Sri Swamiji commenced Sri Devi Navaratri Celebrations in the Nada Mantapam.
One of the most significant features of this year’s festivals is the arrival of the silver – golden idol of Sri Raja Rajeshwari, specially sculpted by an artist of Jaipur (Rajasthan, India).

On the evening of 9-10-99 Sri Swamiji performed purificatory rituals and Abhishekam (pouring of water) to the idol while the Veda students of the Datta Peetham chanted the mantras. Later Sri Swamiji gave Deeksha Vastram (clothes) to pundits, who will assist during the celebrations.

In the morning of 10-10-99, the first day of the celebrations, Sri Swamiji led the procession of Sri Raja Rajeshwari in a palanquin from the Datta temple to the Nada Mantapa, followed by the numerous devotees from many parts of India and abroad.
After performing Kumari Puja (worship of girls' aged 1 to 16 as the personification of the sixteen aspects of the Divine Mother Sri Raja Rajeshwari), Sri Swamiji commenced the 'Nava Avarana Puja'.

Today's morning music concert was Carnatic classical vocal by Smt. Anuradha Suresh Krishnamurthy, daughter of the famous vocalist Nada Nidhi Sri. K. V. Narayana Swamy. She sang many compositions of Pujya Sri Swamiji. The main song was Dattatreya Trimurti Rupa, which was rendered very beautifully.

The afternoon music concert was Carnatic classical vocal by Smt. Padma Murthy of Mysore. She is associated with Datta Peetham for many years . She sang many compositions of Pujya Sri Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji's speech during the Bhajan session.

The devotees are specially blessed by Sri Swamiji in listening to the songs on the pious story of the Divine Mother. The following song is the opening song for every day’s musical discourse.

Lalitopakhyana (Story of Goddess Lalita)
(Lalita is one of the synonyms of Sri Raja Rajeshwari)

(Lalita + Upakhyana – The story of Lalita, the Divine Mother)
Sri Swamiji started the narration of the story of the Divine Mother. Hayagreeva (an incarnation of Vishnu) narrated the same to the sage Agastya.
Once upon a time, the sage Durvasa gave a garland to Indra (the Lord of Heaven). The garland was earlier offered to the Divine Mother. However Indra insulted both Durvasa as also the Divine Mother by disrespecting the garland by giving it to his elephant ‘Iravata’ which threw it down and walked thereon. The sage got angry and cursed Indra that he would be dethroned soon. Indra sought the advice of the sage Bruhaspati, the Spiritual Master of the celestials.

The devotees are specially blessed by Sri Swamiji with the new songs sung one per day depicting the story of the Divine Mother. The following is the opening song for every musical discourse of Sri Swamiji during this festival.

Bhajan 1:
Pallavi:
Sama ganalola sumadhura dhi vilina suli parigata Bhave!
sada jaya jaya Pavani! Lalite!

Stanza:
Subha carite! Sucihasite! Mahesha
hrudayaga rucimilite!
Cidanala jate! sujana samete!
Munivarageete! Manasi vibhate! …1

Madamadane! Ari samane! viveeta
sumatishu subhagamane!
Srutitatigaane! vigalita mane!
Svayamasamane! suvisadabhane! …2

Natavarade! Bhavasi mude nitanta
mavagati rucira pade!
Tribhuvana kande! sruti makarande!
Prasajasi vande sacidanande! …3

Meaning
Refrain:
Pavani (The Goddess who purifies) Lalita! You are delighted by the chants of Sama Veda. Hence you reside in my benevolent intellect which is ever attend to Siva. (A devotee who ever engages his thoughts on Siva is blessed by the Divine Mother) Glory to you ever and ever!
Stanza 1:
Your sacred story is auspicious. Your sweet smile is sacred. You reside in the spiritual brilliance of the heart of Siva. You are born in the sacred fire-pit of spiritual knowledge. (This is a reference to the manifestation of the Divine Mother who emerged from the fire-pit when a Yaga was performed by all the celestials) and killed the demons. Pious people are always associated with you. You are praised by the sages. You enlighten my mind.
Stanza 2:
You subdue the pride of the arrogant. You kill the enemies (both the external evil ones as also the six inner enemies – Kama , Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya i.e., lust, anger, miserliness, infatuation, pride and jealousy. Your entry to the minds of humble devotees is auspicious. Your singing is vedic. Your power is immeasurable. None can excel you. Your brilliance is pure.
Stanza 3:
You bestow boons to the devotees. You are ever in the beautiful position of supreme knowledge. You always bestow abundant bliss to us. You are the originator of the three worlds (the earth, the galaxies and the heaven). You always cherish the honey like sweetness of the Vedas. You are Sat-Cit-Ananda Truth-Knowledge-Bliss. Oh! Divine Mother! I prostrate to you.

Bhajan 2:
Pallavi:
Varadaraja vandanam Varadaraja vandanam
Varadaraja vandanam Varadaraja vandanam
Stanza:
Varapadaya vandanam
Varakaraya vandanam
Varataraya vandanam
Varavaraya vandanam …1

Ihaparopabhoga bhagya Varadaraja vandanam
Ihaparatirikta tattva Varadaraja vandanam
Kamacara kalushasuddhi Varadaraja vandanam
Sachchidananda purnabhava Varadaraja vandanam …2

Meaning
Refrain:
I prostrate to you, the Best of the boon-givers (Vara-boon, da-giver, Raja-king)
Stanza 1:
I prostrate to the one with the noblest sacred feet
I prostrate to the one with the noblest sacred hands
I prostrate to the greatest of all
I prostrate to the one who is the best of all boons
(God-realisation is the best off all achievements)
Stanza 2:
Oh! Lord! You are the giver of prosperity and enjoyments during my lifetime and in the celestial worlds thereafter. You bestow the boon of the transcendental state of liberation beyond the cycle of birth and death. You purify my mind of evil tendencies. You bestow the boon of Sat-Cit-Ananda (Truth-Knowledge-Bliss). I prostrate to you.
Note:
One may wonder why a song on Varadaraja , that is, Lord Venkateswara is sung during Devi Navaratri Celebrations. For many people, it is the prevalent practice to worship Venkateswara as the Divine Mother also. Hence He is reverentially called Balaji (Bala-the Divine Mother and Ji-term of respect).

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