Know Thyself As Soul
Events
Make meditation, devotion, faith, and contentment all part of your life, because these elements are inseparable.
Sant Baljit Singh Ji
Navratri
The Navratri festival, usually held for nine days, celebrates Goddess Durga and her nine divine forms: Shailaputri Maa, Brahmacharini Maa, Chandraghanta Maa, Kushmanda Maa, Skandmata Maa, Katyayani Maa, Kalratri Maa, Mahagauri Maa, and Sidhidatri Maa. Each day of the festival is associated with one form of Goddess Durga. A sacred text—the Devi Mahatmya (The Glory of the Goddess)—explains the extraordinary virtues and greatness of each form and is read as a reminder about them.
The spring and autumn Navratri Festivals are celebrated each year at Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra, Nawan Nagar, India. We are pleased to share stories of these celebrations.
2018 Spring (Chaitra) Navratri Festival
Nawan Nagar, March 2018 The spring Navratri festival, dedicated to Goddess Durga, a form of the Divine Mother, was observed at the Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra Nawan Nagar ashram in India, from March 18 to March 24. In a large tent, professional singers performed...
Sawan Month
The auspicious month of Sawan or Shravan is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the supreme being. He has the role of protecting, transforming, creating, and recreating the material universe. In his highest form, Lord Shiva is timeless and absolute reality, without form or limits. He represents the primal soul, atman, and the value of meditation, devotion, and self-discipline.
In recognition of Lord Shiva at this time of year, millions of people (Kawariyas) traditionally go on religious pilgrimages, bathe in sacred rivers, and make resolutions to demonstrate their love and devotion for the Divine. Here are some stories of these celebrations.
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Kanwar Yatra
Throughout the month of Sawan, one can see large numbers of the pilgrims walking along roads leading to the sacred rivers, such as the Ganges. Many make the journey with bare feet and balance on their shoulders a colorfully decorated pole, called a kanwar, which has containers suspended on either side. The pilgrims fill the containers with water from the sacred rivers, then carry it back to their native places, where they make a devotional offering of it in their local temples of Lord Shiva on Sawan Shivratri, the day devoted to Lord Shiva.
This annual pilgrimage, known as Kanwar Yatra, occurs during the monsoon season, so these pilgrims walk long distances in heavy rains, extreme humidity, and heat. The pilgrims wear saffron-colored clothes, and many wear malas (beads used for prayer and meditation) made from sacred rudraksha beads. Ancient Indian scriptures tell how Lord Shiva once came out of a deep meditation, and his tears fell to earth and turned into seeds that grew into rudraksha trees. Beads made from rudraksha tree seeds are known as “Lord Rudra’s teardrops.” The word rudraksha is a combination of two Sanskrit words—Rudra, the name of one of the forms of Lord Shiva, and aksha, teardrops. Especially during the month of Sawan, but also throughout the year, devotees wear sacred rudraksha malas in honor of Lord Shiva.
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