Brought to you by: Gayatri Pariwar: Bangalore A festival of nine days

Importance of Navaratri  The festival of Navaratri is auspicious occasions for the purpose of Sadhana.  It falls around the two main six-monthly equinoctial divisions of the year and have special temporal and spiritual significance.  Environment, at the subtle level, are charged with immense energizing and nourishing vibrations, during this period

Divine Energy flow in 9 days  According to Arogyashastra these 9-days generate a tidal wave in the physical life force which nullifies and expels whatever toxic elements had accumulated in the body during the preceding six months  Similarly, there is an enhanced flow of vital spiritual energy all around during the Navaratri period.

Navratri Sadhana Navaratri is divided into sets of 3 days to adore 3 different aspects of the supreme goddess

Kleem Kali removes infirmity. On the first three days, the goddess is invoked as a powerful spiritual force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects

Shreem Lakshmi removes lack During the next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth.

Hreem – Saraswati removes ignorance, The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the daughter of brahma as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati.

On the tenth day of Navratri, called as Dussehra, an effigy of Ravana ( impurities and vices in us) is burnt to celebrate the victory of good over evil.

Laghu Anushthana sadhana of Gayatri is recommended as most suitable for the Navaratri period. It consists of japa of the Gayatri Mantra with meditation on the rising sun and adoption of certain self-control disciplines Those who cannot do japas, may do the sadhana of chanting the Gayatri Chalisa 240 times or that of writing Gayatri Mantras in the nine days Navaratri Anushthan

A havan (yagya) should be performed on the last day of the anushthana to mark its completion. The number of herbal oblations (along with loud chanting of the Gayatri Mantra) made in the sacred fire of this yagya should be at least one hundredth of the total number of japas completed.Gayatri Poornahuti

Essence of Navaratri – Anusthana: Self Control It is necessary to grasp the essence of Navaratri - anusthana propounded by our rishis. Navaratri symbolizes the nine doors or sense organs, which are situated in the Ayodhya of the human body :- Through misuse or abuse, bred by ignorance, they are clogged with dross. Hence, through anusthana, we have to reflect on all the doors and by cleansing them awaken the divine potencies latent in them. Indeed, this is the real meaning of Navaratri – sadhana!!!

Essential disciplines for Navaratri Sadhana

 Fasting  Continence  Sleeping on a hard bed  Not taking service from others  Keeping the daily routine well regulated and disciplined.

At the mental plane, too, one should try to remain in an exalted state of happiness, goodwill, calm, peace and contemplation. Even while engaged in meeting your normal daily obligations, the sadhak should remain immersed in Ishta-remembrance and keep oneself free from envy, jealousy, idle-gossip and slander.

Why Fasting?? You fast for two reasons:  During this time usually people get sick, so to give some rest to your stomach and get rid of all the bad stuff collected meanwhile.  Since your mind has effect of what you eat, fasting or satvic food is taken during these days Depending upon one's health and level of self-control, the fasting could be observed by consuming only milk or fruits once or twice a day; taking tasteless (without salt and sugar) food; or taking simple and light vegetarian food only once a day, etc. Why Brahmacharya?? To prevent waste of PRANSHAKTI

Why Gayatri Mantra ?? A question may arise here that Navaratri is associated with the worship of Durga and so, how is Gayatri anusthana related with it. One should know that Durga - Mahakali is a form of Gayatri Mahashakti. Durga is the name of the form of the supreme force that destroys whatever is base, evil and dark. The worship of Durga in her nine external forms is done precisely with a view that she destroys the vices, which have taken root in our sense-consciousness. It is the sinful tendencies / instincts of man that are the Mahishasur (the buffalo-demon). In Navaratri, an attempt is made to restrain and throw out of our psyche those tendencies through mental resolve and regulated conduct. A self- controlled and purified soul is endowed with the power of Durga, Mahakali or Gayatri.

Our misfortune…… We never understood the sanctity

Today‘s More energy consumption (instead of conservation) by many irrelevant and hectic celebration in the name of Navratri Worse food habits practiced while fasting Increased sound pollution due to louds songs at pandals, obstructing the divine energy flow in the envoirnment Envoirnment getting effected due to Visarjan of Murti’s made of toxic material Illegal abortion rate goes high after Navratri, indicating how the Garbha and other celebrations in the night are used for malpractices(

Recommendations  Conserve Praan Urja as much we can  Spend this auspicious time period in introspection  Read good literature  Try to celebrate in an echo friendly manner