NAVRATRI

In the nine days of Navratri, we worship the “Shakti” (energy). To impose a good thought or deed, and to carry it forward, energy is required. Just because a good thought is there it will not stay. That is why, many a times, apparently the good have lost to the evil forces, at least temporarily.

Navratri comes in the month of Aso. There is a story behind this festival. There was a evil man (Rakshasha) called Mahisasur. Due to his physical power, he harassed the good people & devatas. The good men and Devatas were almost defeated. Hence, they approached to Bharma, Vishnu & Mahesh. After knowing all the facts, all the three Suprimos got angry & concentrated their energy and weapons to destroy Mahisasur. With this divine energy “Amba mata or Jagdamba “, as we call her, emerged. The evil power of Mahisasur was destroyed and the good won! Hence, during these days; we must “kill” our evils existing in us, and pray to Goddess Amba for energy to fulfill this achievement. Today “Mahisasur” i.e. Maya or evil thoughts and deeds are in all of us. To get ourselves free from these pitfalls, we must crave energy from Ma Amba in these nine days.

Asur or Rakshasha does not mean an ugly looking man with horns on his head, but a person who just does not know the purpose of human life. He thinks and feels that to enjoy all the physical and worldly enjoyments. In short, he only wants to “eat, drink and be merry”. “Mahisha’ means ‘Pado’ or a “male buffalo”. This animal only looks towards its own happiness and well being. It does not care for others. This type of ‘self centered’ thoughts makes the society blunt, and self oriented and without emotions. Today, the whole culture and society is inflated with ill thoughts and deeds. To control these “Mahisha” we must pray to Goddess Amba for power and energy, which will help us building ourselves and destroying the evil forces.