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THE FORMS OF DURGA

There are nine forms of female energy in the universe. Before the birth of the Universe, the first Energy after Time (Shiva) was Heat (Shakti). Then after Creation (Bramha) came subsequent to the Universe (Vishnu), the various energies of Heat or Shakti was created.
Since Bramha got knowledge (Saraswaty) as his consort, and Vishnu got Light (Laxmi ) as his consort, they both approached Time (Shiva) and asked him to get a consort. However Time or Mahakali hesitated since Time is above everything it would be difficult to be subjected.
In spite of this the Universe and Creator (Bramha Vishnu) insisted that Time has a consort or else there will be no Motion (Kali) and thus Reality (Laxmi Narayan ) will not be sustained.

Shiva (Time) was persuaded to get a consort, but to complete the proper propagation of the Universe and its creations, Shiva (Time) had to consider all NINE LEVELS of the Universe. To make all these levels work in harmony, Shiva (Time) had to link all these levels by merging the NINE Forms to achieve the universal Shakti or Energy, thus Time would be able to create all NINE dimensions of this Universe.

The fist form Shiva (Time) wanted to marry was Devotion (Sati), however, Ego (Daksa) had a problem with Time and because of their disagreement Devotion did not listen to Time, and so Devotion was burned in the Yagna fire.

The second form Shiva (Time) married was Motherhood (Parbatty) who was the mother of Ganesh, but mother did not reveal all things to Time, so when a battle took place over the death of their son, Ganesh (Obstacles), Mother placed more importance on Obstacles (the son Ganesh) rather than Time, (Husband).

The Third form Shiva (Time) got married to was Knowledge (Gayatree) but knowledge was always studying, playing, and entertaining, so Knowledge paid very little attention to Time.

The Fourth form Shiva (Time) married was Work (Rudrani). However Work spent much time cleaning, cooking and other household duties, that there was hardly any time for (Shiva) Time.

The Fifth form Shiva (Time) married was Lover ( Narayani) whose demand for attention and love was so great that Time had to stop and change many times over for Lover. Because Lover demanded Changes, Lover was then left alone.

The sixth form of Shakti that Shiva (Time) married was Power (Chamunde). Power had a lot of Energy. Power was very commanding and constantly frustrating Time over following rules and regulations. Time could not cope with these rules.

The Seventh form Shiva (Time) was married to was Emotion (Ganga). Emotion was a "cry-baby", demanding that Time paid more and more attention to Emotion and feelings. Emotion wanted to constantly affect the head of Time so Time demanded that Emotion flowed out of Time's head.

The Eight form Shiva (Time) was married to was Wealth (Laxmi). After marrying Time, Wealth demanded materiality constantly, had great attachment to material reality. Since Time could not be attached to materialism Time was not unable to cope with Laxmi.

The Ninth form Shiva (Time) was married to was Destruction (Kali) who had always been with time but was never able to exercise Destructive power until Reality came into being. Since Destruction always trying to step on top of time, and sometimes Time (Shiva) had to play dead so as to deceive Destruction, it was difficult for time to get Respect, so Time was unhappy.

Since Shiva (Time) was unhappy with all the individual forms of Female Energy, Time decided to fuse them together as One, so that Time would have some Devotion, some Knowledge, some Motherhood, some Work, some Love, some Power, some Wealth and some Destruction (portions of all the qualities, in one) to have a complete female called NAV-DURGA.

The 9 days of Nav-Raatri is the worshiping of the nine forces or components necessary for the perfect woman to sustain the Universe. When there is a failure in any of the components, it creates a breakdown in the system of the home. As NAV-DURGA - THE COMPLETE WOMAN, who may be the wife, mother, sister, aunt, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, maid, daughter, cook, all the forms are needed to have a complete and blessed home.

THE DAYS OF NAV-RAATRI ARE REPRESENTED AS FOLLOWS:

First day.............SARASWATY........Represents Knowledge
Second day.........PARBATY.............Represents Motherhood
Third day............GOWRIE..............Represents Romance
Fourth day..........RUDRANI............Represents Home Care
Fifth day.............RADHA................Represents Pleasure
Sixth day............SHAKTI................Represents Power
Seventh day........GANGA................Represents Emotion
Eight day............LAXMI.................Represents Wealth
Ninth day...........MAHAKALI.........Represents Destruction of all evil

RITUAL FOR NAV-RAAT

PRASAD NEEDED:
9 Purees, Soaked Chick Peas, halwa, sweet rice, mahambhog, 9 different fruits, 1 coconut

