युगादि नवदुर्गा पर गीता सन्देश
YUGADI NAVA DURGA AND GITA
The word Ugadi (युगादि) is derived from the two words ‘Yuga’ and ‘Adi’. Yuga (in sansakriti) means the period or era and Aadi(in sansakriti) means the beginning. Uga उग also means commencement of germination. So this is the day when creation had started in the universe. Ugadi is assumed as the day, the Creator (Lord Brahma ब्रम्ह प्रजापति) had commenced the creation. To commemorate the commencement of Creation, this day is celebrated as Ugadi.
The universe is created from the Energy which pervades everywhere and had existed on its own all along throughout a timeless eternity in one or other form of the energy. Supreme Energy that is being recognized as the Super power or Supreme God/ Goddess. Adishakti (आदि शक्ति) is the name given as per Indian mythology. Adishakti created three types of forces in the form of Trinity of great Gods. The Trinity of great Gods Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu are the forms of universal forces: Nuclear forces, Gravitational forces, and Electro-magnetic forces respectively.
Other gods (Devas) are divine powers within this material universe or nature. They represent spirits behind specific posts in the affairs of running the world of nature; such as Agni Dev (the god of fire), Vayu Dev (the god of the wind), Varuṇa Dev (the god of the ocean), Indra Dev (the king of the celestial gods), etc.
As administrators of various processes of the universe, these gods provide us with rain, wind, crops, vegetation, minerals, fertile soil, etc. We human beings are indebted to them for all that we receive from them. These gods perform their duty, and expect us to perform our duty in the proper consciousness too. They become pleased when someone performs a sacrifice for whole, and in turn assist by creating favorable material conditions. Thus, it is said that when we strongly resolve to serve God, the universe begins to cooperate with us.
We humans are the only ones in this chain who have been bestowed with the ability to choose our actions by our own free will. We can thus either contribute to the harmony of the cycle. When the majority of the people of human society accept their responsibility to live as integral parts of the universal system, material prosperity abounds
Twice in a year such conditions prevail in Nature that indicate the major changes in the environment around us; one is when the winter approaches and the other when the summer approaches. In Sanskrit fortress is called DURG, That is why these two periods have been termed as NAV DURGA also. It signifies that we should renew our body system (DURGA) by detoxifying by keeping fast, purifying the environment by HAVAN or YAGYA.
At Yugadi, summer season approches. During this month after sun-set, we can visualise the constellation “Simha” (Leo) {सिंह-राशि} and later Kanya कन्या-राशि (Virgo) on the horizon as ascendants. Hence we can visualises the image as a “a young woman sitting on lion”. This is the image of Goddess Durga (देवी दुर्गा). That is why nine days from yugadi are called NAVA DURGA (नव दुर्गा) also.
In the third chapter of Bhagvad Gita, importance of Yagya (Act of contributing for the society as a whole) on Yugadi has been explained.
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्टा पुरोवाचप्रजापतिः ।
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक्॥3-10॥
At YUGADI, the beginning of creation, The Creator (Prajapati Brahma) shaped spirit of yagya along with mankind and said: “By this yagya may you prosper and multiply! May this yagya yield the enjoyment you seek and fulfill you and your coveted desires.”
देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः ।
परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ॥3-11॥
And may you cherish gods by yagya and may gods foster you, for this is the means by which you will finally achieve the ultimate state. Nourish the Devas through this yagya and may those Gods nourish you. Thus through mutual satiation, both shall attain the highest good.
These Shlokas have been written in the form of Hindi poems in GITA-GEET.
गीता-गीत
रच कर यज्ञ, मनुज युगादि में देते ब्रम्हा ज्ञान |
समष्टि हेतु आहुति व्यष्टि की दैवी यज्ञ विधान ||
यही यज्ञ मानव समाज के विकास हित सोपान |
अभिलाषा सब करे पूर्ण प्रारम्भ करो निर्मान ||॥3-10॥
भाव लोकहित में देने को, देव-भाव ही जान |
देव भाव की उन्नति से हो देवों का सम्मान ||
प्रकृति रहे संतुलित देव-उन्नति की यह पहचान |
पारस्परिक उन्नति से हो देव, मनुज कल्यान ||॥3-11॥
Also we need to get rid of all the negative feelings and emotions. Our nervous system needs to be strengthened by performing a specific meditation (SADHANA) each night of NAVRATRI in the manner specified for that (NAV DURGA) day in order to rejuvenate our mind and nerves in order to make our body capable to fight disease and get success in life. These celebrations motivate us to contribute for the society as a whole as we are enjoying today the fruits of the actions earlier performed by the society only.
Bhagwati Prasad Gupta 