Navratri and the Nine Durga Goddesses. Goddess Durga The embodiment of feminine and creative energy...
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Transcript of Navratri and the Nine Durga Goddesses. Goddess Durga The embodiment of feminine and creative energy...
Navratri Navratri and and the the Nine Nine Durga Durga GoddessesGoddesses
Goddess DurgaThe embodiment of feminine and creative energy
Also known as the Divine Mother
She protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying vices
She is sitting upon a Lion
First Avatar - Shailputri1st night devoted to
Maa ShailputriShail means Mountains
She carries a Trident and a Lotus
She is sitting upon a bull
Second Avatar - Bhramcharni2nd night devoted to
Maa BhramcharniShe personifies Love and Loyalty
She carries a Kumbha and a Rosary
Rudraksha is her most adorned ornament
Third Avatar - Chandraghanta3rd night devoted to
Maa ChandraghantaShe personifies Supreme Bliss and KnowledgeShe is prayed to for protection from harmShe has 10 hands, from which 8 have weapons
She is riding on a Tiger
Fourth Avatar - Kushmanda4th night devoted to
Maa KushmandaShe is prayed to for curing ailments and sorrows
She has 8 hands, holding weapons and a mala
She is riding on a Tiger
Fifth Avatar - Skandmata5th night devoted to
Maa SkandmataShe is prayed to for fulfilling ones desires
She has 4 hands, holding two lotuses and her son
She is riding on a Lion
Sixth Avatar - Kaatyayani6th night devoted to
Maa KaatyayaniShe is prayed to for granting the wishes of her devotees
She has 4 hands, holding a lotus and a sword
She is riding on a Lion
Seventh Avatar - Kaalratri7th night devoted to
Maa KaalratriShe is prayed to for removing sins and clearing obstacles
She has 4 hands, holding a cleaver and a torch
She is riding on a Donkey
Eighth Avatar - Mahagauri8th night devoted to
Maa MahagauriShe is prayed to for purification and the removal of sins
She has 4 hands, holding a trident
and drum
She is riding on a Bull
Ninth Avatar - Siddhiratri
9th night devoted to
Maa SiddhiratriShe is prayed to for acquiring great powers (Siddhis)
She has 4 hands, holding a chakra, mace, lotus flower and conch
She is riding on a Lotus
NAV-RATRI NAV-RATRI (nine-nights),
is for the nine days when we thank the female principle of nature and the goddesses connected to them.
The nine nights are
dedicated to the three main goddesses of Hinduism - Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarasvati.
NAV-RATRI The first three nights are dedicated to the
goddess of action and energy. Her different manifestations: Kumari, Parvati and Kali are worshipped during these days. They represent the three natures/ classes of womanhood - the virgin young girl, auspicious wife/ mother and the angry old hag! This is not a criticism of women, just a classification. It helps us recognize the different aspects of our own nature.
Kumari, the virgin young girl
Parvati: Auspicious wife/mother
Kaali, the angry old woman
This is not a criticism of women.
The classification helps us recognize different aspects of our own nature
Maa Lakshmi Lakshmi is worshipped
for the next three days in her various aspects as the goddesses of peace, plenty and bliss.
Fulfillment is more important than wealth itself. As the goddess of wealth, she governs not just the bank balance, but also such basic things as family, friends, food etc.
Maa SaraswatiSaraswati is the goddess of knowledge. Not just the knowledge of how to earn a living, but how to "live" as well. She is the goddess of the spiritual knowledge and the knowledge that frees us from this bind of Samsara. She is worshipped during the final three days of the Navratri.
NAV-RATRI The nine nights are there for us to revel in the
knowledge of the goddesses that live within us, imbibing us with their spiritual energy and power. Used for the good, they help liberate us from the mire of this world (help us attain NIRVANA). Use these energies unwisely, and they will snare us in the maya of this world. We should meditate these aspects of the nine nights, that was the reason they originally came into being.
This festival is devoted to the Mother Goddess known with different names as Durga, Kali, Bhavani, Amba, and Chandika, has been celebrated in it's most unique and different ways in various parts of India and abroad with devotional songs, bhajans and cultural programs with the world renowned Garba or Dandiya Raas in the state of Gujarat.
Maa Durga
This festival is celebrated in most unique and different ways in different parts of India and abroad with devotional songs, bhajans and cultural programs
with the world renowned Garba or Dandiya Raas in the state of Gujarat.