The protector goddess Maa Durga

Chaitra Navaratri 21st March – 1st April 2023

Dear Sangha 

Durga; the magnificent goddess of protection, is being called upon during the upcoming Navratri between 22nd of March- 1st of April. Her name literally means “impassable, invincible, unassailable” but in fact she embodies all the faces of the divine feminine in her 9 forms, called the Nava Durga. More on these multiple faces of feminine grace comes later in this text. 

First let us share a little story with you:

Mahishasura is a sort of demigod who did a lot of austhere sadhana and as a result was given the boon by Brahma the creator the power of  an immortal being who cannot be slain by any man, beast, asura or God in the universe. Mahishasura`s requested boon however did not include women or Goddesses since he excluded the feminine considering her weak and dependent on the masculine.

The powers he acquired through this boon enabled him to dominate the world. Gods helpless against him; their powers, spells or weapons obsolete. 

Mahishasura was also fascinated by the beauty of Parvati and wanted her as his mistress. He provokes her disrespectfully. 

As a response to all these maleficent acts; Maha Shakti manifests herself as the magnificent Durgha charged with many weapons; thunder that strike, beauty that allures, void that absorbs. Mahishasura ultimately meets his slayer as the Warrior Goddess Durga. 

Durga is the power of protection. She is a Maha Shakti coming in 9 different forms; Navadurga carrying different weapons, depicted in their own distinct ways. Durga carries out her protective power as a demon slayer, beauty, courage, mother and more. 

By celebrating Maa Durga, we are celebrating all forms of Shakti.

During the Navratri festival it is customary (but not compulsory) to wear the different colours based on the day of the Navratri.

Day I dedicated to Shailaputri – The mountain’s daughter in colour white

Day II to Brachmacharini – the Goddess of devotion and penance in red

Day III to Chandraghanta – Destroyer of demons, both internal and external in royal blue

Day IV to Kushmunda – The Adi-Shakti, creatoress of the universe in yellow

Day V to Skandamata – Goddess of motherhood and children in green

Day VI to Katyayani – Goddess of power, the warrior in grey

Day VII to Kalratri – Destroyer of darkness in orange

Day VIII to Mahagauri – Recovery, beauty & women in turquoise

Day IX to Siddhidharti – Mahashakti & Goddess of siddhis in pink

The Navratri sadhana with Navadurga also serve the invocation of the Dasha Mahavidya, the 10 Wisdom Goddesses in the tantra tradition. Mahavidyas are the energy of Shiva and Shakti together. According to the mythology of cosmos; Maa was in the form of a human taking 108 births to create the universe. During this process Mahavidyas were with Shiva working on this creation. Maa Durga however is the form taken by Shakti herself without connection to Shiva. Therefore her functions are more related to material life. 

In a tantric process as the Navratri sadhana for Durga; we connect the material and spiritual. All aspects of Durga and Mahavidyas are being invoked.  

As all myths go; this is a story of our existence. As seasons change the world transforms itself letting go of the old and making space for new. We human beings as a part of nature go through our own transformation. On the surface it is the immune system adjusting to the new climate; the hair dropping its dead strands, emotions being stirred up. On the inside it is our dark side; our anger, greed, fear, jealousy, sloth fighting with the light, love and expansion.

This is one serious war we go through again and again.

It helps to get some divine support to spiral out of it with grace.

You are welcome to join our Navaratri Meditation by receiving a mantra from our lineage to be used between 22nd March – 1st of April.

If you are interested in joining the practice join our facebook group for further instructions.

This free offering was transmitted by our beloved teacher of classical tantra Guru Maharaj Rajkumar Baswar through our school Shivoham Tantra.

We encourage you highly to use this period for purification, contemplation and gratitude using whatever mode of practice works for you.

Om Namah Shivaya