Navaratri Celebrations

M.A. Center welcomes you to join Br. Ramanandamrita Chaitanya for the virtual Navaratri Celebrations from October 17th thru October 25th, 2020, from 7:30 pm.

YouTube link for the Virtual ceremonies

The live programs will be webcast on the MA Center, YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/macenterec

Oct 17 thru Oct 19

The first three days will be dedicated to the Divine Mother in the form of Goddess Durga.

The evening prayers will include:

• Guru Stotram
• Durga Ashtottaram
• Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
• Devi mantra - Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu
• Devi Bhajans
• Durga Arati
• Amma Arati

Oct 20 thru Oct 22

The second three days will be dedicated to the Divine Mother in form of Goddess Lakshmi.

The evening prayer will include:

• Guru Stotram 
• Lakshmi Ashtottaram
• Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
• Devi mantra - Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu
• Devi Bhajans
• Lakshmi Arati
• Amma Arati

Oct 23 thru Oct 25

The third three days will be dedicated to the Divine Mother in the form of Goddess Saraswati.

The evening prayers will include:

• Guru Stotram
• Saraswati Ashtottaram
• Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
• Devi mantra - Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu
• Devi Bhajans
• Saraswati Arati
• Amma Arati

Ayudha Pooja - October 25

Where everyone gives their tools of the trade (Ayudha)-pens, machinery, laptops, stethescopes, automobiles etc. a rest and ritually worships them. Those involved in artistic and scholarly pursuits (students) may place their instruments and books at the home altar. They start afresh from the next day, the 10th day which is considered as 'Vijaya Dasami'.     

Vijaya Dashami - October 26

The root sentiment of Vijaya Dashmi is victory; of good over evil and of self over one's mundane indriyas (senses). The scriptures advise us to attain victory over the mind. One who has not conquered the mind has not conquered anything at all.

The evening prayers will include:

• Amma Ashtottaram
• Mahishasura Mardhini Stotram
• Vidyarambham (fresh beginning of acquiring knowledge)
• Bhajans
• Amma Arati

What is Navaratri?

Navratri is a nine-day festival, rich in meaning, focused on the different forms of the Goddess. At one level, Navaratri signifies the progress of a spiritual aspirant.
During this spiritual journey, the aspirant has to pass three stages personified by Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Then, he/she enters into the realm of the infinite, wherein one realizes one's Self.
Navaratri, which literally means 'nine nights,' dedicates three days each to worshipping the Divine in the forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
The tenth day, though, is the most important; it is known as Vijayadashami, the 'tenth day of victory.'
The significance of each stage of worship has clear parallels in the different stages of sadhana (spiritual practices): first, negative tendencies need to be controlled; second, virtues need to be ingrained; third, after gaining the necessary mental purity, spiritual knowledge needs to be acquired. Only then will the sadhak (spiritual aspirant) attain spiritual illumination.  
Navaratri is not only important for spiritual aspirants; it has a message for those who lead a worldly life as well. They should invoke Durga's help to surmount obstacles, pray to Lakshmi to bestow peace and prosperity, and contemplate upon Saraswati in order to gain knowledge. These three ingredients are just as necessary for a full and complete worldly life. In reality, when we pray like this, we are but invoking the Shakti (energy/force) that is within ourselves.
Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are not different entities, but different facets of the singular Divinity.