Navarathri 2021 Celebrations

 

Navarathri in 2021 started on Oct 6. Due to heavy workload, getting to write about the celebrations only now !! Nevertheless, didn’t want to miss logging down the experience.

 

This year, due to the continued pandemic, we decided to reduce the number of invitees drastically. 

The Golu itself was 5 steps instead of the usual 11. Srimathy, Ajay and Sapna set up the arrangement. Photo of the Golu is at the top of this post.

 

Having crossed the age of 60, didn’t know if performing a Maha Chandi Homam everyday would be possible from a stamina standpoint. 

Very nervously decided to embark on the mission, hoping the Divinities would help; and they did !

 

Just like in previous years, boxes of wood were cut and ready, bags of coconut were purchased – pre-cut in halves and put into smaller bags, plenty of bottles of ghee were purchased; plenty of  betel leaves, mango leaves and fruits were in stock. Srimathy made fresh food for the Divinities every day after shower.

As before, health co-operated – no cold, flu or cough or digestion problems. Weather this year was predicted to be generally good and it was.

Here are some photos.

The first one below is the Homam Tent Setup.

 

The photo below is Sapna attending the Homam with her offerings.

The photo below is Mr. Bala Thiru and Ms. Abitha attending with their offerings.

The photo below is Srimathy next to the Golu.

The photo below is our family ( from L to R ): Sapna, Srimathy, Ajay and myself in the Golu area. 

The photo below is Mr.Senthilnathan and Ms. Jeya Vijaysekar with their prayers.

The photo below is Ms. Hema Malini Senthilnathan attending with her offerings.

And here is a short 31 second clip from Day 1. Mantra in the clip is from Chapter 1 of Durga Saptashathi.

https://youtu.be/OcE3sMaNiWQ

Om Sri Kalika Devi Namo Namaha ! Om Sri Mahalakshmi Devi Namo Namaha ! Om Sri Maha Saraswati Devi Namo Namah ! Om Sri Kanchi Maha Periyava Namo Namaha ! Om Sri Krishna Kumaraaya Namo Namaha ! Om Namaschandikaayai !

 

Durga Saptashloki Audio

 

The intent to recite and record the Surga Saptashloki Stotram came to the mind, because an astrologer had recommended to an acquaintance to recite this short hymn every day to overcome hurdles and difficulties being faced. In order to help, an audio of the stotram is presented herein.

This is a short hymn. There are only seven verses in the Durga Saptashloki and these are essentially taken from the much larger Durga Saptashati that comprises seven hundred main verses. The entire Durga Saptashati can be found elsewhere in this blog. Being concise, the Durga Saptashloki can be recited very quickly and the benefits obtained. Or one can recite or listen just for the love of the Great Goddess ! The hymn is only 2.39 MB.

And now the audio: 2 minutes and 37 seconds long.

( Mobile devices: click download; then play.)
 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EGze-8RzWng3k1FB-0yADevNUDwyVD2Z/view?usp=sharing


A pdf copy of the shloka in Sanskrit can be found below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zCagNNjbXpS3hdYl-ArJQ_Gw-S5MOgdt/view?usp=sharing

A pdf copy of the shloka in Tamil can be found below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15s0pW9C2EDYse5C8g6cgOsdNC55i9Iuq/view?usp=sharing

The shloka in Sanskrit with English transliteration along with the meanings explained can be found at:

http://greenmesg.org/stotras/durga/durga_saptashloki.php

Om Shree Durga Devi Namo Namaha !

 

Durga Shodashopachara Puja Mantra Audio

At the request of Sri Vishnu from California, here is the Sri Durga Shodashopachara Pooja Mantras in Audio Form. This involves offering of several services to Sri Durga Devi. Since Navaratri 2017 is almost here, for those devotees that want to perform this Puja, the audio is in the form of repeat after format, giving some time in between for the listener to repeat the mantras with the proper pronunciation.

