Dr. Robert Svoboda – Living with Reality – Ep. 16 – Navaratri & The Goddess

In celebration of Chaitri Navaratri, join Dr. Svoboda in a vibrant trip through India, worshipping the Divine Mother and learning the myths and traditions of Navaratri—festivals honoring the Goddess. In honor of Chaitri Navaratri—nine nights celebrating the Goddess this April 13th - 22nd 2021—Paula Crossfield introduces a dharma talk from Dr. Robert Svoboda highlighting the astrological and spiritual significance of this spring Navaratri. Illuminating various aspects of the Divine Mother, Dr. Svoboda shares myths and traditions from five important Navaratri celebrations throughout the year, before offering insights on practice and intention during this potent time for worship and prayer. Navaratri: Celebrating the Divine Mother In this auditory ride through the colorful and vibrant streets of India, Dr. Svoboda outlines the celebration of Navaratri—nine nights each month in worship of the Goddess. Describing five of the most important Navaratri festivals throughout the year from various regions in India, Dr. Svoboda illuminates aspects of the Divine Mother, offering insights of intention and prayer for cultivating our own personal relationship. "That's the idea of the Navaratri: that there should be purification so that you will become more pure so the Shakti can enter you and you'll be able to hold onto the Shakti, because there's no use in having the Shakti enter you and then not being able to hold onto it." – Dr. Robert Svoboda (19:23) - Durga Puja: Worshipping the Goddess Describing techniques for worshipping the Divine Mother performed around India, Dr. Svoboda recounts an experience in Kathmandu in 1973 when he was astounded to see taxi drivers chopping the heads off chickens to spread the blood all over the taxi as an offering to Durga for protection. One doesn't have to go to such extremes; however, as Dr. Svoboda shares one can imbibe Bhakti, offering flowers, incense, lamps, sweets, and mantras to Durga through any object of worship "When I was a student in the Ayurvedic College and had just become introduced to Navaratri, I used to worship my typewriter with flowers and incense, a lamp, some sweets, and some mantras. And now I do the same thing to my laptop and my phone because they're the tools of what I do now." – Dr. Robert Svoboda (39:19) - Chaitri Navaratri: New Life Illuminating this episode's catalyst—the 2021 Chaitri Navaratri, April 13th - 22nd—Dr. Svoboda shares the significance of this spring Goddess celebration. The first day of the Chaitri Navaratri, known as Guri Padwa is set on the New Year in many regions, offering rebirth and new life; while the ending of this spring Navaratri marks the auspicious births of Ram and Hanuman. Through this lens, Dr. Svoboda explores how this potent time for spiritual development is very much thanks to the Goddess. "It is only thanks to the Great Goddess that all of these festivities and excitements can occur. Therefore, during this Chaitri Navaratri, may we all bow down, worship the Goddess, and request her—out of her benevolence, motherliness, and willingness—to always be attentive to, assist, and bless her children. May she provide us all that we need, and may she bless us at all times." – Dr. Robert Svoboda ================ Dr. Robert Svoboda – Living with Reality – Ep. 16 – Navaratri & The Goddess: Dr. Robert Svoboda – Living with Reality –... Dr. Robert Svoboda – Living with Reality – Ep. 16 – Navaratri & The Goddess: https://beherenownetwork.com/dr-rober... ================ Make sure not to miss a single video podcast from Be Here Now Network! Click here to Subscribe: @beherenownetwork ================ Be Here Now Network Podcasts, Courses, and Articles to help you live a Life in Balance. Heart Centered wisdom from Ram Dass, Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Krishna Das + many more! Get a Free Guided Meditation from Sharon Salzberg when you first sign up at: https://beherenownetwork.com/ ================ Follow Be Here Now Network: Facebook: Facebook: BeHereNowNetwork Twitter: Twitter: beherenownet Instagram: Instagram: beherenownetwork ====================================