#smile
12 April, 2024 Friday Chaturthi #Grey #Kushmanda Puja
The fourth day of the Navratri festival is dedicated to #Goddess Maa Kushmanda, during which the fourth form of the nine incarnations of Goddess #Durga is worshipped. The worship of #Maa-Kushmanda develops intelligence and increases decision-making power in life.
Maa Kushmanda is very fond of the sacrifice of Kumhada कुम्हड़ा फल (Also known as Petha, Ash Gourd or Kumahada) and in Sanskrit, Kumhada is called Kushmanda, that is why this form of Maa Durga is called Kushmanda. It is believed that by worshiping Maa Kushmanda in Navratri, all the diseases, sorrows and fears of the seeker are removed and he gets infinite grace and desired boon of the Goddess.
There are many forms of Goddess Durga, but the form of Maa Kushmanda is among the most striking; she radiates as brightly as the sun.
The mantra of Kushmanda Maa :
Maa Kushmanda resides in the Anahata Chakra so, she is worshipped by meditating in the Anahata Chakra. Through her blessings, her devotees are able to overcome diseases, evil eyes, and grief. She grants fame, strength and longevity to her devotees who chant the following mantras:-
सुरासम्पूर्णकलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च। दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कुष्मांडा शुभदास्तु मे। (Surasampurnakalasham Rudhiraplutmev Ch; Dadhana Hastapadmabhayam Kushmanda Shubhadastu ) अमृत से परिपूरित कलश को धारण करने वाली और कमलपुष्प से युक्त तेजोमय मां कूष्मांडा हमें सब कार्यों में शुभदायी सिद्ध हो।
2. या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तुष्टि-रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Her #beej #mantra is ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं कूष्मांडायै नम: । (Om Aim Hreem Klein Kushmandaai Namah).
- The devotees can also recite Siddha Kunjika Stotra to please Maa Kushmanda.
The story about Maa Kushmanda:
It is believed that the universe began as a dark space and that Goddess Kushmanda produced the Cosmos with her smile from that dark space. Kushmanda is believed to be the #source of direction and energy for the Sun. Kushmanda is believed to be the source of direction and energy for the Sun.
She is known as “Kushmanda,” which is derived from the words Ku (little), Ushma (warmth), and Anda ( #egg), referring to the person who created the universe as a “Little Cosmic Egg” filled with energy and warmth.
She also created Devi #Mahakali, Devi #Mahalaxmi, and #Devi #Mahasaraswati. Maa Kushmanda is also known as Adiswaroopa and #Adishakti.
She has eight arms, she is also known as Ashtabhuja, which means goddess with eight hands. Kamandal, bow, arrow, lotus flower, nectar-filled urn, chakra, and mace are held in each of her seven hands, respectively and in the eighth hand, there is a rosary that grants all siddhis (perfectionism) and prosperity to her devotionalists.
How to pray Maa Kushmanda?
On the fourth day of Navratri, Malpuas (traditional north Indian pancakes made with wheat flour, jaggery or sugar, and cardamom powder) should be offered to Goddess Kushmanda. Offerings of Red bangles, red flowers, and red dress should be made because these are very dear to the Goddess. During the time of Maa Kushmanda’s prayer, devotees should sit in the green asana.
She is the happy manifestation of Maa Durga better known as the “Smiling Goddess”, therefore, Maa Kushmanda is synonymous with happiness. Those who worship Maa Kushmanda are blessed with happiness, prosperity, an abundance of knowledge, good health, and long life. In this form of Durga, darkness is believed to be eradicated from the world by her #smile.
The worshipers of Maa Kushmanda enjoy good vision, mental freedom, and positive social standing.
The value of a smile at Christmas
It costs nothing, but creates much.
It enriches those who recieve, without impoverishing those who give.
It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes last forever.
None are so rich they can get along without it, and none so poor but are richer for its benefits.
It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in a business, and is the countersign of friends.
It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature's best antidote for trouble.
Yet i cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody till it is given away.
And if in the last-minute rush of Christmas buying some of our salespeople should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours?
For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give!
From a century ago; "a department store in New York City, in recognition of the pressures its sales clerks were under during the Christmas rush, presented the readers of its advertisements with the above homely philosophy."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWUahpgPlKg
"Raise a #Smile" (Official #Music #Video) - by The #MarshFamily
Care to our coffin adds a nail, no doubt;
And every grin, so merry, draws one out.
John Wolcot (1738-1819) English satirist (pseud. Peter Pindar)
Expostulatory Odes to a Great Duke and a Little Lord, Ode 15, ll. 5-6 (1789)
#quote #quotes #quotation #care #goodhumor #grin #health #humor #merriment #smile #worry
Sourcing / notes: https://wist.info/wolcot-john/64385/
#Happy #Navratri Day 4 – #Mercury
As the nine nights represent the nine planets, we will be having a planetary observance of Navaratri with an account of one of the planets for each of the nine nights. The fourth day of Navaratri is marked to #worship #Goddess #Kushmanda. The Fourth planet is Mercury. It is said that one should wear royal blue on this day, as it is considered good for health and wealth. Our colour for this day is #Royal-Blue!
Today is the fourth day of the Navaratri celebrations which are held for nine nights. All festivals are meant to remind mankind that they should cultivate noble qualities by engaging themselves in activities beneficial to one’s own self and society. Sai Baba has told that Navaratri, the nine nights, represents the Nine Planets.
