On Navaratri (Part XII)

This day belongs to Devi Maha Gauri. Gauri did penance to attain Lord Shiva as Her husband. So, her complexion became dark due to the hard penance. The moment Lord Shiva appeared before her, her complexion became light golden yellow and she looked very beautiful.

Today is Ashtami as well. Thus, today little girls between 2 and 9 years are served satvik food. Even suhasinis are worshiped today. However, while inviting the little girls and suhasinis, we should make sure that they belong to good families.

We made a mistake and invited Our Lady of Intolerance and her daughter for this pooja in the year we came here. The woman is a particular type of character. I would not explain further. We have incurred a sin because of serving them satvik food. We have not been able to perform this pooja for the last 2 years.

On the other hand, the woman compelled Mom to have food made by her after performing black magic and thus, began the deterioration of Mom’s health. So, we decided to give stuff for pooja at the temple. The priests have told us to perform parihara pooja and then restart the poojas.

Mom performed kanyabhoj for 36 years without a break after her marriage. She has performed the udhyapana also. But, still Mom wanted to continue the tradition further.

There was a little girl, who had acquired Sarcoidosis, when my Mom had been admitted in a hospital for the same ailment for the first time. Mom would call this little girl Walkie-Talkie Bawli (Doll). Mom would counsel the distressed mother and she demanded that the little girl be fed on the Panchami itself. This was because the little girl had to be readmitted at the hospital on Saptami. The little girl had to be admitted 5-6 times, every 5-6 months. Eventually, the child could not win the fight with the disease.

My Mom was admitted for 24 days. Everybody from our building prayed for her and she returned home without any problem, then. Till we shifted to this house, Sarcoidosis did not relapse. Our Lady of Intolerance compelld Mom to eat something, she called as prasad and the problem started. Mom has been in and out of Sarcoidosis twice here.

Maha Gauri’s worship helps resolve issues related to Venus and Rahu. We should wear a yellow dress and chant Durga Navarna Mantra, Maha Gauri Mantra and the Beejakshara Mantras of Shukra and Rahu.

Today, Devi Mahishasuramardini is worshiped in the South. She killed a lust-lorn black demon Mahishasura because he tortured humans, Gods and even came toward this Devi lustily. She pushed him down and killed him.

Today, Mahishasuramardini Shloka, Lalita Sahasranama and Lalita Trishati are to be chanted.

To be continued…