There is no love in the world that can equal a mother’s love. It is the most tender, gentle, and enduring, yet grand and powerful expression of love that one may experience. The Yoga Research Foundation warmly welcomes you to our annual Navaratri Puja where we celebrate the worship of the Divine as Mother. Our festivities commence on October 5th 2018 at 7PM and will continue for nine days eventually concluding with the day of victory – Vijaya Dashami on the 10th day. Join us for ten days of fabulous festivities with our beloved Guru Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda as he leads us through a splendid exposition of the Devi Mahatmya. If you have not experienced Navaratri Puja at the ashram, it is certainly not to be missed and we hope that you will join us for all ten evenings of delightful bhajan and kirtan, fabulous vegetarian feasts, and the climax of each evening -Swamiji’s mystical insight into the Divine Feminine.
In Hindu culture, nine days are designated during the Autumn season for the worship of God in the form of the Divine Mother. One aspect of the Devi is focused upon every three days, signifying spiritual progression through the eradication of three vices: mala, vikshepa, and avarana. The first three days are signified by the worship of Goddess Durga, who destroys the malas or gross impurities of the heart. During the following three days the worship focuses on Goddess Lakshmi, the bestower of spiritual and material prosperity, who rids the mind of vikshepa or distractions of the mind. The final three days are dedicated to Saraswati Devi, who tears avarana, the veil of ignorance, and bestows spiritual Enlightenment. Finally, the 10th day is Vijaya Dashami – “Victory of the Soul” – the culmination of wisdom in Self-realization. In his book Worship of God as Mother – Mysticism of the Devi Mahatmya, Swamiji writes:
The whole universe is the sportive manifestation of the Divine Being in the Mother-aspect. The Divine Mother permeates the whole world. She is within and around us, functioning in the intellect as Jnana Shakti or the energy of knowledge, in the mind as Iccha Shakti or the energy of desire or will, and in the physical body as Kriya Shakti, or the energy of action.
There are many names that are synonymous for the Divine Mother. These include: Devi or Goddess; Mata or Mother; Maya or the principle of Cosmic Illusion, which is inseparable from Brahman or the Absolute; Moola Prakriti or the balanced state of the three gunas (the three modes of nature – sattwa, rajas, and tamas).
Mother Worship is as old as the instinctive human feeling of love for one’s mother, as old as life in the human plane. This form of worship enables a spiritual aspirant to feel and experience the compassionate hand of the Mother-aspect of God behind every event in life. The Mother presents bhoga (the enjoyments of the world) and moksha (the infinite bliss of liberation) to every individual soul.
If this brief excerpt has stimulated your appetite for more, then we certainly look forward to having you join us as we celebrate Navaratri at the ashram. If you would like further insight prior to attending, Swamiji’s book is also available for purchase at the following link: https://shop.yrf.org/items/books/mysticism-of-devi-mahatmya-worship-of-god-as-mother/
