Report on
Vasant-Navaratri Celebrations
in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir,
31st March 2014 to 9th April 2014

Vasant-Navaratri, the holy days in the spring-season, which are specially dedicated to the Divine Mother, in the Hindu month of Chaitra, started on Monday, 31st March 2014.

According to the Northindian Hindu Calendar, 31st March 2014 is also celebrated as the start of the New Year, which will conclude on 20th March 2015.

The Sanskrit name of this special year is "Plavang", which means "Monkey", or "Frog", since the literal meaning of "Plavang" indicates something, which is jumping or floating. Some people are of the opinion that the word "Plavang" may hint to water-floods.

The "Raja", the "King", or ruling Planet of this special year, is the Moon and the "Mantri", or Minister, again is the Moon. The planet Moon has strong connections to the water. Everybody knows, what a tremendous power the Moon exerts on the oceans of our planet earth with the change of the tides. In the same way the Moon has a very great influence on the mind. It depends on the human individuals, whether they can control the mind and channelize it in good, constructive and divine directions. If they are able to do so, they will reap a lot of benefit and help from the Moon. If not, their lives may tend to become – under strong Moon influences – even more confuse and chaotic than usual.

In the wonderful Shrividya worship of the Divine Mother, in many Sanskrit Hymns and Poetry, the Moon plays an important role. The Moon is considered to be the seat of Soma, the Nectar of Immortality. In Shrividya a special aspect of the Devi is worshipped at each and every Moon phase and the Full-Moon is often compared to the infinite Nectar-like Beauty of the Divine Mother Shri Lalita Mahatripurasundari, who is soft, sweet and full of Compassion and divine Love.

Bearing all this in mind, the Navaratri Celebrations in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas commenced with great dedication and enthusiasm on 31st March 2014, at a beautiful Altar with a Murti of Omkarananda­ Shanta-Durga, who is always established at the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir during this Festival. This sweetly smiling and blessing Devi was surrounded with a photo of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, pictures of Lord Shiva and Kalashas, in which the living Presence of the Divine Mother had been invoked. At this sacred place, fragrant with Agarbatti and vibrant with constant Pujas and Prayers, seeds of wheatgrass had been sown, which started to grow slowly into beautiful tiny soft green wheatgrass, the auspicious "Hariyali".

During the time of Navaratri the symbolic fight of the Divine Mother Durga against demonic forces is remembered through recitation of special prayers. But one should not forget, that those demonic forces are in reality the dark elements in the human heart and character, which have to be transformed with the help and Grace of the all-merciful Divine Mother.

The 9 days and nights of the Navaratri Celebration are a golden opportunity to make the sincere Devotees undergo inner and outer purification. Many people are fasting during this time, but equally or even more important would be, to try to eliminate the dark forces in one's heart, character and daily behaviour. The "demons" in a human being can take different forms of expressions, like jealousy, hatred, small­ heartedness, prejudice, meanness, ignorance, laziness, passion, lust, violence, anger, greediness, miserliness, etc.
Making conscious and honest efforts to eliminate these dark forces from one's being, praying to the Divine Mother with one's whole heart and soul, taking part in Pujas and Hawanas, doing selfless service and seeking company with real Saints helps a lot to get rid of the "demons" in one's own heart, in order to become pure, luminous and divine.

Every day the area of the Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas' Headquarters was resounding with special prayers to the Divine Mother and enveloped in the fragrance of additional grand Hawanas, conducted in the evening time in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.

Often the three direct Sannyasi-Disciples of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, namely Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary and Shri Swami Satchid­ananda Saraswati, Treasurer, took part in the special Navaratri Pujas, Hawanas and Aratis.

Also many Devotees from different parts of India came regularly to enjoy the divine, calm and peaceful environment of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and its Temples and take the Blessings of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi and Durga Maa.

During this time Dr. Prakriti Bhaskar, a prominent Bharatanatyam-Teacher from Mumbai, paid a short visit to Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, along with her husband. When she saw the beautiful Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, she expressed the strong wish to offer a dance-recital in front of the Devi. On 6th April 2014 Dr. Prakriti performed a few Bharatanatyam items in front of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. She was introduced by Shri Siddhartha Krishna, who also explained the meaning of her dance-items. Her dances were very well received by the audience, which had assembled in large numbers. After her performance Prakriti was honoured with a shawl and a flower-mala by Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji. Swamiji also honoured Prakriti's husband, Shri Bhaskar, with a flower-garland, and mentioned, that Bhaskarji is a genius in the fields of designing, audio and video and very ably supports his wife Prakriti in all her artistic endeavours. In the end Dr. Prakriti Bhaskar expressed her deepest Thanks for having been given the opportunity to dance in such a beautiful and divine Temple. She mentioned how lucky Kumari Somashekhari is, since she can regularly give devotional dance-recitals in this Temple.

On Monday, 7th April 2014, on Ashtami, Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari performed three high-level Bharatanatyam Temple-Dances and a wonderful Arati Dance in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, which touched the hearts of all.

She was shortly introduced by Shri Siddhartha Krishna, who spoke about the importance of Temple-Dance as a Worship of the Divine.

After the Temple-Dance Performances of Kumari Somashekhari, H.H. Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, President Omkarananda Ashram, addressed all Devotees, who had assembled in the Temple on this occasion. In a very kind, loving and encouraging way Swamiji first thanked all who had come to take part in the Navaratri Celebrations in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir and then he honoured all, who always and faithfully contribute to a smooth and successful Navaratri Celebration, especially the Priests. 

Then Swami Vishveshwaranandaji appealed to all Devotees, to always cling to the Divine. He emphasized how important it is to visit Temples, to be involved in sincere Prayers, since usually we all live in a delusion. The only way out of it, Swamiji said, is to achieve the real Truth, the only Reality in our lives. Swamiji further told, that the lives of ordinary human individuals are caught up in attachments and desires, which result in problems. In order to overcome these problems one should hold on to a spiritual life, and the time of Navaratri can be very helpful, if one tries to purify the heart. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji said, that the more our hearts are purified, the more our happiness increases and the more we can come closer to the Truth. "When you are pure, the Divinity will enter your heart and you will be a Source of Light, a shining Light for everybody, whereas without the Divinity, one is simply nowhere", Swamiji explained.

At the conclusion of his most inspiring and heart-touching speech Swami Vishveshwaranandaji expressed his deepest Thanks to his Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

Shri Swami Pragyanandaji, a wonderful and dedicated Member of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, honoured Swami Vishveshwarananda, who is a constant source of joy and inspiration to everybody, with a flower­garland, thanking him on behalf of all.

After that everybody was given Prasadam by the Priests and all Devotees left to their respective places carrying with them pleasing, divine impressions and Blessings.

The Vasant-Navaratri Celebrations in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir were concluded on 9th April 2014, on Vijaya-Dashami, with elaborate Pujas, a grand Hawana and Purnahuti, Distribution of Hariyali, a beautiful Kanyapuja for 9 small girls, below the age of nine, a worship for Lord Shiva, represented by a small boy, and a Puja for a Suvasini, during which many nice gifts and Prasadam were offered lovingly to all of them.

OM
SHRI OMKARANANDA-
SHANTA-DURGA DEVI Kl JAY !!! OM