Monday, 30 September 2013
Navratri puja or DURGA PUJA.
NAVARATRI
"Nava-ratri" literally means "nine nights."
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.
Navaratri is celebrated four times a year. They are Basantha Navaratri, Ashada Navaratri, the Sharana Navaratri, and the Poushya/Magha Navaratri.
1. Vasantha Navaratri - in the spring season(March – April).
2. Gupta Navaratri - in the month of Ashada (June – July).
3. Sharana Navaratri - This is the most important of the Navratris, is simply called maha Navratri (the Great Navratri) is and celebrated in the month of aashivina (beginning of winter, Sept-Oct).
4. Poushya Navaratri - in the month of Poushya (Dec – Jan).
5. Magha Navaratri - in the month of Magha (Jan – Feb).
Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India.
1. In North India, all three Navratris are celebrated with much fervor by fasting on all nine days and worshipping the Mother Goddess in her different forms. The Chaitra Navratri culmintes in Ram navami and the Sharad Navratri culminates in Durga puja and Dusshera.The last four days of Sharad Navratri take on a particularly dramatic form in the state of West Bengal in East Indiawhere they are celebrated as Durga Puja. This is the biggest festival of the year in this state. Exquisitely crafted and decorated life-size clay idols of the Goddess Durga depicting her slaying the demon Mahisasura are set up in temples and other places. These idols are then worshipped for five days and immersed in the river on the fifth day.
2. In Western India, particularly in the state of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas dance.
3. In South India,people set up steps and place idols on them. This is known as golu. Photos of typical Golu displayed in Tamilnadu style at a home in Nerul, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India is shown by the side.Navratri is also divided into sets of three days to adore three different aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses.
First three days
1. The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities.
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Second three days
1. The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Laksmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth.
Final three days
1. The final set of three days is 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.
In South India, Saraswati pooja is performed on the 9th day. Eight day is traditionally Durgashtami which is big in Bengal. The 10th day is Ayudha Pooja when everyone gives their tools of the trade -- pens, machinery, books, automobiles, school work, etc. a rest and ritually worships them. They start a fresh from the next day, the 10th day which is considered as 'Vijaya Dasami'. Students also pay homage to their respective teachers as they are considered the third god (Maathaa, Pitha, Guru, Daivam - Mother, Father, Teacher & God).
During Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered 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.
During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) at a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe. The uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi. During Navratri, the principle of Sree Durgadevi is more active in the atmosphere.
Navratri is celebrated in a large number of Indian communities. The mother goddess is said to appear in 9 forms, and each one is worshipped for a day. These nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with. The Devi Mahatmyam and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited. During the eight or ninth day, Kanyan Pooja, pre-pubescent girls are ceremonially worshiped.
NAVA DURGA - NINE FORMS OF DURGA
SHAILPUTRI (1ST NIGHT) BRAMHACHARINI (2ND NIGHT)
CHANDRAGANTHA (3RD NIGHT)
KUSHMANDA (4TH NIGHT)
SKANDAMATHA (5TH NIGHT) (TOP) |
KATHYAYINI (6TH NIGHT)
KAALARATRI (7TH NIGHT)
MAHAGAURI (8TH NIGHT)
SIDDHIDATRI (9TH NIGHT)
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Saturday, 21 September 2013
MAA AMBAJEE.
Ambaji Temple
Ambaji temple is one of the most important pilgrimage spots in India especially during the Navratri festival with the town (also called Ambaji) recording footfalls of over 30 lakh visitors during the nine days.
To understand the importance of the Ambaji temple one has to read up about the temple’s history and the legends of the ‘Gabbar Parvat’.
Ambaji Temple complex
The templ...e town of Ambaji is located about 180 kilometers from Ahmedabad and buses usually take between 4-5 hours to reach there. Gujarat Travels even runs an air-conditioned sleeper bus service on this route. The nearest railway station is Abu Road which is 20 kms from this temple town.
The temple complex is a lavish dream bathed in white marble with a magnificent 103 feet triangular dome – the Suvarn Kalash Shikhar – carved out of a single piece of marble and weighing about 3 tones. The top end of the dome is gold-plated overseeing a vast stretch of verandah that extends all the way to the entrance gate to the temple.