If one has all the offerings physically available, they can be physically offered with the mantras; if unavailable, one can do a “Maanasik Pooja”, wherein one mentally imagines offering the highest quality of each offering while repeating the mantras in the mind; in this case replace the word “Samarpayaami” with “Kalpayaami” everywhere.

In either case, one needs to sit down quietly and make the offerings. The whole procedure takes a little under 17 minutes when done mentally. While this puja can be done at any time of the year, it is special when done during Navaratri. The procedure has been taken from drikpanchang.com after removing some errors present there and adding the Visarjana at the end. Link to the English version of the lyrics including description of each item is given at the end.

This is a short hymn. 15 MB

And now the audio: 16 minutes 29 seconds long.

( Mobile devices: click download; then play.)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znZG9nT3dpcGtKREU/view?usp=sharing

The English lyrics can be found at :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znc3JQOGFvODdlT0E/view?usp=sharing

Om Shree Durga Devyai Namaha !

 

Durga Sapthashathi Complete Audio

Durga Sapthashathi is also called Devi Mahatmyam or Chandi Paat and is part of Markhandeya Puranam. The main part ( Pradhaana Charitram ) comprises 700 mantras and hence the name. This is one of the most powerful set of shlokas and is loaded with potent mantras that are SURE to transform any individual that recites them with a level of serious bhakthi and devotion. This post is one of the most important entries in this blog.

It was October 2013. After a small amount of effort, Adiyen ( the humble servant here ) had sung a small “anga” ( limb ) from this aforementioned text called Keelakam at the Golu festival in a family friend’s house whose name is Suja and her husband Ganesh. There was socializing going on in the other areas of the house; but as the song was being sung, an older lady ( unfamiliar at that time ) came rushing through with a book in hand and joined the recitation and at the end said “Raghavan, you must recite the entire Durga Sapthashati”. It was that one line that transformed Adiyen forever. It is a firm belief that Durga Devi Herself came and spoke those words through the lady – who happened to be Suja’s mom. The next day, they were in another person’s house and Adiyen showed a copy ( downloaded from the internet ) of the Argala Stotram to Suja’s dad and he said, “ You seem to be taking this pretty seriously rightaway!”

After about a month’s constant preparation after work every day, took November 15, 2013 - a Friday off from work (unheard of in life up to that point), with the sole intention of reciting the entire Durga Sapthashathi. It took 8 hours with tremendous struggles in pronunciation; started at 4:00 am and finished at noon. Went to work after that in cloud nine ! That was a marvelous struggle, but it was a tiny offering of love to Durga Devi by a nobody with no clue about anything (still holds true to this day).

Since then, life completely changed; everything remained the same outside, but the transformation inside has been going on every day, to this day. This text is used in Maha Chandi Homams ( there are a few articles regarding Maha Chandi Homams in this blog ) and words simply cannot express the feelings of love and affection that develop deep inside the heart when reciting or listening to Chandi Paath. Durga Devi in Her Forms as Maha Saraswathi and Maha Kali has bestowed upon Adiyen, the ability to recite Sanskrit shlokas in a nicer manner and through Her Form as Maha Lakshmi has bestowed sufficient wealth to lead a decent life. Adiyen ( the humble servant here )  is DEEPLY thankful to Durga Devi !

