Worship of Divine Mother on
Sri Saptami and Sri Durga Ashtami
Embodiments of Divine Soul, Amma’s Most Beloved Children,
Sri Saptami Sri Devi Puja (October 9, 2005)*
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In the month of Ashwayuja, starting on the day of Mula nakshatra or Saptami, it is very auspicious to worship the murti or idol of Sri Saraswati Devi with 108 flowers by immersing Her up to Her neck in a silver bowl of milk, offering Her sugar and nine kinds of fruits and continuing this worship for 61 days. One should not consume milk during this period. Those who worship in this manner will be relieved from all kinds of difficulties and will attain peace and good health.
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During the days of Navaratri, prepare a ghee lamp by placing a white wick in a silver lamp. Make sure to use ghee made from cow’s butter, and place the lit lamp in front of Saraswati Devi. On Saptami, it is beneficial to do Sri Saraswati puja with five silver lamps; one lamp can be placed facing Sri Saraswati Devi, and four lamps facing all four directions. Sri Saraswati puja should be followed by an arati (waving of lights) with a separate set of seven silver lamps lit with white wicks dipped in ghee. (These should not be the same ones used above; one can use small silver lamps for arati.) People who worship in this way obtain excellent vak sampada, or wealth of speech, and akhanda aishwarya siddhi, or attainment of indivisible majestic power and glory, good health and peace.
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Students who wish to do better in their studies can obtain Mother’s grace by worshipping Sri Saraswati Devi at least on Maha Saptami during Navaratri. Their memory and ability to concentrate will definitely improve.
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When one maintains silence throughout the days of Navaratri and meditates on Sri Saraswati Devi, She will give absolute peace. Sri Saraswati Devi, also known as Sri Saradamba Devi, will grant one the energy to perform brahma jnana sadhana (spiritual practices to achieve knowledge of the Supreme).
Sri Durga Ashtami: The most sacred day of Navaratri (October 10, 2005)*
When one worships Sri Durga Devi on Sri Durga Ashtami, one will be relieved from all the difficulties arising from every kind of poverty.
It is recommended to chant the Sri Durga Gayatri 108 times, three times a day:
Om Kaatyaayanaaya vidmahe
Kanya kumaari dheemahi
Tanno Durgih prachodayaat
Or, one can chant the Sri Durga Mantra:
Om Hrim Dhum Durgaa Devyai Namaha.
When chanted 108 times, three times a day, one will be freed from all kinds of haunting karmas.
When we say the name, “Durga,” fear and terror are destroyed instantly.
Da: destroys any demonic powers
U: removes obstacles
Ra: burns all sins and cures diseases
Ga: eradicates gazillions of sins
Aa: bestows assurance.
This Navaratri, on Sri Durga Ashtami day, Amma wishes that everyone will worship Sri Durga Devi with devotion, so that they may be blessed through Her abundant mercy.
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu - May All Beings Be Happy
Om shantih shantih shantihi - May All the Realms Be Filled with Peace
*The dates are calculated according to the lunar calendar.
Jai
Karunamayi!
