The Maha Navami Festival

The Maha Navami Festival

Maha Navami festival is the ninth and last day of auspicious Navarathri. It falls on Navami tithi of shukla paksha in Ashwina month. Maa Durga Siddhidatri, the ninth form, is worshipped on this auspicious day( ie, on 4th Oct 2022). Siddhidatri means the one who fulfills all the desired wishes and to whom we pray wholeheartedly. She is also worshipped in the avatar of Goddess Saraswathi on this day, the goddess of learning, "Vidya Devathe".

Mahanavami is also celebrated as Ayudha Pooja in many parts of India.  It is the significance of the great epics of Maha Bharat. When Pandavas were in agnatha vaas, they hid all their weapons on a big tree top covered under a cloth for one year, till they completed their agnatha vaas. Later, they returned back to the spot and prayed to Maa Durga for protecting their weapons and took back them.  They fought against Kauravas in the battle of Mahabharata and won. This Ayudh pooja signifies war over evils and success. 

In some places, Kanya Pooja is performed on this day.  Devi Maa is considered to be Kanya, the purest form of Mother Divine. So, accordingly, ನೀನೇ young girls are dressed in goddess attire and are worshipped by washing their feet with water, putting Thilak, Kumkum, and flowers, and served with special prasadam. 

This Mahanavami festival celebrates the glory and beauty of womanhood. It begins with a ritual called 'Mahasnan', followed by 'Shodashopachar Pooja'.I hope, you have read these above aspects and the importance of this great festival. 

Now, I would like to touch upon a little bit of historical background to this festival. 

Our previous rulers in India, Karnataka, performed this festival in a great spend our, a national level of celebration. In Mysore, this festival gains the importance known as " Dussehra", mainly the Pooja of Maa Durga, the conqueror of Evils. 

History of Vijayanagar empire. 

During the reigns of the king of Didjanagara (Vijayanagar), the Generals and Principal personages from all parts of his empire used to visit the capital and present themselves at the palace. They used to bring with them, thousands of elephants which were covered with brilliant armour and with castles magnificently adorned. 

During the first three consecutive days of Navarathri, the vast place of the palace would be decorated magnificently, enormous elephants congregated together to form a compact mass on the day of resurrection. 

On the front facade, there were nine pavilions ornamented. In the ninth pavilion, King's throne was set up. The seventh pavilion was allotted a place to the humble authorities. Other pavilions were filled with musicians, storytellers, artists, singers, dancers, etc. That throne on the ninth pavilion was of extraordinary size, fully made of gold and enriched with precious stones of extreme value. Before the throne was a soft square cushion, on the edges of which were sown three rows of pearls. 

During these first three days, King will be seated on this cushion. After the ninth day of Mahanavami, the King strolls towards the middle of four estrodes, which were about ten ghez( about seven yards), both in length and breadth. The roof and the walls were entirely formed of plates of gold enriched with precious stones. Each of these plates was as thick as the blade of a sword and was fastened with golden nails. Upon the estrade, in the front, is placed the King's throne, which itself is so huge. 

By describing this, it is evident that the main features of this festival. The VIP, the vassal rulers who adorned the pavilions, were to pay their homage and tribute to their emperor. This was an occasion to express their loyalty to their master. 

For the King, it provided an opportunity to check their loyalty to the empire. The success of the state depended largely on political unity. Since the Vijayanagar rulers had to wage their life-and-death struggle with the Muhammadans, political unity was the most desired thing of the hour. Only through united action, Hinduism could be saved from the inroads of Islam. Hence, the Mahanavami festival instilled in their minds the spirit of dedication to the cause of their country and culture. 

Further, these tributes given by the vassal rulers constituted an important source of revenue for the state. It helped the state to plan its expenditure on the basis of its income. 

As mentioned above, Vijayanagar rulers had to wage incessant wars with the Muhammadans which necessitated the maintenance of a large and well-equipped army. Therefore, the emperors have to extend much of their resources to the recruitment and maintenance of the army. This was another political aspect of the festival. 

On this day, the army will parade on the palace ground. The display of Pomp and majesty of the royal court coupled with the show of military strength must have struck terror in the hearts of those who might be planning rebellion. This occasion was also made used to honour many eminent poets, skilled artists, craftsmen, etc. 

Thus Mahanavami was performed on a national scale. 

Today, it can be compared with the Dussehra celebrated every year with the same theme and magnanimity at Mysore. Maa Chamundi temple and the Banni mantap are the centers of attraction for Pooja. Many thousands of people from all over the country throng to attend these celebrations and rituals conducted on all ten days of Navarathri with Vijadashami, predicting the winning of the war. 

War of Good over evil.