Happy Navaratri

22 Sep - 02 Oct

2025

Navaratri as a festival honoring the Supreme feminine energy (Referred as Durga in traditional Sanatana Dharma) and its manifestations. It explains that Durga is worshipped for her roles in both nurturing and protecting, with the violent aspect of her energy used to destroy evil. The practice of chanting the mantra Dum Durgayai Namaha is a way to invoke her protective energy.

Core concepts

• Navaratri: Meaning "nine nights," this festival celebrates the goddess Durga and her nine distinct forms, collectively known as Navadurga. It symbolizes the victory of divine feminine energy over evil forces, particularly Durga's conquest of the evil that comes in the form of a buffalo demon Mahishasura.

• Durga as Shakti: The goddess Durga is a personification of Shakti, the divine feminine energy that animates and sustains the universe. She embodies the full spectrum of energy, from serene and life-giving to fierce and destructive, depending on what is needed to restore balance.

• The mantra Dum Durgayai Namaha:

  • Dum: This is the bija (seed) mantra for Durga, representing the core sound of her protective power. Chanting it is believed to activate and connect with her specific energy.

  • Durgayai: "To Durga," a way of addressing the goddess.

  • Namaha: "I bow" or "salutations," expressing reverence and surrender to the deity.

• Anahata Chakra: Located in the center of the chest near the heart, this is the heart chakra. It is the spiritual center of love, compassion, balance, and inner peace. Placing a hand here during meditation helps focus your intention to embody Durga's nurturing and compassionate energy.

• Significance of chanting 108 times: The number 108 is considered sacred in Sanatana Dharma and other traditions, representing spiritual completion and cosmic significance. Using a mala (prayer beads) with 108 beads helps maintain focus during the recitation.

Sri M: Navaratri is performed to offer respect to the deity in nine manifestations, and Durga is the deity. It's actually worshipping that infinite energy in the form of Durga. Durga is symbolization of the energy in both its quiet form as well as in its violent forms. Durga Puja is a wonderful thing because it places the feminine gender at a high level. Everyone worships Durga in some way.

When you do the Durga Puja, invoke the Durga into your heart and then chant this mantra which has one beejakshara for Durga "Dum". Keep your hand in your heart centre (Anahat Chakra) and chant 108 times

"Dum Durgayai Namaha"

"Shakti - Energy as the Divine Feminine - An Ancient Indian Concept". Sri M dwells upon the concepts of Parashakti as the divine feminine energy and what ensues when this energy is awakened within us.

A simple practise for Navaratri