Navarathri is one of the most famous festivals celebrated all over India. The first period of nine days in the lunar month of Asviyuja--September- October of every year is calebrated as Sarannavarathri. There are others like Vasntha Navarathri and Ashada Navarathri signifying the seasonal importance.These nine days in the month of Asviyuja are called Sarada Navarathri or Sarannavrathri.as they fall in the season called Sarad rutu soon after the rainy season. Due to heavy rains and floods people suffer from various contagious diseases and untold miseries. Goddess Lalitha Maha Tripura Sundari or Sri Rajarajeswari is worshipped and propitiated during these days to.ward off all evils and difficulties.
The embodiment of energy or Shakti, goddess Lalitha is worshipped in these days in three forms namely Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. For the first three days she is Durga, for the second and third three days she is Lakshmi and Saraswathi respectively. Goddess Durga is the destroyer of all evils, while Lakshmi and Saraswathi are the bestowers of wealth and prosperity and scholarship and knowledge. During the last three days of Navarathri people conduct " Ayudha Pooja" and "Saraswathi Pooja". They clean up all the instruments, machines, implements of work and offer pooja and worship as a token of their respect and regard for making them successful and prosperous..Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped as she is the bestower of all knowledge.
What is the significance of this worship of Lalith Devi in three forms? This period is sacred as the Devi took threse forms to kill Mahishasura and his kin who tormented all the Devas after obtaining rare boons from the Gods through penance. There was no end for their pride, arrogance and torture. None could stop them.The Sages advised the Devas to perform a great yagna out of which the great Shakthi will emerge and kill all the demons torturing them. Soon after the yagna was performed, out of the 'homa kunda'' came the invincible Goddess in resplendent form ready to help the Devas. Sri Lalitha Sahasranama describes her as ' chidagni kunda sambhuta deva karya samudyatha" Surrounded by her assistants and commanders like Varahi,Manthrini, Dhandini and Bala she destroys one by one the kin of the main tormentor Mahishasura. Rakthakshara, Rakthajihva, Raktha Beeja, Sumbha, Nisumbha, Chanda, Munda, Bhanda and others perish. As Durga She drinks the blood of the demons as a single drop of their blood on soil would raise a hundred more of them! Finally on the eigth day of Navrathri-- Durgashtami--She takes the form of Mahishasura Mardini, overcomes all the demon's maya and slays him to the delight and applause of all the Devas! The slain demons represent extreme evil forces. They personify the two detestable qualities--Rajo Guna and Thamo Guna corresponding to anger,pride and arrogance in human beings! It is to free them fromt these destructive evils, Lalitha Devi takes avatar and saves them. These deeply embedded evils in Man are obliterated through Her worship and Grace!
Navarathri is rounded off with the tenth day which is called " Vijaya Dasami." This day is regarded as very auspicious. It is considered as the day of victory. The belief is that any work started on that day would be successful. The word 'Vijaya' is one of the many names of Arjuna,the famous Pandava warrior. When the Pandavas lived in cognito in the court of king Virata, the Kauravas, getting a hint of their presence, steal the cattle of the King. Uttara kumara, the prince rides to defeat the Kauravas and bring back the herd of cattle. Arjuna,who was in the guise of eunach Bruhannala drives the chariot. But the prince, seeing the mighty Kaurava forces gets unnerved,jumps down the chariot and flees! Arjuna brings him back, makes him drive the chariot, defeats the Kauravas,and brings back the herd of cattle. But before that, he goes to a tree called ' sami Vruksha' on which the Pandavas had hidden their bows and arrows and other arms before they put on their disguise. Arjuna worships the " ayudhas-arms-and then fights the Kauravas and defeats them! It is believed that this tenth day is very auspicious as Arjuna scored his victory over the Kauravas
This is how "Ayudha pooja" came into practice! On the whole Navarathri is a period of gala celebrations,feasts, and festivities and worship. All through Navarathri Sri Lalitha Sahasra namam is recited at homes and temples!!
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