DAY EIGHT - Sun 22 Oct

CULTIVATING SATTVA & Goddess Mahagauri

Vedic tradition begins with the promotion of Sattva guna as the primary means of spiritualising and harmonising our lives. Sattva guna – our inherent quality of awareness, compassion, clarity and balance – is the key factor in elevating our awareness and bringing us to lasting peace and happiness. It is the main factor in life and nature that allows our spiritual potentials to come forth. To achieve it cannot be done mechanically but requires the appropriate aspiration - we must take stock of our lives and take right action. Remember: all of our action create momentum, and karma is the momentum of those action thrusting themselves into the present moment.

This entails a willingness to strive for higher values, greater self-perfection and greater self-transcendence.

Sattva guna requires that we are ever looking to evolve further, improve ourselves, pursue excellence and do what is best. Yet it is rooted in adaptation and harmony, not in trying to be holy or pious to impress others.

Sattva guna is primarily developed through the practice of Yoga and meditation, in combination with other lifestyle choices:

•  Need to develop a Sattvic intention in life, which upholds dharma
  Our intention and motivation should be sattvic. That is, it should aim at promoting the greater good of all. It should not be based upon personal or material seeking, or the effort to influence others.

•   Need to develop a Sattvic prana that allows for optimal health and well-being
  Our prana and breath should be developed in a sattvic way. This means our actions and exercise should have a calming and harmonising effect upon body and mind. We should act with a sense of surrender rather than one of self-assertion.

• Taking in Sattvic food

  Sattvic physical life-style rests upon sattvic food.  Sattvic food that is locally grown, whole and rich in prana. It is freshly cooked and prepared with a positive attitude and good feelings.

• Taking in Sattvic impressions

  Sensory impressions are the main food for the mind. Our sensory impressions are the subtle elements that build up the subtle or energy body, which is the mind. Sattvic impressions are natural, gentle, soft and refined. We gain these mainly from the world of nature, particularly relative to the wilderness, plants and the sky, and the five elements in their natural conditions.

•   Developing Sattvic associations

  Our state of being and level of awareness is closely connected to our associations in life. This includes friends, family, and work associates, but more importantly those whom we emulate at a higher level or honour in our hearts, the role models that we follow.
  

  Devi Mahagauri is the Sattvic embodiment of Nature. All of nature will always have polarities - Sattva guna is the middle path.

NINE DAYS, NINE AVATARS

8. Mahagauri

Goddess Mahagauri is the 8th of the 9 forms of Goddess Durga and is worshipped on the 8th night of Navarātri.

The epitome of beauty: Mahagauri.

On the Path to Perfect Attainment, recall that the seventh Goddess, Kalaratri Devi, slays our ego, opening up space for the Divine Light. Ushering in this Divine Light is the role of the most radiant Goddess, Mahagauri, who resides in the crown (sahasrara) chakra.

Therefore, Kalaratri Devi and Mahaguari Devi work as a team – they are “two sides of the same coin,” so to speak.

Mahagauri means that form which is beautiful and resplendent. If you see, Nature has two extremes. One of the forms is Kalaratri which is most terrifying and devastating, and on the other hand you see Mahagauri which is the most beautiful and serene form of the Mother Divine.

Mahagauri represents the epitome of beauty. Mahagauri confers and fulfills all your wishes and desires. She gives you all blessings and boons that you seek for material gains, so that you become content from within and move forward in life.

Devi Mahagauri is depicted with a fair complexion like that of a conch or jasmine. She has four arms; her upper right hand holds a trident and her lower right hand is in Vara mudra. Her upper left hand holds a Damaru (hand drum) and her lower left hand is in Abhay mudra which abolishes fear from the minds of her worshippers. She is adorned with jewelry and a huge headdress which adds to her grace and beauty. She rides on a bull and her majestic, golden appearance symbolizes prosperity and abundance.

She is the leader of right action, of choosing the path that promotes wisdom and evolution. Sometimes the hardest choices are the dharmic ones, and if it’s dharmic, it is also sattvic. Dharma and sattva are one in the same. But it doesn’t mean it’s always easy.
The Devi gives us the strength to do what is right, in every sense of the word.

Shailaputri and Mahaguari

If you recall, Goddess Shailaputri, the first Goddess, was extremely beautiful and fair. Because of Her extreme fair complexion she became known as Mahagauri.

She also adorns Herself in white clothes. The vehicle of Maa Mahagauri as well as Shailaputri is a bull. What is the connection?

In the human body, Shailaputri Devi resides in the first chakra, and offers inspiration while pointing her attention upwards (kundalini rising) toward Lord ShIva.

The Mahagauri Devi who resides in the Sahasrara crown chakra is the result of this Navadurga process (inspiration, learning, practice sadhana, clear out negativities, etc).

The crown is the target chakra of the most important energy channel in the human body – the Sushumna nadi. This is the nadi that the Kundalini energy, symbolized by a snake, ascends and causes the awakening of power and the realization of our full human potential.

So Shailaputri and Mahaguari (and all the Devis in between) are connected in the human body through the Sushumna Nadi. These Goddesses are just different expressions of the one Goddess Durga.

Navaratri worship: the eighth day is a very important day to perform sadhana, for the energy has now lifted to the crown and results are quick.

Ritual

Ritual is a way for us to be in relationship with the Divine and a way for us clear our karmic debt simply just by being alive. Being in this body is a divine blessing from the Divine Mother and a great responsibility. Ritual is considered Yajna; offering, worship, sacrifice and opens a doorway for the cosmic energies of the Devi to enter our world.

With all puja, there are 5 elements:

1. Preparation - light your ghee lamp or candle, take your seat. Light the incense. Prep and clear the space. 

2. Purification - purify Durga with water, the altar and then yourself (dip your fingers in the bowl and flick it)

3. Invitation - open with the Ganesh mantra Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha once. Ganesh is envoked whenever we sit puja, to remove any obstacles that could obstruct our prayer or evolution.

4. Union - Mahagauri mantra (see below) any amount of times (can be chanted 108 times with mala for a longer ceremony). Perform Abhay Mudra during mantra recitation.

5. Offering - offer her a leaf, flower. water or fruit, or all 4. 

The main ingredient is devotion. Don’t worry about ‘getting it right’. This is a goal oriented tradition, not a ‘way’ oriented tradition

ABHAY MUDRA

MAHAGAURI Mantra

ॐ ह्रीम श्री महा गौरी दुर्गायै नमः |

Aum Hreem Mahagauri Durgaye Namaha

SELF STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Where can I cultivate more sattva in my life?

2. How can I edit my life so the sensory input is more sattvic?

3. How can I enrich my body every day with sattvic foods?