Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – Sri Devi Navaratri Festival 2024 – Day 7 – Saptami – October 9, 2024 – Bhagyanagaram, Hyderabad
With Pujya Appaji’s blessings, Navaratri festival is being celebrated in Hyderabad as though we were all in Manidveepa. These 9 days are known as Yama Damṣṭrikā kāla. During the Vasanta and Sharan Navaratri, since Mother Nature is in a fierce form, it is important to worship Mother Goddess. If we had to worship Mother on our own, would we do it? How would we do it? Pujya Appaji like a Mother Bird has drawn us all into himself and is making us do the puja through Himself. How many of us would be able to sit for 4-5 hours each day in our own homes? Vāyina dāna and Muḍupu seva, watching the puja intently – Appaji has been ensuring we all worship Mother like this for the past 45 years!
We should ideally worship Mother everyday. If that’s not possible, then at least on these 9 days. If that is also difficult, then at least on these last 3 days of Maha Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, we must worship Her.
If we think back on how much we have been able to let go and how much (demonic trait) is still holding us back, we can only be grateful to Pujya Appaji. Sarasvati Devi loves lentil fritters which are packed with protein. So, in the evening puja, Archana is done with these vadas.
Tomorrow we celebrate Lakshmi, auspiciousness and wealth. Day after, we celebrate Shakti. What follows with Gnyana, abundance and Shakti is victory on Vijaya Dashami. On Ekadashi day, Appaji said He is offering Raga Sagara for Mother. Devi who is generally in a fierce form, must be prayed to be calm and peaceful. Hence, Shanti Homa is done to bring Shānti to the mind, the elements and nature. You are all very blessed to be witnessing these pujas. In the future when you speak of these pujas which you got to witness, your grandchildren and great grandchildren will be so envious and wish they could have been there.