OM Sri Navratri begins Oct 7 OM

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OM

GURUR BRAHMA GURUR VISNU GURUR DEVO MAHESHVARAH

GURUH SAKSHAT PARAM BRAHM TASMAI SRI GURVE NAMAH

OM NAMAH SIVAYA

OM NAMAH SIVANANDAYA

 

Blessed Devotees,

The most sacred Sri Navratri puja begins on October 7. As you are

aware our revered Swamiji's have described the importance of these

days for meditation, worship, Japa and Yoga. Please read and forward

to your friends and family.

 

DURGA PUJA OR NAVARATRI By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

http://www.dlshq.org/religions/navaratri.htm

 

God As Mother By Sri Swami Chidananda

http://www.dlshq.org/download/godmother.htm

 

THE ESOTERIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DEVI-MAHATMYA

By SRI SWAMI KRISHNANANDA

http://www.dlshq.org/religions/devi_mahatmya.htm

 

The Mother's Grace is boundless. Her mercy is illimitable; Her

knowledge infinite; Her power immeasurable; Her glory ineffable; and

Her splendour indescribable. She gives you material prosperity as

well as spiritual freedom.

 

Approach Her with an open heart. Lay bare your heart to Her with

frankness and humility. Be as simple as a child. Kill ruthlessly the

enemies of egoism, cunningness, selfishness and crookedness. Make a

total, unreserved, and ungrudging self-surrender to Her. Sing Her

praise. Repeat Her Name. Worship Her with faith and unflinching

devotion. Perform special worship on the Navaratri days. Navaratri is

the most suitable occasion for doing intense spiritual practices.

These nine days are very sacred to the Divine Mother. Plunge yourself

in Her worship. Practise intense repetition of the Divine Name,

having a regular "quota" of repetitions per day, and the number of

hours spent on it.

 

--SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

 

There are three stages of transformation described in the three

sections of the Devi-Mahatmya. The first one is where Adi-Sakti

awakes Maha-Vishnu who was asleep, so that He may destroy or overcome

the original demoniacal forces, Madhu and Kaitabha. The second stage

is where the same Sakti manifests Herself as Maha-Lakshmi and

overcomes Mahishasura and Raktabija. The third one is where Sumbha

and Nisumbha are destroyed by Maha-Sarasvati. And the nine days of

worship comprehend these three stages adored in three days of

worship, each. The final victory is called Vijaya-Dasami, the tenth

day, as you know. That is the day of Victory, where you master the

forces of Nature completely and your goal is reached.

 

--Sri Swami Krishnananda

 

OM