SHARADA NAVRATRI FESTIVAL PART-I 2014

Every year devotees across the world celebrate Sharada Navratri which is the autumn festival for the Divine Mother.  Mother Durga is highly pleased when she is invoked during this festival and she has herself from her own words extolled the significance in the 12^th Canto of the Holy Devi Mahatmyan popularly known as Durga Saptashati;

“Sharad Kale Mahapuja Kriyate Ya Cha Varshiki

Tasmaat Mamei Tan Mahatmyam Pathitavyam Samanvitam”

The above verse flows from the Mother herself and inspires Sadhakas to undertake the special prayer and ritual ceremony during the Sharada Navratri.

The Navratri festival was originally celebrated in all the six seasons throughout the year such as Vasanta Navratri, Grishma Navratri, Hemanta Navratri, Sharada Navratri, Paush Navratri (Gupt Navratri) and Him Navratri.  However, over the years Vasanta Navratri and Sharada Navratri became prominent festivals and the Paush Navratri and Gupt Navratri though celebrated in a limited way, are confined to parts of Bengal and Assam.

The Navratri festival and observation is again broadly divided into three parts with the first three days consisting of prathama, dwitiya and thritiya being under the overall divine influence of Mahakali; the next three days of Chaturthi, Panchami and Shashti being under the overall influence of Mahalakshmi; and the last three concluding days consisting of Saptami, Ashtami and Navami being under the overall influence of Maha Saraswati.

The present Sharada Navratri being celebrated in the Jaya Samvatsar has entered the first phase of Maha Kali zone of influence.  In Canto one of the Durga Saptashati the charitra of Maha Kali is beautifully described as having deluded Lord Maha Vishnu with her power of Yoga Nidra.  From the remains of the ears of Lord Maha Vishnu two demons in the name of Madhu and Kaitabha emerge and advance in a menancing fashion to kill Lord Brahma, who is engaged in the act of creation seated in the Naval of Lord Mahavishnu.

Lord Brahma sees Mahavishnu making no efforts to stop the demons from the deadly act and therefore, Brahma prostrates at the Lotus feet of Mahakali extolling her glory with a stuti popularly known as “Ratri Suktam”.  Pleased by Branhma’s invocation, Mahakali issues out of the Yogic sleep (Yog Nidra) of Lord Mahavishnu and provokes him to take up a fight and kill Madhu and Kaitabh.  The execution of Madhu and Kaitabh by Lord Mahavishnu by invoking Mahakali is outlined in the Prathama Charitra of the Durga Saptashati which is celebrated primarily during the first three days of the Navratra festival.

The glory and beauty of Lord Maha Vishnu has been described by many saints through many of their prolific works but there is a unique devotional piece dedicated to Lord Krishna popularly known as “Madhura shtakam”. 

You would have heard about and seen many types of candies.  You would have also heard that Lord Krishna – the darling child God – loved milk curd and candies.  But do you know that there is a beautiful poem describing how Krishna himself is sweet candy.  The poem is known as “MADHURASHTKAM” written by the Great Saint Swami Vallabhacharya.

The poem has been rendered into a sizzling song – sanskrit words set to western music.  The singer is a child artist – Akshyaa Vibho – 11 year old class Seven student of THE PINNACLE SCHOOL NEW DELHI.

Akshyaa learns Hindustani Classical Music from her Guru Pandit Sitangshu Chowdhury of the RAMPUR SAHASWAN GHARANA.  She plays the Keyboard and is being trained by Shri Mridul Nath

The drum for this song is played by Amrutaa – Akshyaa’s twin sister.  Amrutaa is also student of class Seven of THE PINNACLE SCHOOL.

Amrutaa, who is a young female Drummer, is a student of the Grandmaster of Rhythm Sangeeta Kalanidhi Mrudanga Chakravarty Dr. T.K.Murthy.  She learns drums from Shri Chandrakant Mohanty of Bollywood and eminent Mridangam Meastro Sri Kumbakonam N. Padmanaban

This Maduraashtakam has been composed based on the Classical Ragaa Abhogi in western style.  The composition has been made by Shakatapuram Srividya Peetham Jagadguru Shankracharya Samasthanam Asthana Sangeeta Vidushi Gana Kala Vibhushana Smt. Bhanumathy Vishwanath.  Bhanumathy, who is a disciple of Srividyaguru HH Sri Sri Vimarsha Nandendra Saraswati Swamiji, is a pupil of Padma Vibhushan Sangeeta Kala Nidhi Late Smt. D.K. Pattammal.  Bhanumathy has been conferred the title “Sangeeta Ratna” by the Srividya Pratishthanam, Kodingallur – the revered seat of Godess Bhagavati in Kerala. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bseE_E-rRkE

The music for this peace has been arranged by Music Director Shri Naresh Vikal.  Video recording and editing has been done by Shri Bhaskar Joshi while sound recording and editing has been rendered by Shri Virendra Paul.