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Significance of the
Month of November in Hindu Calendar
The
month of Kaartika (October – November) commences with the celebrations for
women folks starting with Maha Navratri which begins on October 10th;
Durga Puja (Maha Saptami) on October 18th and Vijaya
Dashami/Dusshera on October 21st and Karwa Chauth on October 29th.
The Significance of Maha Navaratri!
Navaratri is a joyous festival which is celebrated every
year by Hindus, during early fall season (occurs during late September and
early October). The Goddess in the form of the Universal Mother is worshiped
for nine nights and hence the name *nava-ratri.' On the tenth day, the festival
comes to an end with a special puja called Vijaya Dasami. During the ten days
of the Dasara festival (ten days and nine nights), it is common for Hindus to
read and recite slokas on the greatness of Mother Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
Mother Durga symbolizes the power of purposeful action (Kriya Sakti). Lakshmi represents the will power (Itchaa Sakti) and Saraswati stands for
the power of knowledge (Jnana Sakti).Mahalaya
is an auspicious occasion observed seven days before the Durga Puja, and
heralds the advent of Durga, the goddess of supreme power. It's a kind of invocation or invitation to
the mother goddess to descend on earth. This is done through the chanting of
mantras and singing devotional songs. *"Nava-ratri" literally means
"nine nights." This festival is observed twice a year, once in the
beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter.The Indian system of
beliefs refers to the female aspect of divinity as Shakti - or
the manifestation of energy. Worship of the mother Goddess is prevalent
throughout India. The nine day festival of Navaratri is a season of rejoicing
and celebration.
Significance of
celebrating the Goddess or the Universal Mother
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of Goddess
"Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She
is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy
or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of
creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is
motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does
everything. Truly speaking, worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory
that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. The worship of
the Mother Goddess dates back to the most ancient Indian
traditions. Worship of cosmic energy - or the raw unchannelled power of nature
and fertility in the form of the mother Shakti is a tradition
that is seen in a variety of forms all through the Indian subcontinent. Thus
one sees the worship of Bhagawati in Kerala, Renuka Parameswari elsewhere in south India, Manasi devi in North India, Kaali in Bengal and so on. Mythological and Vedic variations of this oft
repeated theme of Shakti appear in the form of Parvati, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Interestingly both of these Navaratri
traditions are also associated with Rama.
It is believed that Rama worshipped Durga for nine nights prior to killing
Ravana on Vijaya Dasami, and hence the autumnal Navaratri. The spring Navaratri commences with Ugadi
or Gudi Padva and concludes on Rama Navami - Rama's birthday.
Celebration of Maha Navaratri - The Divine Nine Nights -
Navaratnas!
Why
nine nights? Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different
aspects of the supreme goddess. On the
first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our
impurities, vices and defects. The next
three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the
power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in
worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the
blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for
nine nights.
Devi Durga - a
manifestation of Shakti is held in worship all over India. Durga is regarded as
the invincible power of nature and is associated with the legend of the
destruction of the demon Mahishasura. It was only nature's
unbridled energy that could conquer the demon. Legend has it that the shakti
from Bhramha's self emerged as Bhrahmi and the from other Gods Vishnu, Shiva,
Narasimha, Varaaha, Kumara and Indra - arose the female goddesses Vaishnavi, Shivani, Narasimhani, Vaaraahi, Kaumaari and Indraayani.
The seven of these Shaktis are collectively known as the Sapta Maatas,
or the seven mothers. Village shrines dedicated to the seven mothers are seen
commonly in the southern state of Tamilnadu. Shrines dedicated to the sapta
maatas. The seven mothers merged together to form Durga - the
powerful. Durga is regarded as Shakti - the power the enables
existence, Maayaa the illusion and Prakriti - that which gives shapes and forms
to objects of existence. Durga armed herself with Shiva's trident, Vishnu's
discus and mace, Kumaraa's spear and Indra's thunderbolt. The name “Durga”
means “inaccessible”, and she is the personification of the active side of the
divine “shakti” energy of Lord Shiva. In fact, she represents the furious
powers of all the male gods, and is the ferocious protector of the righteous,
and destroyer of the evil. Durga is usually portrayed as riding a lion, and
carrying weapons in her many arms.The destruction of the demon Mahishasura by
Durga is commemorated during the nine day Navaratri festival
in autumn.
Devi
Lakshmi - symbolizes the benevolent
aspect of nature. Worshipped as the consort of Vishnu, Lakshmi is the symbol of
prosperity and well being. Goddess Lakshmi means Good Luck to Hindus. The word
'Lakshmi' is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning 'aim' or
'goal', and she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and
spiritual. She is revered as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Lakshmi is
worshipped as the consort of Vishnu the protector. She is said to represent
everything that is beautiful and bountiful in nature and is the source of
power, pleasure and prosperity. It is believed that prosperity and well being
are symbolic of Lakshmi's presence. Needless to say, phenomenal effort was
needed to regain Lakshmi metaphorically. She is depicted as a
beautiful woman of golden complexion, with four hands, sitting or standing on a
full-bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud, which stands for beauty, purity and
fertility. Her four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma
or righteousness, kama or desires, artha or wealth, and moksha
or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The importance attached to
the presence of Lakshmi in every household makes her an essentially domestic
deity. Householders worship Lakshmi for the well being and prosperity of the
family.
