The festival of Navratri has a unique glory for progressive seekers on the spiritual path. While Shivratri is a time for the seeker to enter spiritual practice, Navratri is nine nights of festive renewal. The basic objective of Navratri fast is to control the senses and accumulation of spiritual power. In fact Navratri is a great festival of inner purification. Today there is pollution of thoughts everywhere in the environment. In such a situation the importance of Navratri increases even more. The main purpose of worshiping the Goddess is to awaken the energy within us.
Durga Puja and Navratri symbolize mental-physical and spiritual strength. Chaitra Navratri has special significance in astrology, because after Chaitra Navratri the zodiac sign of the Sun changes. Sun completes its journey through 12 zodiac signs and again enters the first zodiac sign, Aries, to complete the next cycle. The zodiac signs of Sun and Mars, Aries, both are of fire element, hence their combination marks the beginning of summer. The calculation of the calendar of the new year begins from Chaitra Navratri. – Pt. Manoj Kumar Dwivedi Astrologer, Spiritual Writer
hindu new year beginning
Chaitra Navratri has special significance from the religious point of view, because on the first day of Chaitra Navratri, Adishakti appeared and at the behest of the Goddess, Brahma ji started the work of creation. Therefore Hindu New Year starts from Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. The days when the meeting of winter and summer seasons falls in the months of Ashwin and Chaitra are called Navratri. On those days, body, mind and various components of nature are especially filled with joy. There is uniqueness in the environment. The body tries to remove suppressed diseases. That is why diseases increase these days. Ayurveda considers this occasion especially useful for body purification. Chaitra Navratri marks spring. The beauty of nature is worth seeing. Plants bear new blooms. The joy of nature exerts its influence on the entire environment. The minds of living beings are filled with a special kind of intoxication. From the spiritual point of view, these days the sages have given a figurative indication of the soul becoming ‘Ri Tumati’. According to her, these days she is especially eager to meet her beloved God. Fasting for nine days can be considered equivalent to natural treatment. It has both the sense of redemption and the concept of sanctification through atonement. The history of Ram’s birth and establishment of Ramrajya is associated with Navratri of Chaitra. For this reason this Navratri has the utmost importance.
positive effect of fasting
At the time of Navratri, there is a special energy in nature, which when assimilated, rejuvenates the person. During fasting we abstain from many things and adopt many things. Ayurveda believes that physical diseases occur due to poor digestion, because toxic elements also enter our body along with the food we eat. It is believed in Ayurveda that fasting improves the digestive system. The purpose of fasting is also that we can concentrate our mind and brain by controlling our senses.
Psychology also says that any person observes fast with a pure feeling. At that time our thinking remains positive, which impacts our body, due to which we feel new energy within us. At this time nature changes its form.
A different aura is visible in the atmosphere. After autumn comes the beginning of new life, new leaves and greenery. There is a new energy in the entire creation. To make positive use of this energy, the rule of restraint in fasting is very beneficial for us. Agriculture culture has also been given respect during Navratri. It is believed that in the beginning of creation the first crop was barley. Therefore we dedicate it to Nature (Mother Power).
How to perform Navratri puja –
On the first day of Navratri, make Swastikas on both sides of the main door of the house and place a mango leaf arch on the door. Because Mother Goddess comes to the houses of devotees on this day. It is believed that by doing this, Goddess Lakshmi is also pleased and resides in your house.
During Navratri, the idol of Mother Goddess should be installed on a wooden pedestal or seat. First make the symbol of Swastika where the idol or picture is installed. After that tike with Roli and Akshat and then install the idol of Mata there. After that worship the mother as per the rituals.
According to Vastu Shastra, North and North-East direction i.e. North-East direction is considered the best place for worship. If you also establish the Kalash every year, then the Kalash should be kept in the same direction and Mata’s stool should be decorated.
During the days of Navratri, Maa Durga is considered to reside in every particle and the entire atmosphere remains devotional. It is said in Vastu that keeping a brass urn filled with rice in the north-east of your temple brings prosperity. By doing this, Mother Goddess increases your wealth and brings prosperity in your home.
Keep in mind that it is good if the worship room is clean and its walls are of spiritual colors like light yellow, pink, because these colors increase the level of spiritual energy. Along with this, dark colors like black, blue and brown should not be used on the walls of the puja room.
According to religious scriptures, Kalash is considered a symbol of happiness, prosperity, splendor and good wishes. According to Vastu, Ishaan Kon i.e. North-East is considered to be the place of water and God and most positive energy resides here. Therefore, while worshiping, the idol or Kalash of the Mother Goddess should be placed in this direction. By placing a garland of mango or Ashoka leaves on the main door during Goddess worship rituals, negative powers do not enter the house.
rules of navratri
There are some rules for fasting and worshiping during Navratri. According to religious beliefs, the devotee who worships Mata Rani with these rules, gets immense blessings from Mata Rani. Matarani fulfills all his wishes.
concentrate on religious activities
During the 9 days of Navratri, the fasting person should keep his mind away from materialistic things. They should always keep their mind at the feet of Mata Rani. Time should be spent in religious activities. During this time one should keep reciting Durga Chalisa and Durga Saptsati.
Girls/women should be respected
In Indian tradition, girls are considered to be the form of Mother Durga. For this reason, people attain virtue by worshiping girls during Navratri. On the day of Navratri, all women have the form of some goddess or the other. That is why one should not have any sense of disrespect towards any girl/woman, rather one should consider them as some form or the other of Maa Durga and pay obeisance to them in the mind.
don’t leave the house alone
If a Kalash (Ghat) is established in the house or Mata’s Chowki or Jyoti is installed, then someone should always stay near it. During this period it is necessary for one person to be present in the house. The fasting person should not sleep during the day.
Avoid spicy food
According to religious beliefs, a person should take special care of sattvikta during Navratri. They should avoid food of vengeful nature. There should be purity in diet, behavior and thoughts during the 9 days of Navratri.
control sexual desire
During the days of Navratri, one should remain free from sexual desires in thoughts, words and actions. Both men and women should follow celibacy.
stay away from anger
One should not get angry during Navratri, they should try to remain silent for as long as possible.