Sadhguru explains why Sharod Navratri or Bengali Durga Puja in Autumn is very much important. He said Sharad Navratri is not just a celebration of the goddess; it’s a doorway to the Divine Feminine within every soul.
Article | October 06, 2024
Sadhguru: SriVidya Sadhana, a powerful tantric and spiritual practice deeply rooted in the worship of the Divine Feminine, has captured the hearts of many seekers across generations. This sacred path is not merely about external rituals but is an intense inner process that connects the practitioner to the supreme consciousness, represented by the goddess Tripura Sundari. SriVidya Sadhana becomes significantly powerful during Tripura Navratri or Sharod Navratri. This auspicious time offers unique energies that greatly amplify the potency of the practice,
1. SriVidya Sadhana: A Path to Divine Union
SriVidya Sadhana is a highly refined spiritual path that focuses on the worship of Tripura Sundari, the goddess who transcends time and space and governs the three realms (Tripura). This sadhana is not merely a ritual; it is a profound spiritual practice that involves the use of sacred mantras (such as the Shodashi Mantra), yantras (particularly the Sri Yantra), mudras, and deep meditation. It helps the practitioner transcend individual limitations, realize the unity of all existence, and experience the bliss of merging with the supreme consciousness.
The practice of SriVidya is considered to be the most direct and potent method for realizing moksha (liberation) while also experiencing bhakti (fulfilment in life). The mantra, yantra, and meditation techniques are designed to awaken the subtle energy systems within the practitioner, leading to the expansion of consciousness and direct experience of the Divine Feminine.
While SriVidya Sadhana can be performed at any time, it becomes especially powerful during Sharad Navratri, which is also known as Tripura Navratri due to its association with the worship of Tripura Sundari.
In SriVidya, the nine nights of Navratri represent a sacred journey from purification to illumination.
2. The Significance of Sharad (Tripura) Navratri in SriVidya Sadhana
Sharad Navratri, the most popular and widely celebrated Navratri, falls in the autumn season, typically from the end of September to October. This period is dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother in her different forms—Mahakali, MahaLakshmi, and MahaSaraswati. However, for practitioners of SriVidya, Sharad Navratri is particularly associated with Tripura Sundari, the supreme form of the Divine Feminine.
a. Tripura Sundari as the Central Deity
During Sharad Navratri, Tripura Sundari is worshipped as the ultimate goddess who controls all aspects of creation, preservation, and destruction. The Shodashi Mantra, the 16-syllabled mantra of SriVidya, is recited with great devotion, as it is considered the most direct invocation of the goddess. This mantra is believed to unlock the full potential of the practitioner’s energy and consciousness, leading to both material success and spiritual liberation.
Tripura Sundari is also revered as the goddess who governs the three states of human consciousness—waking (Jagrat), dreaming (Swapna), and deep sleep (Sushupti). She is the source of the turiya, the transcendental state beyond these three. Thus, the practice of SriVidya during Sharad Navratri allows the practitioner to transcend ordinary states of consciousness and experience union with the ultimate reality.
The essence of SriVidya Sadhana is the union of Shiva and Shakti, a dance of cosmic creation mirrored in the Shotkon.
b. Sharad Navratri as a Time of Cosmic Alignment
Sharad Navratri is believed to be a time when the cosmic energies are perfectly aligned with the energies of the Divine Feminine. This alignment creates a powerful spiritual atmosphere, making it the most conducive time for SriVidya Sadhana. The nine nights are seen as an opportunity to invoke the goddess’s grace for both inner transformation and worldly accomplishments.
The period is also considered a time of renewal, both in nature and in the practitioner’s life. Just as autumn signifies the shedding of old leaves and preparation for new growth, Sharad Navratri represents a time for inner purification and spiritual rebirth. Practising SriVidya during these nine nights allows one to shed layers of ignorance, ego, and karmic impurities, making way for divine wisdom and realisation.
SriVidya Sadhana is most potent when practised during Navratri, as the cosmic energies align with the divine vibrations of the mantras.
3. The Role of Mantra, Yantra, and Meditation During Sharad Navratri
SriVidya Sadhana involves the use of specific tools and practices that connect the practitioner to the divine consciousness represented by Tripura Sundari. These tools become especially potent during Sharad Navratri.
a. The Power of Mantra Japa
Mantra repetition (japa) is central to SriVidya Sadhana, and during Sharad Navratri, the vibrations of these mantras are greatly amplified. The Panchadashi and Shodashi Mantra (also known as the Maha Shodashi or Lalita Mantra) is the primary mantra used by Sri Vidya practitioners. This mantra not only invokes the goddess’s presence but also aligns the practitioner’s energy with the divine energy of Tripura Sundari.
During Sharad Navratri, it is common for practitioners to engage in Laksharchana—the repetition of the Shodashi Mantra 100,000 times in a single sitting to invoke the goddess’s blessings for spiritual and material success. The power of collective devotion, along with the auspicious timing of Navratri, enhances the effectiveness of mantra japa during this period.
During Sharad Navratri, the mantra becomes a bridge between the practitioner and the infinite power of Tripura Sundari.
b. Meditating on the Sri Yantra
The Sri Yantra, a sacred geometric diagram, is the most important yantra in SriVidya Sadhana. It represents the cosmic womb from which all creation emerges and into which all creation dissolves. Meditating on the Sri Yantra during Sharad Navratri is believed to accelerate the process of spiritual awakening and the manifestation of desires.
The nine triangles of the Sri Yantra interlocked and pointing towards the centre, are symbolic of the nine nights of Navratri. By focusing on the yantra during these nights, practitioners align their inner energies with the cosmic forces at play, allowing them to transcend duality and experience oneness with the universe.
