This year’s Navaratri Celebrations began with Ritvigvarana (giving Deeksha to those who assist Sri Swamiji in the Poojas) function held in Nada Mantapa on 27 September. The Ashrama wore a festive look with elaborate decorations and the enthusiasm of devotees from all over India and abroad. After the Ritvigvarana function, some lucky devotees offered eleven silver pots to Sri Swamiji, to be used by Him during the Navavarana Pooja.
The readers are aware that Sri Swamiji worships Mother Goddess during Navaratri by invoking her in the pots placed in and around the Pooja Mantapa (altar). 9 pots are placed around the altar while two pots are placed inside the Mantapa. It was Sri Swamiji’s divine wish to place decorated silver pots this time. Accordingly, eleven devotees were given the opportunity of offering the silver pots. Speaking on this occasion, Sri Swamiji elaborated on His unique method of Navavarana Pooja.

Swamiji’s method worship during Navaratri
The Navaratri Poojas will be performed in this method for the next two years only. After that, Navavarana Pooja will still be there, but it will be modified completely. Therefore, the devotees have the opportunity of witnessing these glorious Poojas for only two years. During the 60th year (of Sri Swamiji) also, the same method may be followed. Not after that. The usual Navavarana Pooja is much different from what Swamiji follows. It may be even more beautiful, but it will not be like what Swamiji does. Therefore, all of you should try to witness the next two years’ Navaratri Poojas with utmost concentration. These Poojas take place only because of Swamiji’s sankalpa. This Pooja has everything in it. Still, it may appear as though there is nothing in it. Is Swamiji performing as per Devi Bhagavata? We don’t know. Is He performing as per Devi Saptashati? Is it as per Ashtadasha Peetha system? Is it according to Dvadasha Peetha method? We do not know. Everything is there. Still, it appears as though nothing is there. Swamiji follows all methods starting from Markandeya Purana. Therefore, instead of saying ‘we don’t know which method it is’, we should say ‘everything is there in it’. Swamiji is following a special and unique method based on all different systems. It may even be said that Swamiji has started a tradition of His own. Will He hand it down to someone? Or will it become extinct and lost? No one knows. You need not worry about it. Just enjoy what you are able to witness.

During Navaratri, Swamiji first performs Kumari Puja to sixteen female children aged 1 to 16 years. Swamiji’s attire will be in correlation with the color of the form of Mother Goddess to be worshipped on that day. Sometimes, it may be different. After Kumari Pooja, Swamiji approaches the main Pooja altar. Here, the nine Kalashas (sacred pots) are installed. In addition to these nine pots, there will be two pots inside. Different energies are invoked into each of these pots. The deities are invoked and seen off every day. No one can easily notice it. Along with Mother Goddess, other deities such as Arka Ganapati, Sphatika (crystal) Dattatreya, Narasimha Saligrama, Anantapadmanabha Saligrama and Lakshminarasimha Saligrama are also worshipped.

There are two golden pots in the front. First they are installed. There is an emarald Srichakra. On top of the Marakata Prastara is the ruby Sumeru. It is very unique. When water is poured on it, different colours emanate from it. In front of this is a golden Srichakra. Mother Goddess will be offered different necklaces made from various gems on each day. Special worships such as Mangayarchana, Kunkumarchana (worshipping with Kunkum) , Sugandharchana (worshipping with fragrant substances), Padmarchana (worshipping with lotuses) etc., are also performed.

Next is Naivedya (food offering). There are nine different Naivedyas for 9 days. After this comes Panchamrita Abhisheka. Then comes Homa performed using Beejaksharas (seed letters). This is called as Agni Pooja also. It includes worship of five elements, the twelve astrological signs and the nine planets.

An important feature of Navaratri Puja is the worship of turmeric Srichakra. It is an old tradition. Swamiji used to prepare turmeric Srichakra everyday till 1981. After preparing the turmeric Srichakra, seed letters (Beejaksharas) are written on it. It is a complex system involving drawing of straight lines, triangles and other diagrams interspersed with Beejaksharas. On top of this Swamiji creates a Sumeru and places a crown on it. What does this crown symbolize? It is symbolic of Nirvikara (formlessness). Thus, in effect, Srichakra worship is the worship of the formless. The mantras used here are devoid of words and letters. There are merely Bhavanas (mental feelings).

