Navaratri is one festival that is celebrated all across India like Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali. Each state has its own tradition of celebrating Navaratri - be it Garbha in Gujarat, Kanya Puja in North India, Kaali Puja in West Bengal or Ayudha Puja in South India.
Whatever may be the custom or tradition, Hindus all across the World celebrate with the common theme of worshiping the Shakti of Durga Maatha.
Just like a mother of child who is always eager to feed her kid, Durga maatha, who is the mother of all human beings is also always eager to bless her devotees with boons and gifts. Just like a mother cannot feed her kid if the child is running away from her, Durga maatha also cannot always bless us if we are running away from her.
When Adi Shankaracharya went to bhiksha to a poor woman’s house, she could only give him an old gooseberry which was the only item left in her house. Looking at the plight of the poor woman, Adi Shankaracharya gets moved and asks Lakshmi Maatha why the seemingly good natured woman had to go through such hardships. Lakshmi devi replies that although she wants to bless the poor woman, her bad karma in previous birth is stopping her. Adi Shankarcharya sings Kanakadhaara stotram and argues that since she gave him bhiksha, he asks Lakshmi devi to nullify her bad karma as against that good karma of donating a gooseberry although an old one. Lakshmi devi then showers Golden Gooseberries for 1hr 40 mins on the poor woman’s house. This incident happened for real in Kerala and the house is still present and subsequent generations of that poor woman enjoy enormous prosperity till today.
What we have to learn from above story is, however bad karma we may have accumulated in the past, Jaganmaatha is ready to shower her blessings on us with the slightest indication of Bhakti towards her. Navratri is an excellent opportunity for Devotees to ask for her blessings as they would otherwise be always busy with their daily life chores.
In Lalitha Sahasranam, from 99th sloka, Durga maatha’s six favorite prasadams are listed. They are,
- Paayasaana Priya (Payassu means Milk — Also called Paramannam)
- Snighdhowdhana Priya (Means Rice with Ghee — Kattu Pongali)
- Goodaanapreethi Maanasa (Gooda means Jaggery — Paayasam with Jaggery)
- DaddyannaSaktha Maanasa (Daddojanam — Rice with Curd Thadaka)
- Mugdhowdhana Saktha Maanasa (Moong/Pesaru Dal Pongali)
- Haridrannanaika Rasika (Pulihora/Puliyogari/Tamarind Rice)
We should consider ourselves very fortunate if we are able to offer any of the above favorite prasadams during the most auspicious Navaratri period.
Happy Dusera!
Sri Maathre Namaha!!
