Sharad Navaratri: Nine Nights of Mother Divine

September 26-October 4, 2022

The period from September 26 through October 4 marks the sacred festival of Navaratri, the “Nine Nights of Mother Divine.” During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of the female divinity are worshiped. Navaratri occurs four times a year. Two of these festivals are considered minor celebrations and are known as gupta, or hidden. The two more significant festivals occur near the equinoxes in the autumn and spring.

The autumn and spring equinoxes are crucial astrophysical and seasonal turning points when our bodies and minds undergo dramatic energetic and physical realignment. Navaratri provides an opportunity to give thanks and receive the blessings of our Divine Mother who walks among us during this period and brings her healing and balancing force into the world.

The dates of Navaratri are calculated according to the lunar calendar. The autumn festival is known as the Maha Navaratri (Great Navaratri), or the Sharad Navaratri, which begins on the first day of the waxing (bright) lunar cycle in the month of Asvina. This festival always occurs in either September or October. In some years (including this year in 2022), Navaratri coincides with the Jewish high holy days, which begin on Rosh Hashanah and end ten days later on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

According to yogic and tantric traditions, the female divinity is known as “Maa Shakti.” This is the personified female creative force who is the source of the entire universe. She manifests many characteristics throughout several world spiritual traditions. These characteristics include raw creative power and energy; warrior; Mother Earth; youthful maiden; wise old crone; sister; lover; wife; keeper of the family hearth; teacher; artisan; alchemical granter of worldly boons; daughter of the stars; and, my favorite aspect, loving mother to her children.

Panagia Eleousa by Eva Campbell (fineartamerica.com)

Though worshiped in a variety of forms in most of the world’s spiritual traditions, Maa Shakti is ultimately the one supreme creative intelligence behind all creation.

During Navaratri, we are given an opportunity to tap the massive surge of vital spiritual energy (kundalini) that ascends spontaneously within our subtle energy systems when the Goddess power awakens within us. In fact, the deeper meaning of Navaratri is related to this unprompted energy flow and the subsequent opening of our nine tantric chakras, or subtle spiritual centers, which can occur during this special time. Therefore, it is said that the true purpose of this festival is sadhana, or spiritual practice.

It often seems that our sadhana gets a boost and our meditation seems more profound and enlivening during Navaratri, when kundalini may safely and gently rise without much effort. This process not only creates spiritual, emotional, and intellectual boons, but also material ones. During Navaratri, the entire planet is bathed in a glorious glow of divine nurturing energy that can purify and uplift us in extraordinary ways. Healing light is magnified so that devotees can rise above their weaknesses and manifest their higher potential. Sometimes during this process, we have to go through deep transformative experiences, too.

According to Sri Swami Sivananda,

Truly speaking, all beings in the universe are Shakti-worshippers, whether they are aware of it or not, for there is no one who does not love and long for power in some form or other. Physicists and scientists have now proved that everything is pure, imperishable energy. This energy is only a form of divine Shakti which exists in every form.

A child is more familiar with the mother than with the father, because the mother is very kind, loving, tender and affectionate and looks after the needs of the child. In the spiritual field also, the aspirant or the devotee—the spiritual child—has an intimate relationship with the Mother Durga, more than with the Father Shiva. Therefore, it behooves the aspirant to approach the Mother first, who then introduces Her spiritual child to the Father for his illumination.

The Mother's Grace is boundless. Her mercy is illimitable; Her knowledge infinite; Her power immeasurable; Her glory ineffable; and Her splendor 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, cunning, 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 nights are very sacred to the Divine Mother. Plunge yourself in Her worship. Practice intense repetition of the Divine Name, having a regular "quota" of repetitions per day, and the number of hours spent on it [mantra practice]. http://www.dlshq.org/religions/navaratri.htm

Navaratri is often separated into three sets of three days to worship different key aspects of the Supreme Goddess. During the first three days, we entreat Devi Durga to help us cut through worldly illusion and remove all impurities and obstructions to the realization of true wisdom. Throughout the next three days, we honor Lakshmi Devi and ask that she fill our lives with prosperity, contentment, love, enjoyment, and enlightenment. In the final three days, we pray to the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati Devi, to bestow us with knowledge of the universal power and our true nature! 

During this festival period, take time to meditate, pray, chant, praise, and worship the Divine Mother, and give charity and selfless service, and you will be rewarded a thousand-fold.

Jai Maa! All love and reverence to the Divine Mother Shakti! Blessings one and all…during Navaratri and always, let’s join together and hold the true vision that all is ultimately very well and in perfect divine order.