Each
year Navaratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight
of the lunar month of Ashvin. The Navaratri festival or 'nine day festival'
becomes a 'ten day festival' with the addition of the last day, Vijaya-dasami
(day of victory) as its culmination. Today, Saturday September 30, 2017 marked that
tenth day of Victory.
A
legend explaining the origin of Navaratri is that Adi Shankaracharya gave
upadesa at two primary locations during the installation of a Sri Chakra at
Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh) and at Koolurmugambika (Karnataka). At the time of
the installations he directed 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.
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. To view photographs of
the 2017 Navaratri Kolu Display at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram at Tiruvannamalai
go to this link here. To view photographs of the 2017 Kolu Display in a private
house go to this link here.
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.
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.
Tiruvannamalai
has many beautiful Temples dedicated to the Divine Mother. The below
photographs are of alangarams on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of the Shakti
Goddess during this 2017 Navaratri Festival.
Navaratri Alangarams—Day One
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| Angalamman Temple near Market |
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| Angalamman Temple near Government Veterinary Hospital |
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| Kamakshi Temple on Thirumanjana Street |
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| Goddess Soudeshwara, Tiruvannamalai |
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| Goddess Vasavi, Tiruvannamalai |
Navaratri Alangarams—Day Two
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| Adi Kamakshi Temple near Bus Stand |
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| Close up of Goddess at Adi Kamakshi Temple |
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| Angalamman Temple, near Market |
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| Angalamman Temple near Government Veterinary Hospital |
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| Close up of Goddess, Angalamman Temple near Hospital |
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| Unnamulai Temple on Car Street |
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| Durgamman Temple near Bus stand |
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| Kamakshi Temple on Thirumanjana Street |
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| Close up of Goddess, Kamakshi Temple Thirumanjana Street |
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| Gangaiamman Temple, Tiruvannamalai |
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| Ramana Ashram |
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| Soudeshwara Temple, Tiruvannamalai |
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| Vasavi Temple, Tiruvannamalai |
Navaratri Alangarams—Day Three
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| Angalamman Temple near Government Veterinary Hospital |
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| Gangaiamman Temple, Tiruvannamalai |
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| Kali Temple, Chengham Road |
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| Kamakshi Temple Thirumanjana Street |
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| Ramana Ashram |
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| Seshadri Ashram |
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| Soudheshwari Temple, Tiruvannamalai |
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| Unnamulai Temple, Car Street |
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| Vasavi Temple, Tiruvannamalai |
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| Close up of Goddess, Vasavi Temple, Tiruvannamalai |
[With thanks to Professor Hari Prasad for photographs]
