Post No. 11,899
Date uploaded in London – – 13 APRIL 2023
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
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tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan
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Little Girl Puja/ worship is called Kanyaa Poojaa. Nava means Nine and Ratri means Night.
Nine Night/s Festival before Deepavali (Diwali) is famous throughout India. That falls in Bhadrapada month corresponding to September/ October in English calendar. Instead of Bhadrapada it may be even Asvina, because outside Tamil Nadu Hindus calculate a month from New moon day called Amaavaasai. Tamil calendar is solar calendar. Each month begins when the sun enters the particular zodiac sign.
Let us look at Four Navaratris covering Four Seasons
1.Aashaada Navaraatri; starting after the New moon
day of the month Aashaada
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2.Saaradhaa Navaraatri- starting after the New moon
day of the month Bhaadrapada
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3.Shyaamalaa Navaraatri- starting after the New moon
day of the month Tishya or Pausa (Thai in Tamil)
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4.Vasantha Navaratri- starting after the New moon
day of the month Falguna or Chaitra
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Of the four Nine Nights Festivals, Saradha and Vasantha Navaratris are famous and celebrated until this day.
Here is a description of Kanchi Shankaracharya Sri Chandrasekarendra Sarasvati’s (1894-1994) Navaratri celebration in 1957.
“Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam has been performing Navaraatri Poojaa at the premises of the Madras Sanskrit College, Mylapore, since September 24 (1957) and it concluded this afternoon (3 October) with the worship connected with Vijaya Dasami. His Holiness broke the Mouna Vrata (Silence), which he has been observing for the past nine days, with his talk on Sri Sankara Bhashya.
Kanya Puja formed part of the daily worship. Puja was offered to one Kanya (little girl), aged one year, on the first day, to two kanyas, aged one year and two years each on second day, to three kanyas, aged one, two, three years each on the third day and so on.
On the Saraswathi Puja day, in addition to Kanya Puja, Brahmachari puja and Suvasini Puja were also performed.
(Pronunciation Guide:
Kanya= Kanyaa; Puja= Poojaa, Suvasini = Suvaasinii;
Brahmachari= Brahmachaari; Nava ratri= Nava raatri.)
At the conclusion of Vijaya Dasami Puja, abishekam with sanctified waters was performed to His Holiness Jagadguru and His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal.
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From the above report we come to know the Mouna Vrata (silence),and Kanya Puja part of Navaratri.
Women and Sakthi worshippers observe fasting, silence, Puja/worship during the Nine days. During day time they recite Lalithaa Sahasranaama Hymn.
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This Navaratri, falls before Deepavali and it has taken different dimensions in different states. The common theme is the destruction of evil forces by the goddess Durga.
The demon is known as Buffalo demon (Mahisha) and the goddess who destroyed him is known as Mahisa Asura Mardhani.
In West Bengal and Bangladesh, it is called Durga Puja culminating in the Tenth Day- Vijaya Dasami- Victorious Tenth Day.
In Gujarat the nine day Garba dance worship is performed.
In Tamil Nadu, all the temples have different Alankaras (decorations) the same Goddess. Most of the houses have Doll Shows known as Kolu or Golu. Women visit other houses and exchange Turmeric and Kunkum (vermillion powder). They eat Boiled Spicy Pulses called Sundal as Prasaad.
In Mysuru, big Dasara (Dusserah) festival is celebrated.
Mysuru itself is derived from Mahisasura killing
In Delhi and other North Indian towns Ram Lila (raam leelaa) is celebrated and the effigies of demons Raavana, Kumbakarna and Meganaatha were burnt.
All over India, all Devi Temples do special pujas for nine days.
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Devi Bhagavatha’s third and 27th Chapters give more details of these Pujas (Worship). Following is taken from Wisdomlib.org
Number Sixteen
As ordained in the Vedas, the Nine nights’ worship is to be made in the seasons of spring and autumn. These two seasons are called Kāladaṃṣtrās (the tusks of seasons). Diseases and deaths occur in these seasons in excess, and so it is ordained that this fast and worship should be conducted in the months of Meḍam (Meṣa) and Tulām.
Vyāsa has ordered that navarātri worship should be conducted as follows. The things necessary for the worship and oblations should be collected on the new moon day. Only clarified butter could be eaten on that day. An open temple should be erected with pillars and flag-posts in an open flat place which is pure. It will be good if the shed has a circumference of sixteen cubits. There should be sixteen pillars. The shed should be floored with the mixture of cowdung and white clay. In the middle of the shed there must be a dais having a height of one cubit and a circumference of four cubits. This is the place for the seat. The shed and the dais should be decorated.
The throne placed on the dais must be covered with a white silk and Devī (goddess) should be consecrated on it. A calm Brahmin should read the Vedas and at that time the worship of the goddess should begin. This worship will continue for nine days. Another ritual of this ‘navarātripūjā’ is the worship of virgins. (See under Kumārīpūjā)
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Virgin Puja
Navaratri ot the holy nine nights is a period of festivity observed by the Hindus for nine days or rather nights after sunset in temples in the month of Purattasi corresponding to the English month September-October, commencing on the first day in the bright fortnight of the month every year. The object or aim with which it is observed is said to be to propitiate the Goddess symbolising every possible kind of energy in the universe, with a view to obtain perpetual happiness and prosperity.
