The Benefits of Navraatri

Pt. Balram Persad, Spiritual Leader, Om Shakti Mandali

In the auspicious time of Navraatri, devotees around the world will be concentrating on the many manifestations of the Divine Mother. Our earthly mother gave birth to us but the Divine Mother gave us life. When we try to grow spiritually, to understand ourselves, life and living, then we turn to the knowledge of the scriptures. Our scriptures nourish us spiritually, and so they are also considered a form of the Divine Mother, Ved Maataa. We cannot live without the trees, plants and watercourses provided by Mother Nature; they provide sustenance so that we may lead a meaningful life. On Mother Earth, there is Ganga Maataa and Gow Maata, the holy river and cow. There are many other forms of the Divine Mother. If we think of a house, the foundation represents the mother; the roof, the father; the doors and windows are the children. Together, they build a home and family.

The Divine Mother, Devi, represents shakti or energy. Durga means ‘that which is very difficult to attain or achieve’ but conversely, ‘that which is easy to attain’. What is the difference? It depends on the attitude, knowledge, experience, maturity and wisdom of the individual. What is easily attainable for one individual may be difficult for another. Like the sun and the rain, Devi Maa shines and rains upon all with her grace, glory and blessings. Yet, the effect of such blessings may be different depending on the place and the people. Lakshmi Maataa is the manifestation of the various forms of wealth. Besides the acquisition of material possessions, there are health, stable relationships and spiritual forms of wealth. Saraswati Maataa also traditionally represents knowledge and the arts. These forms of the Devi represent Icchaa Shakti, Gyaan Shakti and Kriyaa Shakti: willpower, right knowledge and right action and, in time, represented by Kaali Maa, the achievement of the right result.

There are four Navraatris every year. In Trinidad, we observe the two that take place immediately after Pitra Paksha and Phagwa. These are times for heightening our spiritual growth and development so that we may remember who we are in relation to God, that we are spiritual beings. It is a reminder that the Divine manifests from time to time and is beyond gender, race, colour and religion. It is man who colours God. Man projects his imperfections on God, who is perfection itself. The Divine can manifest in the form of man, woman, half man-half lion (Narasimha), elephant (Ganesh) and other forms. No one can define God, who is anything and everything. He says, “As you see me, so I am.”

Navraatri is observed for nine days usually, and is a period of fasting, based on one’s health conditions. It is a time for keeping the mind fixed on the Divine Being in the form of Devi. The mental state is important when fasting, including the development of calmness and tranquillity. It must be observed with lighting deeyas, performing havan, reciting mantra jap, reciting the various stotras and stuthis, making offerings, being charitable and performing a host of other good actions. According to the Devi Bhagwat, there are several benefits to be gained by these observances.

• Sukha Daayak: It gives happiness to the devotee;
• Gyaan Daayak: It brings sight and insight; knowledge and vision; knowledge for information and wisdom for transformation;
• Moksha Daayak: It frees us from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth as well as the bondage of sin and suffering;
• Sukh Santan Daayak: We all have desires although these differ from person to person. It gives us what we seek once we are sincere in our search;
• Shatru Nash Kari: It destroys one enemies; not just external enemies, but most importantly, the enemies on the inside. In the Ramayan, Ravan boasted that he had destroyed all the His wife, Mandodhari, looked at him with a smile and said respectfully, “My Lord, you boast of destroying them, but pride, arrogance and ignorance defeat you on the inside. Who is the greater and bigger conqueror? He who has conquered lands and people or he who has won the hearts of people?”

We must do our best in life and leave the rest in the hands of the Divine. Have faith in the face of adversity and opposition. Our Hindu scriptures contain stories of people who were downtrodden and depressed, who were taken advantage of, but who, like a lotus flower, eventually rose above such circumstances. If we are blessed by Devi Maa, we will have the impulse to protect our way of life, values, traditions, religious beliefs and practices. If we have Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati Maa, we will have the willpower, the right knowledge and the right action, which will lead to the right results. Knowledge and devotion will lead us to spiritual experiences but the effort that we make is very important.