There are two forms of darshans at the Ambaji Temple. If the purpose of your visit is to beseech the Goddess for a wish to be fulfilled then you’ve got to stand in the ‘mannat’ (wish) line. The wait period for the darshan here can last over there-four hours. However, general visitors are immediately granted darshan as the queue here is minimal.
The difference is that those standing in the ‘mannat’ queue get to touch the Mata’s feet while the others get to see the deity from a short distance.
Also known as the Arasuri Ambaji Mata temple, Ambaji Temple is among the 51 ancient Shakti Piths in Hindu mythology. Being a Shakti Pith devoted to Maa Ambica, an avatar of Goddess Durga, the entire temple complex is lit up extravagantly to mark the occasion of Navratri. Devotees pour into the town in lakhs to get a darshan of Maa Amba and the waiting time for the same usually lasts over 3-4 hours during the nine days of Navratri.
Ambaji Temple at night
Ambaji Temple brightly lit during Navratri
Dancers performing the garba during Navratri celebrations at the Ambaji Temple, Gujarat
The Gabbar Parvat
The Gabbar Parvat is the original location, according to legends, where a piece of the heart of Sati fell and hence Ambaji’s designation as a Shakti Peeth. The Gabbar Parvat or Hill is located about 5 kms away from the Ambaji Temple Complex with the main temple located on its top at a height of 1600 feet. Legend also has it that the location of Gabbar Parvat is very close to the banks of the origin of the river Sarasvati, as mentioned extensively in the Rig Veda.
The temple on top can be reached either by undertaking a trek of about a thousand steps from the bottom of the hill or via the ropeway, Shri Amba Devi Udan Khatola. Once on top, the temple – a simple structure when compared to the grand temple at Ambaji – offers a breathtaking view of the Aravallis. It feels nice to know that Mount Abu is just 45 kilometres away from there.
A unique feature of this temple is that there is no image of the Goddess in the main temple. Instead a holy yantra called the Shree Visa Yantra is worshipped in place of the main deity. The yantra has never been photographed and those who worship it are required to do it blindfolded. A holy flame exactly opposite the Shree Visa Yantra is found to be burning all the time at the temple. The priest here told me that the flame has never been extinguished till date.
It was here that I felt the cosmic connection to nature, the kind one feels when visiting holy places or places with immense energy all around. The air is cooler and the mountain top way quieter. I realised that I was standing at a place which has been widely mentioned in our mythology with a significant number of legends attached to it.
The Summit: Maa Amba Temple, Gabbar Parvat
The arduous climb of a thousand steps to reach the temple. Check out the cable cars in the background.
The Cable Car station on top
Legends of the Gabbar Parvat
● It is said in the Ramayana that when Sita was abducted by Ravana, Rama and Laxman were advised by Shrungi Rushi to worship the deity Ambaji at Gabbar Parvat. It was here that Rama obtained the miracle arrow, ‘Ajay’, from Devi Ambaji that eventually slayed Ravana.
●Legend also has it that the ‘Mundan’ ceremony of Lord Krishna was held on Gabbar Parvat by the Lord’s foster parents, Nand and Yashoda. A Mundan ceremony entails the removal of a child’s hair for the first time and is an important occasion in Hinduism.
●And finally, it was here at the Gabbar Parvat that roots of celebration of the Navratri festival can be traced, according to legends.
● In the Mahabharata, Princess Rukhshamini, who was in love with Lord Krishna, prayed to Goddess Ambica on the Gabbar Parvat that Lord Krishna be successful in eloping with her from the Swayamvara organised for her. Blessed with the Devi’s blessings, Krishna successfully abducted the princess and married her against the wishes of her father and brother. It was then Rukhshamini, who was now the queen of Dwarka, celebrated Navratri for the first time on this planet in reverence of the Maa Ambica. She performed the Garbh-Deep dance for the first time in true Gujrati Garba style.
Ambaji temple is one of the most important pilgrimage spots in India especially during the Navratri festival with the town (also called Ambaji) recording footfalls of over 30 lakh visitors during the nine days.
