Nava-ratri means nine nights. Nights induce fear in human beings. But nights also nourish them. There are three fear inducers in a human life that also nourish them.
Huge barriers (be it social, human, natural etc etc) in front of our life induce fear in us. We have to develop the strength to cross these potential barriers to achieve something. If we cross-over these barriers, they nourish us. dur-gA in sanskrit means one that can not be stopped. This quality is personified as a feminine divinity in vedic literature. So we invoke durgA (invoke means worship in vedic terms), the strength in us, not to be stopped by any barrier.
The ability of others to harness resources for their growth (which we call wealth) induces fear in us. We have to develop that ability in us to harness the resources around us for our growth. If we achieve that wealth, it nourishes us. Laksh-mi means the 'mark' or 'characteristics' in us. The hallmark of human life is the ability to harness resources around for their personal growth. This quality is personified as a feminine divinity. So we invoke Lakshmi, our hallmark, to exploit resources around us for our growth.
Huge knowledge in front of us induces fear. If we achieve that knowledge, it nourishes us. sarasvati means that is moving (saras) always. Our ability to move continuously, adapt, and evolve is called our 'knowledge'. So we invoke sarasvati, the ability to move continuously, adapt and evolve, which is our knowledge.
But why are these three qualities, the strength to cross all barriers, ability to harness resources for personal progress, the ability to move continuously (learn) characterized as 'feminine' divinities ?
While these are manifest qualities in human beings, there is an unmanifest substratum on which they arise. The
strength to cross all barriers (durgA) arises on our witnessing conscience (shivA), the ability to harness resources for personal progress (Lakshmi) arises on our 'self' (Vishnu), the ability to learn/evolve (sarasvati) arises on our 'mind' (Brahma). These substratum divinities are characterized as male divinities.
Around the autumnal equinox, in the first nine days of lunar month of asvini (aippasi in tamil), these three feminine divinities are continuously invoked for nine-nights, almost all across India. While the celebration methods vary, the invocation of these three divinities for nine nights remains the same.
Why were they celebrated for nine nights ?
As we are invoking these divinities as the qualities that we need in us, we need to do this invocation continuously. It's like the habit formation takes time and consistency to become a habit and proceed to becoming our second nature.
So there are two navratris that are generally celebrated for this invocation. The sharad navratri around autumnal equinox is the most widely celebrated nine nights. The vasanta navaratri around the summer equinox is less celebrated nine nights.
By performing this invocation once or twice a year, repeatedly every year, we imbibe them within us.
In the south, we celebrate these nine nights by 'Golu' practice at home. The original idea is we make dolls out of clay, wood and cotton, developing our skills and capabilities. Then we place these dolls in the house and invite people to see them. Guests also sing and dance around these displays, showing off their skills and capabilities. The hosts also make new sweets and savories to treat the guests.
When we develop these skills, we are practicing the strength to break barriers, ability to harness resources around for our progress and also ability to learn/evolve. Hence we demonstrate them through the making of dolls and displaying them.
This practice continues today in a modified form. While people buy the dolls instead of making them, they still develop their skills by creating imaginative theme parks around these dolls and displaying them.
In factories and offices, all the equipment and tools that help us cross our barriers of life, give us knowledge and wealth are cleaned well and worshipped. In houses, books are also kept and worshipped, as books help us cross our life barriers and give us knowledge and wealth.
Post the celebration of nine nights, on the tenth day, new ventures or beginnings are done. That day is called the vijaya-dasami or the victorious tenth day.
Of course, once we have the qualities of not being stopped by any barrier, the ability to harness resources around us for our growth, the ability to continuously move/evolve, then we are going to be victorious. Isn't it ?
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