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Vasanta Navaratri

Om Vishnupad 108 Tridandi Swami Sri Srimat Bhakti Sravan Tirtha Goswami Maharaj ki Jai !!

 

Vasant Navratri begins on April 8, 2016. This festival of nine nights is dedicated to Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. As this Navratra coincides with Ram Navami, it also referred as Ram Navratri. The dates are from April 8, 2016 to April 15, 2016.

According to the legend, Devi sat on the tip of a needle for nine days, doing a severe penance to destroy the evil Demon Mahishasur. The first three days, she meditated as Goddess Durga, the next three days as Goddess Maha Lakshmi and the last three days as Goddess Saraswati. Spiritually, this signifies a progressive movement toward saatvic principles, eventually resulting in liberation from material life.

The Story

In days long gone by, King Dhruvasindu was killed by a lion when he went out hunting. Preparations were made to crown the prince Sudarsana. But, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, the father of Queen Lilavati, and King Virasena of Kalinga, the father of Queen Manorama, were each desirous of securing the Kosala throne for their respective grandsons.

They fought with each other. King Virasena was killed in the battle. Manorama fled to the forest with Prince Sudarsana and a eunuch. They took refuge in the hermitage of Rishi Bharadwaja.

The victor, King Yudhajit, thereupon crowned his grandson, Satrujit, at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. He then went out in search of Manorama and her son. The Rishi said that he would not give up those who had sought protection under him. Yudhajit became furious. He wanted to attack the Rishi. But, his minister told him about the truth of the Rishi’s statement. Yudhajit returned to his capital.

Fortune smiled on Prince Sudarsana. A hermit’s son came one day and called the eunuch by his Sanskrit name Kleeba. The prince caught the first syllable Kli and began to pronounce it as Kleem. This syllable happened to be a powerful, sacred Mantra. It is the Bija Akshara (root syllable) of the Divine Mother. The Prince obtained peace of mind and the Grace of the Divine Mother by the repeated utterance of this syllable. Devi appeared to him, blessed him and granted him divine weapons and an inexhaustible quiver.

The emissaries of the king of Benares or Varanasi passed through the Ashram of the Rishi and, when they saw the noble prince Sudarsana, they recommended him to Princess Sashikala, the daughter of the king of Benares.

The ceremony at which the princess was to choose her spouse was arranged. Sashikala at once chose Sudarsana. They were duly wedded. King Yudhajit, who had been present at the function, began to fight with the king of Benares. Devi helped Sudarsana and his father-in-law. Yudhajit mocked Her, upon which Devi promptly reduced Yudhajit and his army to ashes.

Thus Sudarsana, with his wife and his father-in-law, praised Devi. She was highly pleased and ordered them to perform Her worship with havan and other means during the Vasanta Navaratri. Then She disappeared.

Prince Sudarsana and Sashikala returned to the Ashram of Rishi Bharadwaja. The great Rishi blessed them and crowned Sudarsana as the king of Kosala. Sudarsana and Sashikala and the king of Benares implicitly carried out the commands of the Divine Mother and performed worship in a splendid manner during the Vasanta Navaratri.

Sudarsana’s descendants, namely, Sri Rama and Lakshmana, also performed worship of Devi during the Vasanta Navaratri and were blessed with Her assistance in the recovery of Sita.

Ramnavami or the birthday of Bhagavan Sri Rama falls on the 9th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra (March-April). It is significant that both the Vasant and Sharad Navaratris are connected to Lord Rama as well.

Vasant Navaratri for the appearance of Lord Rama and Sharadiya Navaratri for the slaying of Ravana.

In Honour of Lord Rama

Ramnavami is one of the most important festivals, particularly for the Vaishnava sect. On this auspicious day, devotees observe a fast and worship Lord Rama and Sita with deep reverence. Recitations of the Ramayana are undertaken and sumptuous food offerings are made to the Lord.

 

Nitai Gaur Hari bol !

Jai Sri Radhey!

Jai Gurudev!