During the Navavarana Puja, Swamiji goes round the altar nine times per Avarana. There are nine such Avaranas to be worshipped every day. During each round, Swamiji stops near the nine sacred pots and worships the invoked energies with special Beeja Mantras (seed hymns). After Navavarana Pooja comes the Tarpana (special ablution). Swamiji performs Tarpana to Mother Goddess with milk, using a special conch.

Annarchana (worshipping the Mother Goddess with cooked rice) is a very special worship which is very dear to Swamiji. The Mother Goddess is worshipped with food so as to ensure prosperity everywhere. At this juncture, the Goddess is worshipped using 108 sacred pots. The cooked rice is piled up in front of the altar and Srichakra is drawn on it and the heap of rice is decorated as Mother Goddess.

After the Navavarana Puja, the Maha Mangala Arati (final and grand Arati) is performed. All this looks very elaborate. However, in Swamiji’s view, this is the shortest form of worship. The full form takes much more time. Each Avarana might take 24 hours. Such elaborate worship is not possible now. Therefore, Swamiji has made it concise.

Throughout the Puja, chanting of different sacred mantras such as Lalita Sahasranama, Trishati will be going on automatically in Swamiji’s mind.

The concluding part of the Pooja is the Dolotsava (keeping the Mother Goddess in a swing). Before this, immediately after Maha Mangala Arati, selected passages from the Vedas, Upanishads and other scriptures are chanted as Seva to Mother Goddess.
After Dolotsava and distribution of Prasadam to those who contributed for the Poojas, Swamiji will proceed to the Vyasa Peetha (the special chair Sri Swamiji uses for Bhajan and discourse sessions) and explains about the form of the Goddess worshipped on that particular day.

While Pooja is going on, there will be music Seva by eminent artists on the stage arranged in the Nada Mantapa. Thus, there is Veda, Nada and Yoga – simultaneously. Where is Yoga here? The devotees sit and continuously watch the Puja with concentration. This itself is Yoga. This is nutshell is Navaratri Pooja. Jaya Guru Datta.

28-9-2000
On Thursday, 28 September, Sri Swamiji, dressed as Mother Goddess herself, came out of Guru Nilaya at 8 a.m. After performing Arati to Lord Dattatreya in the temple, Sri Swamiji, leading the Pallaki (palanquin) of Mother Goddess, proceeded in a grand procession towards Nada Mantapa. There, sixteen girls decorated as different aspects of Mother Goddess were seated in chairs. Sri Swamji performed Kumari Pooja there and proceeded to the main Pooja altar. After performing the routine Peetha Poojas, Sri Swamiji commenced the Navaratri Poojas.

Scholars seated to the northern side of the stage were chanting the mantras from different sacred scriptures. Sri Swamiji arranged the different idols in the Mantapam in a particular pattern. As usual, He also prepared a turmeric Srichakra and drew Beejaksharas on it. After this, Sri Swamiji began the Navavarana Pooja by going round the altar and worshipping the sacred pots into which different energies were invoked. After completing 7 Avaranas, Sri Swamiji performed Annarchana (worshipping with cooked rice). After this, He proceeded to Venkatachalapati Yagashala and performed Homa with Beejakshara Mantras. Sri Swamiji later sprinkled the sacred Homa water on the idols in the main altar.
After Annarchana, there was a short break during which the devotees received the Prasadam of cooked rice. After sometime, Sri Swamiji returned to the Pooja altar and resumed the Navavarana Pooja. As in the morning, in the after session also, music seva was rendered by eminent artists. By the time this second concert was over, the Pooja was also nearing completion. Ksheerabhisheka and special worships with turmeric, Kunkum and other sacred substances took place. Sri Swamiji then offered Maha Mangala Arati. After this, the Vedic scholars chanted various hymns from the four Vedas and the Upanishads.

