On the occasion of the Navaratri Festival – The Glory of Devi in our Ancient Texts

Navaratri Festival is from 3^rd October to 12^th October 2024 

Namo Devyai Mahadevyai Shivayai Satatam Namaha l

Namaha Prakrityai Bhadrayai Niyatah Pranatah Sma Tam ll

We pay obeisance to Devi, Mahadevi and Shiva. We pay obeisance to Prakruti (The Great Illusion) and Bhadra (The Goddess of fortune). We have been paying obeisance to the Devi and will continue to do so eternally.

(Note : Devi, Mahadevi, Shiva, Prakruti and Bhadra are the different forms of Shakti.)

Devotees have been worshipping Shakti (Vitality or Divine Energy) form of the Devi for a long time. It dates to early human history. Devotees have praised the Goddess in the form of a woman or a Devi. Matrudevata (Mother Goddess) remains the first form of the Goddess worshipped in human history, and one finds Her glory in various ancient Texts. We see the glory of Shakti as Aditi in Rigveda to Bhavani or Renuka in the modern-day Gondhal (Invocation of the Goddess). In addition, Shakti’s worship is a common thread between the Matrumurti (Idol of Mother Goddess) found on the banks of River Sindhu three thousand years ago and the invocation of Gramdevata (The Goddess that protects a village) in the rituals practised today. India has a rich history of 51 Shaktipeethas (Seats of Shakti). Many have kept alive the family tradition of worshipping Durga, Kali, and other forms of Shakti.

1. Bruhatnandikeshwar Puran describes the virtues of Devi in connection with Navaratri

Bruhatnandikeshwar Puran highlights the glory of Durga Devi. It says Prabhu Shriram worshipped Durga Devi in the Hindu lunar month of Shravan before He slayed Ravan. Hence, Navaratri falls in the month of Shravan. Prabhu Shriram followed the advice of Sage Narad and worshipped Devi as per the Navaratra Vrat (Vowed religious observance). Prabhu Shriram concluded the Vrat as advised and prayed for His victory. Subsequently, He attacked Lanka and slayed Ravan.

2. Adya Shankaracharya and Saints describe the glory of Devi

Adya Shankaracharya composed more than 40 stotras (Hymns praising different forms of God) that describe Devi’s glory. If we consider Maharashtra alone, we find that Saints such as Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Sant Eknath, and Samarth Ramdas Swami have also composed stotras that praise Devi

3. Devi Sampraday (Devi Sect)

In India, the Devi, Shakti, or Matrudevata sect is one of the oldest and most widespread sects that emphasises worshipping Deities. Worshipping Panchadevatas (The five Principal Deities – Prajapati, Brahma, Shiva, Shri Vishnu and Meenakshi) is an important element in the ritualistic worship of Deities. The Path of devotion followed in India emphasises transforming the non-materialised, formless God Principle into a materialised form and worshipping it with love and devotion. In addition, the devotees strive to get a permanent place at the Goddess’ Holy feet by devoting their lives in Her worship, singing Her glory through devotional songs, conducting discourses that describe Her glory, and chanting Her Name. God-realisation remains the hallmark of the Path of devotion followed in India. It emphasises worshipping Shri Vishnu, Shiva, Sun God, Ganapati, and Devi.

4. Names of Devi (Shaktipeeth) 51 

1. Shridevi, 2. Ambika, 3. Abhayamba, 4. Amayermataji, 5. Alakshmi, 6. Anandnayaki, 7. Unaimata, 8. Uma, 9. Kalratri, 10. Kudika, 11. Kulkulya, 12. Kaushiki, 13. Kankali, 14. Gajantlakshmi, 15. Gotradevi, 16. Gauri, 17. Chadravadanidevi, 18. Chandraghanta, 19. Kushmanda, 20. Brahmacharini, 21. Maha-gauri, 22. Siddhadatri, 23. Skandamata, 24. Shailaputri, 25. Chakrapadi, 26. Jagatdatri, 27. Durga, 28. Neelsaraswati, 29. Padmavati, 30. Pratyangira, 31. Parvati, 32. Panpawati, 33. Bagalamukhi, 34. Balatibala, 35. Bhuvaneshwari, 36. Mahishasurmardini, 37. Mahakali, 38. Mahasarawati, 39. Makhdevi, 40. Mukambika, 41. Yogeshwari, 42. Rasidevi, 43. Vrunda, 44.Vidyadevi, 45. Vaishnavi, 46. Shatakshi, 47. Vatsaladevi, 48. Shivaduti, 49. Sahastrakalmata, 50. Sandnya, 51. Hunkareshwari

