Sharad Navratri (9 nights of celebration of the goddess) is coming up, and will begin on 15th October sunset, and will on end 24th October sunrise. These days are of special significance to states where Devi worship is common, such as Bengal, and given a lot of importance. All the days have special significance and their own festivals.
There are many Navratri festivals in a year (up to 6, for some), but this is the one that is most important. In every Navratri, Nine forms of the goddess are worshipped, one each day. As there are nine planets, these are the Goddesses, and the planets I associate with each goddess.
Day 1 – Shailaputri – Ketu
shail- mountain, putri- daughter
The first form of Devi to be worshipped during navratri, she shows the essentials of what is needed to be successful in a sadhana, namely, the blessings of the ancestors, and a foundation as firm as the mountains. I have chosen Ketu for this form, because ketu is associated both with mountains and with ancestors.
Day 2 – Brahmacharini – Mercury
Brahma- supreme oneness charini- moving towards. ALSO, a female brahmachari, celibate
This form of Devi is an unmarried tapaswi (performer of austerities), a young, unmarried girl who is focused solely on her studies, and becoming one with god, uninterupted by distractions. I have chosen mercury for this form, because mercury is associated with youth, and studies.
Day 3 – Chandraghanta – Moon
Chandra – Moon, Ghanta- bell
This form of the goddess is a newly married Parvati, who has to independently kill demons for the first time, without any help from Shiva. This form refers to conquering of fears. Chandraghanta shows the budding warrior form of the goddess, and the sound of her bell is extremely fearsome, and enough to kill demons.
This form of the goddess is much like the Pavlov’s bell, it is about the training and conditioning of the mind (ruled by the moon). The goddess’s bell removes fears, distractions, anxiety, to bring the sadhak to the present moment. This form of the goddess brings safety and security to her worshippers, even in times of fear and insecurity.
Day 4 – Kushmanda – Sun
Ku-ushma-anda – little warm egg
This form of the goddess is the cosmic light that nourishes and creates the world. The Sun is the light giver, and the source of all energy, the egg that the world comes from.
Day 5 – Skandamata – Mars
Skandamata – mother of Skanda/Kartikeya, the god of war
The God Kartikeya was born for war, and the purpose of the Goddess’s marriage to Shiva was maybe for the purposes of his birth. As his mother, she represents the raising of a child as a dutiful member of society, and the act of violence that birth can be about.
Day 6 – Katyayani – Jupiter
Katyayani – Daughter of Katyanana
Katyayini is the form of the goddess that materialized in the hermitage of Rishi Katyayana. Katyayana was a grammarian, mathematician, and priest, and he is considered to be the father of Katyayani, because she appeared in his home. Because Katyayana was such an eminent scholar, Katyayani is associated with Jupiter.
Day 7 – Kaalratri – Saturn
Kaalratri – Night Time
Kaalratri is a fearsome aspect of the goddess, representing the horrors of war and destruction. Due to her association with time (Kaal), she is associated with Saturn. Her form represents the end of all things, the end of the world itself.
Day 8 – Mahagauri – Venus
Mahagauri – Great Brightness
Mahagauri is the 8th form of the goddess, and the most beautiful form. Her face is clear complexioned, and shines like the moon. Being the most beautiful form of the Goddess, she is associated with Venus.
Day 9 – Siddhidhatri – Rahu
Siddhi- powers, dhatri – giver. Bestower of powers
This is the ninth and final form of the goddess, the one who blesses the ones who worshipped her for this day, and the previous 9 days. She is associated with Rahu, because Rahu, at it’s best, is the culmination of spiritual practice that leads to powers in the material reality.
Navratri Subliminals and Planetary Remediation
For this Navratri, I have made subliminals – music, with mantras encoded within, lowered to a frequency that is inaudbile to the human ear. The use of these subliminals are twofold – they can each be used to remediate the planet each goddess is associated with, and they can be used during Navratri for devotional reasons. I would recommend playing these subliminals and listening to it during this Navratri as well. These subliminals will remain free until the 25th of October 2023. Click here to download.
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