Durga Archives - Page 5 of 6

From Birth to Death

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From Birth to Death contains the mantras, instructions, applications, and philosophy for all the rites of passage in the Hindu dharma including the Vedic Wedding Ceremony and the funeral rites performed at the end of life. The last half of the book is a questions and answers section compiled from the online classes that took place in 2010.

An invaluable resource for anyone interested in learning to live a dharmic and meaningful life in accordance with Vedic wisdom.

Chandi Path – Study of Chapter Two

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In depth analysis of Chapter Two. Chandi cuts down the many Generals of the Ego. She and Dharma, her Lion tear apart the appendages of the Great Ego and restore harmony to the universe.

This book is highly recommended for Sanskrit students, scholars of philosophy, or anyone interested in the Glory of the Goddess as a tool for personal transformation.

Chandi Path – Study of Chapter One

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The Study of Chapter One breaks down each word of Chapter One of the Chandi. It also includes an elaborately detailed account of segments of time, from a fraction of a second to the length of one exhalation of God.

The Study of Chapter One is the most in depth analysis of the Chandi Path available.

Durga Puja Beginner

An excellent introduction to Divine Mother Goddess worship and Sanskrit mantras. Durga is She Who Removes All Difficulties, and this puja is designed to guide the mind to a state of freedom, peace, and ease.

Durga Puja opens the door to the mystery and energy of Divine Mother worship.

Devi Gita

Devi Gita teaches both the worship of the deity with form and the meditation on the Cosmic Divinity beyond form and knowledge. It is a compendium of spiritual disciplines that transform all of life’s actions into expressions of longing for the highest attainment. It is also an excellent text for Sanskrit study.

Swami Satyananda Saraswati’s translation is so beautiful. He brings the Mother Goddess and the reality of Her attainment to life.

Chandi Path

The Chandi Path is one of the most ancient and complete systems of mantra worship of the Divine Mother Goddess in the Hindu tradition. For the first time, the Chandi Path is available to a Western audience, complete with original Sanskrit, Roman transliteration, and English translation.

The spiritual meaning of Chandi is “She Who Tears Apart Thought”, and recitation of the Chandi Path is designed to guide awareness into the presence of the Divine Mother Herself.

Om Hrim Chum Chamundayai Svaha

ॐ ह्रीं चूं चामुण्डायै स्वह oṃ hrīṃ cūṃ cāmuṇḍāyai svaha Oṃ Infinite Beyond Conception Hrīṃ Maya, Stuff of Consciousness, Objects of Perception Cūṃ She Who Moves in the Present Circumstance, […]

Siddha Kunjika Stotram

No one of the limbs of the Chaṇḍī Pāṭhaḥ is capable of conveying the entire secret of the Glory of the Goddess. But the Siddha Kuñjika Stotram is capable of […]

Durga

(Sanskrit: दुर्गा, durgā)

Durgam means confusion, and Durga is She Who Removes All Confusion. Durga takes us beyond confusion to the clarity of Wisdom in which we can perceive Her infinite energy in all aspects of creation. By worshiping Durga, we are empowered to live meaningful lives, rich with the remembrance of our Divine Nature.

Devi Prapannarti Hare Mantra

The Devi Prapannārti Mantra is Verse 3 from Chapter 11 of the Chaṇḍī Pāṭhaḥ. Shree Maa often asks us to chant this mantra daily as a prayer for peace. “Devi Prapannārti […]

Arogya Saptami

Arogya Saptami is a puja that we perform to Mother Durga in the form of Kushmanda, the Goddess of Refinement. On the 7th lunar day, we worship Durga and pray […]

Story of Mahisha

~~OM~~ Remember the great ego performed a tremendous tapasya. And the ego said, “I want to be immortal.” Brahma came and said, “That’s impossible, no one is immortal, everyone that […]

Guidelines for Observing Navaratri

Question:
When is Navaratri celebrated ? Could you please let me know if there are six Navaratris and are they Varsha, Sharad, Shishir, Hemant, Vasant, Grishma?
Swamiji says:
Navaratri can be celebrated at any time. Most often it is observed from Pratipad to Navami or from Shashti to Purnima or Amavashya. There are four Navaratris which are special: Magh, Chaitra, Ashadh, and Ashvin. These correspond to winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Question:
Can you please suggest any guidelines for people wishing to observe the Navaratri fast in the same way that you do. (24 hours X 9 days. No water, no food)
Swamiji says:
Start off small and be content with small steps. Observe 24 hours with only water, then drink. Actually you will probably want salt more than water. Then try three days. And eat only fruits and water one time a day for the remainder of the nine days. Slowly you will extend it.
Question:
It is my understanding that no grains, or salty food is to be eaten during Navaratri. It is a symbolic giving up for the goddess. Are fruit and vegetables ok? To fast completely is for a greater tapas, and austerity. Is this correct?
Swamiji says:
The fasting gives forth a number of benefits. We suggest that everyone observe the vow according to their own capacity: the needs of the body, the activities in which the body must engage during the vow, etc. Some will give up grains and pulses, some will only take fruit and dairy, some will only take water: each according to his or her own capacity.
Question:
How do we count Navratri? Sundown to Sundown? Sunrise to Sunrise? Or Sunrise to Sundown?
Swamiji says:
We use a Panchanga, an almanac timed according to the phases of the moon.
Question:
Does one fast for 9 days during Navraatri without food, only water?
Swamiji says:
Some will fast on only water.
Question:
I would like to know is it possible to do homa of 108 names of Durga Ma from the Chandi Path for Navaratri?
Swamiji says:
Yes.

Navaratri at the Mandir

Question:
How do you observe Navaratri at the Mandir?
Swamiji says:
Mahalaya is the new moon before the Navaratri begins. We will perform the Cosmic Puja, complete Shraddha and Tarpana, and complete Chandi. The day after Mahalaya is the first day of Navaratri. Every day we will perform the Cosmic Puja, and complete Chandi. We will break the fast on the 8th night (ashtami).

Question:
What is the system that You and Shree Maa follow for prayers during Navratri?
Swamiji says:
We recite the entire Cosmic Puja and Chandi Path every day.

Question:
When during Navaratri do we worship Durga, when Lakshmi, and when Saraswati? What prayers are done during this period? Can Lalita Stotram also be recited?
Swamiji says:
We perform the entire Cosmic Puja every day. That includes Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasarasvati.
Lalita can also be recited, but Chandi Path is not to be neglected.

Story of How Parvati Was Born

~~OM~~ When Sati Devi left her body, Shiva became an ascetic. He just spent all His time in meditation. And at that time a great asura named Tarakasura, the illuminator […]