Go Back to the Source

The festival of Navratri is a time for self-referral and getting back to the Source. During this time of transformation, nature sheds the old and gets rejuvenated. Creation is cyclical, not linear; everything is recycled by nature. The human mind, however, lags behind in this routine cycle of creation. The Mother Divine is recognised not just as buddhi, intellect, but also bhranti, confusion; she is not just Lakshmi, abundance, she is also kshudha, hunger, and trishna, thirst. Realising this aspect of the Mother Divine in entire creation, leads one to a deep state of samadhi. Through wisdom, devotion and nishkama karma, one can attain advaita siddhi, or perfection, in the non-dual consciousness. The inward journey nullifies our negative karmas. Navratri is a celebration of prana, the spirit, which alone can destroy mahishasura, inertia, shumbha-nishumbha, pride and shame, and madhu-kaitabha, extreme forms of craving and aversion. They are complete opposites, yet complementary. Inertia, deeply ingrained negativities and obsessions — the raktabeejasura — chanda-munda, unreasonable logic, and dhoomralochan, blurred vision, can be overcome only by raising the level of prana and shakti, the lifeforce energy. The seeker gets back to the true Source through fasting, prayer, silence and meditation. Night is also called ratri because it brings rejuvenation. While fasting detoxifies the body, silence purifies the speech and brings rest to the chattering mind, and meditation takes one deep into one’s own being.

Source: Economic Times, 30/09/2019