Navratri

Navaratri means nine nights and the new night. Creation happens in darkness,in the womb of the mother and underneath the soil.Nine months in the womb are like nine long nights where the spirit takes human form. Night provides rejuvenation and rest. People come home from work at night and celebrate,rejoice,and pray. At night, the entire creation goes to sleep,including the Ashram night watchman

These nine nights of Navaratri are precious; they are enriched with subtle energy. Sixty-four impulses of the Divine Mother govern the subtle creation and are responsible for restoring all earthly and spiritual benefits. These impulses are contained within one's awakened consciousness.The nine nights of Navaratri are celebrated to rekindle those divine impulses and to renew the inner depth of our lives.

Cleanse your body and cleanse your soul.

Cleanse your body with water;

Cleanse your soul with Knowledge, pranayam, Sudarshan Kriya, and meditation.

As we take nine months in our mother's womb, before we are born, we take these nine days to go back to our source. These nine days are to be spent in meditation, satsangs, silence and knowledge. During this period, the first three days are of the Kaali, the Adhishthata (the Authority) of Tamo Guna, the next three days are of Mahalakshmi, the Adhishthata of Rajo Guna and the last three days are of Saraswati, the Adhishthata of Satva Guna.

And when we move from Tamo through to Satva, the Victory happens; victory over our own devilish tendencies, like RaagDvesh (cravings-aversions), Raktabijakshur (inherent 'tendencies in our DNA.: which can be changed ,only through satsang) and Dhumralochan (the laziness of Mahishasur, the "bull; one who's eyes are clouded with small-mindedness)

Upavaas (what is normally understood as Fasting) actually means 'sitting close'; close to the Guru. And when you are close to the Guru, the Self, you are in so much bliss, that you forget to eat or drink! You don't feel Hungry or thirsty. And now that has become a false notion about' Upavaas'. We relate it to fasting. It is good, to fast once in a while, for a day or two. However, it is not worth eating fried foods in the name of Upavaas (Saboodana wada, fried potato, etc). Eat fruits.

The main thing is to listen to the body. Give it a break from the daily grind of digesting three meals, etc. When you attend to the body and it is rested, the mind also becomes peaceful. You do not have to fast to please GOD. Do it to purify your body and mind. Observing silence is also good. Everyone need not observe silence, avoid useless talks. Ardha Maun (partial-silence) is fine. Keep silence with a smile and Upavaas happens. At the end of the nine- day Aradhana, let there be newness in us.

Nav also means new. These are nine new nights. Krishna used to do a lot of Devi Pujas during Navaratri. He said; "I take a dip in my own Prakruti (nature), and come out to create new". So, take a dip in your own nature and come out fresh and new. The more we go deep within ourselves, the more this Creation rejoices in celebration. These Yagnas have all the aspects of life so beautifully covered within them. It comprises of dance, music, food, celebration and everything. Not a single aspect of life has been left out. So, be within yourself during these nine days. Do not let any complaints happen.

Complaints drag you out; keep you rooted in the mud outside. Drop it all with a smile and go within. The diverse aspects of the Holy" Spirit are invoked during, these nine days. And like the nine months of formation spent in the womb, spend these nine days within and form a new spirit.

Then all the bad karmas and impressions are washed away. Navaratri purifies the individual consciousness and then the universal consciousness, the creation.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar