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Navratri: Harmonising ancient wisdom with modern understanding
New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) Navratri, a significant festival among Hindus, derives its name from the Sanskrit term meaning ‘time of nine nights’. During these ten days and nine nights, devotees worship Shakti/Devi.
Navratri occurs four times annually, during the lunar months of Chaitra, Magh, Ashadha, and Ashwin (Kartik) from Pratipada to Navami.
Chaitra hosts the Vasantik or Vasantiya Navratri, while Ashwin marks the Shardiya Navratri. Navratri during Magh and Ashadha is known as Gupt Navratri.
The festival concludes with the immersion of the Durga idol on Dussehra.
Notably, there is a three-month gap between each Navratri celebration.
In the context of Hinduism, the practice of worshipping feminine energy (shakti), represented by nine Goddesses, for nine consecutive days during festivals, is unmatched by any similar practice in other religions.
This distinctive aspect underscores the central role of Goddess worship within Hindu observances, showcasing the deep reverence for women and femininity embedded in Hindu culture since antiquity.
Across epochs, Hinduism has boasted the most pronounced presence of the divine feminine among global religions, signifying an enduring legacy of empowerment and reverence for the feminine essence.
The celebration of Navratri embodies the reverence for feminine energy (shakti) depicted in Hindu scriptures. Just as the Rigveda glorifies feminine energy as the essence of the universe, Navratri celebrates the divine feminine through Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
These goddesses symboliSe purification cycles, mirroring the journey of purification depicted in ancient texts.
The first cycle, represented by Goddess Durga, purifies the physical realm, akin to the glorification of feminine energy as the creator in Hindu scriptures.
Similarly, the second cycle, led by Goddess Lakshmi, focuses on emotional purification, aligning with the empowering depiction of women in Hindu texts.
Finally, the third cycle, guided by Goddess Saraswati, signifies the purification of the mind, reflecting the supreme governing principle of the cosmos attributed to the feminine in Vedic literature.
Thus, Navratri’s rituals echo the profound respect and celebration of women as formidable and empowering entities in Hinduism, as depicted in ancient scriptures.
Why should we seize this opportunity to purify our bodies and minds?
Let’s delve into the scientific rationale behind Navratri. One distinguishing feature of Hindu festivals is their inherent connection to significant astronomical events or transitions.
Navratri aligns with crucial astronomical events like Equinoxes and Solstices, which are pivotal in marking the change of seasons.
During the equinox, the sun aligns directly with the equator, creating approximately equal lengths of daylight and darkness worldwide.
This celestial event, derived from the Latin words “equity” and “nox” meaning equal night, marks a balance between light and darkness, with most places experiencing 12 hours of each.
At the equator, the sun is directly overhead during these equinoxes, occurring only twice a year when the Earth’s axis is neither tilted towards nor away from the sun, resulting in nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness across latitudes.
They match well with our body’s internal clock, called the circadian rhythm, which dictates when we sleep, wake, and perform other biological functions.
Our internal clock runs slightly longer than a 24-hour day but adjusts to the environment’s light-dark cycle. This adjustment, known as entrainment, prevents our cycles from drifting.
Balanced lightness and darkness during equinoxes keep our circadian system stable, ensuring better sleep and well-being.
Physiologically, hormonal shifts occur during this time, influencing various biological cycles and promoting inner transformation.
With rising consciousness during Navratri meditations aids in decluttering the mind of negative emotions such as fear, anger, and attachment, fostering mental well-being.
The March equinox also heralds spring, symbolizing renewal and rejuvenation.
Across cultures, this time is celebrated as nature’s awakening, with trees and plants completing their growth cycle, adorned with vibrant spring foliage or blossoms before the arrival of summer.
The eternal and limitless spirit (soul) journeyed through the ages, acting as an unending source of energy in the universe.
Navratri, the nine sacred nights of India’s spiritual festival through fasting, prayer, chanting, and meditation offer a chance to convert negativity into positivity.
These significant nights mark a period for awakening, integrating, and aligning the nine chakras across the mind, body, and spirit.
During Navratri, the subtle energies enveloping the surroundings aid in guiding one’s path towards spiritual enlightenment, forging a link between personal awareness and the divine, auspicious collective consciousness.
This connection evokes positive attributes within us, dismantling lethargy, conceit, fixation, desires, and repulsions.
As negative emotions dissipate, replaced by transformative energies, we embark on a journey of profound rejuvenation throughout the auspicious nine nights.
Interestingly, the concept of feminine energy finds a parallel in the biological realm through mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell. Mitochondria, inherited from the maternal DNA, play a crucial role in providing energy to the human body.
