Navratri - The Innner Awakening

Navratri - The Inner Awakening - Discover the Sakti Within When neither my Ego nor Expectation dampen my spirit. When my mind becomes focused and a calm envelops me. When I know that there is more to what I am. When the quest to know the self begins When the divinity does not seem distant. When the divine in me is unveiled. When the blazing seed of awakening blinds, the outer world and illumines the world within. When under the shower of divine bliss one blossom. When the taker is no more and the giver is born. Let’s invoke the divine within and let her reveal herself. ——————————————————

Ramayan and now Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapuran, both have placed a lot of emphasis on the Sati, Parvati and Shiv Story. The question arises as to what are they trying to convey.  In order to understand our scriptures one has to delve deeper into the hidden gems in the stories. From the tales to the names, every detail is there for a reason.  During the Nine days of Navratri, each day different forms of Devi is worshiped; Day 1 - Shelputri Day 2 - Bhramacharini Day 3 - Chandraghanta Day 4 - Kushmanda Day 5 - Skandamata Day 6 - Katyayini Day 7 - Kalratri Day 8 - Maha Gauri Day 9 - Sidhidatri

The nine days can also be divided into 3 parts as;

Day 1-3 - Durga Day 4-6 - Laxmi Day 7-9 - Saraswati

Day 1-3 - Tamas Day 4-6 - Rajas Day 7-9 - Satva

Day 1-3 - Gross Day 4-6 - Causal Day 7-9 - Subtle

It is also worth nothing that there are 4 Navratri in a year, of which 2 are the ‘Gupth’ hidden Navratris. Many gurus also go on to say that, every month, after the Amavasya - the following 3 days are Navratri.  The energy and the Nakshatras at this time of Navratri is conducive for Sadhana, where the universe is reaching out to connect to the Sadhak. Lets try and understand why this particular sequence of worship is followed during the nine days of Navratri.

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Lets delve deeper into the interpretation and analyse them based on the sequence in which the Devi has been worshipped.

Day 1 - Shelputri  (A journey from Sati to Parvati)

Story: Sati is the daughter of Prajapati Daksha and Prasuti. She goes against the wishes of her father and marries Shivji. Daksha demeans Shivji in one of the yagnas, where shivji did not stand to great Daksha. Later, he does not invite Sati and Shivji to another Yagna. Sati goes despite being deterred by Shivji. There she witness that there is not place kept for Shivji, this is a great insult. She gets furious and refuses to be associated with Daksha anymore and burns herself. What follows is destruction and mayhem. Later shivji and his ganas are pacified and everything restored. Sati is reborn to Himavan and is named Parvati (Shelputri). She grows up oblivious of her past and purpose, till reminded by Narad Muni. 

Interpretation:

‘When neither my Ego nor Expectation dampen my spirit When my mind becomes focused and a calm envelops me When I know that there is more to what I am’

Daksha = Ego Sati = Fickle mind Burning = Gyan (True knowledge) Himavan = Calm and composed Parvati = Focused intellect Shiv = Divine bliss (God)

When one disconnects with Ego and cleans the mind with the help of true knowledge, the person becomes calm and composed and with one pointed intellect is able to seek the Divine bliss. Here, Narad muni acts as a facilitator, or the igniter of the spark of knowledge  When the divine spark is ignited one realises that...