Happy Diwali: A message

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Navaratri Celebration

Navaratri is the festival of nine nights. Just as there is one night devoted to Shiva called Shivaratri, there are nine nights dedicated to Shakti (Divine energy) and this is called Navaratri. Navaratri at the Bangalore Ashram is extremely special as it is believed that the ashram land is where the Devi rested after killing the demon Mahishasura. During Navaratri, the Art of Living family worldwide is in one spirit and has one sankalpa (the power that is born of resolve).

The first three days of Navaratri are committed to honouring Durga, the embodiment of valour and self-confidence. The next three days are committed to Lakshmi, the embodiment of wealth. The last three days are dedicated to Saraswati, the embodiment of knowledge. Thus the significance of Navaratri is linked to one’s spiritual growth. Knowledge and wisdom, skills and virtuous qualities, will be bestowed upon one, after one rids oneself of impurities. Fasting and following a disciplined routine during these days are common practices. One does not fast to please the Gods, but to purify one’s body and mind. By reflecting upon the glory of the Divine Mother during the nine nights of Navaratri, we see, She has many manifestations and guides devotees with love and compassion. It is believed that the 64 divine impulses that govern the subtle creation bestow upon us all the material and spiritual benefits. In the nine nights of Navaratri, these impulses are rekindled so that we can celebrate creation.

There are also many variations of the mythological importance of Navaratri, but the most popular belief is that Durga killed an asura called Mahishasura (buffalo). Explaining the symbolism behind the myth of the buffalo being destroyed by the Devi, Gurudev says: “Drawing upon the collective energies of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva during this nine day period of tapas (austerities), the Devi emerged out of pure love and devotion on the tenth day to conquer the buffalo, (whose eyes are clouded by small mindedness), of inertia and dullness. On the first three days, there is emphasis on the removal and destruction of the grosser forms of obstacles like lust, anger, greed, ego, pride, jealousy, etc. It is Durga, riding on a tiger, who enters the heart of an aspirant and mercilessly slays all those impurities residing within.” The constructive aspect of the Devi is worshipped as Lakshmi, who is seen on a lotus flower. She is considered the embodiment of gentleness, harmony and goodness. Her grace is realized through material and spiritual success. After having rooted out one’s impurities one is ready to receive the highest knowledge—the knowledge of the Self. Saraswati comes forth to enlighten by revealing the latent powers and potential grandeur of the soul.

At our Bangalore Ashram the first of the Homas for Navaratri is the Ganesh Homa (wherein the blessings of Lord Ganesha, the destroyer of all obstacles on one’s path, are taken). This is followed by the Navagraha Homa to propitiate the nine planets. Next is the Ankura Arpana. Ankura means ‘to sprout’. The whole idea of Navaratri is to allow wonderful virtues and qualities to sprout in us. In the sanctum of the puja (worship) place, the Devi is installed on a five seater asana (seat). The first asana is represented by a tortoise to signify patience. So as human beings, we need to enhance this prime quality. The next seat Anantha is represented by Adisesha, the snake which signifies awareness. Then is Simhasana, denoted by lions, who are the embodiment of courage and self confidence. When all these aspects are enhanced in a human being, he is transported to the yogic state, the fourth seat denoted by yogis in the meditative state. Thus when centeredness blossoms in your heart, the Lotus seat or the Padmasan, is ready to receive the full presence of the Devi herself. All the chanting we do during Navaratri is basically aimed at charging the three aspects of our life - wealth, valour and knowledge. The Yagnas have covered all the aspects of existence so beautifully. They comprise of dance, music, food, celebration - everything. Not a single activity has been left out. We have all this and much more at our ashram - the very presence of our Beloved Master who is there during Navaratri! Upavasa actually means sitting close to the Guru. And when you are close to the Guru, the Self, you are in so much bliss that you forget to eat or drink. You don’t feel hungry or thirsty. However, fasting in moderation is good and so is silence. When we avoid useless talk, refrain from complaints, and keep silence with a smile, upavasa happens.

Diverse aspects of the Holy Spirit are invoked during these nine days and this time should be spent to go within and renew your spirit. Navaratri purifies the individual consciousness and then the universal consciousness, the creation.