A noteworthy feature in the observance of the Navaratri Vratha is that virgins, ranging from the age of two to ten, are especially noticed with gifts of saffron, vermilion flowers, sandal paste, fruits, etc., after the Gauripuja. The reason for this is obvious. Nine Saktis or forces of Devi are recognised. These are personified and given the names of (1) Kumari, (2) Trimurti, (3) Kalyani, (4) Rohini, (5) Kalika, (6) Chandika, (7) Sambavi, (8) Durga and (9) Subhadra.
The Navaratri festival is also known as the Dasara festival. On the ninth and the last day of this period, the goddess Saraswati is worshipped. The worship goes by the name Saraswathi Puja. It is interesting to note that this puja is performed in honour of the element Vayu (air). The goddess is installed in a pot called ‘gadam’.
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5. In all the cases, the Kumārīs, born of the Brāhmin families, can be taken; when victory is desired, the Kumārīs of the Kṣattriya families are preferred; when profit is wanted, the Vaiśya Kumārīs and, when general welfare is wanted, the Śūdra Kumārīs are to be taken.
6-7. O king! In the Navarātri Pūjā, the Brāhmins should select for worship the Brāhmin Kumārīs; Kṣattriyas, Brāhmin or Kṣattriya; the Vaiśya worshippers can select for worship Brāhmin, Kṣattriya, or Vaiśya Kumārīs. And the Śūdra worshippers can select, for worship, any of the four classes. But artists and artisans should select for worship the Kumārīs from their own families and tribes respectively.Chapter 27 of Devi Bhagavata
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Kumārīpūjā (कुमारीपूजा).—It is a special item in Navarātripūjā. According to the definition ‘Kumārikā tu sā proktā dvivarṣā yā bhavediha,’ Kumārī is a two-year old female child. To worship such a child is Kumarīpūjā, and it should be conducted accompanied by sumptuous feasts and presentation of clothes etc. There are no hard and fast rules as to how many Kumārīs should be worshipped and as to the manner and method of the worship. The same Kumārī may be worshipped during all the days of the Pūjā, or every day one more girl may be worshipped like this:—one girl on the first day, two on the second day and so on. Or it may be in the order 4, 6, 8 etc or 4, 8, 12, 16 etc. Even if the daily number be nine it is in order. There is no rule that Kumārīs alone should be worshipped; any one of the navakanyakās would do. A girl two years old is called Kumārī, three years old Trimūrti; four years old Kalyāṇī; five years old Rohiṇī; six years old Kālī; Seven years old Caṇḍikā; eight years old Śāmbhavī; nine years old Durgā and ten years old Subhadrā. These girls are called Navakanyakās. (Devī Bhāgavata, 3rd Skandha).
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Lord Rama did Navaratri Puja
49. In former days, Śrī Rāma Candra suffered very much owing to his being deprived of his kingdom; and, then on account of his wife being stolen away. Subsequently he performed this Navarātra vow in Kiskindhyā, his heart being heavily laden with grief.
50. Though troubled very much, on account of the bereavement of Sītā, still Rāma Candra observed the Vow of Navarātra and worshipped the Goddess according to the prescribed rules and rites.
51-52. As a fruit of this worship he was able to bridge the great ocean and kill the giant Kumbha Karṇa, Meghanāda, the Rāvaṇa’s son, and Rāvaṇa, the king of Lanka; and subsequently he was able to recover his Sītā. He installed Vibhīṣaṇa on the throne of Lanka (Ceylon) and at last returned to Ayodhyā and reigned there without any enemies.
53. O best of the Vaiśyas! Rāma Candra, of incomparable prowess, was able to obtain happiness in this world on account of the influence of this Navarātra ceremony.
Lord Rama shifted the importance from Vasanta Navratri to Saradha Navaratri, because he became victorious in the Rama- Ravana battle after worshipping Durga.
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Vasantha Navaratri (Spring Season= Vasantha)
Falguna or Chaitra month in Hindu Calendar
The Vasant or Spring Navratri is widely observed in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), Haryana, Punjab , Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir. Most Hindu devotees in this part of India undertake Navratri Vrat or fasting. It coincides with Ram Navami.
There is a long story about it in the Devi Bhagavata. To cut it short, Goddess destroyed King Yudhajit of Ujjain, the father of Queen Lilavati, and King Virasena of Kalinga, He installed his grand son Satrujit as the King of Ayodhya. But Goddess helped the genuine prince Sudrasana who married Sasikala to win back the kingdom by killing Yudhajit.
Vasant Navratri nine days are celebrated :
Day 1.Ghatsthapana – Navratri.
Day 2. Sindhara Dooj, Dwitiya.
Day 3. Varadvinayak Chaturthi.
Day 4. Sri Laxmi Panchami Vrat, Naag Vrat Pujan.
Day 5. Panchami.
Day 6. Skand Shashthi, Yamuna Jayanti.
Day 7. Mahasaptami Vrat, Chaiti Chath, Vijaya Saptami .
Day 8. Sri Durga Mahaashtami, Annapurna Ashtami.
Day 9. Vasant Navratri ends – Ram Navratri Day.
Now all the Sankaracharya Mutts and the Sakthi worshippers observe this Navaratri with the same fervour.
Devi Bhagavata says the three days Saptami, Ashtami and Navami (7th, 8th , 9th day) are more important. Even if one is not able to do Nine Night worship, all must observe these three days.
–subham–
Tags- Navaratri, Vasantha , Ram lila, Dasara, Durga Puja, Kolu, Golu, Sundal, Garba, Goddess, Mahisasuramardhani,
Tamil and Vedas 