Today is the 9th day of Devi Navaratri and the principle deity is Goddess Shakti Durgi.
Today Chandi Homa was started early and Sri Swamiji offered Purna Ahuti at 8 A.M. Then Nava Avarna Puja started.
Larger number of devotees attended the function today. On the occasion of AYUDHA POOJA(worship of weapons and professional instruments), Sri Swamiji blessed many vehicles-both of Peetham and of devotees. In the concluding puja of Nava Avarna Sri Swamiji created the nine precious stones NAVARATNA and with these and 108 golden lotus flowers, He performed this unique worship.
The music concert in the morning was by Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, internationally acclaimed Hindusthani flutist. IN the afternoon the Malladi Brothers gave a lively carnatic classical musical concert in vocal duet. The sang many bhajans of Pujya Swamiji. .
Lastly in the musical discourse, Sri Swamiji described in detail the difference of the attitudes of celestials and demons.
DIFFERENCE OF CELESTIALS AND DEMONS
Demons are stepbrothers of celestials. The only difference is that the Tamoguna is the most predominant in the demons. That is all. Simply because of this, we cannot conclude that all the demons are devilish always. Though mythology atrocities of demons mostly, only 5% of the demons are bad, other demons are good. However, demons have great tenacity, but this is not due to Sattva guna. Hence they do not attach great value to TRUTH. In contrast the tenacity of celestials is ever guided by their Sattva guna. Hence TRUTH is highly important to celestials. Only due to this noble feature, the celestials win in the end, inspite of their earlier defeat at the hands of demons. Truth triumphs ultimately.
The Universal Mother( Parasakti) is ever engaged in grinding all creatures from Tamo guna to Sattva guna- from meanness to magnanimity- from darkness to Spiritual Brilliance.
The story of Vaitrasura is one such examples for this principle. This pertains to the lifetime of the next birth of Vrutra Asura.
Indra, the lord of Heaven killed Vrutra Asura, who was imparalled in his might. The demon, becoming a little purer, was born as the demon king , Sindhu Dweepa.
Though the king was good by nature his hatred and vengeance towards Indra continued from his previous birth. Hence the king performed a severe penance on the bank of river Netravati- with wonderful tenacity dominated by Tamo guna.
The methods chosen by Parasakti to reform creatures are really wonderful. The river Netravati was enamoured of the young handsome demon performing penance. Taking a female form, she married him. Though there was a slight break in his penance, he continued with more vehemence- now accompanied by his wife Netravati. Their son was named Vaitra the boy has inherited the Sattva guna from his mother also Tamo guna from father. However due to the predominant influence of his father, the son developed hatred towards Indra. The old king Sindhu Dweepa bequeathed all the power of his own penance to his son Vaitra, who thus became more and more uncontrollable.
Anyone of Tamo guna becomes unbearable on acquiring power. They just become killing machines- without any fine feelings.
In Ramayana, seeing Kumbakharna entering the battle field, Lakshmana enquired Rama "Oh ! Is this a Yantra Manava" (Robot- a machine similar to a man in form). Under each foot step of Kumbakharna not only the warriors of monkey race, but even demons were crushed to death. The huge demon did not have kindness or sympathy even towards the demons, i.e., those of our side. Hence Lakshmana doubted whether he was a Yantra Manava. We may imagine that Robots were in use even in that remote past in India. Or can we infer that Lakshmana was forecasting the future Robots?
Nowadays, not only Robots are invented- but giant forms are shown in Television due to animation. Video film brought out recently by foreigners using animation does great harm as it degrades the dignity and grandeur of the sacred epic Ramayana. However, it is a matter of a little solace that the story of Rama is introduced somehow to those modern children who don't know anything of Ramayana. Whether it is animation or annihilation, there is a slight mention of the sacred Rama's story!
All the worlds would have been immensely benefited, if there be no Tamoguna in the mighty demons. Due to the intention of the Divine Mother Parasakti to make king Sindhu Dweepa to be a bit Sattvic, his power of penance was transmitted to his son.
The son, Vaitra Asura started pouncing upon the heaven with vehemence and drove away all celestials from there. They in turn prayed to Brahma, who meditated for solution, standing in Ganga. He thought "I am myself unable to realise the significance of Parasakti. On one side, She is improving Vrutra Asura. On the otherhand, misery is caused to the celestials by his son, Vaitra. Ignorant of this mysterious play of Parasakti, the celestials are blaming Vaitra. Hence only Parasakti can protect the celestials. Thus thinking, Brahma meditated upon Parasakti.
As a result, Durga Devi with eight hands and lion as the vehicle emerged and killed all the demons in no time.
This incident Chastened the thinking of celestials. Their animosity towards demons disappeared. Their devotion to Parasakti developed further. Brahma praised the Universal Mother as Durga, Gayatri and Parasakti with countless epithets. Parasakti thus improved both demons and the celestials to sublimate the lives of all creatures is the perennial endeavor of Parasakti. She removes the evil tendencies from the hearts of sincere devotees who serve `Her properly. Hence let us worship the Diveione Mother to conquer our demonic nature within.