DEVI WORSHIP

It is highly auspicious to perform any sadhana during Navaratri, but more prominence is generally given to practices dedicated to Divine Mother. In particular, it is considered a great and sacred blessing to worship a Sri Chakra during Navaratri, as the Sri Chakra is the most powerful form of Divine Mother’s energy

• Sri Durga Mantra - This mantra invokes the powerful blessings of Sri Durga Devi for divine protection and tremendous courage and spiritual strength. This protection applies to the chanter, to their family and community, and to the world at large, so this is an excellent practice for universal welfare. Sri Durga Mantra can be chanted out loud.
  If possible, chant this mantra in front of a Sri Chakra. Those who wish to worship the Sri Chakra while chanting can offer kumkum or red flower petals. When offering, make sure to use the thumb and ring finger of the right hand only. Do not use the left hand.
  Sri Saraswati and Gayatri Mantras - These mantras can be chanted or repeated mentally as mental japa. This will increase the sattvic qualities of the devotee, like inner peace, contentment, devotion, inner purity, and mental clarity. Through these mantras, Divine Mother bestows abundant blessings of intelligence, good memory, creativity, and artistic talent. The mantras can also be used in silent meditation.
  If possible, chant or meditate on these mantras in front of a Sri Chakra. For Sri Saraswati Devi’s blessings, one can offer white items to a Sri Chakra while chanting the Saraswati Mantra, like milk, raw white rice, or white flower petals. When offering, make sure to use the thumb and ring finger of the right hand only. Do not use the left hand.
  


• Samputita Sri Suktam - This special hymn in honor of Sri Lakshmi Devi is an excellent choice for chanting during Navaratri. In her message to devotees about Hurricane Katrina, Amma mentioned that in ancient times, rishis prayed to Sri Durga Devi using a special verse from Sri Chandi Saptasati. This special verse is repeated sixteen times in Samputita Sri Suktam, which makes it a very powerful way to invoke Divine Mother’s protection for the entire world. Samputita Sri Suktam gives blessings for abundance, contentment, cosmic love, devotion, divine protection, and purification of all negativity.
  It is very good to chant Samputita Sri Suktam in front of a Sri Chakra. Those who wish to worship their Sri Chakra while chanting can offer milk, turmeric water, raw white rice grains, or flower petals with each verse or line. When offering, make sure to use the thumb and ring finger of the right hand only. Do not use the left hand.
  Sri Devi Khadgamala Stotra Ratnam - This powerful stotram bears a special connection to the Sri Chakra, the emblem of Divine Mother Lalita Tripurasundari. Amma has said that chanting this stotram can give one the same peak experience derived from ten hours of meditation. Realization can be attained very quickly through recitation of this stotram, especially if done during Navaratri.
  If possible, chant this stotram in front of a Sri Chakra. Those who wish to worship their Sri Chakra using this stotram can offer kumkum, turmeric, raw white rice, or flower petals while chanting the Namavali version found in the Khadgamala Stotram chanting book. When offering, make sure to use the thumb and ring finger of the right hand only. Do not use the left hand.
  


• Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram - This stotram bears an important connection with Navaratri, as it contains the key message of Sri Chandi Saptasati. Sri Chandi Saptasati tells the story of how Divine Mother took a physical form in order to destroy the demon Mahishasura, who was terrorizing the entire Earth. According to tradition, the battle happened during the nine days of Navaratri and finally ended with Mother’s victory on Vijayadasami, the day following Navaratri.
  Thus, when we perform sadhana with devotion throughout Navaratri, Mother comes and battles all the forces of negativity in our own hearts and minds. On Vijayadasami, She is completely victorious as we are freed from countless millions of sins and forms of negativity. When we chant Sri Mahishasura Mardini Stotram repeatedly throughout Navaratri, we are asking Mother to come and destroy all of the negativity within us. This glorious stotram has the power to destroy negativity, and it also reduces violent and war-like tendencies in society, so it is very beneficial to the entire world.
  


• Sri Lalita Sahasranama - For devotees of Divine Mother Lalitambika, there is no hymn greater than Sri Lalita Sahasranama. Those who chant this most sacred hymn containing the thousand names of Sri Lalita Devi are assured of liberation. The radiance attained from chanting this stotram during Navaratri cannot be described in words. It must be experienced firsthand.
  It is extremely auspicious to chant or at least listen to this stotram during Navaratri. When puja to a Sri Chakra is done using the Namavali form of Sri Lalita Sahasranama, unimaginably powerful cosmic vibrations will surround the worshipper, bringing every kind of blessing. Amma has asked her children to try to chant this stotram at least once during Navaratri. Those who have not learned to chant this stotram can at least listen to it and meditate on Divine Mother in the form of an unbounded ocean of pure, motherly love.
  If possible, chant this stotram in front of a Sri Chakra. Those who wish to offer worship can offer kumkum, turmeric, white rice, or flower petals while chanting the Namavali version. When offering, make sure to use the thumb and ring finger of the right hand only. Do not use the left hand.