"Whatever you are doing, you are doing for Him. There is nothing in this world that you are not doing for God. There is nothing in this world that is not a prayer. But the attitude with which you are doing it, is very important: the attitude of surrender, the attitude of love, dedication, and loyalty." - Sri Swami Vishwananda
This day marks the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasur, after she fought with the demon for nine nights and ten days.
Another important event associated with Dussehra is the victory of Rama over the demon king Ravana. It is said that on this day Rama killed Ravana, who had abducted his wife Sita to his kingdom in Lanka.
Event Name: Dussehra
This day marks the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasur, after she fought with the demon for nine nights and ten days.
Another important event associated with Dussehra is the victory of Rama over the demon king Ravana. It is said that on this day Rama killed Ravana, who had abducted his wife Sita to his kingdom in Lanka.
Event Highlights:
The nine nights of Navaratri wouldn’t be complete without the Dussehra celebration on the tenth day. Dussehra marks the victory of the heart over the ego. The commemoration began similar to Navaratri with Guru Puja, Gauri Ganesha Puja, and Kalash Puja to nine Goddesses.
Sri Swami Vishwananda lead the ceremonies which took place outside, in front of a yagna in a kund dug into the earth. The fire from the yagna blazed with hefty pieces of timber, which helped warm the participants on this cold and drizzly day.
Round after round of participants came to gather near the fire to chant and offer rice, until everyone had had a turn. After the yagna was complete, an abishekam was performed on Sri Swami Vishwananda himself. Sitting on top of a large abishekam tray, holding the Maha Lakshmi murti, Sri Swami Vishwananda was fully bathed with the water from the Kalash pots.
After Sri Swami Vishwananda had changed into some dry clothes, he made his way to the front of the altar and performed arati. Guruji concluded the event with the final prayers and a few words to say about Dussehra and Navaratri in general:
So today was Dussehra, the last day where Ma Bhagavati consumed everything, purified you completely, fulfilled all your wishes, and gave you blessing. Just like all the sages and the saints, She comes to your aid and listens to your prayers.
Now, I know you are hungry and tired right now. So come and have Darshan quickly and take the tulsi dhal. Tulsi dhal is rice with which we have done archana, and tulsi dhal carries the blessing of the nine days of Navaratri -- especially the blessing of Maha Lakshmi. So you can keep it in your safe, you’ll become rich, and keep it in your purse, it will ever be full. But it brings the blessing of Ma Bhagavati Lakshmi. So may your business and everything flourish.
Hopefully next year we will see you all again. May Ma Bhagavati keep you all healthy and grounded and that all that you wish for, may Ma Bhagavati Devi Jagadamba fulfil it. And this blessing, just like the mantra says, the blessing that you receive now, you go to the world and bring it to the world. It’s not for you to keep for yourself. Like I talked about love earlier: love is not something that you can keep only for yourself. Like that too, the blessing goes wherever you go, whatever country you go to. The last mantra that we were chanting was blessing you. It said that whichever country you come from, that blessing goes to that country also.
That’s why we say, “Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu". We don’t just separate, “Please give only me peace of mind.” Or, “Give me only peace, nobody else.” No, we never say that. We say, “Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu.” We live in this world, no? We are part of this world, so if first we are happy, then we can make somebody else happy. But we pray for the world to be happy. We don’t think only egoistically for ourselves, but we pray that the whole world is happy, and that the whole world is at peace.
But for that we have to become peace. We can’t pray that there is peace outside when we are not in peace ourselves. We can’t pray and say, “God bless the world with lots of love.” God is always blessing the world with love. Eternally He is blessing the world with love, but people don’t see it, and people don’t feel it because they are so busy with their minds, busy in the outside, busy on the computer, busy in the office, busy with money, busy in this and that. So busy that the beauty of life passes in front of their eyes and they don’t see it. The Grace passes and they don’t realise it.
Because, you see, they have the expectation that when Grace comes, it will appear ‘Boom’ like a revelation to them. Isn’t it true? That’s what is in the mind of men, right? Like God has spoken to Moses, and like that God will come and say, “I reveal Myself to you.” No, it’s not like this. For great yogis like Moses – all this, yes – but for people, He comes daily to them. But very often you are so busy in the world that you don’t realise it, you don’t see it, and you don’t take the opportunity of it.
And that’s what you have to pray to Ma Bhagavati for. That’s what Atma Kriya Yoga stands for, no? To remind you, to make you aware, that you are meeting God in each step of your life. Whatever you are doing, you are doing for Him. There is nothing in this world that you are not doing for God. There is nothing in this world that is not a prayer. But the attitude with which you are doing it, is very important: the attitude of surrender, the attitude of love, dedication, and loyalty. When that attitude is there inside of you, then whatever you do in the world becomes a prayer. So that’s why we pray, “Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu” that all be happy, including each one of you.
So it was lovely to be with all of you for the nine days praying to Ma Bhagavati. I see this enthusiasm. You see, what I appreciate so much when I look at all of you, (you know my aunty and others were also saying), we come from a place where we pray every day. In Mauritius there are prayers in all the temples for nine days also, but this dedication that you have, they don’t have. That’s why it’s said that to those who really long for God, God will reveal Himself to them.
So carry on in your spiritual path, and Ma Bhagavati will give you strength, will give you power, will support you, and will carry you, like She carries everyone who surrenders to Her. – Sri Swami Vishwananda
Testimonies:
The following is a story by Rishi Pramod about how Sri Swami Vishwananda's blessing is not only for the devotees that are at Shree Peetha Nilaya, but for all the devotees around the world. He blesses all who celebrate and Love the Divine.
