Chaitra Navratri 2023: Religious And Spiritual Significance

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The festival begins early in the morning with a cleansing bath, and commencement of the puja. The time in the morning is very conducive for spiritual activities. It is quiet and peaceful and lets you concentrate well on the mantra that you are chanting. Tapasya done at this time gives yogic powers. Chaitra Navratri festival is arriving on 30 March 2023 this year.

Sounding of the bell and conch not only kills the germs it also keeps the evil spirits far away from the place where the puja is being conducted. Hence Goddess also eliminates the darkness of our evil instincts and annihilates them to bring in light and knowledge into our being.

Associated Legend

A particular story or legend says that Amba or Goddess was sent to her parental abode only for 9 days for a holiday. She killed a demon along the way, by name Mahishasura. Whether she goes to her parental house or stays in her husband's house, Goddess is a Goddess and the above example proves it. Hence she is worshipped in shaktyaavatar. In many Hindu communities, the daughters in law are sent to their parental homes during this time. People seek strength to fight vicissitudes and power to face the inner demons from her. She guards the inner strength of her devotees and guards them from all evils.

How To Silence Our Inner Demons

Goddess Durga annihilated the fierce demon Mahishasura whose death soothed the hearts of the virtuous. But actually it means that by worshipping her for 9 days, our evil instincts will be killed by her. In scriptures it is said that the demons, demigods, and nymphs and angels existed in the past yugas up to dwaparayuga. In kaliyuga these demons attack from within in the form of ego, sorrow, greed, jealousy, etc. and it is our prayer and devotion through which Goddess steps in and the demons are annihilated to show us the way to truth and light.

The 10 days indicate ten evils in us that are to be destroyed. Lust, Anger, greed, attachment, ego, fear, jealousy, inertia, hate, and guilt are those ten evils which we need to get rid of one by one during the course of nine days. Although it is not possible to achieve it all in one stretch of nine days of Navratri, we have a number of Navratris coming on to help us achieve our purpose.

The more intense your prayer and worship is, the more powerful will her blessings be on you. Worshipping her with heartfelt devotion, you can let her divinity remove the inner demons from their roots. Fasting has an excellent effect on this and demons can be silenced fully if we combine rituals with devotion. Vijayadashami gets rid of all negativities from our lives.

Spiritual Significance

Navratri in Sanskrit, means nine divine nights. Since this Navratri arrives in Chaitra masa, it is called Chaitra Navratri. Navratri symbolises victory of good over evil. The three segments of Navratri are meant for worshipping three different aspects of the Holy Goddess Trinity. They get fulfilled as well. But those who worship without any particular desire, will reach her feet after the final moments. It is during the Chaitra Navratri that sweeping changes in nature including the seasons occur. Fasting at this time, keeps you light on the stomach and equips you to sail through to the summer season smoothly. The nine days of fasting will prevent any illness that can be caused due to heat.

Actually new year is when nature springs pleasant surprises in the form of mild breeze, velvet thickness of green that envelops the dry land from all corners. That is why it is called spring. Laxmi and saraswati along with Durga are worshipped during these nine days and on the tenth day, they send her back to Kailas, with a lot of fanfare, prayers, fasting, dancing and singing her bhajans in unison. With all the commotion coming to a close, people get ready to greet Summer.

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