NAVRATRE IN MODERN PERSPECTIVE

NAVRATRE- IN MODERN SCIENCE  PERSPECTIVE

 Dr.D.R.Nakipuria Senior Physician

Dr.Ranju Nakipuria Senior Gynaecologist

1420Mahagun Milano,07838059592

Crossing Republik,07503303359

            Navrate  is most pious spiritual festival of India during nine days(Nav) The Devotee  pray and worship Maa Durga  / Shakti  / Nav Kanya / Nav Devi  in their home or  in Temple of MAA Bhawani  or in colony organizing Big Camps not only during morning hours but whole nights by organizing JAAGRAN OR keeping this awake whole night chanting and singing Bhajans,songs  and Kathas of  DEVI  DURGA and keep fast either taking  no solid  food  made of cereals like wheat ,rice,pulses and normal salt (Non Veg food or any kind of stimulating  delusive drink is never allowed in any form )  for nine days(only take fruits and milk with water or chapatti from kutoo atta and potato with fruits with Sidha namak)  and many donot eat anything  except water only and food once in limited quantity in night only as PRASAD of Maata Rani involving as much as people of society and tighter with even weaker and poor section of society without any creed or color and distributing Prasad and other things as DAAN to deprived section of society.

            The Word Fast does not mean ‘not eating’. Rather it basically means controlling the desires and simultaneously cultivating positive mental attitudes to build and strengthen brotherhood and cohesiveness in society avoiding negative works as drinking,eating Rajasi Foods,play like gambling and fighting or using filthy language in family or society. Desires can be of many types. Desires to eat tasty food,desire to drink, desires to smell, desire to listen to a particular music, desire to watch beautiful things,desire to involve in physical activity etc.Fast therefore can be of many types. Food fast means controlling the desires for food items which you otherwise may not resist to eat. Eye fast means, not watching things which are Rajsic in nature. Ear fast means avoiding listening to Rajsic (stimulating) music. Action fast means not indulging into activities which stimulates and creates Rajsic thoughts in the mind, and speech fast means not speaking anything evil, etc.
           In Navratre during the first, three days, a person is required to indulge into activities which reduce the negativity in the body. The physical purification involves regular bath (of the external body as well as various orifices); mental bath which involve self-confession exercises, and willful attempts not to think negative. During these three days, a person tries to restrain himself from thinking, speaking or doing any activity which can harm the other person. The five obstacles to internal happiness are attachment, anger, desire, greed and ego. A person tries to restrain from all these negativities. These negative thoughts should also not be suppressed or repressed as otherwise they will manifest into some internal diseases.Psycho somatic diseases or diseases due to these negative energies lead to depression,anger,anxiety ,fear,apprehension  in us and that lead to diseases of gastro intestinal tract likePeptic Ulcer, Colitis, IBS, Hypertension, Angina(hear attack). Stroke(Paralysis),Diabetes,Obesity,Anorexia Nervosa beside Neuro Psychiatric diseases,sucide,Homicide etc.  
           The next three days, after the negativity in the mind has been reduced, involves building positivity in the mind by way of various positive mental exercises. These involve mixing up with people, sharing, giving, donating, socializing, reception, etc. Cultivating an opposite thought to a negative thought in the mind is the easiest way of tackling the negative thought. Calling all the people you know during these three days helps in creating social health.
          The same was taught by Gandhi Ji as “ do not see evil, do not hear evil and do not speak evil” or any Holy Book like Vedas Gita,Ramayana,Upnishads ,Bible,Kuran,GuruGranth Sahib teaches us the same teachings.The last three days involves reading and understanding good scriptures and learning from the sins of others.
          Once you have concurred the negativity in the first three days (representing Kali) and have built up happiness and positivity in the mind (representing Lakshmi) the only thing left is to acquire spiritual knowledge (representing Saraswati). During these last three days a person is purified enough to understand and grasp the knowledge of ‘Self’ and to understands and discriminate between good and bad. One also learns to stay cool irrespective of the face of life being joyful or disturbing. One learns to continue his actions while detaching it with the results.
After the nine days of self-discipline is complete, the person acquires inner happiness which is nothing but one’s exposure or appointment with the true self or the consciousness ( Rama). That is what Dusshera is with killing of Tamas (Kumbhakarana), Rajas ( Meghnath) and ego (Ravana).The birth of consciousness is equivalent to being in touch with birth of Lord Rama which is called “Ramnavmi” which is celebrated after these holy NAVRATRA. Hence we should celebrate Ramnavmi as a disciplined way of acquiring internal happiness and not as a forced  nine days of fasting.The same interpretation lies in the Navratre ending up with Dusshera the win over the ego and attaining inner happiness