5. Devi Mahatmya – A Text that describes the glory of Devi

An important Text for the devotes and worshippers of Devi finds its roots in the Markandey Puran (Chapters 89-93). The 567 verses are divided into 13 Chapters. These 567 verses are further divided into 700 mantras, which are compiled into a Holy Text called ‘Durga Saptashati’. Devi Mahatmya includes the biographies of the three important forms of Devi – Mahakali, Mahasaraswati, and Mahalakshmi.

3^1/2 Shakti Peethas in Maharashtra – Tulajapur – The first Peetha; Mahur – The second; Kolhapur – The third; Saptashrungi – The half Peetha.

These carry great significance from the religious and spiritual perspective as the seats of Shakti or Adimata. They are also mentioned in the Devi Bhagawat – a Holy Text on Devi.

In addition, Matapur and Kolhapur Peethas are mentioned in the literature compiled by followers of Mahanubhav sect. Shri Renukadevi dwells in Matapur and Saptashrungi, Shri Mahalakshmidevi dwells in Kolhapur while Shri Bhavanidevi dwells in Tuljapur. It is important to note that the Kuladevi for most families in Maharashtra is one amongst these four forms of Devi.

– Astrologers BV Deshpande and Chintamani Deshpande (Guruji), Pune (Courtesy : Monthly ‘Dharmik’, October 2018)

Adyashakti (The Primal Energy)

During the first three days of Navaratri, Mahakali is worshipped to reduce the Tama component. The next 3 days, Raja predominant Mahalakshmi is worshipped to increase the Sattva component. Finally, Sattva predominant Mahasaraswati is worshipped to enhance spiritual practice.

Mahakali represents the ‘Time’ Principle, Mahasaraswati the ‘Motion’ Principle and Mahalakshmi the Principle of ‘Direction’. All objects are destroyed with the passage of time. Where there is no motion, the process of Creation comes to a standstill. Despite this, a particular Shakti perpetually remains active for the creation, nurture, sustenance and multiplication of the Universe in the eight directions. She is known as the Adyashakti. The three Principles mentioned previously are inherent in this great Shakti.

The three main forms : Various forms assumed by Adyashakti according to the mission and the special features of each form are given in the table ahead according to another school of thought.

Name	Main component	Complexion	Associated Deity	Demons slain
Mahakali	Tama	Dark	Rudra-Shiva	Madhu and Kaitabh
Mahalakshmi	Sattva	Fair	Shri Vishnu	Mahishasur
Mahasaraswati	Raja	Red	Brahma	Shumbha-Nishumbha

Some other Names : Adishakti, Parashakti, Mahamaya, Kali, Tripura and Tripurasundari.

Kali : As per Mahanirvan Tantra, Kali (Adyashakti) is actually devoid of a form; but Her form is thought of in accordance with Her characteristics and actions. When She is engrossed in the Creation of the Universe, She is Raja predominant and red complexioned; during its Sustenance, She is Sattva predominant and is fair complexioned, and at the time of Dissolution of the Universe, She is Tama predominant and has a dark complexion.

Tripura : The Holy text Shabdakalpadrum describes Her as – The one who helps accomplish the three Purusharthas (Basic pursuits of life) of Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Wealth) and Kama (Desire) is Tripura. She has several forms, all of which were worshipped in the ancient times. Tripura manifested first as a virgin girl and later separated Herself into three forms as Tripurabala, Tripurabhairavi and Tripurasundari.’

Tripurasundari : Followers of the Shakta sect refer to Tripura-sundari as ‘Parashakti or Supreme Energy’. Devotees worship Her in the form of the moon. The moon has sixteen phases of which the first fifteen wax and wane but the sixteenth is constant. This sixteenth phase is known as the ‘Eternal sixteenth phase’. This phase is the highest seat of beauty and Anand (Bliss) and is itself ‘Mahatripurasundari’.

(Ref.: Sanatan’s Text – Introduction to Divine Energy [Shakti])

The Path of devotion emphasises transforming the formless God Principle into a materialised form and worshipping it with love !