Showing posts with label 2011 Navaratri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 Navaratri. Show all posts

4 October 2011

Navaratri [Sharad] 2011


Each year Sharad Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvin. The festival is celebrated for approximately nine nights once every year during the beginning of October, with dates and longevity determined by the lunar calendar. This Navaratri started on September 28th and will complete on October 6th, 2011. To read about Navaratri in more details go to this link here.

The origin of Navaratri came about when Adi Shankaracharya gave Upadesham to the people at two primary locations during the installation of the Sri Chakra. He delivered his Upadesham at Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh) and Koolurmugambika (Karnataka). He directed the women folk to worship the Goddess and seek her blessings for wealth, prosperity and long life for their husbands and overall happiness in the family. To read about the worship of Shakti during the days of Navaratri go to this link here.

This Festival is celebrated in a wide variety of ways, depending on region, local history and family influences. Some see it as a way to commune with one’s own feminine divinity. A widespread practice honours the Goddess in every woman by inviting young girls to the family's home, feeding them and offering new clothes. During the Festival, women also perform tapas and selfless acts.

Families in Tamil Nadu traditionally prepare in their homes a kolu, an exhibition of small dolls, figurines and small artifacts on a stepped, decorated shelf. At least one murti of Shakti must be present, as well as wooden figurines of a boy and a girl together to invoke auspicious marriages. For information about Kolu Dolls go to this link here.



Kolu Dolls Display



The Navaratri festival or 'nine day festival' becomes 'ten days festival' with the addition of the last day, Vijaya-dasami (day of victory) its culmination.

On all these days, Mother Mahisasura-mardini (Durga) is worshipped. According to the narrative from the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana in which the form of Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight a demon.




Below photographs are taken in one of four Amman Temples at Arunachala during this year's 2011 Navaratri. Right click to view enlargements.




Adi Kamakshi Temple,
Goddess meditating on Lingam




Arunachaleswarar Temple Mandapam,
Sri Lakshmi




Adi Kamakshi Temple,
Goddess with Sri Venkateshwara



In South India the Goddess is worshipped in three forms. During the first three nights, Durga is revered, then Lakshmi on the fourth, fifth and sixth nights, and finally Saraswati until the ninth night. Durga ("invincible" in Sanskrit) is the epitome of strength, courage and ferocity. Her devotees approach Her, sometimes with difficult penances, for those qualities and for the protection she Bestows.



Kamakshi Temple,
Gaja Lakshmi




Durga Amman Temple,
Goddess with Parrot





Kamakshi Amman Temple,
Rishaba Vahanam




A more gentle worship is observed for Lakshmi also called Annapurna "Giver of food," Lakshmi is the Goddess of abundance, wealth and comfort. She is the ever-giving mother, worshipped for well being and prosperity. A traditional way of invoking Her is chanting the Sri Suktam. In Her honour, food is prepared and offered to neighbours and all who visit, thus strengthening community ties. On the full moon night following Navaratri, it is believed Lakshmi Herself visits each home and replenishes family wealth.

The last three days of Navaratri, exalt Saraswati, the form of Shakti personifying wisdom, arts and beauty. Her name literally means "flowing one", a reference to thoughts, words, music and the Saraswati River. Mystically Saraswati is believed to be the keeper of the powerful Gayatri Mantra, which is chanted during the festival to invoke Her supreme blessings. Devotees meditate for days on this mantra alone, as it is considered the door to divine wisdom.


Kamakshi Amman
Temple Lights





In the next posting, photographs of Vijaydasami at Arunachala Amman Temples, and the significance of the Goddess at this place during Navaratri.


26 September 2011

Tripurasundari and Navaratri


To learn more about tree species in this area, visit my recent posting on my Arunachala Land Blog at this link here. One of the trees I mention in that posting is the Kadamba.

There are many legends and mythology concerning the Kadamba Tree. Probably best known in these parts are the legends associated with Lord Murugan and the deity Kadambariyamman.

During the Sangam Period in Tamil Nadu, Lord Murugan in the form of a spear under a Kadamba Tree at Tirupparankundram Hill of Madurai was referred to as a centre of nature worship.

In another mystical story, the Kadamba tree is also associated with a deity called Kadambariyamman. The Kadamba tree, which is considered the ‘sthalavruksham’ (Tree of the place) of the city that is otherwise known as ‘Kadambavanam’ (Kadamba forest).







The Kadamba tree is is said to put forth orange, fragrant buds at the roaring of thunder clouds. A withered relic of the Kadamba tree is believed to be preserved in the precincts of the Madurai Sri Meenakshi Temple. The name also means multitude. In that sense, the Kadamba forest stands for the Universe that the Devi permeates completely i.e. like a cloud that quenches the thirst for knowledge of the sages.

The Festival of Navaratri, dedicated to the Divine Mother starts on September 28th, 2011. Arunachaleswarar Temple will celebrate this Festival in evening functions at the site of the Old Marriage Mandapam near the Shiva Sannidhi. Ramana Ashram also has delightful puja functions throughout the Festival.