Place the coconut(dried) to stand at the head of the yellow cloth (approximately 1 yard square) then place the purees, singled out on a square yellow cloth below the coconut . Put a little of each prasad on each puree, and also a piece of each fruit. Add the following items to each puree while reciting the mantra below: water, sindoor, hardi, chandan, attar, agarbati, coins, clove, neem leaf, tulsi, yellow flowers, elaichi, and rice, then arti each puree individually with the agarbati and the lighted diya. Put saindoor, hardi and attar on the coconut, nine times each then arti with the agarbati and the lighted diya, nine times. Blessings are conferred to you if gifts are given to 9 unmarried girls, during Nav-Raat.
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NAV-RAAT MANTRA:

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU VISHNUMAYETI SHABDITA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
She who lives in every being and known by the name of Vishnu Maya
may receive our repeated and continuous reverence.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU NIDRA ROOPEN SANSTHITA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as sleep.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU KSHUDHAROOPEN SANSTHITA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as hunger.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHUCHHAYAROOPEN SANSTHITA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as the shadow (of the real being).

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU SHAKTIROOPEN SANSTHITA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as energy.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU TRISHNAROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as thirst.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU KSHANTIROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as forgiveness.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU JATIROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as their jati (social classification).

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU LAJJAROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as modesty.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU SHANTIROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as (longing for) peace.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU SHRADDHAROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as faith (in the Almighty).

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU KANTIROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as the radiance.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU LAXMIROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings the Goddess of riches, Lakshmi.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU VRITTI ROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as their natural inclination.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU SMRITIROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as memory.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU DAYA ROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as kindness.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU TUSHTHIROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as satisfaction.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU MATROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as the natural feeling of motherhood.

YA DEVI SARVABHOOTESHU BHRANTIROOPEN SANSTITHA
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is present
in all beings as erroneous judgement.

INDRAYANAMADHRISHTHATRI BHOOTANAM CHAKHILESHU YA
BHOOTESHU SATATAM TASYEI VYAPTI DEVYE NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess who is the Ruler of
all the senses of beings and ever present in them

CHITIROOPEN YA KRISHNAMETADAVYAPYA STITHA JAGAT
NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMASTASYEI NAMO NAMAH
Our repeated and continuous obeisance to the Goddess the whole world inspiration
with whose existence is the supreme consciousness

After the arti wrap everything together in the yellow cloth, and take it to the sea. Ask Ganga to accept the offerings, then open the cloth and let go slowly in the water, sprinkling the water over your head three times. If this is done for any 3 nights consecutively, Mother Durga will come to you in your dream and answer questions you may have about your life.

PURPOSE OF NAV-DURGA PUJA:

To be reborn into a new path
To be born again from a new mother (Mother of the Universe)
To reborn again so as to remove the karmas of your earthly parents
To start a new life with new karmas
To remove ancestry sins of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents
To stop the effects of kal bhairo, ritual performed by past ancestors
To stop the effects of kateri ritual or previous actions of meat eating
To promote pregnancy and child birth by enabling the womb to be fertile

BENEFITS OF NAV-DURGA PUJA

To remove all bad karmas of past lives
To remove sins and bad karmas inherited from parents, grand-parents and great-grandparents
To remove the effects of Kal Bhairo and Kateri which are the devil's male and female energies. Note: There are no written evidence of Kal Bhairo in the Vedas or the Puranas. Kal Bhairo is known only in Africa, and Guyana, and is known as Dee Baba, Land Master or Sanganee Baba or Satan in the Caribbean and Guyana.
To promote the birth of children and to stop miscarriages and abortions
To improve the relationship between one's self and his or her mother
To improve relationships between husband and wife
To assist a single woman in finding a husband rapidly
To bring wealth and prosperity to the female children of the family
To renew one's karmas through rebirth with Durga as the mother and Shiva as the father

SPECIAL REQUESTS CAN BE MADE TO MOTHER DURGA DURING THE NAVRAAT FESTIVAL. THE FOLLOWING MANTRAS AND PRAYERS CAN BE USED ACCORDING
TO YOUR DESIRE.

For the birth of a child if pregnancy is difficult

OM HRIM PRAJAPATAYE SVAHA
Oh, Maya to the Lord of all created beings, I am One with God!

OM VISNURYONIM KALPAYATU TVASTA
RUPANI PIMSATU AMSINCATU
PRAJAPATIRDHATA GARBHAM DADHATU TE
May Lord Vishnu grant the power to conceive, may Tvasta give the form.
May Prajapati sprinkle it with blessings, and may Dhata support the womb.

OM GARBHAM DHEHI SINIVALI
GARBHAM DHEHI SARASVATI GARBHAM
TE ASVINAU DEVAVADHATTAM
PUSKARASRAJAU
May Sinivali support the womb, may Sarasvati support the womb.
May the Asvins who wear garlands of lotus support the womb.

