As we celebrate the NavarAtri this year, sharing few
thoughts on the spiritual significance of this important festival.
According to the Purana stories, few Asuras had at one time managed
to gain the boon that they will not be killed by anyone other than a woman who
is not born from a womb (‘ayonija’). With the aid of this boon, they drove the Devas
out of heaven and took over the control of the three worlds. Devi had to incarnate to finally overcome
these Asuras who were undefeatable by the Devas. The Navaratri is a celebration
of Devi’s victory in her battles with these Asuras.
Why is this festival called NavarAtri, nine nights, instead
of Navadina, nine days? All the battles had in fact happened during the day. This is
because the nine nights are indicative of nine different layers of darkness
that separates us from the absolute Truth. Prakriti, nature, is said to have two
distinct powers to conceal the true reality. One is the ‘Vikshepa sakti’, the
power to project an apparent reality and the other is ‘Avarana sakti’, the
power to conceal the true reality. The nine layers of darkness relate to the Avarana
sakti.
There are also nine Asuras mentioned in the stories. The
first three of them Chanda, Munda and Bhanda correspond to the negative
tendencies of sanga (attachment), kAma (desire) and krodha (anger) all of which
are the effect of the Tamo guna of Prakriti. The next three Asuras were Sumba,
Nisumba and Daruka corresponding to the powerful negative tendencies of lobha
(avarice), moha (delusion) and mAtsarya (envious competitiveness). All three of
them are the effect of the Rajo guna of Prakriti. The final set of three Asuras
were Dumraksha, Raktabheeja and Mahisha. Dhumraksha means a smoke-eyed one,
meaning a shaded perception of things that gives the transient a sense of permanence. Raktabhija had the power to create many
clones of himself from every drop of his blood, just as every action impelled
by inherent tendencies, vAsana, in our sub-conscious triggers creation of more vAsana
followed by many more actions impelled by them. Finally, Mahisha, the bison, is
indicative of the core ignorance (agnAna and resultant 'I-sense', ahamkAra) in our being because of which we don’t
see the ultimate Truth. As you can see, these three Asuras are the effects of
wrong knowledge and hence indicative of the satva guna of Prakriti.
Let’s use the festive period of NavarAtri to make us aware of
these nine layers of darkness separating us from Truth and let’s all pray for Devi’s
blessings for Vidya (True knowledge which is ayonja or apaurusheya) in our
battle to overcome these layers of darkness and reach victory on the tenth
day of Vijayadasami.
Happy NavarAtri!
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