Satsang by Swami Sivananda
On the first three nights of Navaratri, Durga or the destructive aspect of the Mother is worshipped. On the succeeding three nights, the creative aspect or Lakshmi is adored. On the last three nights, the knowledge aspect or Saraswati is invoked. The tenth is Vijaya Dashami or the day of victory.
There is a special significance to worshipping Devi in this order. On the first three days Devi is adored as power, force. You pray to Durga to destroy all your old habits, impurities and defects. She is the power that protects your sadhana from its many dangers and pitfalls. In the process of sadhana, tamas is conquered and transformed first. As Durga, she first destroys the negative, evil tendencies that lurk in the mind.
During the second set of three days, worship of Lakshmi is performed. The force of rajas is to be subdued. As Lakshmi, she implants the divine qualities conducive to spiritual unfoldment. The aim is to build up a sublime spiritual personality, to cultivate and develop all the auspicious, positive qualities. If the development of opposite qualities (pratipaksha bhauana) is not undertaken in earnest, the old demonic nature will raise its head again and again. This stage is as important in an aspirant's career as the previous one. Whereas the former is a ruthless, determined annihilation of the egoistic lower self, the latter is an orderly, steady, calm and serene effort to develop pure sattwic qualities. This pleasanter side of the aspirant's sadhana is depicted by the worship of Mother Lakshmi. She bestows inexhaustible wealth on her devotees. She is purity itself.
The third stage comes when the aspirant is ready to obtain divine knowledge. This is devout worship of Sri Saraswati, who is divine knowledge personified. Sattwa guna is to be transcended and Saraswati is the Mother in her sattwic form. As Saraswati, she bestows true knowledge. The sound if her celestial veena awakens the notes of the sublime Mahavakyas or great sayings and the Pranava or Om. She bestows knowledge of the Supreme Nada and then gives full Atmajnana, spiritual knowledge, as represented by her pure dazzling snow-white apparel.
The tenth day, Vijaya Dashami, celebrates the achievement of the victory of knowledge over ignorance, of goodness over evil. On this day children start school, aspirants are initiated, workers worship their implements and all recognize the shakti or power behind these instruments, and worship the Devi for their success prosperity and peace.
No other path is known for salvation. This arrangement marks the stages of evolution through which everyone should pass. One naturally leads to the other and to short-circuit this would inevitably result in failure. Knowledge will not descend till the impurities are washed out and purity is developed.
Destroy one evil quality, develop the opposite virtue. By this process you will soon bring yourself up to that perfection which will culminate in identity with Brahman, which is your goal. Then all knowledge will be yours. You will see yourself in all. You will have achieved eternal victory over the wheel of birth and death.
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Glory unto the Divine Mother! Let her take you step by step to the top of the spiritual ladder and unite you with the Lord!
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Shakti is all. You can worship her in any form. The very creation of this universe is solely due to her. We are all puppets in her hand. Kriya, iccha and jnana shakti are the three forms of power by which this world is ruled. Worship of Shakti gives not only prosperity but liberation from all bondage. May the choicest blessings of Goddess Shakti be upon you all!
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Worship of Devi or the Universal Mother gives not only prosperity but liberation from all bondage. Shakti can do anything. She can make or mar. She can mend or end. As Vidya Maya, she has veiled the Truth from you and bound you to this samsara. When she is propitiated through sincere devotion and unconditional self-surrender, she removes the veil and enables you to perceive the Truth.
You cannot free yourself from the thraldom of mind and matter without the Mother's grace. The fetters of maya are too hard to break. If you worship her as the Great Mother, you can very easily go beyond prakriti through her benign grace and blessings. She will remove all obstacles in the path and lead you safely into the illimitable domain of eternal bliss and make you absolutely free.
May Parashakti or Devi - the Universal Mother Jagadamba - bless you with wisdom, peace and immortal bliss.
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Devi, the Mother Divine, represents the triumph of the divine power over the myriad dark forces of negativity - too well-known in all human lives - in the struggle between the dual factors of good and evil, truth and untruth, virtue and vice, freedom and involution, light and darkness. The great cosmic law is that ultimately the divine will always prevail over the undivine.
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Worship of the Universal Mother leads to the attainment of Self-knowledge. Approach her with an open heart. Lay bare your mind with frankness and humility. Let your thoughts be pure and sublime. Become as simple as a child. Destroy selfishness and crookedness. Experience total unreserved, ungrudging self-surrender to her. Chant her mantras. Sing her praise. Repeat her Name. Worship her with faith and unflinching devotion.
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Feel that the Mother sees through your eyes, hears through your ears and works through your hands. Feel that the body, mind, prana, intellect and all their functions are her manifestations. The one universal life throbs in the heart of all. How can there be any room for hatred and selfishness, when by hating another you are but denying your own self? Drive this consciousness deep within your heart. Always meditate and practise this ideal of divine oneness.
Mother's grace is boundless. Her mercy is illimitable. Her knowledge is infinite. Her power is immeasurable. Her glory is ineffable. Her splendour is indescribable. She gives material prosperity and liberation also. She is pleased with a little purity of heart. Make a definite and sincere attempt to obtain the grace of the Mother. She will transform your entire life and bless you with the milk of divine wisdom, spiritual insight and liberation.
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Nothing is possible without the Mother. Humanity's material and spiritual progress is bound up inextricably with the mother - human and divine. The human part of an individual is moulded almost entirely by the human mother. One's character, mental make-up, intellectual faculties - one's very being is shaped by the mother. That is why the scriptures enjoin one to treat the mother as God. This is even more so in the spiritual field. Without the help of the Divine Mother no spiritual progress is possible.
Pray to her fervently. She will be easily pleased. She is ever ready to rush to you. You only you have to accept her! Clear your mind of all the dross and install the Mother on a golden throne. Give up your little ego at her feet. Pray "Your will be done Mother! I want nothing!" She will take you by the hand and lead you to moksha!
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Worship the Mother of the universe, the Shakti or Brahman, in her supreme form or in her manifested form according to your capacity. If worship is to result in spiritual illumination, observance of the yamas and niyamas is absolutely necessary. Offer to Devi Durga your inner evil traits of passion, anger and greed. You have no right to hurt any living creature for whatever reason. No worship, no prayer, no act whatsoever in life can justify injury or harm done to living beings. Stick to the rule of universal love to the best of your ability. Worship with atma bhava, with sarvatma bhava. This is the greatest and most glorious thing that can ever be done by anyone at any time. May the Devi Durga shower her blessings upon you all!
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