Navaratri: Honouring the Divine Feminine

After the 14 days of Pitru Paksha that honoured our ancestral lineages, begins the ‘Maatri Paksha‘ – a time that is dedicated to the Divine Mother. ‘Navaratri‘, which translates as the ‘nine nights’ of the Divine Mother, begins on the first day of the Vedic lunar month of Ashvin. 

This is a time of the year when the eternal river of life comes in to focus in its forward movement. Consider it to be like a portal to the profound waters of Shakti, the source of creative energies that we have access to in this life, and the power to know the Self in the midst of an ever-moving world.

Devi, the Goddess, worshipped in her nine forms, over nine nights, is invoked so that we may open to the profoundness and beauty of this life experience.

Vedic Astrology associates the Moon and Venus with Devi’s energy, and the heartfelt invocation of the Goddess brings a refined quality of these planetary energies in to our lives. Invocations to the Goddess are an offering of worship to that Shakti who resides in All Beings.

She is both the light and the shadow, the thirst and its quenching, the raging fire within and the water that soothes. As the verses beautifully describe, she is Consciousness within all beings.

Here are some powerful Devi Shlokas and Mantras to include in your daily worship during these nine nights:

Om Mahaa Devyai Namaha

Meaning:
I offer salutations to Devi, the Great Goddess

~

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Sarva Mangala Maangalye Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike
Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Naaraayanni Namostu Te 

Meaning:
1: Salutations to You, Goddess Narayani who is auspiciousness herself, who aligns the devotee’s life with the pursharthas of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
2: Who is the giver of refuge, with three eyes and a shining face; salutations to You, O Narayani.

~

Om Hreem Shreem Kreem Durgaayai Svaahaa

Meaning:
(The sounds of three Bija (seed) Mantras at the beginning of this chant invoke profound Devi energy)
I offer salutations to Goddess Durgaa

~

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥१२॥

Yaa Devii Sarva Bhuutessu Shakti Ruupenna Samsthitaa
Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namas Tasyai Namo Namah 

To that Goddess who resides in all beings in the form of Shakti,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

~

Sai Ganesh Nagpal