Autumn Navratri and New Chrysanthemum Moon

Navratri is a Hindu holiday during which we honor and thank Shakti, the Divine Mother, in all her forms. Shakti is the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. The word nava means nine and ratri means nights; the festival lasts for nine nights, symbolic of the nine months in the womb.

Navratri is celebrated at least twice each year in India, in the spring and fall, because these are times when nature and people undergo great changes. Autumn (Sharad) Navratri begins on the day of the new moon in late September or early October.

The Chinese call this ninth new moon the Chrysanthemum Moon. The chrysanthemum is a symbol of long life and endurance because of its ability to withstand colder temperatures. According to Chinese scholars, it shows the virtues of one who can endure temptations and maintain grace.

Agenda Today:

1- Paint Chrysanthemums:

I bought a chrysanthemum to plant in the pot on the porch, and yesterday I took some time to practice my Chinese brush painting, thinking on the qualities of endurance and grace.




I got excited, and attached the rice paper to a small canvas, and proceeded to paint the abstract shown below.

Endurance- acrylic on canvas.

2. Journal:

What are the possibilities?

What might give my life more wholeness?

What would I most like to do in life that I'm not getting to?

List my intentions for the next four weeks in these areas-

Self, Friends and Family, Teaching, Artwork, Writing, Home and Garden, Work/Business, and Volunteer work.

3- Make a rangoli design:

Rangolis are rice flour designs, made on the floor or a metal plate. At Navratri a new design might be made each day, with dots, squares, flowers, birds, and so on- each one designed to welcome the spirit of the Goddess.

Today I made a rangoli on the silver plate that holds my diya lamps, choosing a design that I found at this site. 

I made my own colored rice flour- for more information about rangoli, and how I made the colored rice flour, see my Pongal post. 

First I used a sieve to sprinkle the pink rice flour evenly onto the plate.


Next I used a stick to trace the design- it's hard to see, but I made dots first to get the right spacing.

4- Plant seeds:

My three cereal, soaking overnight.

Most Hindu households sprout a bowl of seeds for Navratri, called the Nava-Dhanya (nine cereals), each a symbol of a different planet. 

Last night I put three kinds of grain seeds in a bowl of water to soak overnight: Wheat for the sun, rice for the moon, and corn for the earth (corn is not a Hindu grain but important to me!) 

Cereals spread on a layer of damp soil-
next I will cover with another layer of soil. then spray with water.

Today I planted my seeds and watered them well; the sowing, sprouting and growth of the grains is intended to bring peace, abundance, and joy to the household. As they sprout during the nine days of the festival, they will remind me of the vibrancy of life and the creative energy of the Shakti.

5- Set up an altar for Mother Nature:
The nine nights of Navratri are broken up into sets of three, and during each a different aspect of Shakti is meditated upon- the Goddesses Durga, then Lakshmi, and then Saraswati. For the first three nights the Mother is invoked as Durga, goddess of strength and courage.

Durga is on the left, above the bowl of seeds.

Today I made an altar to honor the Mother. My altar is in no way authentically Hindu- I make it for my own use, to remind me of the work I am doing. If you want to see an authentic puja, watch this video.

I set out pictures of the three goddesses and added:

• my rangoli design- to welcome the Shakti
• bells- to keep me awake
• diya lamps- for the Light of God
• God's eyes- to watch over us
• my harvest doll- for autumn
• an empty bowl- to remind me to start each day with no expectations
• and a bowl of soil with seeds- for the creative energy of the Shakti

6- New Moon Meditation:
During Navratri, Hindus work on their vyavhaar (behaviour) and acharan (character). Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace.

On each morning of Navratri I light a small white candle, center, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life. For the first three mornings I meditate on my strengths- the ways that Durga shines in me- and the qualities or habits I wish to let Durga destroy.

7- Make sundal: 
Many Hindus eat only vegetarian foods during Navratri; often a different sundal (dry legume dish) each night. 

Tonight I will make Channa Sundal, with chickpeas- spicy and good!

Ingredients: 

• 1 can chickpeas
• 1 Tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
• salt
• 1/3 c. grated coconut
• pinch of cayenne

Yield: Serves 2-

1- Open the can of chickpeas and rinse and drain. Set aside.

2- Add oil to a wok or frying pan and heat. Add the mustard seeds to the hot oil, and stir for a few seconds, just until the seeds begin to pop.

3- Add the chickpeas and the red pepper, and mix well. Add a pinch of Asafoetida (helps with gas!), salt to taste, the grated coconut, and a pinch of cayenne. Mix and stir for few seconds then turn off the heat, cover, and let it sit for few seconds. Serve with yogurt and naan.

8- Visualization and prayer:

I end each day with a prayer. For these first three nights I honor the destructive aspect of the Mother. 

Durga is a warrior- not an easy image for a pacifist, but important to acknowledge. Durga rides a fierce tiger, and has 10 arms, which hold weapons and a lotus flower. She destroys  the evils that threaten the stability of the cosmos, and she helps the universe to continue with its cycle of creation, preservation and destruction.

I picture this Mother Spirit entering my heart riding her tiger. I see Her wipe out my anger, greed, laziness, procrastination, indifference, pride, defensiveness, and jealousy.

"Thank you, Great Spirit, for providing energy for the earth to move around the sun, and for maintaining the correct balance of the universe. You are the earth. You nourish support, protect, and mother all creatures, all beings. I ask you to help me recognize those aspects of myself that are not helpful. Give me the strength and courage to maintain my physical and mental balance, and to destroy my vices and defects so that what is good and pure has room to unfold.”

9- Durga Mantra:
I continue to focus on my image of Durga and chant-

• Om - the primordial sound, 
• Dum - the energy which protects from all negative influences, 
• Dur-ga-yei - goddess of strength, 
• Na-ma-ha - I pray.

(You might want to chant along with someone who knows how. Many YouTube versions exist, and my favorite is here.)