This connection underscores the deep reverence for the feminine essence embedded in Hindu culture.
During Navratri, devotees engage in rituals such as fasting, prayer, chanting, and meditation, seeking spiritual enlightenment and purification.
These practices have been likened to intermittent fasting, which has been associated with mitochondrial rejuvenation.
Fasting triggers processes like autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis.
Autophagy clears out damaged mitochondria, while biogenesis stimulates the formation of new, healthy ones. This renewal process parallels the spiritual journey of Navratri, where devotees strive for inner purification and renewal.
Moreover, intermittent fasting of Navratri enhances mitochondrial efficiency and function, reducing oxidative stress and promoting cellular health.
Similarly, Navratri rituals aim to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit, offers an ideal opportunity to sync and balance the internal and external energy centers, fostering spiritual integration and harmony.
Navratri holds profound significance, intertwining spiritual, social, and scientific dimensions.
From a social perspective, traditionally in Bharat, there was no concept of weekends or Sundays, so the Hindu festivals like Navratri used to provide a respite from the rigors of daily life, reminding individuals to pause and reconnect through community interactions, revitalising old relationships and fostering new connections amidst seasonal change.
The attributes like strength and stability, devout asceticism, courage, protection, and determination are essential qualities for navigating life’s challenges. Additionally, the ability to combat evils, create positive change, and embody purity and recovery contribute to a well-rounded and evolved existence.
Each of these attribute symbolised by the nine forms of the divine Goddess Durga is integral to achieving spiritual growth, fulfilment, and ultimately, a harmonious and evolved life.
In the rich tradition of Hinduism in Bharat, the intertwining of science and culture is not only evident but celebrated.
Navratri, with its profound spiritual significance and scientific underpinnings, exemplifies this harmonious co-existence.
As devotees come together to honour the divine feminine and embark on a journey of purification and enlightenment, they simultaneously embrace the scientific insights that guide their practices.
In this fusion of ancient wisdom and modern understanding, Hinduism in Bharat continues to thrive, offering a timeless path to spiritual growth and cultural richness.
(The writer is a Ph.D in sociology and has authored books on India History)
–IANS
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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, raised concerns in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday regarding the frequent train accidents occurring in recent months, emphasising the need for enhanced passenger safety.
Bandyopadhyay specifically referred to the derailment of the Mumbai-Howrah Express 12810 at 3:43 A.M., on Tuesday which resulted in four fatalities.
“I received information from my Chief Minister in the morning that Mumbai-Howrah train, 12810, had derailed and four people were killed at 3:43 A.M. today. I am keen to know the latest position from the honourable Railway Minister,” Bandyopadhyay stated during the session.
He highlighted that “safety in Railways has become a challenge” and expressed concern over the regular occurrence of accidents, despite past recommendations from the Standing Committee on Railways to prioritise safety.
The TMC MP questioned the absence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the House, asking, “Why is the Railway Minister not coming to the House and giving an explanation?”
The latest accident occurred on Tuesday, with the derailment of the Howrah-CSMT Express near Rajkharsawan and Badabambo stations, approximately 80 km from Jamshedpur in the Chakradharpur railway division of Jharkhand.
–IANS
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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) The BJP held a silent protest at Rajghat on Tuesday over the deaths of three UPSC aspirants in Old Rajendra Nagar on July 27.
During the protest, Delhi BJP President, Virendra Sachdeva strongly criticised the Delhi government and said, “Today’s silent protest is to express our condolences for the students who died in that incident. This incident is not just an accident, but a murder.”
He mentioned that the ruling AAP leaders had been claiming that 90 per cent of the drains were cleaned, but they backtracked after the incident.
He further targeted the government, saying, “CM Arvind Kejriwal is in jail, why is he not resigning and why are other ministers not doing their work? For Delhi’s drainage management, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj was given a proposal by the Chief Secretary, which he kept pending for months.”
Sachdeva pointed out, “The Delhi High Court ordered the formation of a committee after the Mukherjee Nagar incident, but the Kejriwal government took no action. Residents of Rajendra Nagar had been lodging complaints with the MLA and municipal councillor for days, but their complaints were ignored.”
The BJP President accused the Delhi government and the municipal corporation of being deeply involved in corruption.
He demanded that all coaching centres and PG accommodations undergo a safety audit and that the families of the deceased be given compensation of Rs 1 crore each.
He said that leaders of the INDIA bloc were more concerned about CM Kejriwal’s health while the real issue was the safety and deaths of students.
He stated that the municipal corporation and the Kejriwal government must take responsibility.