There are several books and articles available that describe in detail the meanings of Devi Mahatmyam and one can learn a lot from them. There is one thing for sure – this is no ordinary work – every shloka is a Divine Mantra, every sentence is a Divine Sentence. The transformation that Durga Saptashathi started has been taking Adiyen to deeper levels of spirituality with the parayanam of Srimad Devi Bhagawatham ( 18,000 verses ), Sri Kalika Puranam (8,462 verses), Sri Markhandeya Puranam (9,000 verses), Sri Shiva Mahapuranam (24,000 verses), Srimad Bhagawatham (18,000) verses, Sri Brahmanda Mahapuranam (12,000) verses, Sri Vishnu Puranam (6,000 verses), Sri Kurma Puranam (6,000 verses) and just getting ready to start Sri Matsya Puranam. Durga Devi has guided to start and complete the beautiful Rig Veda Parayanam ( over 10,000 verses), Yajur Veda Parayanam and currently guiding through Sama Veda Parayanam. SHE has guided through over 230 homams and guided the recitations of many Sahasranamams and shlokas – SHE IS the Doer – Adiyen ends up with the bliss !! All the while, SHE makes sure that income to carry on the worldly life keeps coming so the devotee does not suffer – Shouldn’t we offer our thanks to HER ? The Only reason all this is being written here is to give the potential devotee and potential aspirant a glimpse of the greatness of Devi Mahatmyam – SHE IS POWERFUL – SHE IS COMPASSIONATE – SHE HELPS ANYONE that approaches HER with LOVE !!! If SHE can help this nobody, can you imagine what the ardent devotees experience !

The audio here is broken down into small sections. There is a prelude ( Poorva Bhagam ), additional preludes ( Anya Poorva Bhagam ), Main Text ( Madhya Bhagam comprising 13 chapters) and postscript ( Uttara Bhaagam ). The order of recitation is exactly the order in which it is provided here. Keelakam, Argala Stotram, Siddha Kunjika Stotram, etc can be recited or listened to individually; if one is learning to recite specific shlokas, then individual chapters or shlokas may be addressed individually; however, if one is listening in the car or reciting directly as a prayer, then either the entire 13 chapters have to be done together or chapters 2,3,4 to be done together, chapters 5,6 together, chapters 9,10 together; other chapters can be addressed individually; for example chapter 1 by itself or chapter 7 by itself. This is easily remembered as 234-56-910. The reason is that one cannot start reading, reciting or listen to such a powerful set of stories and leave them half way complete to attend to any stupid worldly activity. For example, if you are listening to chapter 5 in the car and have arrived at your “worldly destination”, you cannot stop and go; you MUST finish 5 AND 6 before leaving. The minutes associated with these chapters are hence given, so you can plan ahead. It is recommended to have a separate playlist just for Durga Sapthashathi.

The text used in this recitation is Durga Sapthashathi from Giri Trading Co, Chennai, India. Book ISBN Number: 978-81-7950-339-3. Their phone number is: 91-44-66939315. This book is also available in many languages. The image on top of this post is the cover of this book. See also the section below entitled Lyrics - which provides lyrics for reference only here.

In this text, the order followed is:

Poorva Bhaagam and Anya Poorva Bhaagam: Pages 9, 20,21,28,32,183,47,48,43,34 through 42*,50.

Madhya Bhaagam: Pages 53-127.

Uttara Bhaagam: Pages 131,134,138,143,171,146

*In 34-42, after p.34 Navarna Mantra Vidhi, go to Karanyasa,, etc on p 40, Dhyaanam on p 41.
 Then on p. 50, after Sapthashathi Nyasa, go to Atha Dhyaanam at the bottom of p.52.

Madhya Bhaagam Ch 2 Verse 68 2nd line: Audio should be "Asooniva" not "Asoomuniva".

The audio duration to listen in one sitting is a little over 3 hours.

And now the audio:

( Mobile devices: click download; then play.)

Poorva Bhaagam:

Shaapoddhara Evam Utkeelana Mantra: 3 MB (3 minutes: 28 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znR2ZQSW5mMkZZdVE/view?usp=sharing

Kavacham: 12 MB (13 minutes: 20 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znYjVSNUtFc2FabVE/view?usp=sharing

Argala Stotram: 7 MB (7 minutes: 20 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znQk55WjZNb2JGaWM/view?usp=sharing

Keelakam: 4 MB (4 minutes: 11 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1zncjFZMldZS3dxWTA/view?usp=sharing

Vedoktam Raathri Suktam: 2 MB (1 minutes: 43 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znLUw2ckJHcnA3cWM/view?usp=sharing

Tantroktham Raathri Suktam: 3 MB (3 minutes: 18 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znaDlrYTU4Rl95ams/view?usp=sharing

