From a satsang with Pt. Balram Persad, Spiritual Leader, SWAHA Om Shakti Mandali
Children are the most precious gifts of creation, embodying the pure essence of life’s journey. The early years of childhood, from birth to seven, are a time of immense impressionability, where the mind and body undergo continuous development, a process that extends until the age of twenty-five. These formative years serve as the foundation for a child’s future, shaped largely by their environment and the values they absorb from those around them. It is our solemn duty to lead by example, instilling in them virtues through our thoughts, words and deeds.
Within the sacred spiritual landscape of Sanaatan Dharma, the Divine is envisioned beyond the confines of gender, existing as both masculine and feminine energies. The festival of Nav Raatri is a profound expression of this belief, celebrating various divine manifestations of the female principle. Among these, the Nav Kanyas, as revealed in the revered Devi Bhagwat, hold a place of deep veneration. These nine young maidens are considered earthly embodiments of the Divine Mother, each carrying a unique spiritual significance.
Bhagavan Shankar, in his divine form as Ardhanishwar, exemplifies the perfect union of masculine and feminine energies. This balance is reflected in many celestial counterparts—Shri Raam and Sita Maataa, Radha Krishna, Lakshmi Narayan, Shiv Shakti—each representing complementary forces that uphold the cosmic order. An ancient metaphor likens the mother to the foundation of a home, the father to its sheltering roof, and the children to its doors and windows—each an essential element in the sanctity of a household.
Sanaatan Dharma’s sacred scriptures extol the power and significance of the feminine, portraying the Divine Mother as the ultimate source of Shakti, or divine energy. The Nav Kanyas, spanning the tender ages of two to ten, are revered as manifestations of this divine energy, each embodying a distinct blessing:
- Kumarika (Age 2): She symbolises the alleviation of physical ailments and the bestowal of robust health. As health is the foundation of all prosperity, her worship grants this invaluable gift.
- Trimurti (Age 3): The embodiment of harmony, she fosters unity within the family, community and society. She also represents the internal harmony of mind, body and soul.
- Kalyaani (Age 4): The bestower of wisdom, she encourages the pursuit of knowledge and the guidance of sacred scriptures as a lamp in life’s journey.
- Rohini (Age 5): She grants relief from mental afflictions such as stress, anxiety and depression, offering a path to internal tranquillity.
- Kaalikaa (Age 6): The fierce warrior of internal transformation, she empowers devotees to overcome negative tendencies—anger, jealousy, arrogance, hatred and ignorance—leading them toward self-purification.
- Chandikaa (Age 7): She bestows spiritual wealth, nurturing the divine connection within and fostering a life rooted in devotion.
- Shambhavi (Age 8): The giver of recognition and success, she aids in overcoming obstacles and achieving both material and spiritual victories.
- Durga (Age 9): She dispels fear and illusion, guiding devotees to transcend Maayaa (the material illusion) and conquer doubts that impede progress.
- Subhadra (Age 10): She fulfills righteous desires, rewarding sincere devotion with divine grace and auspicious blessings.
The veneration of these nine divine Goddesses during Nav Raatri aligns us with the sacred energies that nurture, defend and guide us on the path of righteousness. As the Argala Stotram proclaims:
“Rupam Dehi Jayam Dehi Yasho Dehi Dwisho Jahi”
O Divine Mother, grant us beauty, bestow victory, bestow glory and vanquish our internal adversaries.
Through self-discipline, devotion and introspection, humanity can transcend material distractions and attain the blissful state of spiritual fulfillment. When we conquer both the internal and outer battles of existence, we achieve the true essence of success—the triumph of the soul in its divine journey.
Leave a Reply