Navaratri Puja with Ramanandamrita Chaitanya - Lakshmi Puja

Three nights of worship dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi

Ramanandamrita Chaitanya will lead worship during the middle three nights of Navaratri devoted to the Divine Mother in the form of Goddess Lakshmi. Mother Lakshmi helps us acquire material and spiritual wealth.

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Puja schedule

• Guru stotram (Hymn in praise of the Guru)
• 108 names of Lakshmi
• Mahishasura Mardini Stotram (Hymn in praise of Devi)
• Bhajan
• Mantras from Devi Mahatmyam (Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu)
• Arati for Lakshmi
• Amma Arati

What is Navaratri?

Navratri is a nine-day festival, rich in meaning, focused on the different forms of the Divine Mother. Navaratri, which literally means 'nine nights,' dedicates three days each to worshipping the Divine Mother in the forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. At one level, Navaratri signifies the progress of a spiritual aspirant. Negativities such as excessive sleepiness, sloth, lust, anger, pride, envy, impatience, and lack of faith are obstacles to doing spiritual practices, and making spiritual progress. Conquering them through penance and thus attaining spiritual fulfillment—this is the principle of Navaratri. Furthermore, through prayer, one also gains power, auspiciousness and knowledge. Through vows, we can increase our will power and gain greater self-control. Vijayadasami marks the successful completion of this process.

During this spiritual journey, the aspirant has to pass three stages, personified by Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Then, they enter into the realm of the infinite, wherein one realizes one's Self. The tenth day, thus, is the most important: it is known as Vijayadashami, the 'tenth day of victory.' The significance of each stage of worship has clear parallels in the different stages of sadhana (spiritual practices): first, negative tendencies need to be controlled; second, virtues need to be ingrained; third, after gaining the necessary mental purity, spiritual knowledge needs to be acquired. Only then will the sadhak (spiritual aspirant) attain spiritual illumination.

Navaratri is not only important for spiritual aspirants; it has a message for those who lead a worldly life as well. They should invoke Durga's help to surmount obstacles, pray to Lakshmi to bestow peace and prosperity, and contemplate upon Saraswati in order to gain knowledge. These three ingredients are just as necessary for a full and complete worldly life. In reality, when we pray like this, we are but invoking the Shakti (energy/force) that is within ourselves. Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are not different entities, but different facets of the singular Divinity.

We have the freedom to worship God in any form we like. We can worship Him as Mother, Father, Guru, Friend, the Lord or as our own child. Our worship, however, should be based on spiritual principles. Among human relationships, the one between mother and child is highest. The child has total freedom with his mother. He gets what he wants by crying or through willfulness. Even if the mother spanks her child, he will hold on to her tightly. “I have no other refuge than the mother”—this is his attitude. No matter what the cause of his distress, he finds consolation in his mother’s lap. This is the attitude we should have towards God. The mother is the embodiment of patience. No matter how many times the child errs, the mother forgives him repeatedly and showers her affection on him. However, most mothers have such love only for their own children, whereas the Divine Mother’s attitude combines both love towards all beings in the universe and spiritual discipline.