17 October 2020 (First day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin)

First thing to understand.
Who is worshipped in Navaratri?
Shakti
Who is Shakti?
The basis of all existence. (आधारभतू )

Today is the first of the nine days of the religio-spiritual observance of Navaratri. Today, through ghatasthapana or kalashasthapana, you invite Shakti to your homes for the whole duration of the observance. In Shakti lies creation, sustenance and dissolution along with the unknown. Those who do not realise this mystery in their own selves end up taking this human existence as absolute on many levels. As a result, they become subject to karmic deluge.

Navaratri is an occasion for one to pass through nine important stages of existence.

On the microlevel, it is an occasion to travel through one’s own life. Shakti is worshipped as Shailaputri today. Daughter of Himavat, Shailaputri is popular as Parvati. No, this is not the wife of Shiva. She is a newborn, an infant. And that is who you are today. This is the form you relate to on the first day.

Reflect on Shailaputri today. Reflect upon infancy today. Infancy is a state before likes, dislikes, etc become evident.

ॐ Namashchandikayai॥
ॐ Hrim Durgayai namah॥

You can share your reflections on prayers@mahagathe.org, and we will be happy to assist you
in the days to come.

Feel Blessed
Swastham Shantam Sampurnam