NAVRATRI / NAV VILAS.
ya devi sarvbhuteshu matru rupen sansthita |
namstasyaii namastasyaii namastasyaii namo namah||NAVRATRI - is the auspicious time to serve " Matru Shakti " , MOTHER POWER , as Nav Durga,for nine days in the month of Aashvin , shukla paksha , ekam to navmi tithi. Generally, Navratri is celebrated as NINE auspicious day of Pooja, archana, vrat and anushthan ,aaradhan of " MAHA SHAKTI ". Also ratri-jagran is done by please the Mother Goddess , by dancing Garbha, an earthen pot with holes and lamp of faith and devotion lighted into that pot. This brightly painted pot is carried on the head of ladies and they go round ,singing and dancing.
Also , Raas is being played with sticks in hand, in rhythm, as Shree Krushna played with Braj Gopies.
In Pushti sampraday , it is known as Nav Vilas - New Expansion of sense gratification , inorder to celebrate Navratri the pushti vaishnavas offer new Vastra's / apparel to Shree Thakurji ,with different bright colour chaapa / block print on thin cotton cloth with silver khadi , heavy shrungaar of Diamonds , emralds and rubies.done to adorn Shree Thakurji . Bhog Samagri - dishes-different type of food prepared from milk, and other food offerings made.
As per legend, Shree Swaminiji or shree Radha Rani , is the symbol of Shakti / Power to shree Thakurji. There are eight main Sakhis plus the supreme Sakhi Shree Radha Rani. So they make nine for nine days of aradhan.
Shree Hariraiji , had composed 9 verses for Navratri, one for each day. These verses are known as "Nav-vilas".
On the 1st day of Navratri, the main sakhi is Chandravaliji ,on this day "Jau" or barley seeds are sown in 10 different pots, one for each SAKHI. Day 2nd for Lalitaji. Day 3rd for Vishakhaji. Dat 4th for Chandrabhagaji. Day 5th for Sanjavaliji. Day 6th for Mukhraiji. Day 7th for Krushnavathiji.Day 8th for Bhavniji. Day 9th for Ladliji.
On the 10th day, ie, DUSSEHRA Day, the Saplings of the Jau seeds grown into the pots is plucked and tied together as " KALANGI ", ornamentation on the head gear.
In Ramanujacharya sampraday, Anushthan of reading Ramayana is done, completing the reading in nine days, known as "Navamanhparayan". On the tenth day , the day of DUSSEHRA, Ravan the Evil is killed in Raam Lila, the skits played during these days.
MAY MOTHER GODDESS EMPOWER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WITH HER NINE FORMS -
BLESSING YOU WITH NAME, FAME, HEALTH, WEALTH, HAPPINESS, HUMANITY,KNOWLEDGE,DEVOTION AND DEDICATION.
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