Nav Durga - My personal Journey, evolution, and experience

Wrapped up in the arms of Love and Compassion, thats Parashakti - motherly energy. I went through an epiphany when I was trying to understand the purpose of Navratri and imbibe the concept. I would like to share it with my readers. There are just too many literature out there that talks extensively about each of these 9 Shaktis. I do not want to replicate the content already available out there. I'm focusing on my experience with these 9 sequential shaktis from spiritual evolution and community impact perspective.

If I have to summarize the below sequential steps, it will be this : 

"You start from strength and agility (Shailaputri) and walk towards a deliberate journey to seek wisdom (Bramhacharini). Now you are ready to tame your mind (Chandraganta). You will now start working on extraordinary ideas and missions (Kushmanda). You now manifested (Skandamata) a new future. You start taking actions (Katyayini) and will collaborate with the world to make it real. You may find yourself in battle fields that feels like nightmares (Kaalaratri), but you will come out of it victoriously. This victory (Mahagauri) bestows you with the power and responsibility (Sidhidhatri) to make further difference in the world."

Step 1 : Day 1 - Theme is "Strength and Agility" - Shailaputri

Two elements came together - Earth (Himavan) and Water (Meenavati). You become aware of your existence, and is equipped with a foundation that provides you with "Strength & Agility" (Shailputri - daughter of mountain). Your basic needs are complete - food, water, warmth, rest, foundation, strength, balance, and agility. You have the necessary "samskara" and have strong support from your loved ones. 

Step 2 : Day 2 Theme is "Deliberate Seeking" - Bhramhachari

Now you are ready to invest your time and energy in "deliberate seeking" (Bramhachari - means devoted to the path of seeking wisdom). Wisdom is the goal and you can achieve this by being-one with discipline, structure, hard-work, focus, will-power. Being aware and letting go of your ego (ahem), greed, and selfishness is the very first step. Understand this "you are not this body, and you are not even this mind".

Step 3 : Day 3 Theme is "Bell your Mind"- Chandraganta

Now it is time to "bell your mind" (Chandraganta - means bell of the moon, moon = mind). You have the foundation, and discipline. You know better because you are more "aware",  and have the resiliency to accomplish this incredible tasks. You are now ready to work on your "MIND",  and literally tie a bell to your Mind. (Shhhhh - yoga and pranayama helps!)

Step 4 : Day 4 - Theme is "Imbibe the Egg (idea/mission) and nourish it"- Kushmanda

By now you have successfully established your foundation, imbibed wisdom and awareness through discipline, hard-work, focus, will power, and also have your "Mind" under control. You are now ready to "manifest the first seed" (Kushmanda - means little warm egg). The creator (you) is the mother of purpose. Whether it is to help yourself or to help the community, the purpose driven "idea/mission" should be wetted, nourished, researched, loved, strengthened, and curated. 

Step 5: Day 5 - Theme is "Birth, equip and nourish your Idea/mission" - Skandamata

The combined energy of "Icha Shakti, Janana Shakti, Kriya Shakti" merged into your "Shiv tatva" (principle of no-thingness, whole different body of work which I will write about sometime later). 

Fruit of your labor is Born. Skanda is born for a mission on material field. He is equipped with 6 heads representing mastery over water, earth, fire, air, ether, and mind. Each of these elements corresponds to the 6 chakras in respective ordered. The 7th chakra represents the union itself of Shiv-Shakti.

Bottom line is, energy, time, and space united to create a conscious being/idea tasked to uplift the community and restore balance. As Skandamata (means mother of Skanda) you are now nourishing your "Idea/mission" to prepare him for action. 

Step 6 : Day 6 Theme is "Action" - Katyayini

ACTION! ACTION! ACTION! With the strength of foundation, discipline, willpower, mind under control, and equipped with a warm and nourished"idea" you are now equipped to take on the world! You are focused on uplifiting (varada) and protecting (abaya), fighting (sword), and restoring balance (lotus) as Katyayini (means good anger to destroy ignorance).

Step 7: Day 7 Theme "Necessary Pain - Deepest Darkness when time lasts for eternity" - Kaalratri

What happens when you question "Status quo"? What happens when you go for war against corruption, malpractice, ignorance, and other evils? You create "Kaalratri" (means time enveloped in the all consuming deepest darkness). This is the necessary pain that you and the world will need to endure to fight against evil. All the skills you have accumulated so far will come with you to fight this war. This war needs to happen for balance to restore. Its dark, it will feel never-ending, but you have all the weapons and tools to fight this war. 

Step 8 : Day 8 Theme is "Great White - Peace and Calm" - Mahagauri

After the "Great Victory" you will experience the "calm after storm. You will feel balanced. When "good changes" are made the "white light" shines bright! As Mahagauri (means Great White), you carry the sweet pot of nectar of your labor, and will continue your penance (Japamala), and will continue to fight (Sword, Mace), with mastery over 3 sufferings (Trishul) to uplift (Varada) and protect (Abaya) you and the world around you.

Step 9 : Day 9 Theme is "Power and Responsibility"- Siddhidhatri

You are "Sidhidhatri" (means bestower of extraordinary powers). You have uplifted yourself and your community. You fought tirelessly and is now adorned with deserving powers that can continue to influence the microcosm and macrocosm. Let the world vibrate from the sound of your conch shell, let your brain gleam with "auspicious visions" (Sudarshan Chakra).