Regarding Ratri swarupa

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

 

Here is a short piece of information for upasakas of Chandi.

 

Ratri is termed as the abhava or aprakasa (non-illumination) of indriya

pravrittis. Ratri is a state or phenomena where all the indriyas are in the

state of dissolution. This Ratri is eulogized in Rig Veda as Ratri Suktam. It

is considered to be the sister of Usha – Illumination. In Ratri Suktam, Ratri

is extolled as having the Illumination in her womb ie., as the Devi Ratri

approaches, she brings also the illumination along with herself to bless her

children. Ratri is of the form of Bliss. Devi Bhagavata says “Brahmamayaatmika

ratrih parameshwara layatmika….”. Ratri is Brahma Maya, Yoga Maya. It engulfs

and dissolves the Siva also at the time of Pralaya.

 

This Ratri is also extolled in 1st chapter of Devi Mahatmyam as Kala Ratri,

Maha Ratri and Moha Ratri. As I have mentioned that “Abhava” or “Indirya

Pravritti Laya Avastha” is the Ratri. So, Kala Abava or Laya of Kala is Kala

Ratri which is Sattva Guna Abhava. Kriya Abhava which is Rajo Guna is Maha

Ratri. Moha Abhava or Dissolution which is Tamo Guna is Moha Ratri.

 

So, the point or phenomena where Sattva Guna is Dissolved is Kala Ratri, where

Rajo Guna is dissolved is Maha Ratri and where Tamo Guna is dissolved is Moha

Ratri.

 

Since, Para Sakti is both Anugraha and Tirodhana swarupa, it is she who

creates and dissolves these gunas in the form of 3 Ratri Devatas. There are 12

Ratris.

 

Antahkarana Chatushtaya ie., Manas, Buddhi, Chitta, Ahamkara when combined

with 3 Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) evolve 12 mixed qualities. That is Sattva

Manas, Sattva Buddhi, Sattva Chitta, Sattva Ahamkara. Similarly, till Tamo

Ahamkara.

 

So, the abhava or dissolution of these 12 aspects is called 12 Ratris. The

prakasa or bhava or illumination of these 12 aspects is called 12 Adityas

(Dwadasa Adityas).

 

However, for Shakthas, there are 12 Ratris which have to be learnt from one’s

gurunatha. This is not based on the waxing of the moon in Sukla Paksha and

Krishna Paksha.

 

They are VIra Ratri (which is the siddha muhurta for doing the purashcharana

of certain mantras.

 

The exact details of the 12 ratris - viraratri [hadi ratri], maharatri [kadi

ratri], kalaratri, moharatri, krodharatri [sadi ratri], ghoraratri, achalaratri,

divyaratri [kahadi ratri], tararatri [nila ratri], shivaratri [prasada ratri],

siddhiratri [urdhwa ratri] and darunaratri.

 

With regards,

Sriram

 

 

 

 

 

 

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