“Siddhidatri grants the eighteen siddhis, the eighteen successes in life; She gives success in everything. So whatever you wish, by Mother’s Grace, you will be successful, whether it is in business, in finances, in a relationship, or anything else.” – Sri Swami Vishwananda
Siddhidatri Devi is the ultimate form of the Goddesses among the Nava Durgas, and is traditionally worshipped after the first eight forms of Durga. It is said that if one worships Her with unwavering devotion, they will be blessed with success in many areas of their lives.
In the Hindu tradition, Siddhidatri Devi grants the devotee with eighteen specific kinds of success, also known as siddhis or powers. But on this night, we focused on her ability to awaken the pure potential we have within us for Divine Love. Once we have realised that Love within us, all the other abilities come naturally.
Siddhidatri Devi is Adi Shakti. She is the highest form of the Divine Mother, and though She can give supernatural powers, truly, the most precious gift that She gives is Her unconditional Love, and Her unfailing Grace.
Devi Name: Siddhidatri Devi
Siddhidatri Devi is the ultimate form of the Goddesses among the Nava Durgas, and is traditionally worshipped after the first eight forms of Durga. It is said that if one worships Her with unwavering devotion, they will be blessed with success in many areas of their lives.
In the Hindu tradition, Siddhidatri Devi grants the devotee with eighteen specific kinds of success, also known as siddhis or powers. But on this night, we focused on her ability to awaken the pure potential we have within us for Divine Love. Once we have realised that Love within us, all the other abilities come naturally.
Siddhidatri Devi is Adi Shakti. She is the highest form of the Divine Mother, and though She can give supernatural powers, truly, the most precious gift that She gives is Her unconditional Love, and Her unfailing Grace.
Event Highlights:
The final night of Navaratri was one to be remembered for its pagentry, as it enacted the nine forms of the Divine Mother, plus the epic battle between Durga and the demons.
After the beginning Guru Puja, Sri Swami Vishwananda conducted the Kanya Puja, where the Divine Mother is worshipped in the form of nine little girls. With each girl adorably dressed as one of the forms of Durga, Sri Swami Vishwananda offered all the customary items to be offered during any Puja, including Padyam (a foot bath), Prasad (food), Paneeyam (water to drink) and more. Guruji also spoke a little bit about Kanya Puja:
Today, we will start first with Kanya Puja, worshipping the nine forms of the Goddess Durga in the nine little girls, and receiving their blessings. Kanya Puja is one the most wonderful prayers for Maha Devi. She manifests Herself through the innocence of the little girls, because they are still pure. So Maa can give the blessing and reveal Herself through them. – Sri Swami Vishwananda
Each person was able to offer gifts and have darshan of the nine little girls. The Puja was truly sweet, as the girls accepted all that was offered on behalf of the Divine Mother.
After Kanya Puja, Sri Swami Vishwananda performed abishekam to a murti of Maha Lakshmi named 'Shree Dhanaa Karshana Shree Maha Lakshmi Sahita Sri Kuberaya', followed by a yagna. As the final night was dedicated to Siddhidatri Devi, Guruji also talked about Her importance and how She assists each person on their spiritual path:
We have been praying today to Maha Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Durga, the One who reveals your potential, the One who awakens your potential. But what is this potential? This potential is the universal Love inside of you. First, you have to remind yourself that this Love is within you. If you have not discovered this Love inside yourself, how can you love somebody else? You can't. That's why you have to dig deep inside yourself, because this universal Love can't be awakened when the mind is fully overshadowing you. Then, that Love is covered and it doesn't reveal itself easily. But if you make your effort and try your best, then of course, with the blessing of the Master, the blessing of God, that Love will reveal itself.
When this happens don't fear to give it freely, because this universal Love is not bound by expectations, it ever flows. This is the gift that God has given you.
Maha Siddhidatri reminds yourself of your inner potential, your true potential, not your external physical potential. What makes one very strong is not the 'big muscles' but the inner potential. Your true strength lies in the power which you hold inside of you. Maha Siddhidatri gives you this inner strength so that you can carry on in life, with inner strength, with full awareness on your spiritual journey, on your sadhana, and on your material and professional life.
When you give material things you become poorer. But regarding the cosmic Love, the Love that God placed inside your heart, the more you give, the richer you become. So, ask today to Maha Siddhidatri for that blessing, which will make you rich in every way. When you have inner strength and inner satisfaction, you become rich, not only materially. (When you die, you leave everything here!) You become rich not only in this world, but also in the next world. – Sri Swami Vishwananda
After the concluding prayers came the dance of Kali also referred to as the Mahishasur Mardini. This part of the night was truly electrifying.
With a couple of modern-day demons taunting the Goddess, this “theatrical performance” for lack of a better term, depicted the dance of Kali and Her slaying of the demons. As this was the last night of Navaratri, everybody, including Sri Swami Vishwananda, danced late into the night and praised the Divine Mother with bhajan after bhajan.
Guruji concluded the night with a short summary of the nine nights. Here’s what he said:
Today is the last day of Navaratri, and tomorrow we will celebrate Dussehra. You have prayed during these nine nights to the Mother, remembering Her, praising Her. I am sure that Her blessing and Her Love has anchored inside of you. This love will grow inside of you and from you to the others, because love is something that you can't keep. You can't say, ”Whatever I have received, I will treasure it, and I will lock it in a safe and keep it for myself.” Impossible! Because if you do that, you'll suffocate yourself to death. You'll die because that Love will leave you. Whatever you give, it diminishes, it gets less and less until it finishes. However, Love is something that the more you give, the more it increases.
