Devi Navaratri Festival 2019
Devi Navaratri Festival 2019
Sri Devi Sharannavaratri celebrations of 2019 in Avadhoota Datta Peetham Mysuru took place, in Pujya Sri Swamiji’s very words, in a “peaceful and calm” manner. All efforts and prayers this year are towards the overall well-being and prosperity of the year, Sri Swamiji emphasized, on several occasions.
As has been the tradition for the past several decades, Avadhoota Datta Peetham was decorated in a festive manner, reflective of Dasara Navaratri’s significance in the heritage city of Mysuru. On the eve of Navaratri, on Mahalaya Amavasya evening, the priests and devotees volunteering for the ritualistic activities of Navaratri celebrations received Deeksha from Sri Swamiji vowing to perform all ceremonies with utmost austerity.Sacred waters from the river Kaveri was collected for Kalashas around the Puja Mantapa.
On the first day, Pratipat, celebrations began with welcoming Pujya Sri Swamiji bedecked as Mother Goddess from the holy inner chambers leading him to the sacred altar set up on the sprawling stage in Nada Mantapa. The grand chariot carrying Pujya Sri Swamiji in the attire of the day’s deity and Sri Bala Swamiji, accompanying Mother Goddess, were led by a procession with pomp and show from the Universal Prayer Hall till the Nada Mantapa. This festive procession which is an everyday event consists of scholars chanting the holy Vedic hymns, devotees rhythmically dancing to Sri Swamiji’s sprightly bhajans and a variety of other celebratory traditions of our rich Indian culture. Tribal singers from Srikakulam region performed on all ten days during the procession.
Ceremonies inside the Nadamantapa commenced with Pujya Sri Swamiji performing Kumari Puja, a tradition of worshipping young girls aged 1 to 16 as manifestations of the divine female energy. After performing Srichakra puja, Sri Swamiji commenced the elaborate Navavarana puja worshipping the various goddesses invoked in kalashas around the puja mantapa. At around noon everyday Sri Swamiji performed Annarchana to Mother Goddess with a different rice preparation on each day. Devi Homa was performed after Annarchana. In the afternoon Abhishekam followed Maha Mangalarati, Suvasini puja, and Dolotsavam concluded the daily puja ritual for the day. Every day’s final events were Pujya Sri Swamiji’s sparkling discourses on Devi Tattva and Divyanamasankeertana. As is the tradition, Sri Swamiji composed ten new Bhajans on mother goddess during this year’s Navaratri, set them to tune and sang one new Bhajan every day .A final Arati to the Goddess with every devotee offering their respects, Annadanam to all devotees concluded each day.
During the holy days of Navaratri, Sangeeta sevas were offered by Vidushi Vani Sateesh on Pratipat, Vidushi Gauri Pathare on Dwiteeya, Vidushi Charumathi Raghuraman on Truteeya, Vidwan Vignesh Ishwar on Chaturthi, Vidushi Sushma Somasekharan on Panchami, Pt. Dr Krishna Ballesh on Shashti, Vidwan Ramana Balachandran on Saptami, Vidushi Sri Ranjani Santhanagopalan on Ashtami and Vidwan J.A. Jayanth on Navami.
All through the ten days of festivities, Sri Swamiji blessed the devotees with his valuable discourses summarized as follows:
Sri Swamiji insisted on a healthy and disciplined life while maintaining a clear mind, body and thoughts. One must not indulge in lies, gossip and other harmful thoughts or talks. He motivated the devotees to develop courage and boldness to face obstacles and problems instead of getting depressed, disappointed or worried. One’s ego must be given up, and complete trust, devotion, and love towards God must be developed because devotion is the purest and the easiest way to reach God. Devotion also instils immense resilience.
God has given us wisdom and ability to think, and we should utilize it. We should always perform good deeds. If you offer good to the world then over time you will accrue good karma and in turn, will receive good. Attachments and desires are a hindrance to performing good deeds wholeheartedly. Prayer to Devi helps us get rid of this attachment. Those who worship Mother Goddess can keep their thoughts, desires and lifestyle under control. She favours righteousness and we must pray for forgiveness for the mistakes done. To attain victory and success, keep your senses in control. God communicates with us through bhajans and Upanishads. Sing bhajans regularly. Sing her glories and perform daily rituals. Perform Yoga every day. Listen to Guru's words and practice his teachings to develop devotion and self-realization.
These enlightening speeches were interspersed with several bhajans especially the ones composed in several rare ragas exclusively for these Navaratri celebrations which included “Merise merise toli merupa (Raga Kapi),” “Vijayate vijayate rajarajeswari,(Raga Senavati)” “Chiti mekam sruti vedyam )Raga Rupavati),” “Konda muddula patti vamma (raga mishra mAnd) ,” “Taramandala yuvarani(raga Abheri)” , “Jagamulaku janani (Raga Vachaspati),” “Talli Talli palavelli bulli kutura (Raga Charukeshi)”, “Ammala ganna ammanu minchina (raga Kiravani),” and “Sapta matala rupamanduna (Raga Navaneetam).”