The Sri Yantra is more than a symbol; during Navratri, it becomes a cosmic map that guides the soul toward oneness. This time Human Body can be converted to Sri Yantra.
c. Tantric Rituals and Shotkon Sadhana
One of the most significant aspects of SriVidya Sadhana during Sharad Navratri is the performance of Tantric rituals and Shotkon Sadhana, which are designed to invoke the goddess Tripura Sundari in her most potent and transformative form.
i. Tantric Rituals
Tantric rituals in SriVidya involve offerings, mudras, nyas, shringar, tattvas, rasa sadhana and the correct invocation of mantras that resonate with specific deities and energies in Kundalini Tantra Sadhana. These rituals are complex and precise, requiring the practitioner to establish a deep connection with the sacred geometry of the Sri Yantra and the mantras of SriVidya.
During Sharad Navratri, these Tantric rituals become even more potent due to the alignment of cosmic energies and the heightened spiritual atmosphere. Offerings to the goddess, combined with the recitation of mantras and visualization of the Sri Yantra, allow practitioners to enter a sacred space where transformation and divine union become possible.
Shatkona Sadhana, the merging of masculine and feminine energies, is the heart of SriVidya, leading the practitioner to transcend duality.
Some of the key tantric rituals performed during this time include:
Panchopachara Puja the offering of five sacred elements: incense, flowers, food, light, and water.
Sodorshopachara Puja the offering of 16 secret elements which is 16 Vigyan Tattva.
Nabarasa Sadhana there are 9 Rasa Sadhana
24 Guna Sadhana As described in Nigam Tantra there are 24 Guna Sadhana.
36 Tattva Sadhana the most secret and sacred 36 Tattva Sadhana
Sri Chakra Archana, where the sacred geometry of the Sri Yantra is worshipped through various offerings and recitations.
Lalita Sahasranama Stotra recitations, where a thousand names of Lalita Tripura Sundari are chanted with devotion.
Each ritual is designed to invoke specific aspects of the goddess, allowing the practitioner to connect with her in her form as the cosmic creator and destroyer of ignorance.
Each night of Sharad Navratri, the Divine Mother reveals herself in a different form, guiding the soul through layers of consciousness.
ii. Shotkon Sadhana
One of the lesser-known but highly significant practices in SriVidya Sadhana is Shotkon Sadhana. The Shotkon (Hexagon) is a sacred geometric symbol representing the union of Shiva and Shakti, or the masculine and feminine aspects of the cosmos. This union is at the heart of SriVidya, as it symbolizes the merging of dualities into oneness.
The Shotkon consists of two interlocking triangles:
The upward triangle represents Shiva, the masculine principle of transcendence.
The downward triangle represents Shakti, the feminine principle of immanence.
Meditating on the Shotkon becomes especially powerful during Sharad Navratri the cosmic interplay between creation and dissolution. Shotkon Sadhana involves visualising the interlocking triangles as the merging of one’s own inner masculine and feminine energies, leading to spiritual balance and the awakening of Kundalini Shakti.
Practitioners also align this symbol with the Sri Yantra, as the Shotkon forms the central element of the Yantra’s geometry. The meditative focus on this symbol allows the practitioner to transcend the dualities of existence, entering a state of non-dual awareness where the self and the Divine become one.
4. The Energetic Dynamics of Sharad Navratri
Sharad Navratri is not only a time for spiritual awakening but also a period of great energy shifts. The collective consciousness during this period is highly charged with devotion and spiritual intention. The vibrant rituals, prayers, and mantras chanted by millions of devotees around the world create a powerful energetic field that can be tapped into by SriVidya practitioners.
a. The Collective Energy of Devotion
One of the unique aspects of Sharad Navratri is the collective devotion that permeates the atmosphere. During these nine nights, temples, homes, and sacred spaces are filled with the sounds of devotional hymns, mantras, and prayers. This collective energy creates a powerful vibration that amplifies the individual sadhana of SriVidya practitioners. The collective consciousness acts as a support system, making it easier for practitioners to connect with the Divine Feminine and receive her grace.
b. The Energies of the Nine Nights
Each night of Sharad Navratri is dedicated to a different form of the Divine Mother. For SriVidya practitioners, these nine nights correspond to the various aspects of Tripura Sundari, who is the source of all the goddess forms. The energy of each night carries a unique vibration that can be used to deepen one’s spiritual practice.
First Three Nights (Mahakali): These nights are dedicated to Mahakali, the warrior goddess. For SriVidya practitioners, these nights are focused on purification and protection. The goal is to cleanse the mind and energy body of negative influences and prepare for the deeper stages of sadhana.
Middle Three Nights (Mahalakshmi): The next three nights are dedicated to Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth and abundance. These nights are focused on manifestation and empowerment. Practitioners use this time to seek both material prosperity and spiritual wealth.
Final Three Nights (MahaSaraswati): The last three nights are dedicated to MahaSaraswati, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. These nights are focused on enlightenment and self-realisation. For SriVidya practitioners, this is the time to experience the direct presence of Tripura Sundari and attain higher states of consciousness.
The Potency of SriVidya Sadhana During Sharad (Tripura) Navratri
Sharad Navratri, also known as Tripura Navratri, offers a unique and powerful opportunity for practitioners of SriVidya Sadhana. The alignment of cosmic energies, the collective devotion of millions, and the special focus on the worship of Tripura Sundari make these nine nights the most auspicious time for spiritual awakening, empowerment, and divine grace.
By incorporating Tantric rituals and Shatkona Sadhana into their practice, SriVidya practitioners can enhance their connection to the Divine Feminine and experience the transformative power of the goddess within themselves. These sacred practices during Sharad Navratri allow one to transcend duality and embrace the ultimate reality of oneness with the cosmos.
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