Durga Saptashati Yagya

Chandi Homa

Durga Havan

       

Durga Havan

Chandi Homa or Durga Saptashati Yagya – To remove obstacles in your path By ASTRO BHANUKUMAR

Homa or fire sacrifice is an auspicious way of accessing the divinity within us and manifesting it externally. Fire, unlike Earth (solid) and Water(liquid), is the first element that is able to make an upward transition, defying gravity (representing  our limitations and attchments ). Homas are poojas perfromed for a particular deity by invoking Agni, the god of fire. It is said that when Lord Brahma (The creater among the Trinity) created man, he also created “Homa” for man’s livlihood and his attainment of spiritual desires.

“ Yadaaraadhanaha Sarve Sarvaan Kaamaan Avaapnuyuhu Na kinchith durlabham loke Durgaarchanavathaam Nrunaam ”

The devotees who worship Goddess Durga find themselves overflowing with all the desires and there is nothing in this material world which is difficult to be obtained by these devotees.

Saaktham – The worship of Shakti

Among six schools of devotion, instructed by Sri Shanakara, Saaktham seems to be very powerful for this age, Kaliyug Saaktham, as the name suggest , it is the Feminine representation of energy or power, which is present in all the atoms as per the modern theory. If Shakti represents the energy, Shiva represents the mass. That is why Shiva, who is her partner is always associated with her. Matter and energy therein are complementary to each other. The concept of “ Shiva Shakti Aikyam” is thus very scientific. The association of Shakti and shiva can also compared be to the word and its meaning. If any word is shiva, the meaning associated with it is Shakti. Philosophically, she is the feminine representation of the Bramhan or the Formless and Timeless Entity. Divine Mother is present in all the places which are beautiful and aesthetic, all the auspicious women (with husbands alive) and in all the places where divine thoughts are given more importance.

Devi Mahathmyam or Durga Sapta Shati (700 shlokas of Durga)

Devi Mahathmyam talk the glories of the Divine Mother in her manifestations as Devi or Chandika. This is a wonderful literature present in Markandeya Puaranam. This is also called as Chandi Patha or Sapta Shati. Devi Mahathmyam, which is in simple Sanskrit language, is a conversation between a lay man (a trader named Samaadhi) and Markandeya  Maharishi. The theme of the whole work is to pave way for the salvation of sinful souls by following the path of Shakti  worship. The greatness of Devi Mahathmyam is that in addition to narrating Mother’s glories all the 700 Verses are being used as Mantras for Sri Chandi Homa or Durga Saptashati Yagya or fire sacrifice for Goddess Chandi. None of the other Puranas have this status.

Origin Of Saptashati:-

The time was when Devi (Sri Durga) did penance for the Shiva Dhanush or the bow of LordShiva and finally destroyed the buffalofaced demon, Mahishasura. It is in the lunar month of Chaithra (The 8 days before Sri Rama Navami) after the Amavasya. But the greatness of Sarada Navrathri is that Lord Rama himself did puja or Yagya to devi before destroying Ravana and others to get Mother’s  blessings. Nowadays Sarada Navrathri is becoming more famous throughout India.

Mythology:-

Demon kings Shumbh and Nishumbh had captured the kingdom of Lord Indra and thrown out devas from heaven. After intense prayers to gods, Chandika Devi appeared from the cells of the body of Goddess Parvathi. She assumed the form of an exceptionally beautiful woman and Shumbha desired to marry her. On being refused, Shumbha sent his demon chief Chanda and Munda to kill her. They were killed by Kaalika devi born out of Chandika Devi’s anger. Shumbha and Nishumbha then tried to kill Chandika Devi but were slain by the Goddess.