navaratri meditations

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A long time ago when the Lord of Lakshmidevi was immersed in yoga sleep, on the wonderful serpent-bed, the terrible demons Madhu and Kaitabha were created out of His ear wax. Their appearance inspired fear in the heart of Brahma, so on Brahma's prayer, Durga killed both these demons.

We offer our prostrated homage to Mother Durga, and pray that She may also destroy our problems and impurities such as greed, arrogance, lust and anger.

When the great Mahishasura defeated the king of the devas, Indra, and subjugated all the three worlds to his power, Mother Durga killed him along with his army, ministers and friends. Similarly, Mother Durga also killed the Asura called Raktabija.

We offer our prostrated homage to Mother Durga, and pray that She may also destroy our problems and impurities such as the myriad of artificial desires created by the mind and material attachments.

O Mother Durga, o Goddess personification of light, You are in charge of the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe. The devas prayed You: "O Mother, You have saved us from these great dangers and so we beg You to also save our progeny in the future in the same way." You granted their wish, and thus we are falling at Your feet, praying You to please save us from all dangers.

Prayed by the gods, You came to the snowy mountains in a golden swing and killed the proud Asuras called Shumbha and Nishumba, as well as the other demons called Dhumraksha, Chanda and Munda. For the slaying of Chanda and Munda, You were called Chamunda.

We are falling at Your feet, begging You to please destroy our anarthas and difficulties.

O killer of the powerful Shumbha, who ruled over all the devas, You manifested the powers of Brahma, Skanda, Narayana, Narasimha, Varaha and Indra, merging Them all into Your body.

O daughter of king Nanda, born in this holy land, You killed Nishumbha in a wonderful combat.

You appeared as a bee to kill the asura called Aruna, and in the form of Durga You killed the asura called Durgama.

When eating away the asuras in Your fury You became famous as Bhima.

You became known as Sakabhari when You grew food from Your body to feed starving millions during a great famine.You are also known as Rakta danta because You devoured the asuras Vipra and Citta.

Thus we are falling at Your feet, praying You to please destroy all our sins and difficulties.

You are the personification of the three Gunas and play Your divine game in many different forms, taking care of all the three worlds.

You destroy the asuras playfully like the fury of a cyclone sweeps away the trees of a forest.

You are the personification of all that is good, for those who humbly and lovingly bow at Your feet, granting them everything they want, in this world and in the next.

So we are falling at Your feet, praying You for Your blessings to overcome all obstacles.

 

Glory to the Mother who rides a lion,

who has three eyes,

who carries the conch and the wheel gracefully,

who fulfills the prayers of Her devotees,

who kills Her enemies,

who is venerated by all the worlds,

who is dressed in perfection,

who keeps the moon as Her crown,

who is black in color,

who is very small.

 

We are are falling at Your feet, praying You for Your blessings to overcome all obstacles.

 

Actually we should not ask You for anything.

O Durga, we completely depend on You as our Mother and so You do not need our request to protect or save us. So we simply offer You our homage."

Thus the devas prayed You, and in the same way we are falling at Your feet, praying You for Your blessings to overcome all obstacles.

Let this prayer to Goddess Durga be like a strong wind that disperses our sins like cotton fibers, like the bright sunlight for the deep darkness of our minds, like the divine Kalpa Vriksha fulfilling all desires, like the coolness of the moonrays for the sweltering heat of misery, like a fierce lion that scares away an herd of elephants, like the fearsome eagle before a cobra.

Let this prayer save us from all dangers, and let all the devoted souls chant it always.

 

 

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