OM KLIM STRIM HRIM SRIM HUM (name of the person desiring pregnancy)
PUTRAKAMAYAI GARBHAMADHEHI SVAHA

OM VISNO JYESTHENE RUPENA
NARYAMASYAM VARIYASAM
SUTAMADHEHI SVAHA
Oh Lord Vishnu! In thy excellent form give to this woman an excellent child. I am One with God! This ends the Ritu Sanskara which should be performed daily by both husband and wife together from the time of taking the sankalpa of marriage until conception.

On the night of union before physical intercourse, first the wife should perform puja to her husband as Lord Shiva, according to the complete system of worship. Then the husband should worship his wife as the Divine Mother. After the husband and wife have completed the worship and honor of the divine through their spouse, then proceed with the worship of communion.

Other mantras for pregnancy

2: PUMANSAM PUTRAM JANEY TAM PUMA NANU JAYATAM
BHAVASI PUTRANAM MATA JATANAM JAYASHCH YAN
Oh Mother of the Universe, please let me be victorious in giving birth to a son

3: OM NAMA SHAKITARUPAYE MEM GHIRAHE PUTRAM KURU KURU SAVAHA
Oh Mother Durga, please bring into my womb a son of high quality.

One of the following four mantras can be recited when a woman wants to bring a
husband into her life

1: OM IYA MAGNE NARI PATIM VID ESTA SOMO
HI RAJA SUBHA GAM KAR NOTI, SUVANA
PUTRAN MAHISI BHAVATI GATVA PATIM
HI RA JATU.
O Lord of Creatures! May this woman find husband, verily tender good husband who makes
her Happy. Bearing progeny, may become the mistress of the house and with her husband shine as his happy friend.

2: OM HARING KUMAR AYE NAMA SWAHA
OM HARING MOHINE SWAHA
Oh Mother please bring me the perfect husband in my life and let him be enchanted by me

3: HEE GORI SHANKARARDHAN GIM YATHA TWAM SHANKARPRIYA
TATHA MAM KURU KALYANI KANTKANTAM SUDURLABHAM
Oh Mother Gowrie, the giver of romance and love please bring me the perfect husband that will
bless me with all the prosperity of a wife

4: OM KATYAYANI MAHABHAGE MAHAYOGINY ADHISHVARIM
NAND GOP SUTAM DEVI PATIAM ME KURUTE NAMAH
O Mother of separation (Katyayani), Oh Mother of illusion, Oh Mother of happiness, have mercy
on me and please return to me my husband and lover, and return my happiness to my home.

If a man has left his home because he is having an affair, the following mantra will bring
him back, if it is recited by the wife

OM NAMO BHAGAWATE RUDRAYE KARALAYE AMUK PUTRA
BHANDVASAYAH SHIGHRAM MUCHHATAYE THA THA THA
Oh Mother, please return my husband to me

For a wife to appease her husband for harmony, peace and prosperity in the home

OM KALING TRAMBAKE YAJAHAMAHA SUGANDNAM
PATTIVERDNAM PATIMU URVARUKMEV
BHANDHNAPATTIMOKASHEY MAM-MRITIYAT KALING OM
Oh Mother, may my husband attain mukhsha in heaven and let him never be troubled by
obstacles or enemies, and let him return home safely after leaving each day

For a man to get a good bride

OM KLEENG VISHWA VASUNAM GANDHARVAH KANYANA MADHIPATIH LABHAMI
DEVDUTTAM KANYA SARUPAM SALANKARAM TASMAI VISHWAYASAVE SAVAHA
Oh Mother, may I be blessed with a wife, possessing the beauty of a heavenly maiden and the purity of a virgin; a powerful wife who will be devoted to me as her husband and who will protect me during times of distress

HOW TO REMOVE KAL BHAIRO FROM YOUR LIFE BY PERFORMING DURGA PUJA

To remove the effects of Kal Bhairo, a householder must perform a Durga puja. The purpose of this puja is to ask Mother Durga to accept them as her own children and so Lord Shiva becomes their new father. Through this puja, the person is granted re-birth with the new mother as Mother Durga and the new father as Lord Shiva. With these new parents, the sins of that person's earth parents and grand-parents are no longer attached to them. This rebirth cleanses the householder from past bad karmas.

To break the curse from the entire family, all members must contribute equally to the monetary costs of performing the Puja and the daschina to the preceptor. Each family member must contribute an equal amount of money from their own earnings. Sometimes the evil is so attached to one family member that he will resist all attempts to believe that anything is wrong and will refuse to contribute his share or to participate in the puja. In such a case, if the other family members are willing to help and protect him, they must put the amount on behalf of that person and must add 10% more to the total cost. In this way, all the family members come under the protection of the GOD-PARENTS. If someone does not participate, that person will continue to suffer.

