Sharadiya-Navaratri Celebrations,
in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
from 7th October 2021 to 15th October 2021

For the Sharadiya-Navaratri Celebrations, the special Durga-Festival Days during the season of autumn, the Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas had prepared an Altar in the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir, the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
Daily additional Pujas were conducted by the Priests at this Altar and the President of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, also took part in it, in spite of his busy schedule. Here one can see Swamiji offering with deep devotion Arati to the Utsava Murti of Shri Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Devi.

Swami Vishveshwarananda offers Pushpanjali to
His Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

The lovely Utsava Murti of Shri Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Devi
on Vijaya-Dashami, Friday, 15th October 2021.

Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas is a Shri Vidya Ashram, where the most beautiful, peace-loving Divinity, Shri Lalita Maha-Tripurasundari, is worshipped. She is the same as Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, Shri Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Devi or Shri Vijaya-Lakshmi. On the 10th day of Navaratri, on Vijaya-Dashami, this form of the Divine Mother is worshipped, since the 10th Day is the day of Vijaya, or Victory, when the Supreme Divine Mother appears in Her most beautiful, peaceful and benevolent aspect. It is the day, when the symbolic fight against the demons is over and the Divine Mother resides peacefully, in total and complete Victory over the dark forces.

The demons are nothing else than the evil and dark forces or tendencies in the human heart, like hate, jealousy, greed, violence, passion, ignorance, laziness, etc. which can be fully overcome only by the infinite Grace of the Supreme Divine Mother or the Sadguru.

On the final day of the Sharadiya-Navaratri Celebrations in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, on Vijaya-Dashami, Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, along with Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Chief-Priest Shri Suresh Panditji, Shri Sanjay Panditji and Shri Mukesh Panditji, performed an extremely powerful Hawana for the Supreme Divine Mother and offered Her through the Medium of Agni Devata very special, rare and fragrant herbs, dry fruits, sugarcane, coconut, and other precious things. On the left side one can nicely see, how from Jau Seeds (barley seeds), a beautiful, soft, green, auspicious grass had fully grown at the holy Feet of Shri Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Devi.

The auspicious Sharadiya-Navaratri Celebrations, on Vijaya-Dashami, were continued in the evening, in the Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, with a few beautiful Devi-Temple-Dances by Kumari Somashekhari.

After the Temple-Dances, Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, addressed all the Devotees, who had assembled for this auspicious occasion, with his powerful speech. Swamiji generously gave some wonderful spiritual advice, and he also educated the audience, how important it is to keep and value the Prasadam, given by a real, great, spiritual Guru. Even if such a Prasadam seems to be outwardly very simple and humble, one should never underestimate its extremely powerful spiritual effect and its immense value and benefit, and one should also never give it to somebody else, but keep it. Swamiji illustrated this through a very interesting, spiritual story about Sant Tukaram and one of his Devotees, who lost immeasurable spiritual benefit by giving his Guru's Prasadam to somebody else.

Further Swamiji described Navaratri as a time, where we should strongly try to obtain the Divine Mother's Blessings by Prayers, Pujas, good Deeds and selfless Karma Yoga, to gain victory over the evil tendencies in our hearts. In order to attain great spiritual heights, the Devotee has to be ready to sacrifice a worldly life, Swamiji explained. He further said, that here in India, thanks to our Rishis, Munis, Sages, we have all the greatest divine Teachings available. Why then we do not implement in our lives Their divine Teachings and Wisdom, instead of running after perishing, damaging, worldly pleasures, Swamiji emphasized.

Swami Vishveshwaranandaji's fiery and impressive speech was reciprocated with great applause by all the Devotees.

The Sharadiya-Navaratri Celebrations in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas concluded with Prasad-Distribution to all.