Navratra Celebrations
Significance to our community
Piyaray Lal Raina
Sept 27, 2000
Navratras start from September 28th.
Following my earlier notes about appraising the young minds of our community
about the significance of various religious customs, below you will find note
regarding the significance of NAVRATRAS for our community.
May Goddess Durga (Maharagyna) bless you
and your family with abundant happiness!
INTRODUCTION
All over world Hindus celebrate Navratras
with great devotion. Navratras literally means "nine
nights". These nights are devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga.
Navratras, are celebrated twice in a year. Once in the bright two-week
period of Shukla Paksha of the lunar month of Ashwani (Asuj in Kashmiri) –
corresponding to September/October) from the 1st to the 9th date of the two week
period.
These days of Navratras are celebrated
with great fervor especially in West Bengal where it is known as "Durga
Puja". The Gujrati Hindus celebrate it with nine days of Garba dance. The
second Navratras are celebrated during the first nine days of the bright
two-week period of Shukla Paksha of the lunar month of Chaitra – corresponding
to mid-March to mid-April.
The timing of the celebrations correspond
to the autumnal and vernal equinox which is also the time when seasons change
and we harvest crops which adds to the glory of these celebrations.
RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND
For the devout these days are the most
sacred for it is during these days when Goddess Durga takes a stock of her
devotees and grants all boons, removes sins and ensures trouble free life for
her devotees.
During this period most of the Hindus go
to Temples for prayers. At some places special pandals (platforms) are raised
where clay idols of Goddess Durga are installed decorated with various weapons
in Her eight arms, riding a lion, with demon Maheshasur lying dead at Her feet.
These idols are worshipped for eight days (nine nights) and then immersed in
river, lake or pond on the ninth day with great fanfare.
During this period recitation of sacred
scriptures such as Durga Sapshudi from Markanday Puran, which narrates how
Goddess Durga was blessed and provided with weapons by our Trinity of Gods for
vanquishing the demon Maheshasur who had forced Devas to leave heaven and take
refuge on earth. Saints and learned ones carry on Pravachans (discourses)
and appraise devotees about the importance of these days. In Chatturpur
Temple in South Delhi, over a million people visit during these days. Musical
recitations by famous musicians are offered for the benefit of the Goddess and
devotees. For those who offer Jap (repetition of mantras) as the way of
meditation, this is the time for marathon Japas of their chosen mantra at least
125,000 (sava lakh) times. For tantrics, it is the time to enrich their
tantric shakti by observing various rituals. The devout ones keep a fast
until they spot the moon or by restricting their eating to one time only.
Even those who do not fast, do not eat non-vegetarian food during these days.
On the ninth day after the immersion of
the idol in the water the celebrations come to an end.
The Navratras celebration of March/April
period are celebrated on a lessor scale but there is no short cut for devout
ones.
KASHMIRI NAVRATRA CELEBRATIONS
There are 22 places all around India from
Kashmir to Kanyakumari which are considered most scared to Goddess Durga.
In Kashmir, Khirbawani at Tulamulla is among one such places where she is
worshipped as Maharagnya. KP's are traditionally Shakti worshippers and
worship Durga as Maharagnya, Sharika, Jawala, Kali, Tripura etc.
During Navratras people go to various
shrines to offer prayers. We recite Bhawani Sahasranam instead of Durga
Saptashudi. Bhawani Sahasranam (1000 names of Goddess Durga) is of
Kashmiri Origin and is not known outside Kashmir. Lalita Sahasranam of South
India, which has about 100 names common with our Bhawani Shastranam, has the
closest resemblance to Bhawani Sahasranam .
Not all KP's observe all nine days as
Navratras. Some people observe it from the 5th to the 8th day and
some only the 8th day which is Ashtami and traditionally a sacred day for our
community. Some KP's take non-vegetarian food for the first four
days if they are not keeping a fast.
The ninth day - Nawmi - which is called
Ram Nawmi, is a day of traditional celebrations for us. On this day,
havans are performed especially at temples dedicated to Lord Rama. It is a day
when most of KP's visit the places where havan is being performed. We do not
have the tradition of making clay models and worshiping them followed by
immersion in rivers. Instead some of us sow barley in a pot on 1st day of
Navratra and keep it at a sacred place, they water it daily and offer prayers.