–IANS
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Kolkata, July 30 (IANS) The BJP on Thursday filed a no-confidence motion against Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay in the West Bengal Assembly.
The proposal signed by as many as 50 BJP legislators was handed over to the Assembly secretary, Sukumar Roy in the afternoon. A team of BJP MLAs led by the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari went to the office of Sukumar Ray and handed over the proposal.
Last year too, BJP’s legislative team moved a similar no-confidence motion against the Speaker on the floor of the House and sought discussion on the matter. However, then, the motion was not admitted by the Speaker.
BJP insiders said that in the proposal handed over to the Assembly secretary, the party’s legislative team has highlighted 18 points on why Bandopadhyay should be removed as the Speaker of the House.
The main allegation is that any motion moved by the opposition, however of public interest that might be, is always dismissed by the Speaker. The BJP accused the Speaker of allowing the ruling Trinamool Congress legislators to move many motions even though their subjects were not directly related to the Assembly proceedings.
Later speaking to the media persons, Adhikari said that the Speaker was violating the constitutional provisions by all means. “He is acting on behalf of a particular political party sitting on the Chair of the Speaker which is supposed to be unbiased. He is always trying to suppress the voices of the opposition. He does not allow us to speak on crucial issues on the floor of the House. So we have submitted a no-confidence motion against him to the Assembly secretary,” Adhikari said.
Trinamool Congress leadership ridiculed this move of BJP and claimed that the LoP was resorting to such gimmicks just to maintain his own as well as his party’s relevance.
–IANS
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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Adding the Nimotuzumab drug to the standard treatment regimen significantly improves the 10-year overall survival rate for patients with head and neck cancer, a study by Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai showed on Tuesday.
It demonstrated that Nimotuzumab, when combined with concurrent radiotherapy and the drug, cisplatin, enhanced progression-free survival and maintained a good quality of life for long-term survivors.
Patients receiving this combination had a 10-year overall survival rate of 33.5 per cent, compared to 22.5 per cent in those treated with only radiotherapy and cisplatin, the findings showed.
Median overall survival also improved from 2.78 to 3.69 years with Nimotuzumab.
Notably, there was no significant increase in late-term adverse events, stressing its safety and tolerability.
Head and neck cancers represent one-third of the cancer burden in India, with more than 65 per cent of patients presenting with advanced disease.
According to Kumar Prabhash, Professor and Head, the Department of Medical Oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, the findings are promising for patients with head and neck cancer.
“By integrating Nimotuzumab into the existing therapy regimen, we have seen a significant increase in long-term survival rates while maintaining patient quality of life,” Prabhash said in a statement.
Shyam Aggarwal, Chairperson of Medical Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, emphasised the treatment’s potential to become a standard option due to its efficacy and safety.
“Nimotuzumab’s safety and efficacy make it a viable option for treatment, preserving the quality of life while effectively managing tumour burden,” Aggarwal said.
This study represents a significant advancement in the treatment of head and neck cancer in India, with Nimotuzumab proving both effective and safe.
Neera Gupta, General Manager of Medical Affairs and Clinical Development at Eris Lifesciences, said that adding Nimotuzumab to concurrent chemoradiation not only improves survival rates but also preserves quality of life, addressing the challenges faced by patients in vital functions like speaking and swallowing.
–IANS
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Chennai, July 30 (IANS) A woman and her granddaughter died in a minor landslip that occurred near Valparai in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district on Tuesday.
The deceased, according to police, were identified as A.Rajeswari alias Muthammal (57) and her granddaughter, T.S. Dhanapriya (15).
The tragedy occurred when a portion of the hill behind their house slipped.
The mud walls of the house collapsed and the duo, who was sleeping inside, died after getting buried under the debris.
Rajeswari’s husband Arumugam, who works as a security guard for a cottage in the locality, was not in the house. Fire and Rescue Services with the help of local people recovered the bodies.
Dhanapriya was studying in Class 10 in a government school in Valparai. The police shifted the bodies to the Government Hospital Valparai.
In another incident, A. Hariharasudhan, a resident of Anna Nagar at Thippampatty near Gomangalam, died after the wall of his house collapsed around 3 a.m.
The police said that the mud wall of a neighbour’s residence, namely Mayilathal, collapsed onto Hariharasudhan’s house and he died on the spot.
The police shifted the body to the Government Headquarters Hospital, Pollachi.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condoled the deaths of the three persons in the rain-related disasters and announced a solarium of 3 lakh each to the next of kin.
The South-West monsoon has been active in many regions of Tamil Nadu for the past few days and there has been incessant rain in the area.
–IANS
aal/dpb
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