The Gods had lost the HeavensNavratri: October 10 – 20 Mahishasura had defeated Indra and driven the Devas into exile. Yet there was a catch in the boon that protected him: no man could kill him. So the gods released their tejas, their divine radiance. It gathered into one form: Durga. Shiva gave her his trishul. Vishnu gave her his chakra. Indra gave her his vajra. She rode into battle bearing the powers of the Gods together. But Durga was not merely given their power. She was the Shakti that could put it into motion. That is the force honored through Navratri’s nine nights. The Goddess appears in forms both beautiful and terrifying. One of them, Kalaratri, is dark, wild-haired, and fearsome, yet she is also called Shubhankari, the one who brings auspiciousness. And near the end of the festival comes Sandhi Puja: a brief, 48-minute passage between Ashtami and Navami which is so powerful. In this video I take you through the stories, the nine forms of Devi, the rituals, and the meaning of these nine nights so you can experience Navratri as more than a sequence of dates. Jai Ma Durga!
Namaste, |