To understand the importance of the Ambaji temple one has to read up about the temple’s history and the legends of the ‘Gabbar Parvat’.
Ambaji Temple complex
The templ...e town of Ambaji is located about 180 kilometers from Ahmedabad and buses usually take between 4-5 hours to reach there. Gujarat Travels even runs an air-conditioned sleeper bus service on this route. The nearest railway station is Abu Road which is 20 kms from this temple town.
The temple complex is a lavish dream bathed in white marble with a magnificent 103 feet triangular dome – the Suvarn Kalash Shikhar – carved out of a single piece of marble and weighing about 3 tones. The top end of the dome is gold-plated overseeing a vast stretch of verandah that extends all the way to the entrance gate to the temple.
There are two forms of darshans at the Ambaji Temple. If the purpose of your visit is to beseech the Goddess for a wish to be fulfilled then you’ve got to stand in the ‘mannat’ (wish) line. The wait period for the darshan here can last over there-four hours. However, general visitors are immediately granted darshan as the queue here is minimal.
The difference is that those standing in the ‘mannat’ queue get to touch the Mata’s feet while the others get to see the deity from a short distance.
Also known as the Arasuri Ambaji Mata temple, Ambaji Temple is among the 51 ancient Shakti Piths in Hindu mythology. Being a Shakti Pith devoted to Maa Ambica, an avatar of Goddess Durga, the entire temple complex is lit up extravagantly to mark the occasion of Navratri. Devotees pour into the town in lakhs to get a darshan of Maa Amba and the waiting time for the same usually lasts over 3-4 hours during the nine days of Navratri.
Ambaji Temple at night
Ambaji Temple brightly lit during Navratri
Dancers performing the garba during Navratri celebrations at the Ambaji Temple, Gujarat
The Gabbar Parvat
The Gabbar Parvat is the original location, according to legends, where a piece of the heart of Sati fell and hence Ambaji’s designation as a Shakti Peeth. The Gabbar Parvat or Hill is located about 5 kms away from the Ambaji Temple Complex with the main temple located on its top at a height of 1600 feet. Legend also has it that the location of Gabbar Parvat is very close to the banks of the origin of the river Sarasvati, as mentioned extensively in the Rig Veda.
The temple on top can be reached either by undertaking a trek of about a thousand steps from the bottom of the hill or via the ropeway, Shri Amba Devi Udan Khatola. Once on top, the temple – a simple structure when compared to the grand temple at Ambaji – offers a breathtaking view of the Aravallis. It feels nice to know that Mount Abu is just 45 kilometres away from there.
A unique feature of this temple is that there is no image of the Goddess in the main temple. Instead a holy yantra called the Shree Visa Yantra is worshipped in place of the main deity. The yantra has never been photographed and those who worship it are required to do it blindfolded. A holy flame exactly opposite the Shree Visa Yantra is found to be burning all the time at the temple. The priest here told me that the flame has never been extinguished till date.
It was here that I felt the cosmic connection to nature, the kind one feels when visiting holy places or places with immense energy all around. The air is cooler and the mountain top way quieter. I realised that I was standing at a place which has been widely mentioned in our mythology with a significant number of legends attached to it.
The Summit: Maa Amba Temple, Gabbar Parvat
The arduous climb of a thousand steps to reach the temple. Check out the cable cars in the background.
The Cable Car station on top
Legends of the Gabbar Parvat
● It is said in the Ramayana that when Sita was abducted by Ravana, Rama and Laxman were advised by Shrungi Rushi to worship the deity Ambaji at Gabbar Parvat. It was here that Rama obtained the miracle arrow, ‘Ajay’, from Devi Ambaji that eventually slayed Ravana.
●Legend also has it that the ‘Mundan’ ceremony of Lord Krishna was held on Gabbar Parvat by the Lord’s foster parents, Nand and Yashoda. A Mundan ceremony entails the removal of a child’s hair for the first time and is an important occasion in Hinduism.
●And finally, it was here at the Gabbar Parvat that roots of celebration of the Navratri festival can be traced, according to legends.