"Today after the final prayers of Navaratri, we enjoyed once more the prasad which filled not just our bodies with sweetness, but also our soul.
For this special occasion, we got an extra blessing through Rakesh, our brother from Kenya.
He brought vibhuti which manifests daily in the temple in Kenya, and also Amrit, which constantly manifests in the temple in Kenya from a pendant of Guruji.
Through Guruji's and the Divine Mother's presence during the nine night and ten days, together with the prayers, the bhajans, the amazing sangha (gathering) of devotees and the prasad, we experienced and received, literally, the nectar of immortality.
All glory to the Satguru, all glory to the Divine Mother, all glory to the assembled devotees." - Rishi Pramod
For more impressions from the event, please check out our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/SriSwamiVishwananda
Round after round of participants came to gather near the fire to chant and offer rice, until everyone had had a turn. After the yagna was complete, an abishekam was performed on Sri Swami Vishwananda himself. Sitting on top of a large abishekam tray, holding the Maha Lakshmi murti, Sri Swami Vishwananda was fully bathed with the water from the Kalash pots.
After Sri Swami Vishwananda had changed into some dry clothes, he made his way to the front of the altar and performed arati. Guruji concluded the event with the final prayers and a few words to say about Dussehra and Navaratri in general:
So today was Dussehra, the last day where Ma Bhagavati consumed everything, purified you completely, fulfilled all your wishes, and gave you blessing. Just like all the sages and the saints, She comes to your aid and listens to your prayers.
Now, I know you are hungry and tired right now. So come and have Darshan quickly and take the tulsi dhal. Tulsi dhal is rice with which we have done archana, and tulsi dhal carries the blessing of the nine days of Navaratri -- especially the blessing of Maha Lakshmi. So you can keep it in your safe, you’ll become rich, and keep it in your purse, it will ever be full. But it brings the blessing of Ma Bhagavati Lakshmi. So may your business and everything flourish.
Hopefully next year we will see you all again. May Ma Bhagavati keep you all healthy and grounded and that all that you wish for, may Ma Bhagavati Devi Jagadamba fulfil it. And this blessing, just like the mantra says, the blessing that you receive now, you go to the world and bring it to the world. It’s not for you to keep for yourself. Like I talked about love earlier: love is not something that you can keep only for yourself. Like that too, the blessing goes wherever you go, whatever country you go to. The last mantra that we were chanting was blessing you. It said that whichever country you come from, that blessing goes to that country also.
That’s why we say, “Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu". We don’t just separate, “Please give only me peace of mind.” Or, “Give me only peace, nobody else.” No, we never say that. We say, “Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu.” We live in this world, no? We are part of this world, so if first we are happy, then we can make somebody else happy. But we pray for the world to be happy. We don’t think only egoistically for ourselves, but we pray that the whole world is happy, and that the whole world is at peace.
But for that we have to become peace. We can’t pray that there is peace outside when we are not in peace ourselves. We can’t pray and say, “God bless the world with lots of love.” God is always blessing the world with love. Eternally He is blessing the world with love, but people don’t see it, and people don’t feel it because they are so busy with their minds, busy in the outside, busy on the computer, busy in the office, busy with money, busy in this and that. So busy that the beauty of life passes in front of their eyes and they don’t see it. The Grace passes and they don’t realise it.
Because, you see, they have the expectation that when Grace comes, it will appear ‘Boom’ like a revelation to them. Isn’t it true? That’s what is in the mind of men, right? Like God has spoken to Moses, and like that God will come and say, “I reveal Myself to you.” No, it’s not like this. For great yogis like Moses – all this, yes – but for people, He comes daily to them. But very often you are so busy in the world that you don’t realise it, you don’t see it, and you don’t take the opportunity of it.
And that’s what you have to pray to Ma Bhagavati for. That’s what Atma Kriya Yoga stands for, no? To remind you, to make you aware, that you are meeting God in each step of your life. Whatever you are doing, you are doing for Him. There is nothing in this world that you are not doing for God. There is nothing in this world that is not a prayer. But the attitude with which you are doing it, is very important: the attitude of surrender, the attitude of love, dedication, and loyalty. When that attitude is there inside of you, then whatever you do in the world becomes a prayer. So that’s why we pray, “Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu” that all be happy, including each one of you.
So it was lovely to be with all of you for the nine days praying to Ma Bhagavati. I see this enthusiasm. You see, what I appreciate so much when I look at all of you, (you know my aunty and others were also saying), we come from a place where we pray every day. In Mauritius there are prayers in all the temples for nine days also, but this dedication that you have, they don’t have. That’s why it’s said that to those who really long for God, God will reveal Himself to them.
So carry on in your spiritual path, and Ma Bhagavati will give you strength, will give you power, will support you, and will carry you, like She carries everyone who surrenders to Her. – Sri Swami Vishwananda
The following is a story by Rishi Pramod about how Sri Swami Vishwananda's blessing is not only for the devotees that are at Shree Peetha Nilaya, but for all the devotees around the world. He blesses all who celebrate and Love the Divine.
"Today after the final prayers of Navaratri, we enjoyed once more the prasad which filled not just our bodies with sweetness, but also our soul.
For this special occasion, we got an extra blessing through Rakesh, our brother from Kenya.
He brought vibhuti which manifests daily in the temple in Kenya, and also Amrit, which constantly manifests in the temple in Kenya from a pendant of Guruji.
Through Guruji's and the Divine Mother's presence during the nine night and ten days, together with the prayers, the bhajans, the amazing sangha (gathering) of devotees and the prasad, we experienced and received, literally, the nectar of immortality.
All glory to the Satguru, all glory to the Divine Mother, all glory to the assembled devotees." - Rishi Pramod
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