During these days, Maha Bhagavati has filled your heart with the Love of God and this Love will transformed itself into Grace, whenever you are ready. Bhagavan will not reveal Himself if you are not ready. He is the One who is seated inside of your heart. He is the One who is seated everywhere. But it is difficult for the mind to perceive Him, to see Him, to feel Him, because the mind has been trained to look at everything only outwardly, with logic; it has to understand the love.
Love can't be learned, love is something that happens automatically. Nobody needs to tell you how to love. When you are hungry, you know that you have to eat. You don't need someone to tell you, “You are hungry, now you have to eat!” No, this happens automatically, and you will roam around looking for food. The same with the Divine Love inside of you. – Sri Swami Vishwananda
For more impressions from the event, please check out our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/SriSwamiVishwananda
After the beginning Guru Puja, Sri Swami Vishwananda conducted the Kanya Puja, where the Divine Mother is worshipped in the form of nine little girls. With each girl adorably dressed as one of the forms of Durga, Sri Swami Vishwananda offered all the customary items to be offered during any Puja, including Padyam (a foot bath), Prasad (food), Paneeyam (water to drink) and more. Guruji also spoke a little bit about Kanya Puja:
Today, we will start first with Kanya Puja, worshipping the nine forms of the Goddess Durga in the nine little girls, and receiving their blessings. Kanya Puja is one the most wonderful prayers for Maha Devi. She manifests Herself through the innocence of the little girls, because they are still pure. So Maa can give the blessing and reveal Herself through them. – Sri Swami Vishwananda
Each person was able to offer gifts and have darshan of the nine little girls. The Puja was truly sweet, as the girls accepted all that was offered on behalf of the Divine Mother.
After Kanya Puja, Sri Swami Vishwananda performed abishekam to a murti of Maha Lakshmi named 'Shree Dhanaa Karshana Shree Maha Lakshmi Sahita Sri Kuberaya', followed by a yagna. As the final night was dedicated to Siddhidatri Devi, Guruji also talked about Her importance and how She assists each person on their spiritual path:
We have been praying today to Maha Siddhidatri, the ninth form of Durga, the One who reveals your potential, the One who awakens your potential. But what is this potential? This potential is the universal Love inside of you. First, you have to remind yourself that this Love is within you. If you have not discovered this Love inside yourself, how can you love somebody else? You can't. That's why you have to dig deep inside yourself, because this universal Love can't be awakened when the mind is fully overshadowing you. Then, that Love is covered and it doesn't reveal itself easily. But if you make your effort and try your best, then of course, with the blessing of the Master, the blessing of God, that Love will reveal itself.
When this happens don't fear to give it freely, because this universal Love is not bound by expectations, it ever flows. This is the gift that God has given you.
Maha Siddhidatri reminds yourself of your inner potential, your true potential, not your external physical potential. What makes one very strong is not the 'big muscles' but the inner potential. Your true strength lies in the power which you hold inside of you. Maha Siddhidatri gives you this inner strength so that you can carry on in life, with inner strength, with full awareness on your spiritual journey, on your sadhana, and on your material and professional life.
When you give material things you become poorer. But regarding the cosmic Love, the Love that God placed inside your heart, the more you give, the richer you become. So, ask today to Maha Siddhidatri for that blessing, which will make you rich in every way. When you have inner strength and inner satisfaction, you become rich, not only materially. (When you die, you leave everything here!) You become rich not only in this world, but also in the next world. – Sri Swami Vishwananda
After the concluding prayers came the dance of Kali also referred to as the Mahishasur Mardini. This part of the night was truly electrifying.
With a couple of modern-day demons taunting the Goddess, this “theatrical performance” for lack of a better term, depicted the dance of Kali and Her slaying of the demons. As this was the last night of Navaratri, everybody, including Sri Swami Vishwananda, danced late into the night and praised the Divine Mother with bhajan after bhajan.
Guruji concluded the night with a short summary of the nine nights. Here’s what he said:
Today is the last day of Navaratri, and tomorrow we will celebrate Dussehra. You have prayed during these nine nights to the Mother, remembering Her, praising Her. I am sure that Her blessing and Her Love has anchored inside of you. This love will grow inside of you and from you to the others, because love is something that you can't keep. You can't say, ”Whatever I have received, I will treasure it, and I will lock it in a safe and keep it for myself.” Impossible! Because if you do that, you'll suffocate yourself to death. You'll die because that Love will leave you. Whatever you give, it diminishes, it gets less and less until it finishes. However, Love is something that the more you give, the more it increases.
During these days, Maha Bhagavati has filled your heart with the Love of God and this Love will transformed itself into Grace, whenever you are ready. Bhagavan will not reveal Himself if you are not ready. He is the One who is seated inside of your heart. He is the One who is seated everywhere. But it is difficult for the mind to perceive Him, to see Him, to feel Him, because the mind has been trained to look at everything only outwardly, with logic; it has to understand the love.
Love can't be learned, love is something that happens automatically. Nobody needs to tell you how to love. When you are hungry, you know that you have to eat. You don't need someone to tell you, “You are hungry, now you have to eat!” No, this happens automatically, and you will roam around looking for food. The same with the Divine Love inside of you. – Sri Swami Vishwananda
For more impressions from the event, please check out our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/SriSwamiVishwananda