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| IMPORTANCE OF DURGA NAVRATRI: CELEBRATING THE DEITY | | | Dr. Pragya Khanna
Navratri a Hindu festival of worship of Maa Shakti celebrated with dance and festivities is celebrated four times a year according to lunar calendar and therefore called Vasanta Navaratri or Chaitra Navratri that comes during spring season, that is, March-April, Ashadha Navaratri, also called Gayatri or Shakambhari Navratri is celebrated during June-July, the Sharada Navaratri is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September-October) and the Poushya/Magha Navaratri in the month of Pousha (December-January). Of these, the Sharada Navaratri and the Vasanta Navaratri are very important and are celebrated throughout India with great fervor.
The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, the period of eight days and nine nights has its importance and is divided into sets of three days to worship three different aspects of the supreme goddess. For the first three days the goddess is regarded as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities. Second three days are devoted to the goddess Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth and final three days are 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.
Some communities worship nine forms of Shakti known as Navdurga during the Navaratris, and the Devis worshipped depend on the tradition of the region. These are Durga, the inaccessible one, Bhadrakali, Amba or Jagadamba, Mother of the universe, Annapurna, the one who bestows grains in plenty, Sarvamangala, the one who gives joy (mangal) to all (sarva), Bhairavi, having the power of death, Chandika or Chandi, the violent and furious, Lalita, the playful, Bhavani, giver of existence.
During Navratri, the devotees of Durga observe fasts and offer prayers 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. As the festival is dear to the mother goddess, on the eighth or ninth day many people invite over nine young girls from the neighborhood. These girls are treated as the goddess herself. People ceremonially wash their feet, worship them and then offer food to them.
The different incarnations of Maa Durga embrace Maa Shailputri, the goddess worshipped on the first day of Navratri who was the daughter of Parvatraj Himalaya (King of the Mountain), wife of Lord Shiva and mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya; Maa Brahmachaarini, worshipped on the second day, who gives the message of pure love to the world; Maa Chandraghanta, worshipped on the third day establishes justice and wears crescent moon on Her head; Maa Kushmaanda, worshipped on the fourth day provides the basic necessities to the world; Skand Maa, worshipped on the fifth day gives the gift of differentiation of right from wrong to the world; Maa Kaatyayini, worshipped on the sixth day persistently battles against the evil and deceitful entities; Maa Kaalratri, worshipped on the seventh day killed Raktabeej (a demon who produced a demon from every drop of blood that fell from his body. Goddess eventually licked the blood before it could reach the ground and hence conquered him); Maa MahaGauri worshipped on the eighth day liberates the world of evil forces; Maa Sidhidaarti, worshipped on the ninth day is a treasure house of Mystic Powers (Yantra Tantra) and Knowledge (Gyaan).
On the first day of the Navaratras, grains of barley are sown in a small bed of mud after a small puja in the house. Every day some water is sprinkled on it. On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in length. After the puja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god. The seedlings are placed on their caps, behind their ears, and inside books to bring good luck. This custom suggests a link to harvesting. The sowing and reaping of barley is symbolic of the 'first fruit'. Soon after this festival, the sugarcane crop is harvested and the winter crops are sown.
Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. In North India, all Navratris are celebrated with much zeal. In Punjab, people organize Jagrans to sing devotional songs all night in praise of the Mother Goddess. Solemnity and piousness mark these nine days as even those Punjabis who do not keep a fast, stop eating non-vegetarian and food items like onion and garlic. The Chaitra Navratri culminates in Ram Navami and the Sharad Navratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra. In Western India, particularly in the state of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas dance. Since the past few years, the Government of Gujarat has been organizing the 'Navratri Festival Celebrations' on a regular basis for the nine days of Navratri Festival, in Gujarat. In South India, people set up steps and place idols on them for worship. In Kerala, three days, Ashtami, Navami, and Vijaya Dashami of Sharad Navaratri are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja in which books are worshipped. The books are placed for Puja on the Ashtami day in own houses, traditional nursery schools, or in temples. On Vijaya Dashami day, the books are ceremoniously taken out for reading and writing after worshipping Sarasvati. In Bengal, this period is celebrated as Durga Puja. Groups and residents' associations in towns and cities erect attractive marquees, where they install the idol of the Mother Goddess.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir is bestowed with a number of temples devoted to Maa Durga where Navratri is celebrated with utmost devotion and purity.
