Navaratri: celebrating Shakti

Sivaratri is special to Siva and Navaratri is for Parashakti.

There are many norms for praying to one’s favourite deity, but praying to Shakti is very easy, because She has immense mercy to forgive the trippings and transgressions of one. She is accessible to all and as the grama devata, She is happy to receive the love and piety offered by simple folks, said Damodara Deekshithar.

She is celebrated by all, especially during Navaratri, in various forms. On the first day She is Shailaputri. On the second, Brahmacharini. She is worshipped as Chnadraghanta on day three and as Kushmanda on day four. She is Skandamata on day five, Katyayani on day six and Kalaratri on day seven. She is Maha Gauri on the eighth day, and as Siddhidatri on day nine. On those nine days she vanquished asuras and emerged victorious on the tenth day as Vijayadasami.

As a further simplification of this, devotees pray to Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi. Saraswati is propitiated for knowledge, wisdom and learning, Lakshmi is propitiated for wealth, and Durga is sought after for bravery. However, one should weigh in on what true wealth is. Tiruvalluvar says, “The wealth of all wealth is the wealth of hearing; it out tops all other wealth.” Wisdom gained from listening to the learned makes one wiser. Wealth can buy knowledge to some extent and money can buy bravery. Can knowledge, which is set on a high plateau ever be bought? Only true knowledge internalised and latent can help a person ascend to great heights in this world.

As per Devi Mahatyam and Devi Bhagavatham, Shakti comes as Saraswati, Lakshmi and then Durga. Norms to worship Parashakti are very simple. She accepts what the devotee offers, in all piety, which would be what he or she consumes in day-to-day life. It is acceptable to Her since She is like a mother. When a child cries, the father would only know it is crying, but the mother alone would know why the baby is crying and step up. Similarly, Parashakti knows what the devotee wants. The devout only have to say, “You know what I want, kindly bless me’’ and She will do the rest.