Ashram Navratri Update, Spring 2021
Spring Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival, begins Monday, April 12 and runs through Tuesday, April 20. Although we are still closed to visitors, we can celebrate and thank our gracious Divine Mother together virtually no matter how far we may be apart in distance. Below are the many ways you can participate with the Ashram during Navratri. By practicing devotion we all can be close to Baba and the Divine Mother as our love transcends miles. Feel free to email the Ashram at info@BabajiAshram.org or call us at 719-256-4108 with any questions or intentions to be remembered at the Divine Mother’s and Baba’s feet, we enjoy speaking and connecting with you.
About Navratri
Navratri, the Divine Mother festival, which we celebrated in India with Shri Babaji, continues there and at this Ashram each Spring (Chaitra) and Fall (Ashvin) begins on Monday. It is a time when our prayers are multiplied because millions of people are celebrating at the same time around the world. Navratri comes in our life as a Divine Light and Power in the form of Hope.
The Navratri that we have been performing for many years at the Ashram here in Crestone was taught to us by Shri Vishnu Datt Shastri, who called himself the shadow of Babaji. Each day consists of paduka puja (6am), hymns to Mother (6:45am), aarati (7am), Devi Puja (9am), recitation of the Haidakhandi Sapta Sati (9:30am), Sacred Fire Ceremony (11am), Discourse from the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam or Chandi Path (11:45am), and Chanting (noon). The remainder of the day consists of a meal (if you are eating; many people do some kind of fast such as: no food, only fruits and vegetables, one meal a day), karma yoga, japa, rest, evening aarati and chanting.
We will live-stream the Devi puja at 9am and the Fire Ceremony, Discourse and chanting beginning at 11am at https://www.facebook.com/HaidakhandiUniversalAshram (the Ashram facebook page). We will upload them to YouTube each afternoon, so you can follow along if you miss the live-stream. You can find the Haidakhan aarati several places on YouTube and the Haidakhandi Sapta Sati read in English with lovely images of our Divine Mother on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V7Nft-cvcw&ab_channel=RamlotiWoodand follow the scheduled timings.
It is also a strong practice during Navratri to do japa (repetition of the Divine Name.) The Mother Mantra that we have been taught to repeat is "Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Viche". (“Om salutations to the Goddess in all of Her forms. Bless me with Your courage and strength and allow for the fulfillment of my aspirations and desires.”) So you can do the whole Navratri right in your home, or whatever part of it that you would like.
So that you will know more about the days, here is a description the individual aspect of Mother. If you choose to sponsor a Devi Puja or a Fire Ceremony, this will give you information on what day or days would be most meaningful or helpful for you to sponsor.
Sponsorship of Navratri Fire Ceremony or Devi Puja
If you would like to participate by sponsoring a Fire Ceremony or a Devi Puja we will send you a blessed item from the Fire Ceremony or Devi Puja if you request. As you pay add to the comment the day you want to sponsor and if you would like a sacred item.
$54 sponsorship - Rudraksha, Rosewood, or Tulsi Mala
$108 sponsorship - Copper, nickel, brass Om Namah Shivaya Bracelet
$216 sponsorship - Receive the silk mala that Babaji wore to the fire that day and one of the above items.
Go to the Donate page and scroll down at https://www.babajiashram.org/donate to sponsor a Fire Ceremony or a Devi Puja.
The Devi Puja
Each morning at 9am we do a sweet puja to the deity of the day. The first three days of Navratri we honor Mother Durga. She helps purify and destroy the aspects in us that keep us from our spiritual path. On the next three days, we honor Mother Lakshmi, asking Her to fill in the places we have just eliminated with more satvic or life-giving qualities. The final three days, we honor Mother Saraswati, asking Her to assist us in putting our new satvic qualities into action. She is also the one that bestows Divine Knowledge on us.
It is said that during Navratri, the Mother Goddess Durga appears in 9 different forms, and each one is worshipped for a day. These 9 forms signify the various traits that are influenced by the Goddess. They are as follows:
Day One – Monday, April 12 - The Aspect of the day is Goddess Shailputri, the Daughter of the Himalayas. Goddess Shailputri was married to Lord Shiva and they had a son to kill a great demon. Maa Shailputri has many divine powers.
Day Two – Tuesday, April 13 - The Aspect of the day is Goddess Brahmacharini, the One who observes penance and good conduct. Maa Brahmacharini personifies love and loyalty. She is the storehouse of knowledge and wisdom.
Day Three – Wednesday, April 14 - The Aspect of the day is Goddess Chandraghanta who bestows immense peace, courage, and goodness. With the blessings of Maa Chandraghanta, all sins of the worshipper get washed away, and all the obstacles also get cleared from his/her path.
Day Four – Thursday, April 15 - The Aspect of the day is Maa Kushmanda. Worshipping Maa Kushmanda, the devotee can get rid of all his/her ailments and sorrows. Moreover, he/she is blessed with a long life span, happiness, strength and good health.
Day Five – Friday, April 16 - The Aspect of the day is Maa Skandamata. She is the mother of Skanda, the leader of the heavenly armies. Goddess Skandamata grants salvation to Her unfailing Devotees and all their desires get fulfilled.
Day Six – Saturday, April 17 - The Aspect of the day is Goddess Katyayani, the slayer of the demon, Mahishasura. If the worshipper completely surrenders himself or herself to Mother Katyayani, he or she is showered with boons and Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
Day Seven – Sunday, April 18 - The Aspect of the day is Maa Kaalratri who is the Destroyer Of Darkness and Ignorance. The look of Maa Kaalratri is extremely frightening, but the effect of her blessings is always auspicious. On this day, all the sins of the worshipper are washed away and all the hurdles on the path of the worshipper are destroyed.
Day Eight – Monday, April 19 - The Aspect of the day is Maa Mahagauri who radiates peace and compassion. Her extremely fair complexion is similar to the moon or a Jasmine flower. All the sins of the devotee are washed away by worshipping this goddess on this auspicious 8th day of Navratri and becomes pure in all aspects.
Day Nine – Tuesday, April 20 - The Aspect of the day is Maa Siddhidatri who is the Giver Of Spiritual Powers (Siddhis). If a devotee worships Goddess Siddhidatri with full faith and devotion on the 9th day of Navratri it is said the devotee spiritually moves into the divine abode of the Goddess and he or she is always blessed by Maa Siddhidatri.
Gratitude and Maha Lakshmi Shop
We currently have two lovely wrist malas from our Divine Mother in the Shop that are selling for only $36 and many other lovely malas. One is turquoise with a brass spacer and the other is moonstone with a pewter bead. To view or purchase them go to: https://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com/category/malas/
There are several ways to donate to the Ashram. Perhaps the easiest place is at: https://www.babajiashram.org/donate. And to see our Maha Lakshmi Shop catalogue of devotional items and to purchase on line, go to: https://mahalakshmishop.wazala.com.
Call or email us anytime with questions, feedback, or requests at info@babajiashram.org or 719-256-4108. We love to hear from you. Bhole Baba Ki Jai! Jai Ma!