Saturday 16 July 2011

Navratri March – April 2011

Vasant Navratri, also known as Vasant Navratras and Ram Navaratri, is the festival of nine nights dedicated to Hindu Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. In 2011, Vasant Navratri begins (date) on April 4 and ends on April 12. This Navaratri is also known as Chaitra Navratras or Spring Navratri as it is observed during the Hindu month of Chaitra (March – April).

Please note that this year Vasant Navratri or Chaitra Navaratri occurs early and therefore it is full observed in March and not in April as usual.

Most Hindus associate Navratri with the celebrations that take place in the Hindu lunar month of Ashwni (September – October). But there are four Navratri in a traditional Hindu year. The second most famous Navratri is celebrated in the lunar month of Chaitra (March – April) and ends with Ram Navami. The other two Navratris are known as Gupt Navratri and Magh Navratri.

The Vasant or Spring Navratri is more famous in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), Punjab and Haryana and other North Indian states. Vasant Navratri is held during the beginning of summer. It is a time of thanksgiving to Mother Nature – who protects and sustains us.

The Vasant Navratra also coincides with Ram Navami, which falls on the ninth day of Chaitra month. Due to this the Navratri in March is also known as Ram Navratri. During this period, fairs are organized in temples in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Most devotees fast during the period of Navratri and on the Ashtami day little girls are worshiped as incarnation of Goddess Shakti.

Navaratri Festival Legends

Victory Over Mahishasura
According to a very popular legend, Mahishasura, the mighty demon worshipped Lord Shiva and obtained invincible power. Soon, he started killing the innocent lives on earth and set out to win the seven lokas. He acquired the swarglok. Nobody could save the living creatures from his tyranny. Even the three mighty gods of the Hindu Trinity - Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva - were unable to defeat him. Therefore, all the gods, including the Hindu Trinity, united their supreme powers and created a divine being called Ma Shakti or Durga, the Warrior Goddess.

With all the accumulated power and the weapons given by the gods, Goddess Durga set her trail to defeat Mahishasura. To accomplish the task, she entered a war with him, which extended for nine days. After fighting hard with him for nine days, Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura on the tenth day. Consequently, she lifted the tyranny of the demon off the innocent lives on earth and restored the swarglok to the devatas (Gods). Therefore, Navratri is celebrated to commemorate her victory over the demon, which symbolizes the victory of the good over the evil. The nine nights of Navratri symbolize the nine nights of the war between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura.

Legend of Sati
According to a story in the Hindu mythology, King Daksha of Himalayas was blessed with a beautiful and virtuous daughter, named Uma. She wished to marry Lord Shiva. In order to tie the wedding knot with the god, Uma worshipped him and pleased him. Consequently, Lord Shiva married Uma. One fine day, Uma, now the consort of Lord Shiva, wished to take part in a Yagna conducted by her father. Since her father was not in good terms with him, Lord Shiva refused her to witness the Yagna.

When she turned up at the Yagna, her father - King Daksha - insulted Lord Shiva. Unable to withstand the insult, the angry Uma decided to end her life by jumping into the agni kund. Soon after doing this, she was united with the eternity. Therefore, Uma came to be known as Sati. Sati was reborn again. In the second birth, Sati married Lord Shiva and the divine couple lived happily, thereafter. It is believed that Sati comes to stay with her parents for nine days, every year. This is celebrated as Navratri.

Other Legends
  • A story says that in the ancient times, the Kshatriyas abstained from taking part in any warlike activities during the monsoon season. Once the season was over, they made a fresh start with their war activities. Therefore, before their commence their new activities, they would worship different avatars of Ma Durga, the Goddess of Warriors, for nine whole days, which is now celebrated as Navratri.
  • A popular legend associated with the celebration of Navratri is the story of Lord Rama, who wanted to rescue his wife Sita, from the demon king- Ravana. To freed her from the clutches of the demon king, Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga in her nine different forms, for nine days, so that he gets all the strength and power to kill Ravana. All the nine days became Navratri and hence, celebrated every year. On the tenth day, Rama killed Ravana and that day is called Vijayadashmi or Dussehra.

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