Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – day 1 Navaratri – Gowri Devi – October 13, 2015 – Mysore
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
The incarnations of Gowri and Sailaputri are one and the same of Mother Goddess. For each incarnation, there are three forms. In the Devi Bhagavatam we learn about the creation of the world itself in the form of the stories of such incarnations which took place in the Krita, Treta, and Dwapara Yugas. Had these incarnations not taken place, had the demons not been destroyed, today, the human race would not be existing. Research into Vedanta will reveal this fact. Satva Guna is seen in gods, Rajo Guna is seen in demigods such as Yaksha, Kinnara and Kimpurushas, and human beings. Tamo Guna is seen in demons and in cruel animals. Tamo Guna is also seen in all the species of beings if they are devoid of compassion. Gods are those who destroy Rajo and Tamo Gunas. They are filled with Satva Guna. The most subtle form is that of Paramatma. His Satva Guna is of the subtlest nature.
There is air. It is invisible. If something moves, you know that there is breeze. Of the five elements, air is one that is strange. Liquids are visible. Only it carries away something, you can recognize the presence of air. Be it fragrance or bad odor, it is transported by air. Fire is not like that. It changes its shape to suit the object it burns and it consumes and merges things into itself. Water takes the shape of its container. It is all very strange.
Life energy is invisible. We recognize its presence because of certain signs. There is breathing going on, or the body moves to indicate that life exists. Life energy is also Time energy. It is also Paramatma. Life energy merges with the all-pervasive Paramatma when the body is shed. Jeevanmukti is that. It gives freedom from karma, and also from the body and the sense organs. That is Jeevanmukti. When we observe all the incarnations, we get some doubts resolved and we also get some fresh doubts.
Swamiji performs this Navaratri Puja which is worship of Nature, for the wellbeing of the world, and for the protection of the planet earth. He is doing an experiment that will have its positive effect for Yugas to come. This cannot be explained, it cannot be shown, or written in books. Such is the situation. This procedure has evolved on its own. Certain deities in certain forms are worshiped at certain times. This method of Navaratri worship will only continue for two more years till Swamiji is 75. After that it will be of a different type. This grandeur will not be there. It will have a different type of grandeur. Navaratri will be conducted by Swamiji as long as He lives. Therefore, do not miss any of the rituals or bhajan sessions. Today we are worshiping Gowri Devi who grants all types of auspiciousness, removes all sorrows, and gives enlightenment.
These days everyone is preoccupied with only worldly problems involving personal relationships. Nobody knows what is going on in another’s mind. The husband does not know what the wife or children are thinking. There is no harmony in people’s thoughts. Each is alone in this world. The sense organs and God are one’s friends. We have to go to Him eventually. It is important to get closer to God and to know Him. In different ways we must try to understand Him. That is why we worship Mother Goddess Gowri.
Slokam: Sarvajnataam
Many people question why Mother Goddess should be worshiped and what the benefit is of performing worship to Mother Goddess during the Navaratri festival. This sloka gives a proper answer.
O Mother! The worship of your sacred lotus feet gives one the knowledge of all subjects, and the power to speak eloquently in large assemblies. She is gloriously present in all types of knowledge. The attention placed on your glorious crown, the umbrella that is placed above it, and the fans bestows wealth in the form of money, gold, vehicles of transportation, and also a lofty position.
The Veda refers to Mother as God. Therefore, it is important to offer worship to the Mother of all mothers. All scriptures such as the Smritis and Sastras also give the highest status of Mother.
Bhajan: Ambakanna adhikulevaru
We should praise Mother as done in this bhajan, and try to understand her divine principle. We must attempt to treasure that knowledge in our hearts. All forms belong to Mother. She assumes all existing forms. This is explained in detail in the Saptasati.
Sloka: ya devi
I offer prostrations to that Devi who exists as knowledge and intelligence in all living beings.
It gives merit to meditate upon Mother as Sri Mata and offer her worship. Doing Japa of that Mantra gives benefit. Wishes get fulfilled. Mother’s protection is obtained. With full concentration one should chant Sri Mata. She doubles the merit. She is mother to all, even to Vishnu and Siva.
Sri Mata’s form is Gowri. The Lalita Sahasranama refers to Mother as ‘Gowree gandharva sevitaa’. Gandharvas are ever offering services to her. The horses that draw her chariot are also called by the name Gandharva. Those horses are Sama Veda scholars.
On earth, Gandharvas are those who are exponents of Sama Veda. They are musicians. Mother Goddess is pleased by their services.
The Aswaaroodhaa deities worship Gowri Devi. She is always praised in divine song.
