NINE DAYS OF MOTHER DIVINE: DAYS 7-9 DEDICATED TO SARASWATI APRIL 7-9
The seventh day is celebrated in recognition of the goddess Kalratri, a powerful avatar of the goddess Shakti, in the form of the Goddess Kali, the fiercest form of Maa Durga. The symbolic message of the day is one of peace.
As you join Durga on her journey, you may find yourself struggling during the last few days. I have to go back to the metaphor of the challenges of rebirth and the difficult process of moving out of the womb. I have been discussing the nine days as a process of the child being reborn from the womb of the mother and we are getting closer to our new rebirth.
The eighth day, April 8th, is connected to Maha-Gauri, the White Pearl and Mother of Full Grace and Beauty and Serenity, radiant like the moon. It’s a day where we look into the darkness, examine our challenges and seek to muscle the energy and power to transform and move beyond our limits. Like the moon in the darkness, Maha-Gauri is always providing light and nurturing us in the darkest of times, but she beckons us to grow beyond our limits and that requires looking deep into the darkness and making changes.
This day is continued movement into the darkness and marking difficult choices and changes. We must muster additional courage and know that the Blessings of Mother will support us with her light even in the darkest of times before we are going to emerge from the womb. Everything is possible if we are ready with unblemished intention and strong will to transform our deepest problems. We have to muster the self-esteem and confidence to know that we are worthy of our highest good!
It is a time to reflect on our darkest situations and let the light of Divine Mother’s moonlight shine within us. It’s a great day for healing, inner reflection and transformation. Divine Mother will be there if you are willing to let her light shine into your darkest crevices and to realize that the darkness is only an illusion. Once the light is there, you wonder why you agonized and analyzed and gave so much power to the darkness. Blessings for a wondrous day! Rebirth shortly at hand!
The ninth, April 9th and final day is reserved for the goddess Navaratri, The Gift of Centeredness Amidst Change. Ma Siddhi Datri is the ninth goddess and an embodiment of Goddess Saraswati. Her name means the “giver of Boons/accomplishments.” She blesses those who practice their yoga and meditation regularly due to discipline. She reminds us that if we are regular in our spiritual practices, then nature will support us with the fulfillment of our desires. She teaches us that hard, discipline and dedication are necessary to create enough clarity of mind in order to fulfill our desires.
Ma Siddhi Datri is an embodiment of the highest quality of Venus, healthy relationships and her deep friendship with Saturn and the blessings of elders. She bestows intelligence and health. She is a reminder if we learned from Lakshmi, that wealth is not just physical cash, but good health, wonderful relationships and a quest for the Divine.
While her name, Siddhi reminds us of Patanjai and the perfections of walking on water or flying through the air, she actually teaches us to remain balanced and grounded in the most difficult situations. The value of meditation and yoga is that it centers us in our Self and so no matter what problems arise, we have the poise and invincible strength to deal with it. There will always be problems with the changing nature of the physical body and ups and downs with the material world, but can we have the fortitude and centeredness like Ma Siddhi Datri to be 100% secure amidst change? This is grace and is one of the greatest gifts of Mother Divine.
Be kind to yourself, keep the Divine spark warm for growth — toward something higher and be patient. This process happens one, small step, at a time.
The call to action is to be regular with your spiritual practice so that you can have the strength and courage like all the goddesses riding tigers to conquer your deepest fears and move forward through the darkness into the light and rebirth! Special thanks to Indu Aurora for her beautiful discourses on the Goddess.
The celebration ends with Ram’s Birthday on April 10th
You can sponsor into ceremonies at www.puja.net or visit your local temple. This is a very special time for deep purification and a chance to increase all aspects of wealth in your life.
