Happy Navratri - Navreh - Niraatay

Navratri - literally meaning nine nights.

It's called Navreh in Kashmir, Niraatay in Punjab, Durga Pooja in Bengal, and Dashain in Nepal.

Goddess Durga is the icon or the symbol of this festival -

it represents the mother - as all life stems from a mother.

Nine days and nights symbolize the nine months - that human life takes to develop in the womb.

                             Nav-Durga

Durga is known as Shakti - Energy.

        Yaa Devi Sarv Bhuteshu Shakti roopain sansthita

        NamasTasyai, Namas Tasyai, Namas Tasyai Namo Namah

                या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शक्तिरुपेण संस्थिता ।

                 नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

Meaning:

The one who abides in all beings in the Form of Energy

Salutations Salutations Salutations - again and again.

The word Nav has two meanings - New and the number Nine.

It's time to renew energy through self-analysis and introspection.

The nine forms, faces, or Avtars of Durga during these nine days are the nine steps or ways that can help us achieve the goal.

                          Three forms or faces of Durga

Shakti - the Divine energy - has three prominent incarnations - Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.

They represent three main aspects and characteristics of Shakti - energy.

1. Durga - Strength, courage, confidence, and protection - shield and defense.

2. Lakshmi - Wealth, riches, and prosperity.

3. Saraswati - Education, knowledge, and wisdom.

All these three forms must be invoked - conjured, and achieved to attain contentment and peace.

Divinity is present everywhere - but it requires Self-contemplation and worship - discipline, and practice to awaken it.

                                   ' Rajan Sachdeva '

(To be continued)