THE unending visibility of attraction to the supreme feet of the all-compassionate Goddess will be demonstrated as Hindus on Thursday throughout Guyana begin observance of the holy festival, Nav Raatri. Nav Raatri is a period of nine days set aside by the revered saints and sages of Hinduism for the complete dedication and worship of the supreme Goddess.
This annual feature also introduces the Hindu New Year (Naya Varsha) 2073. Nav Raatri like other religious festival creates the opportunity for the aspirant to be established in oneness with God and his creations.
Viraat Sabhaa Guyana President Pandit Ravi, said a spiritually-charged atmosphere would be experienced during this period — pujas, meditation and other forms of worship — would be visible in homes, mandirs and other places of worship.
“What is noticeable on this occasion is the full commitment of the individual to explore his true potential. The ability to endure self-restraint, abstinence, and to act in the spirit of self-dedication is exemplified in every section of the Hindu community. Nav Raatri reminds the devotee that God is inseparable from his creation. The created universe is a full projection of the absolute (Brahman) God and that projection is called Prakriti or Mother Nature. All beings sentient and insentient exist, grow and disintegrate through the power of the supreme Lord.”
According to the priest, the Hindus’ conclusions are profoundly based on the principle of truth.
He explained that Prakriti, which represents Mother Nature and which constitutes the body, is a projection of God and the soul a divine spark of that very God.
“In simple [sic], the Father can only be identified through the Mother, i.e, whilst the body is subordinate to the soul, it is only through this body, the soul becomes identifiable.”
During the period of Nav Raatri (Vasant or spring), the devotees would surrender their minds, bodies, senses and intellect to the feet of the Goddess, seeking her benedictions.
In this period, the aspirant will be motivated to transcend the mode of ignorance and passion and rise to the state of purity which is the state of bliss and joy. In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna reminded Arjuna of the prowess and powers of his enemies and advised him that victory could only be achieved by submitting to the feet of Durga Maata.
Arjuna unhesitantly followed the instruction of his Lord, which resulted in his victory over the Kauravas.
“Hindus must never ignore history. It was Seeta Maata’s sacrifice that brought an end to the Demon King Rawan; Drupadi’s perseverance and strength that influenced the dethronement of the tyrant Prince Duryodhan. It was Yoge Maya’s blessings compounded with Devaki’s and Mother Yasoda’s effort that brought about the destruction of King Kamsa. It was also the wisdom of Savitri that brought back Life to Satyawan,” Pandit Ravi noted.
He said during the period of Nav Raatri, it is important for all devotees to pay tribute and to reflect on the lives of all good women, mothers and sisters, while adoring the feet of Durga, Latchmi and Saraswati Devi Maa.
“The Viraat Sabhaa Guyana extends Shubh Nav Raatri greetings to all Guyanese and encourages all devotees to attend their mandirs, observe fasting and perform Pujas during this auspicious period,” the President of the Viraat Sabhaa Guyana said.