Navratri (or 9 nights) is a Hindu vacation that honors Shakti or the Divine Female/Mom and appears to her for non secular cleaning, steerage, and enlightenment. It lasts for 9 nights and ten days. The 9 nights are damaged up into units of three, and through every set a specific side of the Divine Mom is meditated upon. Every set of nights additionally corresponds with a specific non secular aim and activity.
The primary set of nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Female in her highly effective and harmful side referred to as Durga or Kali. We ask the goddess to assist us establish and eradicate these elements of our self that aren’t useful, skillful, or productive, reminiscent of greed, envy, procrastination, laziness, mendacity, gossiping, and so forth. We additionally ask her to guard our non secular apply from its many risks and pitfalls.
The second set of nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Mom in her non secular wealth-giving side know as Lakshmi. We ask the goddess to assist us develop and preserve useful qualities, reminiscent of persistence, forgiveness, compassion, loving-kindness, and integrity.
The third set of nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Female in her non secular wisdom-bestowing side referred to as Sarasvati. We ask the goddess to assist us to attain self-realization and perceive common truths reminiscent of our divine nature and the interconnectedness of dwelling beings. The tenth day is spent providing gratitude to the Divine Mom and is spent celebrating in a state of sat-chit-ananda or truth-consciousness-bliss.
To Title These Days:
Prayers & Mantras
Chant the mantra “Om Bhavani” (“Within the Title of the Divine Mom”) all through the 9 days.
Religious Practices
Apply a respiratory meditation. As you inhale, say the standard you are attempting to domesticate; as you exhale, the standard you are attempting to let go of. For instance, on the inhale, I would say, “Inhaling Compassion” and on the exhale I would say, “Respiration out Criticism.”
Private Exporations
Take time every of the 9 days or not less than as soon as each three days to concentrate on the three elements of the divine female which can be inside you and the corresponding non secular duties.
Days 1 – 3: Focus in your inside energy and energy. Write down the qualities or habits you want to let go of. Decide considered one of these and apply letting go of it.
Days 4 – 6: Focus in your inside life-giving pressure and nurturer. Write down the qualities or habits you want to domesticate. Decide considered one of these and apply incorporating it.
Days 7 – 9: Focus in your inside knowledge and information. Write down the non secular teachings you want to be taught or higher perceive. Decide one and skim an inspiring ebook or article about it.
Ami Bhalodkar is an interfaith minister. She is a member of the college of the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York Metropolis and lectures on Hinduism. Along with offering interfaith workshops, Rev. Bhalodkar performs custom-made marriage ceremony ceremonies and gives non secular counseling.