● In the Mahabharata, Princess Rukhshamini, who was in love with Lord Krishna, prayed to Goddess Ambica on the Gabbar Parvat that Lord Krishna be successful in eloping with her from the Swayamvara organised for her. Blessed with the Devi’s blessings, Krishna successfully abducted the princess and married her against the wishes of her father and brother. It was then Rukhshamini, who was now the queen of Dwarka, celebrated Navratri for the first time on this planet in reverence of the Maa Ambica. She performed the Garbh-Deep dance for the first time in true Gujrati Garba style.
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Friday, 13 September 2013
MAA SAKAMBHARI.
According to Vedas and Puranas only one single power called "Para Brahma" exist. The "Para Brahma" or Parmatma as such has no conditions like birth or death. It has no attributes like form or qualities. Yet this seeming creation is nothing but "Leela" of "Para Brahma". This "Leela" is carried out with the help of "Prakriti" or Maya. This Maya is an inseparable ingredient of Parmatma. Therefore, there is no beginning or end of this Leela of creation(Brahma), maintenance(Vishnu) and destruction(Mahesh.) The concept of Maya as Mother of the universe i.e. Shakti serves the mortals to overcome the process of birth and death. This Maya -Mula-Prakriti - Adi Parashakti has been conceived as the highest divine force. Our Puranas refer to various forms and incarnation of Maya. Each incarnation has a purpose and in every case only to protect the pious and punish the wicked. One such form of this Maya -Mula-Prakriti - Adi Parashakti is MAA SHAKAMBARI. Maa Shakambari glory was originally told by Shiva to Maa Parvati and Sri Skanda and has references in Skanda Purana. Every incarnation of Shakti has been named after the "Leela" she perform under the influence of "Purusha and Prakriti" like Mahishasurmardini who killed demon Mahishasur. Most common name for the worship of the Shakti is "Durga". Under what "Leela" performed by Adi Parashakti that She is known to this world as Durga. This name attributed to the Adi Shakti because of the following "Leela". Once upon a time there was a Demon Durgam who worshiped Brahma for years together. As a result he had acquired all the four books of total knowledge,Vedas from Brahma through penance. He also gets a boon from Lord Brahma that makes sure that all the pujas, yajnas and havanas being offered to the Devtas reach him instead making him invincible. Durgam became very arrogant and started tormenting the whole world.
As the consequence, devtas become weak and were not able to perform their duties properly. Therefore it did not rain for one hundred years and the whole world was hit by very severe drought. The rishis and munis take refuge in the caves of the Himalayas, and meditate upon the Supreme Shakti. The Shakti appeared in front of them bearing a wonderful form! She had countless number of eyes upon her that gave her the name SATAKSHI. She was so moved by their plights that tears rolled down from her eyes for nine continuous days and nights. The tears took the form of a river.
Than SHE saw that the rishis and munis has nothing to eat. So she appeared in a form bearing grains, cereals, vegetables, greens, fruits and other herbs and medicines - and was hence called Maa SHAKAMBARI. The rishis, munis and the Devtas then requested that she recover Vedas, which were in possession of Durgam and make sure that the share of Devtas of puja, yagna and havanas goes to Devtas so that they become powerful and can perform their duties properly.
Durgam came to know that again people were living happily through his messengers and immediately attacked with a large army. Maa Shakambari protected the frail rishis, munis, Devtas and others by putting up a huge wall of fire around them, and then let her discuss hover around it. There ensued a tremendous battle between the Maa Shakambari and Durgam. At last Maa Shakambari, killed Durgam with her trident and recovered The Veda from his possession. At that very moment all the mantras and japas that were performed by the rishis, munis and devtas had performed earlier but were absorbed by the demon Durgam due to his boon, transformed into a bright light of a 10000 Suns and entered the Devi. From Her body Maa Shakambari manifested the ten most powerful powers who has never been in universe before called "Dashamahaavidya" and 64000 other goddesses. She then handed over The Veda to the deities.
Therefor Adi parashakti is known as Durga as she had killed the demon Durgam.
