The seventhday of Navarathri is given over to Goddess Kalaratri. Kalaratri is the one who destroys ignorance and removes darkness. She is also known as Shubhankari.
Bhagavad Gita 10:34 … Of the qualities that, due to their grace and tenderness, are termed ‘female’, I am fame and fortune, sweet speech, memory, intelligence, steadfast perseverance, loyalty, and forgiveness.
To make up the nine nights, we will add repositories of truth and culture to the list given from the Bhagavad Gita.
Goddess of Day 7: Kalaratri
Day 7 of Navarathri is dedicated to goddess Kalaratri. In this form she is believed to have licked the blood of demon Raktabija who had the capacity to bring out thousand demons from a drop of blood spilt from his body. This is the most violent form of Durga. This form primarily depicts that life also has dark side – the violent Mother Nature and creates havoc and removes all dirt.
Kalaratri is the most ferocious form of Maa Durga. This form of Maa Durga destroys all demons, ghosts and negative energies. Kalaratri signifies perfection and helps her devotees to attain perfection, happiness, and purity of heart. She is believed to be the destroyer of time and death too. Thus her name is “Kaal Ratri”. She is the power of the darkest of nights. Devi Kalratri removed her outer golden skin, taking up a dark complexion slays the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. Having the “Shubh” or auspicious power within her fierce form, she is also called Goddess Shubhankari. She makes her devotees fearless. She protects her devotees from evil powers and spirits. She is associated with Sahasrara Chakra (Crown Chakra), thereby bestowing knowledge, power and wealth on her sincere devotees.
Stuti:
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Kalaratri Rupena Samsthita
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha
Women and Perseverance:
Of course, the majority of persons get glimpses of discrimination and detachment off and on; but they soon forget the call and ignore it and cover it up by excess or excuses. One step forward and one step back . . . the journey does not take them far. Even if some do take up this spiritual effort, steadiness is absent. Like a ball of thread which slips out of the hand on to the floor, it all comes off because the grasp is not firm. Steady effort alone will bring success here, as in every other case. How can you expect quick success in the control of the mind? It is very difficult to overcome its vagaries, for it is many-faced and very adamant. You are unable to understand Nature, which is a reflection, a shadow of God; how then can you understand God himself? No. Steady perseverance alone will tame your mind; and it is only through a tamed mind that you can experience God. In this case, you must become your own tutor; train yourself by using the spark of wisdom that has been implanted in you. Once you try with all your might, the Lord’s Grace will be there to help you forward. The first step in this spiritual effort is the cleansing of the speech. Talk sweet without anger. Do not boast of your scholarship or attainments. Be humble, eager to serve; conserve your speech. Practise silence. That will save you from squabbles, idle thoughts and factions.
Words can confer strength; they can drain it off. Words can gain friends: they can turn them into enemies : they can elevate or lower the individual. One must learn the habit of making ones words sweet, soft and pleasant. A person is judged by his words. Words inflict damage in other ways too. Whenever we talk disparagingly or defamingly or sarcastically or hatefully of others, they get recorded on the tape, which is our own mind. When we record on tape the talk given by some one, it lasts even after his passing away. So too, even after we pass away, the impressions and impacts of evil thoughts, spiteful words and wicked plots survive physical disappearance. Never, therefore, use or listen to words that ridicule, scandalise, or hurt others. Slander is a direct sin. The ancient seers have prescribed silence as a spiritual activity. Today, many can benefit greatly by limiting talk to the absolute minimum, using it only for promoting joy and harmony.
I send out words in praise of the Goddess,
from whom all worlds flow.
Mystery of mysteries, this continual creation,
like a fountain forever bubbling up from the Earth’s
darkness,
She is a cup that is never empty.
Generous One, eternally giving gifts,
I pray to you, I praise you,
I remember you throughout my day.
108 Names of the Divine Mother (English)
Om… I bow to SHE who is the Mother of the Universe.
Each of the Divine Names (in English) ends with ~ swaha.
When you use the Sanskrit word swaha you are invoking the God / Goddess, you are arousing the God / Goddess to come and witness your action, to come and receive your prayer.
We append these 108 Names of the Divine Mother and pray that you will be understanding the significance of the prayers, along with the efficacy of same.
Download the 108 Names of the Divine Mother
It is said that each day has a colour, and that idols of the Gods worshipped on these days are clothed in sari and other clothing in the colours given. Several sources give several colours. We will be following the day colours as given by Drik Panchang, which may vary from other sources. It is not our intention to cause offence with colours given.
