(Sattvik picture by Sanatan Sanstha's seeker Ms. Anuradha Vadekar of
Sree Durgadevi posing subtly for 5 hours, under guidance of Sage Rama)

Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhike l
Sharanye trayambake gauri, Narayani namostute ll

Meaning: O Mother ! You are the personification of all that is auspicious, You are the benevolent form of Lord Shiva, You bestow Divine energy and help people achieve Righteousness, wealth, fulfill desires and Liberation, You are worthy of being surrendered to. Three eyes adorn You. O Narayani Devi, I pay obeisance to You !

What Name should we chant during Navratri?
Navratri begins on Ashwin Shukla 1 (30th September 2010) on this year. According to one school of thought, Sri Mahakali (who has a tama pre-dominant temperament) is worshipped on the first 3 days of Navratri, to reduce the tama component in ourselves. The next 3 days, to enhance the sattva component in ourselves, Sri Mahalakshmi (who has a sattva pre-dominant temperament) is worshipped and on the last 3 days, to intensify the spiritual practice, Mahasaraswati (who has a raja pre-dominant temperament) is worshipped. Chant the Names of these Deities during these days. To learn more, obtain your copy of the Holy text ‘Shakti’, published by Sanatan Sanstha from the Sanatan centre nearest to you.

Celebrate Navaratri according to science of Spirituality

The Navaratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) in a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe. The uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi. During Navaratri, the principle of Sree Durgadevi is more active in the atmosphere. When we understand the spiritual science behind the various rites that come under the worship of Sree Durgadevi, we become worthy of absorbing more of the Divine energy principle, thereby acquiring more of Her grace.

Navaratri: Night indicates 'switch over in the process'. one of the Goddess's names is Kalratri. Kalratri is one who brings about changes in the Kalpurush. Earth's basic nature is to rotate. Due to this rotation, changes like night and day occur. Vowed observances (vrat) help the body adjust to the changes. To reduce the tama gun, Goddess Mahakali is worshipped during the first 3 days of Navaratri. In the next 3 days Satvaguni Goddess Mahalaxmi is worshipped to increase the satva gun. And during the last 3 days of navaratri Rajoguni Goddess Maha Saraswati is worshipped to increase the intensity of our spiritual practice.
Garba: 'Garbo' is derived from the word garbho (meaning womb). Symbollically, the Divine mothers' energy is worshipped by instilling a lamp in an earthen pot with tiny holes. As a symbol of procreation the Deepagarbha is worshipped for 9 days. With passage of time, the word deep Deepagarbha was shortened and only the words garbha-garbo or garba became prevalent.

What does Goddess Durga do during Navratri?

During the nine days of Navratri, Sri Durgadevi wanders in the Universe along with Her nine weapons, with the help of the Absolute Fire Principle. Roaming every day in new forms, the Primal Divine Energy completely annihilates the distressing frequencies coming from the seven Patals (the nether regions) to the earth every day, in an ascending order. The distressing frequencies transmitted by the negative energies and the chaitanya (Divine consciousness) frequencies of the destroyer form of the Primal Divine Energy are continuously at war in the Universe.

Sri Durgadevi mounts fierce attacks of radiance with lightning speed, with Her weapons. The pitcher (established during Navratri) and the Holy lamp in it are therefore worshipped as a symbol of this. The heat generated by the lamp in the pitcher denotes the scorching atmosphere created as a result of the continuous war that goes on in the Universe for nine days. The Holy lamp is the symbol of radiance that is created by the weapons and missiles of the Primal Divine Energy. The act of worshipping the pitcher also awakens the destroyer chaitanya of Sri Durgadevi and wipes out the distressing frequencies present in the Vastu. – A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 18th May 2005, 10.18 p.m.)

This 'Navaratri', Pray to 'Sree Durgadevi' to destroy the Evil !
'Navaratri' is the festival of worship of the Goddess Shakti. It is a period of nine days, when the Goddess fought the Demon 'Mahishashura' over nine days and nights and destroyed him on the tenth day. Performing of Garba and the 'Dandiya' are forms of worship of the Goddess. The Navaratri festival has been celebrated for thousands of years. Today, like in other Hindu festivals, many malpractices have crept into this festival, also resulting in public nuisance. The public nuisance includes forcible collection of donation, noise pollution, 'Garba' performed to the tune of film songs, obscene dancing in drunken states with obscene gestures, significant rise in the number of unmarried mothers after a few months of Navaratri, all this sounds a death knell for the Hindu religion and civilization. In order to caution the Hindus about this danger, and also to protect and maintain the sanctity of Hindu religion and civilization, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has undertaken this campaign. Today we are faced with the problems of corruption, terrorism, naxalism etc., along with increasing anti-Hindu incidents wherein Hindu temples, Saints, Scriptures are targeted by the unrighteous (Dharmadrohis) it is high time for Hindus to unite and fight against these evils. With the grace of Sree Durgadevi, devout Hindus will succeed. On the eve of 'Navaratri' let us pray to the Goddess 'Mahishasurmardini' to give us strength to fight against the evil and protect our Hindu Dharma. - Editor

To stop the undesirable practices in Navaratri you can do this !
* Do not give or take donations by force.
* Avoid disco-dandiya programs which play Hindi film songs or Western music.
* If loudspeakers are used after 10.00 p.m. lodge a complaint with the nearest police station.
* Avoid immersion processions, where people dance obscenly.
* Do not burst crackers or apply 'Gulal' forcefully.
* Use your contacts to organize programs on Protecting the Nation and
Righteousness.
* Learn the spiritual science behind the rites/rituals and share it with as many people as you can.
* Be alert! Unite! Firmly oppose immoral practices during the celebration festival.