This section Helpful Tips is all about Frequently Arising Questions. Sri Anand Guruji, share the knowledge on general topics and Hindu Sanathana Dharma in his Television Programmes telecasted in ETV Kannada Channel, which i have put in this section. Guruji also share information of knowledge on Vasthu Shastra and lot of Helpful stuffs. Many People have lot of doubts on Hindu Sanathana Dharma, which is also covered in this section.
Please do ask a priest or elders, if you have any doubts in below, who knows very well about our customs and practices and clarify the same.
Please do ask a priest or elders, if you have any doubts in below, who knows very well about our customs and practices and clarify the same.
- How many Navaratri's do we get every year?
Navarathri is celebrated four times a year. They are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, and the Paush/Magha Navaratri. Of these, the Sharada Navaratri of the month of Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta kala are very important.
1. Vasanta Navaratri: Basanta Navaratri, also known as Vasant Navaratri, is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the spring season (March–April). It is also known as Chaitra Navaratri. The nine days of festival is also known as Raama Navratri.
2. Gupta Navaratri: Gupta Navaratri, also referred as Ashadha or Gayatri or Shakambhari Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (June–July). Gupta Navaratri is observed during the Ashadha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).
3. Sharada Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navaratris. It is simply called Maha Navaratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated in the month of Ashvina. Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October).
4. Paush Navaratri: Paush Navaratri is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Paush (December–January). Paush Navaratri is observed during the Paush Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).
5. Magha Navaratri: Magha Navaratri, also referred as Gupta Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Magha (January–February). Magha Navaratri is observed during the Magha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).
- How to arrange Kolu/Golu dolls for Dussehra or Navaratri?
Golu means display. Goddess is present in our home during these nine days. The house holds organising 'GOLU' will prepare the display furniture either in metal or in wood. The furniture or golu stand will have nine steps or tiers. The furniture or golu stand is readily available in the market. The slanting steps are like our door steps or staircase steps. Imagine a furniture is designed to display dolls in graded steps or tiers.
The furniture or golu stand has 9 tiers or steps. It is significant that the Navaratri Golu is set up with the arrangement of dolls on an odd number of steps (usually 3,5,7,9). The counting of the first step begins from top and proceeds to the bottom most step. The top most is step one, the next one is step two and the step nine is the bottommost one.
Maximum number of tiers in which dolls are arranged are 9 depending on time and space constraints. The golus show different themes in different homes - from the elaborate, extravagant ones to the simple, traditional and artistic ones. Year after year the women folk enthusiastically organize these dolls as per their tastes. Yet there are beliefs and conventions in arranging dolls in respective steps:
Tiers 1-3: You are expected to arrange Kalasam on the first tier or step. The first tier or step begins on top of the display furniture (golu stand). Goddess Durga or Mahishasuramardini, Maha Lakshmi, Maha Saraswati, Siva, Vishnu, Brahma and all other gods and goddesses occupy tier one to three. You may keep Dasavatharam set.
Tiers 4-6: Counting from top to bottom. You are expected to organize the next three steps to saints like Azhwars, Nayanmars, Guru Raghavendra, Sai Baba, and the like and you may even locate men and women of importance, i.e. national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsar, Swami Vivekananda etc.
Tier 7: Counting from top to bottom. You are free to organize sets of dolls on themes like family, marriage, festivals like Deepavali, Rama Navami, Krishna Jayanthi, etc.
Tier 8: Counting from top to bottom. You may organize sets of dolls according to your imagination and creativity. You may arrange various businesses and crafts, say for example your Chettiar dolls sitting in his business shop surrounded by grocery items like rice, pulses kept in bags or other utensils.
Tier 9: Bottom-most tier. You have the liberty to arrange the traditional wooden dolls called (Marapachi) - covered and decorated with glittering dresses. So also you may keep dolls of fish, tortoise, reptiles, birds, lion, tiger, cow, bulls, etc.
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Every individual progresses towards spiritual evolution and salvation step by step. The steps in Kolu display, brings forth that philosophy to the mind of everyone. It is customary to have nine steps on which dolls are displayed and worshipped.
The counting of the first step begins from bottom and proceeds to the top most step. The top most is step nine, the next one is step eight and the step one is the bottommost one.
First Step: Trees, plants and creepers etc. which have one sense in their creation.
Second Step: Beings like snails, conch and tortoise etc which have two senses.
Third Step: Beings like ants, cock-roaches which have three senses.
Fourth Step: Beings like crabs, wasp and birds etc. which have four senses.
Fifth Step: Beings like cow, goat, lion and tiger etc. which have five senses.
Sixth Step: Human Beings who have been blessed additionally with sixth sense.
Seventh Step: Liberated souls like saints and sages.
Eighth Step: Divines, Nine Planets, Five Elements etc.
Ninth Step: Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, Devi, Ganapati and their Incarnations.
In this way if Kolu is displayed and worshiped the Trinities of Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati will bestow upon us knowledge, wealth and strength.
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