As per the tradition followed at our Datta Peetham, Mother Goddess’ first incarnation is as Mother Gowri. Let us learn her principle by learning her story.
According to the statement ‘Ashtaavarshaa bhavet Gowri’, as an eight year old girl Gowri should be visualized and worshiped. She remains forever as an eight year old girl. This Mother is very gentle. She has a complexion that is white with a golden glow. The Tantra scriptures relate many stories about Gowri. Unless we gather information from all of them, we will not get a comprehensive picture of her principle.
Parvati, born as Himavan’s daughter was fair-skinned. Narada Pancharatra states that for this reason she got the name, Gowri. Vasishtha Ramayanam also concurs with this opinion.
Gowri is famous mostly as Mangala Gowri because she protects the Mangalya or the married status of a married woman. She is also known as Swarnagowri. As Swarnagowri she is of the aspect of the Sun. It is this deity who increases the semen cells in the body. She energizes. Gives life.
Once, Mother Goddess offered her body to the Fire of Yoga and took birth again. At that time she had a white complexion. Everyone praised her as Gowri. Devi Purana likens Gowri to jasmine flowers, a conch shell, and the moon because of her pure, glowing white body.
For every form of Gowri, here in our Navavarana Puja, 16 services are offered with Dhoopa, Deepa, and Naivedyam (incense, lamp, and food offering). Very brief procedure, and still it takes so long. Elaborate full puja is beyond our imagination.
This same Mother was born at another time as Kali, which means black. Once, Siva laughed at Mother who was black, representing the power of Time. Siva addressed her as, “O Black girl”, and that made Mother angry. To remove the blackness of her appearance, she performed penance and she became Gowri, says Siva Purana.
There was a reason for Siva’s behavior in that situation. For the sake of destroying the demons, Siva laughed like that. Because of his laughter, Mother took the form of Kausiki and killed the demons.
If Mother Kali removes the Tamo Guna, Gowri Devi increases Satva Guna. The incarnation that occurs between these two, is that of Parvati, the daughter of the Mountain, who preserves Dharma by the use of Rajo Guna.
Gowri has the attributes of Guru. She is the form of Guru. That is why Swamiji offers the first worship to Gowri, who is of the form of Guru. Unless the Guru principle is first contemplated upon, Sri Vidya Upasana will not bear fruit. Therefore, we worship Gowri Devi as possessing Guru’s form.
Bhajan: Gowri Gowri
This Mother Gowri has three forms as Bala, Kanya, and Proudha. Of these three emerged the three main incarnations, Bala Devi, Nageswari Devi, and Kanyakumari.
Slokam: Bala kanya
Gowri Devi, who is famous in her three forms as girl, maiden, and married woman, took the three forms as Balaa, Kanyakaa Devi, and Nageswaree Devi. Today we worship this Mother Gowri.
Mother Goddess has her glorious presence in the eighteen Sakti Peethams. In Gaya, she is worshiped as Maangalyagowrika. When unmarried girls worship Gowri, they get good husbands. By the worship of Mangala Gowri, the wellbeing of families increases. Married women must perform the Mangala Gowri Vrata to preserve their status as married women (ensuring the welfare of the husband). Swarnagowri Vrata must be performed because there is no Mother who is chaster than Gowri Devi. At the time of the marriage ritual, it is mandatory for the bride to perform Gowri Puja prior to the marriage ceremony.
For any mantra or austerity to bear fruit, Gowri Devi must be worshiped. The energy of Gowri, as Navapadi spreads all across the Universe. She is of the form of the Sri Chakra with its nine enclosures. Sri Chakra represents the entire endless creation, which is all pervasive. That is whom we worship as Adi Parasakti.
Ancient tradition follows the procedure of worshiping the Nava Durgas (nine Durgas) during the Navaratri Festival, choosing one Nava Durga per day. According to this tradition, Sailaputri should be offered worship on the first day.
Sloka. Vande
For the purpose of fulfilling desires, I offer prostrations to Sailaputri who wears the half-moon on her head, has the bull as her vehicle, wields the spear, and grants fame.
May Gowri Devi, who is also called Sailaputri shower her blessings upon everyone and grant all auspiciousness. May she satisfy all desires. May her grace be showered upon everyone at all times.
Jaya Guru Datta
Bhajan: anaadi gowree
Bhajan: Sailaputree sreelagaatree
Three days ago Swamiji went to visit the Mookambika temple. He stayed there overnight. He went there once in His childhood and this time remembered many things from that previous visit. This place is one of the 18 Shaktipeethas.
Bhajan: manninchi nanu ganave mookambika
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri