Honouring the Divine Mother

ODE to THE DIVINE MOTHER During Navatri Celebrations 

This translation of a poetic song, in spiritual language (Bhajan) is glorifying the Divine Mother, it was given by Swamiji during Navaratri, the ancient festival worshiping the Divine mother that lasts for 9 days and takes place twice per year.  A devotee sang this beautiful ode of divinity to the Holy Mother, inspiring Swamiji to give its translation. 

To listen to kirtans and bhajans is to receive their nourishment and imbibe a deep peace, a belongingness that can at times overwhelm us. When we seek to take that experience and live it in our daily lives, an understanding of what we are singing is valuable. 

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SWAMIJI WAS SITTING back he appeared to enjoy the atmosphere in this small hut perched high almost as among the stars, the occasion was the eighth day of Navaratri, or Durga Ashtami. As we breathed and sung in the mountain air, absorbing the beauty of all that surrounded us Swamiji spoke; “These last 9 days were the days of the universal Shakti, the Divine Mother, which in the Upanishas is said, Matri Devo Bhava, the first God is Mother.

In the Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna says “time to time I manifest in this world through my Yog Maya”, through the divine Shakti so in India we celebrate the glory of the divine mother four times per year, there are two Navaratris which are celebrated in physical form and there are two, known as Gupta Navaratri which are celebrated in the astral form. Whenever an incarnation comes into this world we first adore and worship the Divine mother who gave birth to such a divine soul. 

Devotees of the Holy Mother fast for the nine days of the festival, the mother is the very embodiment of mercy, love, devotion, humbleness and kindness. This bhajan is like a prayer, an ode to the mother and praise to her through whom such a divine light is born. 

Jaya Matesvari Jaya Devi Chandan

Jaya Mahalakshmi Jaya Devi Chandan

Visva Dipa Jyoti Ghara Tere Nandan

Jai means victory, praise be the Lord as mother, God as mother, 

Oh goddess who is also known as maha Lakshmi the great goddess of wealth, 

Victory, glory to thee, you are great 

Dhanya Dip Prabhu Dhanya Matesvari

Teri Sumarana Se Hoya Dukha Bhanjan

Protector, oh divine mother, thanks to you, adoration to you, oh divine mother when we remember and meditate on you and offer our prayers to you all our troubles are removed, we become free from all our sufferings 

Risi Muni Avatara Jape Nita

Teri Kripa Se Kate Jaga Bandan

Rishis are the sages, the hermits, and Muni’s are yogis, Avatara is the incarnation of God and all of them repeat, with great adoration, the name of the cosmic mother, oh holy mother only through your mercy we may become free from the bondage of this mortal world 

Mujha Para Meher Karo Meri Maiya 

Darshana Deya Haro Bhava Bandan

Please be merciful to me, oh my divine mother, appear to me and remove all my bondage in this world 

Sri Dipa Jyoti Hai Apaka nandan 

Bala Mukanda Jagat Sukha Kandan

This divine flame, the incarnation is your beloved son and he is like a Krishna who is giving to this world the blessings, happiness, and divine light 

Madhavanda Par Najara Niharo 

Mere Pap Ka Pahara Karo Saba Khandan

The author of the Bhajan, Madhavananda is saying, my lord, my divine mother have your merciful look upon me, look to me in kindness, bless me with your mercy, if I have any sin or any mistakes in my life oh divine mother please destroy it so that I feel worthy to come to thee”.

Translated by Vishwaguru Mahamandelshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda Puriji