Navarathri is celebrated from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha of the Hindu Calendar for the worship of the Goddess Durga. The name “Durga” means “inaccessible”, and she is the personification of the active side of the divine “shakti” energy of Lord Shiva. In fact, she represents the furious powers of all the male Gods, and is the ferocious protector of the righteous, and destroyer of the evil. Durga is usually portrayed as riding a lion, and carrying weapons in her many arms.Nine different manifestations of Durga are worshipped over the nine days:
- Durga :Goddess beyond reach
- Bhadrakali the auspicious power of time
- Amba or Jagadamba: mother of the world
- Annapurna: giver of food and plenty
- Sarvamangala: auspicious goddess
- Bhairavi: terrible, fearful, power of death
- Chandika or handi: violent, wrathful, furious
- Lalita: playful
- Bhavani: giver of existence.
In the south , during Navarathri, friends, relatives and neighbors are invited over to one's home to look at Golu-the arrangement of the dolls symbolizing Gods,Goddesses and people on a 3/5/7/9 tier step. We find dolls dressed in traditional costumes from the various Indian States. There's also a kids' edition attached, which spans themes like jungle, park, school, sports and is a major factor of attraction for young ones.Each day of the festival starts with reciting the stotras and singing devotional songs. In the evenings, offerings of fruits and flowers are made to the decorated Golu. Also, daily puja is done by lighting a lamp. Celebrations are complete when friends and neighbors visit and enjoy seeing the beautiful arrangement of the Golu and eat the delicious sweets and snacks prepared by the hostess. This year's Navarathri season begins on Sep 19 and ends with Vijayadashami on Sep 28.
Today's posting is a devotional song in Telugu on Sri Rajarajeshwari composed in Kaanada scale. I performed this song at Mahaganapati Temple of AZ this year, during their anniversary celebrations.
Album: Ugra Roopam
Language: Telugu
Sung by: Karthik R
Sri Chakra Simhasini | Online recorder
Beautiful song, in a beautiful voice. I especially liked the beginning.
ReplyDeleteAnd a nice writeup too! I did not know the meaning of Shakthi's names, though I was brought up worshipping Her. I was especially struck, that "Bhavani" meant "giver of existence." Coming to think of it, it was obvious!