There are several very beautiful Temples in Tiruvannamalai dedicated to the Divine Mother, one of which, Rajarajeshwari Temple also known as Tripurasundari, is a wonderful Temple to visit, especially during Poornima, Deepam and special functions as Navaratri and Deepavali. What makes the Rajarajeshwari Temple so appropriate during Navaratri, is the presence of its exquisite and most powerful Sri Meru Chakra.



Goddess Rajarajeshwari


“Dear One, Tripura is the ultimate, primordial Shakti, the light of manifestation. She, the pile of letters of the alphabet, gave birth to the three worlds. At dissolution, She is the abode of all tattvas, still remaining Herself”
[Vamakeshvaratantra]



Sri Meru Chakra



Embedded below is the wonderful Sri Tripurasundari Stotram sung by the Sulamangalam Sisters, which extols the glory and attributes of the Goddess inhabiting the Kadamba Forest. The name Goddess Tripurasundari attests that the Goddess is consort to Lord Shiva who is called Tripura because he contains within himself all three forms of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.



English Translation to Strotram:

Seek I shelter in Tripurasundari, materfamilias of the three-eyed one. Who is roaming in the Kadamba Forest, a bank of clouds to the galaxy of sages. Whose hip excels the mountain; who is served by damsels celestial, whose eyes rival new blown lotus. And swarthy like the nimbus newly-formed.

Seek I shelter in Tripurasundari, materfamilias of the three-eyed one. Who is inhabiting the forest Kadamba, Holding a Vina golden, wearing a necklace of gems priceless. A face deeply aglow of ambrosia. Through mercy bestowing prosperity, clear-eyed, the wandering one.

Arrayed we be in panoply by her Kadamba forest abode. By the garland gracing her massive bosom. By her bosom rivalling mounts. By the splendid flow of her surpassing grace. By her cheeks ruddied by wine. By her melodious musical voice. By her cloud-like blue. By her instructable play!

Seek I shelter in Tripurasundari, materfamilias of the three-eyed one. Who is in the midst of Kadamba forest; seated on the golden disc. Who resides in lotuses six. A lightning to the constant Siddhas, splendorously mocking scarlet Hibiscus with cloudless moon for her crest jewel.

Seek I shelter in Sage Matanga’s daughter. Mellifluously conversing. Vina gracing the bosom. Adorned with curly tresses. Residing in lotus. Scorning the evil-minded. Reddish-eyed from nectar. Captivating Cupid’s enemy.

Seek I shelter in Tripurasundari, materfamilias of the three-eyed one. Who bears the first flower of Manmatha. Clad in garments blue, spotted sanguine. Holding a liquor bowl. With eyes inebriated, languishing at the ends. Close-set bosom heavy and high. The swarthy one with locks dishevelled.

In japa I remember the Mother. Smeared with vermillion. Forelocks grazing the dot of musk. Looks soft and smiling. Bearing arrows, blow, snared and goad. Deluding all people. In red garland, jewels and apparel.

I salute the Mother of the World entire. Who has the celestial queen for plaiting tresses. Brahma’s consort skilful for anointing sandalpaste. Vishnu’s spouse for adorning with lustrous gems. And heavenly damsels for servant maids.







Tripurasundari Stotram

Kadambha vana charineen, muni kadambha kadambhineem,
Nidhambha jitha bhoodaram sura nithambhini sevitham,
Navamburuha lochanam abhinavambhudha shyamalam,
Trilochana kudumbhineem tripurasundarim asraye.

Kadambha vana vasineem kanaka vallaki dharineem,
Maharhamani harineem mukha samullasa dwarineem,
Daya vibhava karineem, visadha lochineem charineem,
Trilochana kudumbhineem tripurasundarim asraye.

Kadambha vanashalaya kuchbarollasanmalaya,
Kuchopamithashailaya gurukrupalasad velaya,
Madarunakapolaya madhura geetha vachalaya,
Kayapi gana leelaya kavachiha vayam leelaya

Kadambha vana madhykam kanaka mandala lopa sthithaam,
Shadambhuruha vasineem sathath sidha sowdamineem,
Vidambhitha japa ruchim vikhacha chandra choodamanim,
Trilochana kudumbhineem tripurasundarim asraye.

Kuchancithabanjikaam kutila kunthalalangrutham,
Kusheshaya nivasineem kutila chitha vidwesineem,
Madaaruna vilochanaam manasi jari sammohineem,
Madhnga muni kanyakaam, madhurabhashineen ashraye.

Smareth prathama puspineem, rudhira bindu neelabaram,
Graheetha madhu pathrikaam madhu vigurna nethranchalam,
Gana sthans baronnatham galitha soolikaam shyamalam,
Trilochana kudumbhineem tripurasundarim asraye.

Sakumkuma vilepanaam alaka kampikasthurikaam,
Samanthahasitheshanaam sachara chapa pasangusam,
Asesha jana mohineem aruna malya bhooshambaram,
Japa kusuma basuraam japa vidhow smarathembikam.

Purandara purandrikaam chikura bandha sairandhrikam,
Pithamaha pathivrutham, patu pateera charcharathaam,
Mukunda ramani manim lasadalangriya kaarineem,
Bajami bhuvanambikam, sura vadhootika chetikam.