OBSERVED twice annually, Nava-Raatri, a period of nine nights, is regarded very sacred by Hindus. While is it outwardly featured with the hosting of richly symbolic rituals and ceremonies, it is more of a highly spiritual charged period wherein every effort ought to be made in identifying oneself with the Supreme Spirit. It is a period of sincere prayers, symbolic worship, cool introspection and genuine scriptural recommitment.
Religious observances and traditional worship have, at times, more than one significance. Apart from them being the adoration of the Divine, they are commemorative of thrilling bygone events, allegoric when interpreted from the occult standpoint, and are significant pointers guiding man on the path of God-Realisation. Nava-Raatri is one such observance. It is dedicated to the worship of God as Mother—the feminine aspect in three prominent names, viz, Durgaa, Lakshmee and Saraswatee.
However, underlying all outward engagements during the observance, there must be a more sublime and profound inward transformation of life, that every spiritual aspirant seeks to undergo.
This deeper purpose of Nava-Raatri is captured in its division of three sets of three nights each, to which the spiritual aspirant in his life of spiritual pursuits adore the different aspects of the Supreme Goddess. This has got a very sublime, yet thoroughly practical truth to reveal. In its cosmic aspect, it epitomises the stages of the evolution of man into God, from manhood to Godhood. In its individual import, it shows the course that spiritual pursuits should take.
The central purpose of existence is to recognise the eternal identity with the Supreme Spirit. It is to grow into the image of the Divine. The Supreme One embodies the highest perfection. It is spotless purity, ‘Niranjana’. To identity with That, to attain union with That, is verily to grow into the very likeness of the Divine. The spiritual seeker has, therefore, as the initial step, to get rid of the countless impurities and the un-divine elements, have come to cling to him in his embodied state. This transformation is to be had during the first three nights (first segment of Nava-Raatri), where the Supreme is worshipped as Mother Durgaa. Then the acquisition of lofty virtues and auspicious divine qualities are then sought for. This happens in the second three nights of the season, wherein the Goddess as Lakshmee in adored. Thus rendered full of purity and goodness, Knowledge flashes upon the seeker like the brilliant rays of the sun upon the crystal waters of a perfectly calm lake. This is to be had in the final section of Nava-Raatri in which Saraswatee is worshipped.
This arrangement has also a special significance in the aspirant’s spiritual evolution. It marks the stages of evolution which are indispensable for every seeker of spirituality, through which everyone should pass. One naturally leads to the other, and to short-circuit this would inevitably result in a miserable failure. Nowadays, many ignorant spiritual seekers aim straight at the appropriation of knowledge without the preliminaries of purification and acquisition of divine qualities, and complain that they are not progressing in the path. How can they? Knowledge will not descend till the impurities are washed out and purity is developed. The pure and good plant can grow on no impure soil.
Therefore, Nava-Raatri once observed as pointed out above, brings man to realise his higher self and to feel the Supreme Spirit within— all of which helps in the journey of realising the Ultimate Goal—to merge with the Supreme.
PANDIT CHARRANLALL NANDALALL
Secretary of Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha (Region 3)