Swamiji's answer to Nityas question about the nine Durgas

[Guest guest]

Question from Nitya: Durga Navaratri is approaching, and my mind is

more fully with

Durga-Ma.

I regularly offer Durga puja, and also chant Chandi Pathah; in both

texts

prayer is made to the Nine Durgas

(in Chandi Pathah, this is in Devya Kavacham, 3rd through 5th

shlokas).

My question:

My understanding is that the nine Durgas--from Goddess of Inspiration

(Shailaputri) to the Goddess Who Grants Perfection (Siddhidaatri)--

are the divine processes of our Selves as we approach God through our

prayer and sadhana.

Is this true?

Also, are the nine Durgas a cycle, through which we spiral through

again and

again on our eternal journey?

 

 

Answer from Swamiji: They are a process. they are a cycle, but they

are also the Goddesses

who take us along the path. There is actually a Goddess who become

embodied as Inspiration. You can feel Her blessings every time we

get

excited about something.

 

Yes, it is true. But their definitions will continue to expand as we

move deeper and deeper into the experience.

[Guest guest]

Beloved Swamiji,

 

Thank you for taking time to walk us through Navaratri. That is so important

for me right now. I have been celebrating over the last few years, just going

to the temple. But this year, I decided I wanted to do some serious sadhana

during Navaratri, and since my guru, Sri Karunamayi, has given Mahisasaura

Mardini Stotram to me, I have a vrata to chant it nine times daily during

Navaratri.

 

That, in addition to the daily practice of Samputita Sri Suktam and Khadga Mala

Stotram.

 

But as your's and Maa's blessings have been active within my life for the last

ten years since we met at your old place back in '90, I am so excited and

thankful to hear your Shakti-Inspired Navaratri teaching through the festival.

 

Loving you with all my heart and soul,

 

Jesse Arana (Kailash)

www.meditationinfocus.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Sarada-

 

On the questions conserning Navaratri. Does Swamiji know of any books

in English that are available in the USA that explain the Navadurgas

of both the Spring and Autumnal festivals and I had also heard of the

Autumnal Festival using Mahakali, Mahalaksmi, & Mahasarasvati. - Or -

if there are no such texts available now and Swamiji has the time for

an encapsulated explanation of who is on which night and what is to

be concentrated on each night I've always been curious.

 

I ususally worship with the Kali Mandir down in Laguana Beach, CA for

Navaratri & they worship the Dasha Mahavidyas south Indian style with

puja & havan. I have the McKinley, Frawley plus a book on Tantra (I

can't remember the author at the moment) on the Mahavidyas, but if

there are any more good texts out there I'd be interested.

 

If anyone on the list knows of any good books or, if it's not an

intrusion, knows or practices using the Navadurgas or the Mahadevis

during spring and autumn festivals and would like to share I'm "all

ears".

 

Jai Ma

Marsha

 

 

 

, "Sarada" <sarada_saraswati>

wrote:

>

>

> Question from Nitya: Durga Navaratri is approaching, and my mind is

> more fully with

> Durga-Ma.

> I regularly offer Durga puja, and also chant Chandi Pathah; in both

> texts

> prayer is made to the Nine Durgas

> (in Chandi Pathah, this is in Devya Kavacham, 3rd through 5th

> shlokas).

> My question:

> My understanding is that the nine Durgas--from Goddess of Inspiration

> (Shailaputri) to the Goddess Who Grants Perfection (Siddhidaatri)--

> are the divine processes of our Selves as we approach God through our

> prayer and sadhana.

> Is this true?

> Also, are the nine Durgas a cycle, through which we spiral through

> again and

> again on our eternal journey?

>

>

> Answer from Swamiji: They are a process. they are a cycle, but they

> are also the Goddesses

> who take us along the path. There is actually a Goddess who become

> embodied as Inspiration. You can feel Her blessings every time we

> get

> excited about something.

>

> Yes, it is true. But their definitions will continue to expand as we

> move deeper and deeper into the experience.