NINE DIVINE NIGHTS
If you have a question, Maanya Kohli has an answer. Send us your full name, date of birth and question at askmaanya@deccanmail.com and Maanya will answer your question in this column
My favourite time of the year is back. It is Navratri, nine nights celebrating the divine feminine. According to legend, Navratri is the battle that took place between goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. Each of the nine nights of the festival is dedicated to a distinct avatar of the goddess and celebrates a particular divine energy. The first night is dedicated to Shailputri. She is the daughter of the Himalayas and embodies the collective power of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It is in this form that the goddess was worshipped as the consort of Shiva. She symbolises action and vigour. The second form of goddess Durga is known as Brahmacharini, the one who practices devout austerity. She symbolises penance or tapa. On the third day, the goddess is worshipped as Chandraghanta. She represents beauty and grace and is worshipped for peace and prosperity.
Kushmanda is worshipped on the fourth day. It is believed that she is the created the entire Universe with her laughter. On the fifth day, Goddess Durga’s incarnation is called Skand Mata. She is the mother of Skanda, who was the commander-in-chief of the gods in the war against the demons. She is accompanied by her infant, Skanda, and indicates the strength of a mother who can bring about a storm to protect her child.
On the sixth day, the goddess is worshipped as Katyayani, the daughter of sage Kata. Dressed in orange, she exhibits immense courage. On the seventh day, the goddess is worshipped as Kalratri. She has a dark complexion and disheveled hair. She is the most fierce avatar of the goddess. On the eight day, the feminine deity is worshipped as Maha Gauri, who is intelligent, fair and calm. She denotes hope, and a fresh start. On the ninth day, the goddess is worshipped as Siddhidatri. It is believed she consists of all the eight siddhis and fulfills all the divine aspirations.
My dear readers, as you get ready to celebrate these nine nights of festivities, I wish that you acknowledge the divine feminine in every form, every name, and most importantly, in every woman in your life. Only then you will truly realise the spirit of Navratri and receive the divine energies and blessings from the eternal Goddess! T his week the cards give you a sign to just go for it! You are feeling incredibly inspired and enthusiastic about pursuing a new idea or project that you have in mind. Use your creative energy to take the first steps and get this project underway. The cards are also indicative of a time in your life where you have a breakthrough moment, and feel very inspired and motivated about a particular passion. Your eyes have been opened to a whole new world and you are now very excited about the possibilities and the opportunities that are available to you. It’s also a good time to build new relationships.
Lucky number: 1 Lucky colour: Fiery red Y ou sure have an interesting week ahead. You will be filled with energy, boldness and enthusiasm. You will start a new project. Be passionate about it but at the same time weigh in all practical aspects as well. This week will fly by swiftly and new things will come your way in both personal and professional life. You might also feel attracted to a new person who is charismatic, intelligent and artistic. This person will come with a promise of love. However, be intelligent enough to differentiate if it is a relationship for keeps or just a flight of passion. It is also a good time to travel so pack your bags and fly away.
Lucky number: 4 Lucky colour: Indigo