In Kathua district there are different temples with different legends attached to each one of them. The most famous ones are Mata Balaji Sundri Temple which is an ancient shrine situated atop the Shivalik Hills in Parole. It dates back over 2000 years nestled in the middle of a mango grove. Sukrala Devi shrine is at a distance of 9.60 Kms from Billawar and about 75 Kms from Kathua. The holy shirne is the abode of goddess Mal Devi, the re-incarnation of Sharda Devi. The goddess has manifested herself here in the shape of a Shilla (Stone Slab) seated on a Brass Lion with a silver mounted head; behind it is also an image of Mahishasur Murdini (re-incarnation of Maha-Luxmi) standing on the body of Mahishasur, the Demon King. Asha Purani Mandir is in the heart of City (Main Bazar). Its main gate is towards North and on the top off the Bhawan, Idol of Mata Durga Ji (10 ft.) decorates the temple. Chamunda Devi Temple is located near the main chowk in Basohli town. The goddess is worshiped here in the shape of Natural rock. Jodia Di Mata is situated 4 Kms. From Banjal (Bani, District), it is a religious center which is visited by hundreds of pilgrims during Navratras. Dhoula Wali Mata is located 10 Kms from Jodia Di Mata.
Chichi Mata mandir in district Samba is generally believed to be the gateway to the temple of Vaishno Devi.
Hovering on top of a rock face, the Bahu Fort in Jammu city is the renowned Mahakali Temple, largely famous as the Bawe Wali Mata.
Kol Kandoli Mata is said to be the first darshan of Mata Vaishnodeviji, situated at 9km distance from Jammu at Nagrota.
The world famous cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati (alt: 5,200 ft.) has been a beacon of faith and fulfillment to millions of devotees from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine holds great importance for the pilgrims. This holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is exceptional as it contains the holiest of holy Pindis manifesting the Mata in her three forms, Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati.
Bhumika Mandir, located about a km from Katra town, is one of the renowned temples in Jammu. The place is popularly known as Darshani Darwaza. Goddess Vaishno Devi is believed to have disappeared to Trikuta Mountain from this place. Ban Ganga Temple is in the foothills of Trikuta hills.
Maha Kali Mandir is the most prominent temple in Reasi town situated in district Reasi. Nav Pindia represents the nine forms images of Goddess Durga. It is 3 km from Katra and common along the pilgrims of katra.
Sarthal Devi Temple is situated about 19 km from Kishtwar, in Doda District of Jammu and Kashmir. Major point of attraction here is the Athara Buja Devi in a cave. The sacred temple is having a single piece black idol of goddess with eighteen arms. This idol of Mata was brought from Kashmir valley in fourteenth century.
Shrine of Chandi Mata or Machail Wali Mata in Bhadarwah tehsil in Jammu province. The Machail Yatra is a unique pilgrimage with its origin in Jammu in Mahalaxmi Mandir at Pacca Danga, the yatra at Jammu region starts with a religious procession which passes through Jain Bazar, Link Road, Purani Mandi, Raghunath Bazar and Indira Chowk and then joins the yatra at Chinote Bhaderwah.
Manma Mata Temple is an ancient shrine dedicated to Mata Devi, located 6 km south of Kalakote in Rajouri District.
Kheer Bhawani is a temple dedicated to the goddess Kheer Bhawani constructed over a sacred spring at a distance of 14 miles east of Srinagar near the village of Tula Mula, a highly revered shrine amongst the Hindus. Sharika Devi Temple is located in the Hari Parbat Hill of Srinagar District. The presiding deity of the temple is Sharika, a form of goddess Durga. The deity is made of black stone and has 18 arms, which gives her a fearsome look. Folklore says that the hill appeared at the place where Goddess Parvati killed a demon. Maa Kali Bhadrakali Temple is located at Bhadrakali, about 8 km to the west of Handwara in Kupwara District of northern Kashmir. This temple is on a hilltop in a thick pine forest of Deodars. The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Kali.
Kali Mata Mandir in Leh is rare because this is the only temple collocated with a Gompa (Bodh monastery).
All these temples are highly regarded by the devotees and grand celebrations are made during the Navaratri festival which is celebrated with much devotion, passion, faith and festivity. It is believed that worshipping 'Ma Durga' in any or all forms confers on you wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge, and other potent powers to cross every hurdle of life.
Let us all take a resolve, this Navaratri, to spread peace, harmony and knowledge in this world and strengthen our commitment to making this world a better place. |
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