Jaya Jaya Shankara Hara Hara Shankara – Happy Navaratri! Here is a simple philosophy behind Navaratri Golu. Goes to show how every aspect of Sanatana Dharma has a deeper meaning and context. Thanks to Sri Kanchi Periyava forum for this article. Ram Ram.
In the doll arrangements done for Navaratri, we can see Gods, saints and great men above the ordinary human beings, and animals below them. If human beings have good thoughts and do good to others, they will be raised to great men, then to saints and finally merge with God.
On the other hand, if they tend to have bad thoughts and do evil to others he will go down to the animal level step by step.
The goal of human beings and the reason why we born on earth are evinced in this wonderful festival Navaratri Golu. Whatever situations we are born in, our prime aim should be to merge with God.
This is the philosophy that the Navaratri Golu conveys to us. Mind wanders if it is untamed. Through this festival, we can tame our minds by devotion to God.
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I have of course been viewing it in a different way. The entire cosmos has come out of the Purusha called Ishwara through the inherent Power (shakti), The Golu tries to bring in the entire gamut of the creation, mirroring in names and forms of different aspects of Life. Some have 7 stairs rack, others may put nine stairs. Navaratri is celebrated in three segments in North and West India – first three nights for Mahakali, second three nights for Mahalakshmi and the last three nights for Mahasaraswati. The Devi Mahatmyam also clearly has three Dhyanams on these three deities respectively and thus the Book has been divided into three Parts. This is a cosmic expression of three gunas beginning from Tamas, going to Rajas and ascending to Sattwa. Hence everything has to be projected in this Golu. And all (from the lowest to the highest being) share the same rack signifying behind everything manifested, the same shakti is operating as the substratum.
You are right. There are few other reasoning’s behind this as well. I will post it separately. Ram Ram
Nice explanation that we can tell our children and they will not question us.
Thanks for sharing. I learnt something new todayRAJA