EYE ON VEDIC FESTIVALS: NINE DAYS OF MOTHER DIVINE: DAYS 4-5-6: LAKSHMI
Days 3-6 of the Nine Days, March 31-April 2nd are devoted to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Specifically, the days are devoted as follows:
Day Four: Kusmanda – She who brings happiness and Warmth
Day Five: Skandamata – Mother of Skanda, The Destroyer of tamas and materialism
Day Six: Katyayani – The Nuturing Mother.
LAKSHMI: DAY 4: MARCH 31ST– THE SOLAR SMILE OF THE DIVINE MOTHER
Kushmanda Ma- “Kushm-anda” means the creator of the “Brahma- anda”, and is connected to warmth and to the Cosmic egg that gives life to the universe. Devi Kushmanda resides in the heart of the Sun and creates the Universe merely with a Divine smile (Ku-ushma). We often underestimate the power of smile, softness and gentleness which is connected on the 4th day to the 4th Chakara, the Heart Chakara which receives its energy from the solar plexus. The Sun brings light and warmth and brilliance to our life and Day is devoted to being in the heart and smiling from there. Today the Devi inspires us to be nourished by this Sun, to be like the Sun, to stay in our heart, reside in the Sun and yet be smiling with light and not burning with the heat of it.
So start coming out of your deep descent and bring your solar smile to the world to bless it with Divine love and a strong heart to heal the world.
DAY 5: SATURDAY, APRIL 1ST: Skanda Mata: Desire for the Highest Beyond the Sense.
Today we see the Shakti as Skanda Mata (fifth form of Durga/ wife of Shiva & Mother of Skanda ).
The Devi today rises up to the throat chakra today and reminds us to remember to be careful for we ask for in life as Lakshmi is there to bless us and grant our boons. (the undiluted force of mind) warning us to be mindful of what we ask for in life. We have to discriminate our against our malicious or tamasic desires and being caught up in the senses which are symbolized by the 6 heads of Skanda. Saturday is a day to reign in the senses and go for the higher desire for something greater in the quest to merge with the Divine.
DAY 6: SUNDAY, APRIL 2ND : KATHYANI: THE NUTURING MOTHER
Kathyayini represents the nurturing aspect of the Divine Mother. She embodies the values of sharing and caring. She signifies the finer qualities of being in a relationship and of belongingness.
The ultimate relationship is the union with oneself (soul) and is beyond the quest for a mate. The Shakti today travels from throat chakra to the third eye. Ironically this shakti is born with the anger radiated from the eyes of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to slay the demon Mahisha-asur (Buffalo headed demon). The demon symbolizes inertia, laziness, dormancy and and sloth.
The moment this Shakti awakens, we are ready to face the demon of inertia and move to something higher. Slaying the demon becomes symbolic of slaying our laziness and inertia to rise to Divinity.
It is always a choice and we always have one to chose something higher, our meditation or to indulge in a movie or sensual pleasure. Today is devoted to a higher calling to lower sensual desires. We need wisdom and good judgment and disclipe to rise higher on our quest
All blessings and glory to my yoga teacher, Indu Aurora whose talks and writings have inspired this material. It is from her deep wisdom and love of the Divine Mother that this material has come.