Devi Atharva Sheersham: 7 MB (7 minutes: 34 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1zneGVnYXh2LWdwUjA/view?usp=sharing

Siddha Kunjika Stotram: 4 MB (3 minutes: 53 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znX3Z2TnZXUFBOWTg/view?usp=sharing

Anya Poorva Bhaagam: 14 MB (15 minutes: 47 seconds) ( includes Navarna Mantra )

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znWXpudU1mQkVFUms/view?usp=sharing

Madhya Bhaagam:

Ch 1: 15 MB (16 minutes: 34 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znSERSTk5qNXRmbm8/view?usp=sharing

Ch 2: 12 MB (13 minutes: 17 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1zneDNBNVZ2TG1XSE0/view?usp=sharing

Ch 3: 8 MB (8 minutes: 24 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znTDFkbW1Ha3VGa28/view?usp=sharing

Ch 4: 9 MB (9 minutes: 49 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znQ3RIdnVPd29ZQXM/view?usp=sharing

Ch 5: 14 MB (14 minutes: 50 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1zncWxoXzloTVRWUnM/view?usp=sharing

Ch 6: 4 MB (4 minutes: 25 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znZl9Uc3FvMVNzanc/view?usp=sharing

Ch 7: 5 MB (5 minutes: 07 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1zneUNCdnNmbnVHdlk/view?usp=sharing

Ch 8: 10 MB (10 minutes: 58 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znVExITU9yb3RmSVk/view?usp=sharing

Ch 9: 7 MB (7 minutes: 07 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znX2VhTXFkMjktZHc/view?usp=sharing

Ch 10: 5 MB (5 minutes: 15 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1zncmlXa0JFS1h5dDA/view?usp=sharing

Ch 11: 9 MB (10 minutes: 01 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1zndkFHR2VtTzdGdzA/view?usp=sharing

Ch 12: 7 MB (7 minutes: 17 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znSGdlOGlZN2FQdkU/view?usp=sharing

Ch 13: 4 MB (4 minutes: 06 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znQVBEc3RmSnF1RzA/view?usp=sharing

Uttara Bhaagam:

Pradhaanikam Rahasyam: 6 MB (6 minutes: 03 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znZjZTR3pJRUZ3Q1E/view?usp=sharing

 Vaikruthikam Rahasyam: 6 MB (6 minutes: 47 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znUU1Jd1ZBaEtheFE/view?usp=sharing

Moorthy Rahasyam: 4 MB (4 minutes: 37 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znR2tWcEhBSGlFeDg/view?usp=sharing

 Kshama Praarthana: 1 MB (1 minutes: 32 seconds)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znNm9sOWFCZFkxY0U/view?usp=sharing

Lyrics:

Sanskrit lyrics used in the recitation are given below for reference only. Please purchase the book from the publisher referred to above for easy reading and ethical conduct. Note there is NO financial or commercial incentive here for this recommendation.

Lyrics -- Shaapodhara Evam Utkeelana Mantra:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znUm5Ja3BMTTZxc00/view?usp=sharing

 Lyrics -- Poorva Bhaagam: ( Includes Kavacham, Argala, Keelakam, etc )

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znSkx2eDJheUpNc1E/view?usp=sharing

 Lyrics -- Madhya Bhaagam: ( Chapters 1 through 4 )

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znelpoNkNad1B4MGs/view?usp=sharing

 Lyrics -- Madhya Bhaagam: ( Chapters 5 through 10 )

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znMUFuUWRzeXNHd00/view?usp=sharing

 Lyrics -- Madhya Bhaagam: ( Chapters 11 through 13 )

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znaHBWbnpnZjRIZFE/view?usp=sharing

 Lyrics -- Uttara Bhaagam: ( including all Rahasyams, etc)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5yrewH-M1znazFpa09QRVpzdGs/view?usp=sharing

 

Om Shree Durga Devi Namo Namaha !