After this, Dolotsava was performed. Later, Sri Swamiji sat on the sacred Oudumbara Simhasana and blessed the devotees with Prasadam. Sri Kuppa Krishna Murthy, the Vidyadhikari of Datta Peetham offered a Peetambara to Sri Swamiji. Prasadam distribution went on for about 1 _ hours everyday. If there was any publication to be released, it used to take place during this period only.

After Prasadam distribution, Sri Swamiji proceeded to Vyasa Peetham for Bhajan singing and discourse.

Programmes on all the nine days followed the same pattern more or less. On the day of Saraswati Pooja, Pustakarchana (worshipping books) took place. On that day, Sri Swamiji distributed pens to all the students. On Maha Navami day, Chandi Homa was performed. The following books were released during Navaratri this year.

Name of the book, Date of release
1. Sri Devi Mahatmyam 28-9-2000
2. Navadurga Navaaham 1-10-2000
3. Mysore Darshan 3-10-2000
4. Katha Sagaram 4-10-2000
5. Sadguru, our Kalpataru 4-10-2000
6. Sri Datta Venkateshwara Stotra Malika (E) 7-10-2000

The following music concerts were held.

Date Morning session - Afternoon session
28-9-2000 Vocal- Bombay Sisters Veena duet – Sri R.K.Raghavan & SriR.K.Padmanabha
29-9-2000 Sitar-Ustad Shahid Parvez Keyboard – Sri Udaykiran
30-9-2000 Sarangi – Pt.Shruti Sadolikar Vocal – Dr.Padma Murthy
1-10-2000 Vocal – Smt. Nityashree Mahadevan Vocal – Smt. Mala Mohan
2-10-2000 Violin duet – Kumari Lalita and Kumari Nandini Vocal – Smt. Kalavati
3-10-2000 Flute – Sikkil Mala Chandrashekhar Vocal – Dr.P.S.Muralidhar
4-10-2000 Veena – Smt. Suma Sudheendra Vocal – Smt. Sukanya Prabhakar
5-10-2000 Vocal – Sri T.M.Krishna Vocal – Smt. Vani Satish
6-10-2000 Vocal – Sri P.Gowrinath Vocal duet – Hyderabad Brothers
7-10-2000 Classical Dance – Kum. Mathura Vishwanatham

‘Sachchidananda Bhajana Tarangini’, the Bhajan troupe of Ashrama sang Sri Swamiji’s Bhajans everyday after Annarchana.

On 7th October, Vijayadashami was celebrated. On that day, after Kumari Pooja in the morning, Shamee Pooja (worshipping the Shamee tree) took place. By 1 p.m., all the Poojas were over. In the evening, Sri Swamiji conducted a wonderful Bhajan session.
On 8th October, after Srichakra Pooja, the idol of Mother Goddess was placed in a chariot and taken around the Ashrama. The procession was led by Sri Swamiji Himself and all the devotees participated with utmost enthusiasm.

In the afternoon, Her Excellency Smt. Ramadevi, the Governor of Karnataka visited Datta Peetham and had the Darshan of the idols of Mother Goddess and sought Sri Swamiji’s blessings. She also visited Datta Venkateshwara temple.

Later in the afternoon, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri.S.M.Krishna, along with his wife and other ministers visited the Ashrama and sought the blessings of Sri Swamiji on the occasion of Navaratri, one of the most auspicious festivals of Karnataka. Sri Vishwanath, Hon’ble minister of Primary Eduation and Sri Patil, Hon’ble minister of Irrigation had accompanied the Chief Minister.

Later in the evening, Sri Swamiji gave away prizes to the winners of ‘Sri Mata’ writing competition. The names of the winners are:
1. U.Susheela, Mysore
2. Uttama, Moscow
3. S.Sheela, Mysore
4. V.Kalyani, Hyderabad
5. M.Veena Lavanya, Cherakuwada
6. Raveendra Reddy, Bodana
7. T.Mallikarjuna, Janawada
8. R.Venkateshwara Reddy, Janawada
9. A.Sandhya Naren, Hyderabad

With this, the Navaratri Celebrations concluded.

Jaya Guru Datta.