Appearance of Shakambari Maa The splendid form of Shakambari Devi is de scribed in detail in Durga Sapt-Shati in the last chapter named 'Murti Rahasya'. According to this, the goddess is of blue color. Her eyes are like lotus flower. Navel is slightly below the normal place with three curves. She bears breasts of a virgin. A lotus is carried in her hand, which is thronged by bees. The other hand carries arrows. Other hands carry flowers, roots, and vegetables, fruits symbolizing the goddess of vegetation, who feeds us and keeps us away from disease. One hand is carrying a bow representing her fierce-ness. This is the appearance of Shakambari Devi, Shatakshi and Durga. This goddess removes the grief and calamities and terrorizes demons. The devotee of this goddess, worshiping mother by hymns, meditation, Japa and bhajans, attains the fruits of food, drink and infinite bliss
Friday, 6 September 2013
LINGA BHAIRVI.
As dark as the darkest night, a pair of glowing eyes that penetrate deep into the recess of your heart, a gloriously sparkling Third Eye that perceives a dimension beyond the physical, graciously giving arms that bestow infinite Grace to all in need, a pure gold sari that reflects her grandeur – Linga Bhairavi is the most exuberant expression of the Divine Feminine, residing in a triangular-shaped abode at the Velliangiri Foothills.
Unique in her manifestation in the form of a linga, the eight feet tall Devi was consecrated by Sadhguru as a powerful energy form with a solidified mercury core. The consecration of Linga Bhairavi was conducted through prana pratishtha, a rare mystical process that uses life energies to transform mere stone into a deity.
Refined and raw, powerful and colorful, earthy, humane and mother-like, Linga Bhairavi is an absolute woman of ultimate proportions, fierce and compassionate at once. Representing the creative and nurturing aspects of the universe, she is the ultimate manifestation of the Mother Goddess – powerful and all-encompassing. Whether a devotee seeks to acquire, enjoy, or transcend the physical and material aspects of life – Devi is the Ultimate Giver of all that and more.
The energy of Linga Bhairavi strengthens the three basic chakras in the human system; thus stabilizing one’s body, mind and energy system. For all those who seek to live life intensely, Devi’s Presence and Grace will assist in the process. If one allows her Grace to function, life will happen in such exuberance that the longing to transcend the physical and touch the spiritual will naturally arise. For those who aspire for spiritual wellbeing, the benevolent Goddess helps in overcoming obstacles on the path and delivers them to the realm of Ultimate Liberation.
Various offerings are available in the this space to allow devotees to benefit from Devi’s abundant Grace. There are unique rituals that assist in every step that one takes in life, from birth to death and in-between. These rituals are designed to ensure that every life experience becomes a possibility to be touched by the Divine
Thursday, 5 September 2013
MAA BHARVI.
She is also called Shubhamkari, good mother to good people and terrible to bad ones. She is seen holding book, rosary, and making fear-dispelling and boon-conferring gestures. She is also known as Baala or Tripurabhairavi. It is believed that when Bhairavi entered the battle field, her horrible appearance made the demons become weak and very feeble, and it is also believed that most of the demons started panicking as soon as they saw her. The consort of Goddess Bhairavi is Bhairava an aspect of Shiva.
Bhairavi is seen mainly as the Chandi in the Durga Saptashati version of slaying Shumbha and Nishumbha. However, she kills and drinks the blood of Chanda and Munda the Chieftains of asuras, so the Goddess Parvati gives her a boon that she would be called Chamundeshwari. In other forms, she is also identified with Parvati or Durga. When furious, she is found sitting on a faithful donkey, with her mouth full of demons' blood, her body covered with a tiger skin and skeleton. She also presents the abhaya mudra and vara mudhra, and she is shown holding weapons such as a trident, axe, and thunderbolt.
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Bhairavi is also a title for a female adept in Kundalini Tantra. A Yogini is a student of Tantra, or an aspirent. A Bhairavi is one who has succeeded. Supposedly there are many more levels of achievement than these two, but Tantra is, in essence, a mystery religion, and one would have to be initiated, to learn them all. The name "Bhairavi" means "Terror," or "awe-inspiring," so the one who has achieved the state of Bhairavi, is beyond the fear of death, and therefore awesome.Bhairvi is associated with the mahapralaya during which all creationis dissolved in the formless waters of destructon.since every thing ever created is destroyed,destruction exists every where.in that scence Goddess Bhairvi exists every where.JAI MAA BHARVI.
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