Navaratra……. The term in one of its numerous understandings… means a group of nine nights.

Another
meaning says….. a set of new… fresh nights with significant changes in the the inner and outer world. As
a common understanding, for most of us, this word connects us directly to the nine day/night period of
Devi upasana…..shakti sadhana. There are four navaratras dedicated to shakti sadhana, each falling at
an equal interval of three months each, thus dividing the year in four phases. Each phase witnessing a
change….fading of the old and rise of something new……..most significantly, the seasons. Out of the four
two are commonly well known as vasantika and sharadeeya navaratras falling in the chaitra and ashwin
maasa. ….with a gap of six months. The other two lesser known navaratras are magh and ashadh
navaratras. Since they are not known to a larger mass owing to the fact that they are of a guhya or
secretive nature due to the inherent intensity of Shakti tattva during these periods, they are called gupta
navaratra. In the tradition of Srividya sadhana, these gupta navaratras are dedicated to mantrini and
dandanayika of Sri Parabhattarika. Magh Navaratri is dedicated to Devi Rajamatangi and Ashadha
navaratra to Devi Mahavarahi. The rest two prakata mukhya navaratras are dedicated to Bhagawati
Parambika Chandika /Lalitha Parameshwari. ….. centering around the worship of her nine different
aspects during the nine days of Navaratra. The upasana of Trishaktis is also performed in these nine
nights. First three days Mahakali….. next three Mahalakshmi and final three for Mahasaraswati.
Navaratri is the time for shakti sanchaya….. shakti upasana……sadhana. A time to channelize our
awareness towards the all pervading …… the form of all forms….the sarvaroopamayi Shakti tattwa. To
strengthen our divine aspects and annihilate the demonic tendencies deep hidden in each of us. The
divine stories of puranas…. Devi mahatmyam or Lalitopakhyan are not mere poetical depictions to be
mugged up through several repetitions and constant chantings. They are much deeper directions of the
divine to the divine. They are clear guidelines to us…….. pratyaksha sadhana nirdeshas. The form of the
goddess being worshipped is the open secret of the path to become the deity itself. The word asur is
derived from ‘असु षुरमन्ते इति असु र:|’, meaning ‘the one who remains engrossed only in enjoying life and
in the indulgence of pleasure of the objects is an asur (demon)’. Such a Mahishasur is present in each
human heart. And he has taken control over internal Divine qualities of the human being. It is necessary
to perform puja of Shakti to become free from the trap of Mahishasur, by realising the illusory form of
this Mahishasur. Therefore, Shakti should be worshipped in the nine days of Navratra. This victory is
celebrated on the day of Dashami and is called Dussehra.