Every festival has a myth or legend behind it. Every ritual and tradition followed has a deep significance. As Gurudev puts it, “Despite the various ways in which this festival is celebrated, the feature that is common to all of them is the worship of the Mother Goddess and that they are all salutations to the conquest of good over evil. The diversity across various states binds the people in a unique way as the significance behind the festival is common.” Navaratri is celebrated all over India. It is also known as Dusshera. In Northern India, the Ram Leela (story of Lord Rama) is staged with the effigy of the demon king Ravana burnt at the end which again marks the conquest of good over evil. In West Bengal, Navaratri is a public function called Durga Puja. The idols of Goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days in beautifully decorated pandals (big festive tent). On the tenth day, the visarjan or the immersion of the idols in water is performed. The nine days preceding Dusshera provides occasion for folk dances or Dandiya Raas or Garbha in the western provinces. Men and women dress up in traditional costumes; with sticks in their hands, they gracefully sing and dance to the music.

In South India, a stepped altar arranged with small figures of gods, animals, birds, and beings is worshipped for nine days. This altar is called kolu and Bommai kolu (doll altar). In Karnataka, Dusshera is easily the most popular festival, celebrated in the grandest scale. Elephants are decked with robes and jewellery and taken in procession through the streets of the city. Navaratri in the ashram in an unforgettable experience. During the pujas, even if one does not understand the meaning of all the mantras just being there and experiencing the energy is enough. Navaratri is the time when everybody gets together and a sampling from each scripture is presented by scholars who have trained for at least twenty five years in these Vedic sciences.

Navaratri & Fasting

When food is readily available skipping food once in a while sounds attractive. It is not too difficult to give up food. The truth is, for those who have plenty to eat, it is easy to go without food for a day or two. That's why in an affluent society the cults of dieting and fasting become popular. For example, in America the idea of dieting has become very popular. To have an attractive figure becomes more important than food. An extreme form of this can become an illness. In extreme forms this can be pathological and lead to anorexia nervosa.

When we talk of fasting as a spiritual practice, we are not talking about this kind of fasting. That is why we have called it upavaas, which literally means living close to oneself. Normally, one who goes on a fast keeps repeating twenty-four hours a day that he is hungry, that he has not eaten any food that day. His mind continues to fantasize about the food he will eat the next day and plans for it. Then it is merely abstaining from food. The distinction between abstaining from food and fasting, upavas, is this: fasting means residing closer and closer. It means coming closer to the self by creating a distance from the body. Upavaas is a psychological awareness of the separation of the self and the physical state of hunger.

A decision to go on fast for 9 days in navaratri or a similar incidence brings decisiveness in ones life. This is what we also call sankalp. You say to yourself that you shall do this or that. The importance is in completing what you say. Once decisiveness comes in, it brings this quality in other aspects of life in this person. He can get up early in the morning; he can be there on time when he means to and so on.

Any technology in life should bring an appropriate change in one’s life. If a sankalp can be taken and seen through many times in life this should bring decisiveness in that person’s life. The only snag is that if this is done to fulfill ego, ego creeps in as well. And that should be watched for at all times. That is not living close to him or her self.

The whole idea is to bring awareness to our life. It is common knowledge that awareness is increased in moments of crisis. Fasting is a man made crisis in our life. Hunger can be used not only to reduce weight but also to advance further in spiritual journey. Decisiveness is only one of its advantages.

The main application of fasting or upavaas is bringing total awareness to the body. It will become unavoidable. Hunger has its own flow. When each and every cell of the body becomes hungry, the flow of hunger is immense. We all have seen how some people become so irritable when they are hungry. All religions use fasting as a technique. But, Mahavira has done most work with this technique. He even added becoming silent (maun or not speaking) with fasting. That will bring more awareness to the body and help realization of the sepeartion of body and the atma (soul or being). We all have this experience that food brings laziness and desire to sleep. Fasting has the opposite effect on sleep. And that may bring more awareness to the whole equation.

This fasting as a meditation technique is not pathological. It is being used for personal growth and achievements in one’s life. Navaratri is a special occasion. Fasting during these times may have spiritual applications. In the least, it will bring the possibility of becoming decisive. If one truly applies upavaas as a meditative technique, it will help in centering growth. And then there is the unseen and the unexplainable part of it. Some call it esoteric. The effect of the mantras of Durga Shaptasati, the timing of Navaratri and the importance of a particular place (e.g.Kamakhya or Vindhyachal), are all that we cannot even start to speculate.