Navaratri
Navaratri is a widely celebrated festival in India, especially in South India, where people display dolls (Golu) for nine days and invite friends and family for Arishina Kumkuma. It takes place during the Ashvayuja Masa Shukla Paksha, in the first nine days of Sharad Rutu.
In the Bhavishyottara Purana, Lord Narayana explains the significance of Navaratri to Sri Narada. During these nine days, devotees observe rituals to please Goddess Mahalakshmi, who manifests in nine forms, including Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, and Durga.
Women commonly recite Srinivasa Kalyana, Lakshmi Shobhane, and Sundara Kaandam, while men perform Sumadhwa Vijaya Parayana daily, culminating with a special offering on Vijayadasami (Madhva Jayanthi).
The important days of Navaratri include Ayudha Pooja, Saraswathy Pooja, Vijaya Dashami, and Madhwa Jayanthi.
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as the embodiment of the night, while Narayana represents the day. Navaratri rituals, when performed by both men and women, bring fulfillment of their desires. This is illustrated by the following verse:
Navaratri (Ashvija Shukla Pratipada to Navami)
Sanskrit Verse: रात्रि रूपा यतो देवी, दिवा-रूपो महेश्वरः । रात्रि व्रतमिदं देवि, सर्व पाप प्रणाशनम् ।। सर्व काम-प्रदं नृणां सर्व शत्रु निबर्हणम् । रात्रि व्रतं इदं तस्य रात्रौ कर्तव्यता इष्यते ॥
Translation: The Goddess takes the form of night, and Maheshwara (Narayana) takes the form of day. This night vow (Navaratri) is the destroyer of all sins, fulfiller of all desires, and remover of all enemies. Therefore, this vow must be observed at night.
Navaratri begins at the start of Ashvija month, leading up to Deepavali at the end of the month. It lasts for nine days, from Shukla Pratipada to Navami. The day after Sarva Pitru Amavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya marks the beginning of Navaratri. On this day, after an oil bath (Abhyanga), the family deity is invited into the home, and for nine days, the deity is worshipped with unwavering devotion. The deity is invoked in the Akhanda Deepa (unbroken lamp), which is worshipped in the morning and evening for all nine days, bringing peace and contentment to the household.
Kolu (Doll Display) Tradition: Women play a significant role in the Navaratri festival, particularly in the Kolu (doll display) rituals. They take care of the Akhanda Deepa, prepare the daily offerings for the Kolu, and create intricate rangoli designs in the home.
The festival consists of eight key components, each offering great spiritual rewards:
According to Dharmashastra, those unable to observe the full Navaratri can still achieve their goals by lighting an Akhanda Deepa for three or even just one day.
Sanskrit Verse: नवरात्रि व्रते अशक्तः, त्रि-रात्रं, एक रात्रं वा । व्रतं चरति यो भक्तः, तस्मै दास्यामि वाञ्छितम् ॥
Translation: If one is unable to observe the full Navaratri vow, observing it for three nights or even one night with devotion will still bring the desired results.
The Akhanda Deepa, made with cotton wicks, offers immense spiritual benefits, including the removal of sins and the bestowal of knowledge, health, wealth, and progeny. According to the Panchratra Agama, lighting the Akhanda Deepa with devotion is said to lead to moksha (liberation).
Akhanda Deepa Lighting Procedure: With a pure mind, after performing Sandhyavandana, the Akhanda Deepa is decorated with turmeric, kumkum, and flowers. The wick is placed, and the lamp is prepared with ghee or oil. The lamp symbolizes Lakshmi Devi in the oil, with the wick representing the serpent king Vasuki. The lamp is then lit, invoking the family deity and other divine beings like Surya, Chandra, and Agni. The Sankalpa (vow) for the Navaratri festival is then recited.
Parayana for Success: During Navaratri, devotees engage in intense recitation (Parayana) of scriptures to fulfill their desires and achieve success. The recitation during Navaratri is considered a thousand times more powerful than at any other time, as mentioned in the Smriti Muktavali.
Sanskrit Verse: अन्यत् च यत्कृतं पुण्यं स्नान दान जपादिकम् । तस्मिन्स्तु नवके तत् स्यात् सर्वं लक्षेण संमितम् ।।
Translation: Any merit gained from bathing, charity, or recitation is multiplied by a hundred thousand during Navaratri.
The texts commonly recited during Navaratri include:
These texts, among others, bring immense spiritual benefits when recited with devotion during the nine days of Navaratri.
| Category | Festivals |
| month | Aashwija |
| paksha | Shukla |
| tithi | Pratipada |
| Nakshatra | |
| yogha |
