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Parenting Pebbles from Navadurgas

Navratri Parenting Pebbles from Navadurgas – Part II

Navratri Parenting Pebbles from Navadurgas is a three-part blog series that captures the ancient parenting wisdom shared by Navadurgas through their different incarnations. Each incarnation of Maa Durga that’s worshipped during the Navratri has a hidden meaning and purpose. Once we try to understand that hidden purpose and meaning, we would be amazed at how those lessons are still relevant even today.

Most modern child psychologists and parenting coaches talk about the very same nuggets of parenting wisdom in different words. So isn’t it the time to wake up to our ancient wisdom and dig further to understand that ancient wisdom in a better way, so that we can manage our lives in a much better way? Here are the Navaratri Parenting pebbles for days 4, 5 and 6

Navratri Parenting Pebbles for days 4,5 and 6.

Day 4: Maa Kushmanda or Maa Lalitha Tripura Sundari Devi.

Maa Kushmanda devi and Lalitha Trupura Sundari images in the Navaratri Parenting Pebbles blogpost by Mommyshravmusings

On day 4 of Navratri, we worship Maa Kushmanda in North India and Maa Lalitha Tripura Sundari in certain parts of South India. Both these incarnations signify the ultimate power that was responsible for the formation of the cosmos. Maa Kushmanda is the one who has created the egg that’s responsible for the cosmos creation. Whereas Lalitha Devi is revered as the utmost supernatural power from whom the Trimurti’s (Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma) have originated in Indian scriptures. And based on Maa Lalita Devi’s directions only Brahma has started creating the cosmos.

In yogic parlance – All desires, aspirations, and everything start from one tiny seed (kushmam). How this seed would be developed and what it will achieve is purely based on Sadak’s aspirations and actions for that seed. We can use it for either good deeds or bad deeds. Also, another important point to remember is that it’s the mother who is responsible for creating that tiny egg.

Navratri Parenting Pebbles: A mother needs to be the ultimate supporter of their children, as long as they are doing good deeds. This fact is well explained in the Lalitha Sahasranamam strotras in Indian scriptures. And if we observe any true leader, their mom was their first cheerleader in their life. A mother should always be supportive of her children for their good deeds and intentions.

Day 5: Sri Saraswati Devi or Skanda Mata

On day 5, we worship the incarnations of Maa Durga, which symbolizes knowledge and skills. Some people worship this incarnation as Saraswati Devi and some others worship as Skanda Mata. Both these forms represent knowledge (both theory and practical application). These both incarnations are the epitome of knowledge and knows all Vedas and everything in the world.

Maa Skandamata Devi and Saraswati Devi images from Wikipedia in the Navaratri Parenting Pebbles post by Mommyshravmusigs

As we all know, Saraswati Devi is the goddess of knowledge and she imparts the knowledge to her seekers. Whereas, Skanda Mata Devi is the one who brings practical knowledge to the forefront.

In yogic parlance – Knowledge and its practical application are two sides of the coin. They both can’t survive without one another. And a person without knowledge is as useless as a person without knowing how to use his knowledge.

Navratri Parenting Pebbles: As parents, you are the first source of knowledge for your children. Teach what’s wrong or right at the appropriate time to your children and never outsource this job. Also, show them the importance of the practical application of the knowledge by providing experiential learning in modern-day parlance. That’s the reason, why the ancient education system of India used to concentrate more on the practical usability of knowledge. The students are expected to complete traveling and hone their skills by working along with the seniors in that field for a certain period of time. Only after completing this requirement, they were treated as though they have completed their education.

Day 6: Sri Annapurna Devi or Katyayani Devi

On day 6 of Navratri, maa Durga takes the incarnation of Katyayani Devi to defeat the demon Mahishasura. She was born out of the anger emotion of all the gods. And she uses that anger in a positive way to destroy the evil.

Maa Katyayani Devi and Annapurna Devi images from Wikipedia in the blogpost "Navratri Parenting Pebbles" by Mommyshravmusings

In South India, in certain places, on the very day 6 of Navratri, Maa Durga is worshipped as Annapurna Devi. She is the one responsible for all the material needs like food and water for human beings. The reason why she is worshipped as the goddess is to bring the importance of the material needs like food and water in human survival.

In yogic parlance – both these incarnations mean the same thing. That is to use both emotions or your material comforts only in a positive way, for the benefit of the society or personal evolution towards salvation.

Navratri Parenting Pebbles: As parents, we need to teach that all emotions have both negative and positive angles and we need to use them only for the benefit of ourselves or of the society to our kids. In a similar way, accumulating too many material comforts will not benefit anyone. We need to use the material comforts as per our needs only and survive within the limited means.

Final Thoughts:

This is the second part of the three-part series about the parenting pebbles shared by different incarnations of Maa Durga. As told earlier, in the first part, I am just reiterating the stories that I used to hear from my grandparents about Indian scriptures and the different lessons the earlier sages and rishis have passed to us in the form of festivals and celebrations. In case if you have different views, please let me know in the comments below. The links to the other parts from this series have been given below.

9 Incredible Parenting Pebbles shared by Navdurga during this Navratri

Parenting Pebbles from Navaratri – Part I (Days 1,2 and 3)

Parenting Pebbles from Navratri – Part III (Days 7,8 and 9)

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5 Comments

  1. […] Parenting Pebbles from Navratri – Part II (Days 4,5 and 6) […]

  2. […] Parenting Pebbles from Navaratri – Part II (Days 4,5 and 6) […]

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  4. Such a great article. Thank you.

    1. Thank you Aliah for dropping by

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