DAY ONE - SUN 15 OCT

The Tale of Durga & Shailaputri

Welcome to Sharad Navarātri!

Navarātri is the festival of nine nights, each of which is associated with one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Durga is the fierce alter ego of Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, the all-pervading divine consciousness. Navaratri occurs four times in a year, during the different seasons, and each is named after the Vedic month that it occurs in – ‘Chaitra’ in spring, ‘Ashadha’ in monsoon/summer, ‘Sharad’ in autumn and ‘Magha’ in winter.
It’s an honour to be together for the next nine days in worship to the Devi. Durga has been an unwavering force of strength and transformation for me personally, and summoning her shakti has helped me get through the most challenging moments of this incarnation.
She is THE force.
Invincable.
Unbeatable.
Untouchable.
Navarātri is the most auspicious time in the Vedic calendar to make intentional spiritual efforts towards transformation and breaking beyond limitations. Perhaps there is something you are ready to let go if, limiting belief systems that are preventing you from going after your dreams, or a deep sense of purpose and drive to live your life on your terms. Maybe you feel stuck, helpless, sick of a tendency or habit or ready for positive change.
Now is the time.

DURGA HELPS US TO SEE CLEARLY, REMEMBER OUR INNATE STRENGTH AND POWER, AND CREATE AUSPICIOUS KARMIC MOMENTUM.

Vedic tradition says, there is always room for the new. Your future is not predetermined, and we have free will to create our destiny.
Open your heart to blessings of the Devi, take right action, and wait for grace.

Jai Maa

{one of} THE STORY OF DURGA

Once upon a time there lived a demon (Asura) named Mahisha. He found great happiness in hurting people. Once, he decided to pray to lord Brahma, who he thought would give him a boon, which would make him invincible. He wanted immortality!

Mahisha performed severe penances praying and fasting for months as he stood on one foot. The three worlds trembled under the strength of his penances and a pleased lord Brahma came to give him a boon. Mahisha asked for immortality, which the lord said he could not have as every creature that was born had to die. Mahisha decided that he would ask for a boon that would make him as good as immortal. He asked that no man should be able to kill him and, if he had to die it should be only at the hands of only a woman. He was sure that no woman could ever fight against him however strong she may be.

Now that Mahisha was invincible, he and the other asuras went about hurting and killing everyone on earth and then went on to the heavens to fight the Gods. Even Indra's thunderbolt could not withstand the asura attack. Mahisha drove out the Gods and took over Indra's throne. Mahishasura started harassing all pious people who continued praying to Vishnu or Shiva. The Gods and people were depressed and decided to ask lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma concentrated hard and used their radiant energies, which were joined by the energies from Indra, and the other Gods.

This godly energy took the form of a divine goddess with a thousand arms. In each arm she carried a weapon belonging to all Gods.

This was Durga Devi.

She mounted a fiery lion and roared. It was a roar that shook mountains and created huge waves in the seas. Even Mahisha was worried for a second, but his vanity took over when he saw that the terrible form was that of a woman. Durga created a large army from her breath to fight Mahisha's army and then fought with Mahisha who came in the form of a Buffalo. As he struggled to set himself from the Buffalo form she killed him with her sword delivering the earth and heavens of the Burden called Mahishasura.

In Mysore (Karnataka) atop the Chamundi hills, you can see a big statue of Mahishasura. Here there is a temple dedicated to Durga also known as Mahishasura mardini or Chamundi.

NINE DAYS, NINE AVATARS

1. Shailaputri

Shailaputri was said to be born of a mountain King, Himalaya, and she symbolizes the ultimate mother nature archetype, and has a connection to the Sun. is the first form amongst Navadurga or the nine forms and is worshipped on the first day during the Navarātri celebrations. Also known as Sati, Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, Goddess Shailaputri is considered the absolute form of Mother Nature. In some cultures, she is also known as Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva, the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. The Goddess is depicted having a half moon on her forehead, holding a trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left while riding Nandi, the bull.

She is Devi of the root chakra, who, upon awakening, begins Her journey upwards. Sitting on Nandi and making her first journey from the Muladhara chakra. The goal of every yogi is to keep the attention concentrated on the Muladhara chakra on the first day of Navarātri so that they can experience the bliss of the upward journey of the energy as the days progress during Navarātri .

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 - Shailaputri mantra (see below) any amount of times (can be chanted 108 times with mala for a longer ceremony)

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.

Shailaputri Mantra

ॐ ह्रीम श्री शैलपुत्री दुर्गायै नमः |

Aum Hreem Shailaputri Durgyaye Namaha

Self-study questions

What am I ready to let go of? Where have I suffered enough?

1. What lesson am I tired of not learning? 

2. When I feel into my hearts desires, what resistance do I feel?

3. What does that resistance cost me?

4. What is the new karmic momentum that I want to create?

If you have any questions, please email me at kristin@kristinspenceyoga.com

JAI MAA