Devi
Saraswati - symbolizes knowledge
and wisdom. Saraswati is regarded as the consort of the creator Bhrahma. All
forms of art are said to originate from Saraswati. She is regarded as the
Goddess of knowledge and the arts. Saraswati represents consciousness and
wisdom. Saraswati is also regarded as Vaagdevi, the goddess of
sound and speech. Saraswati is revered as the dispeller of chaos and confusion. She is depicted as clothed in white, seated on a white
lotus playing the instrument veena. The four vedas are considered to be her
offsprings. Her mount, the swanis said to personify pure knowledge. Any
institution of learning is regarded as Saraswati's temple. Musical instruments
are also regarded as symbols of Saraswati. Saraswati is said to be the bestower
of knowledge that dispels ignorance and unhappiness. Saraswati is worshipped as
the consort of Bhrahma the creator. Legend has it that Bhrahma
the creator acquired the power to think and create only through the power of
Saraswati and that it was Saraswati that enabled Bhrahma to listen to the Naadabhrahmam
the primordial sound which is revered as the source of all creation. Saraswati
is also referred to as Sharda the fountainhead of knowledge
who leeds seekers from darkness to light and from ignorance to spiritual
upliftment. Shrines dedicated to Saraswati are commonly seen
in many Saivite temples all over south India, located to the right of Parvati's
shrine.
Dussehra or Vijayadasami!
The 10th day of navratri is Dussehra or
Vijayadashmi. The unification of three
Goddess power. Besides Bengal and Central India, Dussehra Parva is celebrated
in other Indian states with equal zeal and enthusiasm though with regional
differences. The nine days preceding Dussehra in Tamil Nadu have been
equally divided for worshipping the three Goddesses. The women and children of
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka arrange dolls known as Bommai Kolu on artificial steps and
decorate the steps and the nearby place with beautiful lamps and flowers.
Traditionally, only women took part in the festivities, exchanged gifts
comprising of coconuts, clothes and sweets and visited their friends and
acquaintances during these 10 days of the festival. On the tenth night after
the ceremonial aarti and prayers the, `Marapachi'
dolls are put to sleep. From the very first day of the festival, songs and
stories form a part of the celebration and a dish made out of chickpeas, beans
and lentils known as 'chundal' is
made for the dolls to relish. Vijayadashmi is the day when the whole set up is
taken down and is considered very auspicious, especially for the children to
begin their education in classical dance and music. Children also pay homage to
their teachers on this day.
Dussehra
is welcome in Punjab after nine days of fasting during Navratri while Garba dance and music reigns the
evenings and nights of Gujarat during the ten days of the festival.
Here, the women dance to the tunes of the rhythmic clapping of hands as they
dance around the earthen lamp, singing devotional songs in the honor of the
Mother Goddess. Ramalila is the backbone of the celebration in northern India,
where the scenes from Rama's life are depicted, especially Bharat Milap, the
reunion of Ram with his brother Bharat, the destruction of Ravana (the highlight
of Dussehra) and the return of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita to Ayodhya, their
kingdom after fourteen years of exile. In Himachal Pradesh's Kulu valley,
the mass ceremonial festivities and grand processions of the village deities of
the hill people marks Dussehra while Mysore is famous for a gala
procession of richly bedecked elephants on the brightly lit streets of the city
on Dussehra.
Karwa Chauth – Fast For Married Women!
'Karwa Chauth' is a ritual of fasting observed by married Hindu women
seeking the longevity, well-being and prosperity of their husbands. It is
popular amongst married women in the northern and western parts of India,
especially, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. This
festival comes 9 days before Diwali on 'kartik ki chauth', i.e., on the fourth
day of the new moon immediately after Dusshera, in the month of 'Kaartika’
(October-November).
The
term 'Chauth' means the 'fourth day' and 'Karwa' is an earthen pot with a spout
- a symbol of peace and prosperity - that is necessary for the rituals. Hence
the name 'Karwa Chauth'.
Each woman sits with the baya or basketful of goodies
around her. She also places a karva or pitcher full of water. The narration of
the Vrata Katha is also significant, which is the telling of the legend of
Karva Chauth by an elderly member of the family.
The Ritual - Married women keep a strict fast and
do not take even a drop of water. They get up at dawn break, perform their
ablutions, and wear new and festive raiment. Shiva, Parvati and their son
Kartikeya are worshipped on this day along with the 10 'karwas' (earthen pots)
filled with sweets. The Gods are invoked for the longevity of lives of their
husbands and children. It is around this time that mother-in-laws give their
daughter-in-laws wholesome food called sargi before the break of dawn. This is
because the fast begins with the daybreak and goes on till evening till the
moon comes out. This fast is quite tough when women generally do not consume
food or even water. The Karwas are given to daughters and sisters along with
gifts.
The
Fast - It
is the most important and difficult fast observed by married Hindu women.
(Unmarried women, widows, and spinsters are barred from observing this fast.)
It begins before sunrise and ends only after offering prayers and worshipping
the moon at night. No food or water can be taken after sunrise. The fast is
broken once the moon is sighted and rituals of the day have been performed. At
night when the moon appears, women break their fast after offering water to the
moon.
The
Custom - In
the evening, women dress up in special clothes, usually a red or pink sari or 'lehenga-choli' with gold woven 'zari' patterns. New brides often wear
their bridal costume. All deck up in jewelry and wear 'mehendi' or henna patterns especially on the hands. Decorative
'bindis' on the forehead are a must for all women taking part in this
celebration. This time the whole house remains replete with bright clothes, the
red of the costumes and the gold of the jewelry. The house is full of sumptuous
food that is decorously arranged in the house. The puja chowk is also
beautifully decorated, wherein the image of Gauri Mata or Goddess Parvati is
kept. Fasting women from all over the neighborhood gather in a group and
narrate mythological stories that underscore the significance of Karwa Chauth.
And, of course, all wives expect lavish gifts from their husbands!
The
fast of Karwa Chawth truly sets the merry tone of the fun and frolic, festivity
and feasting that come in good measure during Diwali - the biggest festival of
the Hindus.
Sources:
http://www.bawarchi.com/festivals
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