The household keeps fast and taking meals one time only. On the ninth day, the
barley plants are kept for display of the devotees as a symbolic darshan of
Goddess Durga. These plants are later immersed in rivers. A good growth of
plants symbolizes the acceptance of prayers by Goddess Durga and her happiness,
which is sure to bring happiness and prosperity to those involved.
The Navratras of Chaitra (March-April) is
of special importance to KP's as it is on the first day of this Navratras we
celebrate our new year (Navreh).
After our last migration from Kashmir, our
community has begun celebrating these days according to traditions followed by
Hindus in their new neighborhoods. Some people go for Vaishnav Devi yaatra
at Jammu which draws huge number of devotees during these periods and receive
blessings of Goddess Vaisnav Devi.
DURGA PRAYERS
Seven selected Sholokas of Durga
Saptashudi are called Saptashaloki Durga and are recited by devotees daily.
These sholakas have been included in Vijeshar Panchang and
also in the KOA recent publication Poozai Poshe.
These seven shalokas, along with their
translation, are as follows:
(1) Gyaninam Api
Chetaansi Devi Bhagvati Hi Saa
Balaat
Aakrsihya Mohaaya Mahaamaya Prayachhati
Meaning: Mother Goddess, the greatest
pervader of the entire Universe, you are inducing even the mind of
knowledgeable to your bondage.
(2) Durgay Smritaa Harasi Bheetim Ashaisha
Janto
Swasthai Smrita Matm Ateeva Shubhaam Dadaasi
Daaridra Dukh Bhaya Haarni Kaa Twadanya
Sarvopa Kaar Karnaya Sdaarda Chita
Meaning: Mother Durga you are eradicating
fright of all living beings who remember you. People who meditate on
you, you bless them with wisdom that brings them relief from all
directions. O! Mother Goddess, destroyer of poverty and misery, who is
else than you whose mind always remains ready to help all.
(3) Sarvamangala Mangalyai Shivaay Sarvartha
Sadhikay
Sharanyai Trambikay Gauri Narayani Namastutay
Meaning: O! Mother Goddess, you are giver of success in
everything. O,
Mother Goddess of Success, you are giver of all types of protections and peace as Shivi (Consort of Shiva). You are as well Gowri
in fruition of endeavors of all those who surrender to you. In your
capacity as Narayani (Consort of Narayana), you are remover of all
types of troubles. I offer my salutations of you.
(4) Sharnaagata Deenarta Paritraana
Paraayanai
Sarva Syaarta Haray Devi Narayani Namostutay
Meaning: O, Narayani, who is always engaged in helping her
devotees involved in troubles as also remover of miseries of all, I offer my salutations to you.
(5) Sarvaswaroopay Sarvaishay
Sarva-Shakti-Samanvitay
Bhayi-Bhyaa Traadhi No Devi Durgay Devi Namostutay
Meaning: Your manifestation is in every thing and you exist every where. You are possessed with all power and energy. O!
Mother Goddess Durga, kindly protect us from all scare and fright. I offer
my salutations to you.
(6) Rogaan Ashaishaan Apahansi Tushtaa
Rushta Tu Kaamaan Sakalaan Abheeshtaan
Twaam Aashritaanaam Na Vipat Naraanaam
Twaam Aashritaa Hyaa Shrayataam Prayanti
Meaning: O, Mother Goddess, on becoming happy you cast off
all diseases and on being otherwise destroy all ambitions. All those who
have
already surrendered to you, distress never comes near them. All those
devotees, of your whom you bless, become blessors of others.
(7) Sravaa Baadhaa Prashamanam Trilokya Syaa
Akhilaishwari Ayvam Ayva Twayaa
Karyam Asmay Vyri Vinaashanam
Meaning: O; Mother Goddess, dweller of Universe, clear out
hurdles in my
way in all three worlds in the same manner as you suppressed Madukaritab and do keep on destroying my enemies.
(Translations of above shalokas have
been rendered by Shri O.N. Kaul
in the English edition of Vijyashvar Punchang 1998-99 (Janthri))
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