Annadanam was performed on a grand scale befitting of Datta Peetham’s reputation. As per Sri Swamiji’s instructions, on each day, annadanam was conducted in economically backward localities of Mysuru, one on each day. The food served there was prepared in ashrama's Annapurna Mandiram and Annarchana to Mother Goddess by Sri Swamiji was performed only after the food was served to all in the locality chosen for that day!
The following devotees won Srimata writing competition.
- B Sailusha, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashrama ( 151850 times )
- M Lokesh from Hyderabad (140435 times)
- G Mrinalini Devi Warrangal (134020 times )
- Consolation prize to Latha Mohan, Mysuru (131220 times)
The following devotees won Srimata painting contest:
- Shared by Nikhil Datta SGS Veda Pathashala and R Sudeeksha Hyderabad
- A Pallavi from Jagityala
- J Anjana from Gadak
- Consolation Prize to Prasad Panda from SGS Veda Pathashala
Announcements regarding the following were made:
- Kumbhabhishekam of Patala Anjaneya temple in Cochin ashrama on November 3rd
- Ati Rudra Maha Yaga in Varanasi from November 14th to 24th.
- Bhagavad Gita Parayana Mahayagna in Bengaluru on December 8th
- Hanuman Jayanti in Bengaluru on December 9th
- Dattatreya Jayanti in Mysuru ashrama from December 10th to 12th.
- Project proposal of Lakshmi Narasimha Universal Hall in Proddutur ashrama
- Release of 2020 official Datta Peetham calendar
- Release of 2020 calendar by Datta Kriya Yoga organization
- Release of Datta Kriya Yoga book
- Release of ‘Datta Sundaram,’ a compendium of articles about Sundarakanda by Sri Rani Subbayya Dikshitulu, published in the monthly Bhaktimala magazine over several issues.
- Release of USB disk containing the entire Valmiki Sundarakanda - verse and meaning recited by Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji.
- Inauguration of PDP medical Diagnostic Center
- Yoga competition prize winners (Datta Kriya Yoga students)
- National level: Smt. Subhadramma - First Prize in 60+ category, Pushpalatha - First prize in 25 - 35 category, Madhuri - Third prize in 25 - 35 category, Aishwarya - Fifth prize under 16 - 20 category,
- State-level: Smt. Subhadramma - Fifth Prize in 60+ category, Pushpalatha - Sixth prize in 25 - 35 category, Nikhil Datta - Second prize in 21 - 25 category, Mrudula - Second prize in 10 - 15 category, Vipula - Second prize in under 10 category, Aishwarya - Second prize in 16 - 20 category, Vedika - Third prize in under 10 category
On Navami, the top ten birds from the collection of cockatoos in Shukavana was announced. The voting campaign was inaugurated on Shuka Jayanti wherein one could rank the top ten of the twelve cockatoos on display. Nearly 64000 people voted, and birds were ranked thus:
- Kasturi (Red-tailed black cockatoo)
- Dancy (Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo)
- Garuda (Palm Cockatoo)
- Kala (Galah Cockatoo)
- Bhoji (Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo)
- Buddhi (Blue-eyed Cockatoo)
- Ratna (Lutino Galah Cockatoo)
- Shweta (Medium Sulphur-crested Cockatoo)
- Whitey (Umbrella Cockatoo)
- Prada (Moroccan Cockatoo)
Following this, Sri Swamiji blessed the entire Shukavana staff for their dedicated service.
On October 8th, after Kalashodvasana and Shami puja, the celebrations concluded in grandeur with Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. B. S. Yediyurappa’s visit to Avadhoota Datta Peetham for darshan of Devi Navaratri Puja and Prasadam from Pujya Sri Swamiji on the auspicious Vijaya Dasami day. Thousands of local and global devotees participated in the Navaratri celebrations, including some very eminent personalities. Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri.K.S.Eswarappa also offered his respects and received blessings from the Goddess and Sri Swamiji. MLA of Krishnaraja constituency, Mysuru Sri S. A. Ramadas also received Navaratri Puja blessings. Ms Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, an Indian professional badminton player who won medals at numerous tournaments on the BWF circuit including a gold at the 2019 World Championships, received Sri Swamiji's blessings. Sri. Tanikella Bharani, renowned film actor, playwright, director and prolific writer also visited ashrama and received blessings from Sri Swamiji.
Thousands of devotees watched the Navaratri programs webcast live on Facebook page of Datta Peetham and Live stream channel of Yoga Sangeeta & SGS Ashrama.
Thus concluded the Devi Sharannavaratri celebrations of 2019.
