effectively.
For those untrained in these methods we can find other processes to empower connection by engaging authentic practices that are deeply fulfilling. Authentic practice arises from the deep inner need to connect and realize another part of us, a ‘higher’ or ‘greater’ part. This is the higher self that is usually unconscious, though always present and guiding us.
The basis and outcome of spiritual experience
Spiritual experience can never arise if we seek to escape from life or if we seek power and pleasure for ourselves alone. The foundation of all true spiritual experience arises from a deep yearning to grow into a more mature, authentic and conscious state. It arises from the recognition that to be truly fulfilled we need to be willing to take on more of life as it is and to commit ourselves to supporting others on the journey.
Spiritual experience requires humility in the face of the immensity of existence and surrender to the inevitability of loss and death. It requires that we balance patience and acceptance with our desire for inner growth and that we use every ounce of energy and mental focus to achieve success. Ideally spiritual growth fosters both faith and a deep understanding based on both training and experience which leads to an ability to manage the negative and destructive forces of our psyche and to foster spiritual illumination.
Navaratri – the cycle of transformation
The cycle of nine nights and the 10th day of victory in Navaratri is a time when we can undergo a powerfully transformative experience. One way in which we can achieve this is by committing to complete a spiritual discipline during the period of Navaratri, a sadhana. This often involves chanting a set number of mantras every day for nine days.
The nine nights are divided into three groups of 3 days, which are under the auspices of three different goddesses. The first three days are under the auspices of Durga-Kali (destruction of the negative in us), the second under Lakshmi (abundance in all forms) and the third under Saraswati (spiritual illumination).
During the first three-day period of Durga-Kali we often undergo recognition and purification of negative patterns in our body-mind, a process that can sometimes be a little distressing if we are not prepared.
During the second three-day period of Lakshmi we are ready to garner the forces of abundance and attain the means to live a good life and to support others.
During the third three day period of Saraswati spiritual realizations dawn as a result of successfully completing the previous days of practice.
This ultimately leads to the 10th day in which all the forces combine to create spiritual victory over the forces of darkness within.
In order to tune into the subtle forces within and to aid the process of purification, resolve to eat a light vegetarian (sattwic) diet, preferably without grains, perhaps eating more fruit, milk and vegetables.
Non-religious ritual
The following steps will help you to utilize the time of Navaratri to tune into yourself and to awaken a deeper connection to authentic experience.
- Consider how much time you can put aside each day for practice and make a resolve to set that time aside each day.
- Consider your relationship with the higher forces and what you want to get out of engaging in ritual.
- Create a resolve (a sankalpa) to use the energy generated by this ritual to achieve something great in your life, to overcome the obstacles your are currently facing and to achieve a higher view of who you are and what your purpose is.
- Create a practice space, perhaps with an alter on which you place symbols that have profound meaning for you.
- Work with spiritual and meditative practices you have learned prior to this time – mantra sadhana is the most effective means for inner awakening during this time.
- Read spiritual texts, perhaps the story of the battle between Durga and the demons, called the Durga Saptashati (the 700 verses of Durga) or any text which connects you to inner process.
- Complete the sadhana on the 10th day by giving something meaningful to someone, or making a donation to a charity whose cause is felt in your heart, or by giving selfless service.
Note: Navaratri is not a time to learn new practices but to engage the practices you have already learned and to go into some greater depth. Resolve to learn new practices and prepare for your next Navaratri cycle in the year to come.
We wish you great blessings, empowerment and joy in practice over this time, and always.
About the Author(s):
In 2004, Dr Swami Shankardev and Jayne Stevenson decided to pool their talents to create Big Shakti. They co-create various seminars and workshops, which Swami Shankardev presents throughout Australia, USA, Europe and India.
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