Navaratri Celebrations at Penusila Kshetram
Sep 28, 2006
Amma performs abhishekam to Sri Lalita Devi with fruit juice – the red color is so auspicious for Divine Mother, our eyes are so blessed to have this darshan
Maha Mangala Harati – at the peak of the auspicious harati ceremony, 108 flames are offered to Divine Mother; one can feel a tremendous radiance emanating from Devi at this moment
Annadanam – all who come for the celebrations are fed free of charge; feeding the hungry is a form of worship to Sri Annapurna Devi, the Divine Mother who feeds all beings
As Amma walks to the homa kunda, she is greeted by ladies carrying various auspicious items like kumkum, green and red bangles, and a decorated kalasam
For the Sri Vishnu Sahasranama and Purusha Sukta Homas, the purnahuti coconut has been decorated with Lord Vishnu’s sacred emblems
From this view, one can see both homa kundas – in one kunda, Nava Chandi Homa is being performed, and in the other kunda all the other homas are taking place simultaneously
The auspicious darshan of our beloved Amma’s lotus feet on the sixth day of Navaratri
Before the evening procession begins, Amma touches Divine Mother’s lotus feet - tonight Divine Mother is riding a horse: “The mind is like a wild horse; if you hand over the reins of your mind to Divine Mother, She will control your mind and lead you to the supreme goal of liberation” ~Amma
After admiring the special decorations, Amma smiles radiantly at the person responsible for the decorations
It takes nearly thirty people working together to carry Divine Mother in the procession – “Because the chariot is so heavy, many people have to work together to carry Mother. In the same way, if any important dharmic action is to be performed, many people must work harmoniously as a single unit” ~Amma
During the procession, Amma prays for universal welfare in front of Sri Ganesha
For the evening’s decorations of Mother’s unjal, or swing, all kinds of vegetables have been used in the garlands – Mother is Sakambari Devi; She has provided for all of our needs with so many fruits, vegetables and grains
Another beautiful and amazingly complex yantra has been created by the priests; Amma commented that the yantra starts out just as bags of colored powder, but through the skill, focus, and concentration of the artist, such a beautiful and auspicious yantra is brought into the world
~~~
During the auspicious Navaratri festival,
may the whole world be drenched in the nectarean love of
our beloved Mother Sri Lalitambika Devi
~~~
Om shantih shantih shantihi
May all be in peace
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu
May all be happy
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