Once the Durga puja is complete, the family will begin to notice changes in their lives. As the positive change cycle begins the family must continue to attach themselves to God through the worship of Lord Shiva. The following should be done:

A Lord Shiva puja should be performed each year. Family members should chant the mantras provided by the holy person.
The family should set up an altar in the home and bathe the shivling when they kneel to say their prayers. Devotees of Lord Shiva will find that after they return from Kal Bhairo, they eventually will develop high psychic ability, their 3rd eye will open and they will have visions of Lord Shiva and other Dewtas.
Swami-Ji noticed that people born under the Deity Laxmi are able to fight off the debts of bad karmas and break the curse, usually on their own. Others are not so successful and must seek help from Mother Durga and Lord Shiva.

ALL BRAHMINS AND PUNDITS ARE ADVISED TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED BELOW FOR THEIR DEVOTEES TO RECEIVE THE POSITIVE BLESSINGS FROM THEIR DURGA PUJAS

After the priest has performed his regular puja procedures up to Lord Shiva, he should begin the Durga Puja by inviting the following 9 forms of durga by raising the 9 colored flags.

Invite the 1st female half of Lord Shiva - Sati, known as BRAHMA CHARINI.
Invite the 2nd female half of Lord Shiva - Parbaty, known as SHALPUTRI.
Invite the 3rd female half of Lord Shiva - Gowrie, known as CHANGRAGANTA.
Invite the 4th female half of Lord Shiva - Rudrani, known as KUSHMANDI.
Invite the 5th female half of Lord Shiva - Rati, known as SKANDAMATA.
Invite the 6th female half of Lord Shiva - Kali, known as KATYANI.
Invite the 7th female half of Lord Shiva - Rohini, known as GANGA.
Invite the 8th female half of Lord Shiva - Shakti, known as MAHAGAURI.
Invite the 9th female half of Lord Shiva - Indrani, known as SIDDIDATRI.

After raising the 9 flags, lighted diyas are placed in each of the nine prepared plates. This brings
all the 9 forms to form Nav-Durga, by placing the plates on the 9 yds of yellow cloth. Ritual is performed by mantras to the procreative energy of the universe called Durga. Then Durga is married to Lord Shiva by placing a 10th plate representing Lord Shiva on the Yellow Cloth. Requests are then made to the Divine couple for the rebirth of the Yagman so that he or she can have Divine Parents. This is done by the cutting of the nutmeg which symbolizes the releasing of the egg from Mother Durga then the fertilization of the egg and the "splitting" of the Zygote (Fertilized egg called Hirany Garbha) which is represented by the cutting of the lime in two halves, followed by the breaking of the coconut (dried) which symbolize the birth from the fertilized egg. This means that the yagman is being born from DURGA a heavenly mother replacing the earthly mother. The puja procedure is concluded by the cutting of the banana flower (a symbolism representing creation of children and the Blessing of the children with worldly prosperity) followed by the bathing of the CUT NUTMEG, THE SPLIT LIME, THE BROKEN COCONUT AND THE CUT BANANA FLOWER with the DURGA DAR which is a mixture of 9 ingredients.

THE DURGA DAR CONSISTS OF:
1: MILK............................For the yagman to receive wealth from parents (from the cow- Laxmi)
2: GANGA WATER..........Washing away of all previous Karmas and Sins
3: CANE JUICE................Sweetness and love to be received from divine parents
4: HONEY.........................To receive proper speech and mantras
5: COCONUT WATER.....To receive proper consciousness and divine thoughts from parents
6: TUMERIC (DYE)..........To receive peace of mind from parents
7: NEEM LEAF.................Protection from spirits and diseases
8: YOGURT......................Good nourishment and bliss from parents
9: MUSTARD SEED.........To destroy all obstacles and enemies

NOTE: Hindu Rituals are not magic. In fact they are very SCIENTIFIC in the philosophy used to correct our lives from our sins or karmas in the Universe. If a knowledgeable person follows the proper procedure when doing a puja, then the puja is sure to be successful. Please note that Kal Bhairo is not part of any puja ritual, definitely not a part of Durga Puja .
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There is only one way to enter the Universe, therefore every puja must follow the set procedure. When doing a puja, if a Laxmi Puja is performed before the Ganesh Puja, then the process is considered to be incorrect. Similarly, if a Nav-graha Puja is done first then the puja process is done backwards. For the puja to be successful, the procedure must be properly followed in the correct order, and there is no short form of doing a puja. Check the book section for books on puja.

OTHER FESTIVALS

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Click here for article on Shivratri