In Hindu mythology, Navaratri celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. She fought for nine days and nine nights before emerging victorious on the tenth day. Goddess Shakti in the nine forms is worshipped during the period for knowledge, wealth, prosperity and auspiciousness. Knowingly or unknowingly during this period we also recognise the primordial source of energy (Shakti), which manifests in all living and nonliving.
Sai Baba went on to say that each planet has its own significance. However, these planets are not outside, they are #within. So we take the opportunity to examine the energies of the planets within, and examine how the #Divine #Mother is related to these energies.
Mercury
Mercury is also known in #VedicAstrology as #Budha, the awakened discriminating #intellect – the part of us that knows. Mercury owns two signs, Gemini and Virgo. Mercury is exalted in Virgo at 15 degrees, and debilitated in the opposite sign, Pisces. Where the Moon is the innocent mind, Mercury is the intellect that discriminates between benefic and malefic ideas, or good and evil. Mercury is adept at dealing with duality.
Mercury does not have a distinctive personality of its own; it takes on features of the planets which are associated with it. Mercury, planet of communication, articulates and expresses whatever influence it receives from other planets. For this reason, brilliance of expression, adjustment and flexibility are common traits of Mercury. Mercury traditionally has the function of Messenger of the Gods; Mercury functions to take messages from Gods to Man and from Man to the Gods.
Mercury develops intellect. Taking duality, it enables the subjectivity of an idea to be objectified, and helps to understand the inner reality of external phenomenon. A favourable disposition of Mercury renders perceptive, clever persons who are good debaters, who can argue either side of a question and thus, we can often find that Mercury is strong in the chart of lawyers. Mercury is intellectual and careful with details.
Day Four
Goddess Kushmanda
Kusmanda – She Who brings #happiness
Kushmanda is a Hindu goddess, credited with creating the world with her divine #smile. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu was able to begin the creation of universe, when Goddess Kushmanda smiled and receded. She represents that form of Durga which is the source of all. Her name signals her main role: Ku means “a little”, Ushma means “warmth” or “energy” and Anda means “cosmic egg”.
Kushmanda is worshipped on the fourth day of the festival of Navaratri and She is believed to improve health and bestow wealth and strength. Goddess Kushmanda has eight hands and because of that She is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi. It is believed that all the power to bestow Siddhis and Niddhis are located in her japamala (rosary beads).
Legend has it that Goddess Durga gives birth to the universe in the form of Goddess Kushmanda. She is also sometimes depicted as pregnant with the Brahmand or universe. It is believed that the eternal darkness ended when she smiled. And this led to the beginning of creation. This form symbolises that Shakti is the primordial source.
Mercury and the Feminine
Vedanga – Jyotish ( #astrology texts) – tell us that Mercury is hermaphrodite, meaning s/he is bearing signification of both genders. It is more appropriate to say that Mercury is androgynous, neither male nor female. Androgyny is also known in this day and age as intersex.
Just as the Creation narrative has Kushmanda and Vishnu at the cause of Creation, so also we see the emergent glance of the androgynous Mercury, encapsulating this act of creation with the dual genders.
We have clues to the important role and function Mercury has with regard to the mind, the intellect and duality. #Shakti is the prime force behind all dualities and Shakti can be found linking subject and object, in the glance of Mercury. The mind is an energy field of Shakti with neuronal impulses and connections, creating an elaborate web of knowledge and self interest (referring to the autonomic nervous system and instinctive responses of the body.) The mind is a bundle of thoughts bound together by the shakti of memory. Thinking is guided by the intellect – which is called buddhi in Sanskrit. The buddhi is nearest the Soul and derives over 90% of its illumination from the Soul.
Significance of Navaratri
“During these sacred nine days (Navaratri), people go through the sacred texts such as Devi Bhagavatam, Ramayana and Mahabharata. People also worship the deities Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Goddess Gayatri is the presiding deity of our senses. Savitri is the presiding deity of speech. All these three are within the same Principle of Truth. Gayatri Mantra begins with ‘Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah’. ‘Bhuh’ means materialization (Body); ‘Bhuvah’ means Vibration (Life Principle); Svaha means Radiation (Atma).
During these nine days, Goddess Shakti (Energy Principle) is worshipped. Truth, righteousness, peace, forgiveness are all expressions of the Principle of Shakti. Truth is the primal cause. There is nothing other than this. All faculties of energy are present in this Truth. So, consider Truth as your mother and follow it. The Vedas proclaim, ‘Satyam Vada; Dharmam Chara‘, which means speak the truth and follow the righteousness. Unfortunately, today people do not follow this. On the contrary they follow Asatya (untruth) and Adharma (unrighteousness)” Sai Baba. SS, 11/98, p. 284
#Horror #movies where you #laugh more than you #scare yourself ...
The nights are getting longer again, #Halloween is coming soon too and that's why I wanted to recommend you 3 #funny horror movies.
1) Tucker and Dale vs. #Evil: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/46838-tucker-and-dale-vs-evil
Collage kids go on vacation deep in the forest and meet some locals. This could be a #classic horror movie but instead misunderstandings lead to completely absurd funny events. In the end, a collage girl and a local boy team up and experience something in the second half of the film that could still be called a horror #movie.
2) The Final Girls: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/293970-the-final-girls
Due to a mysterious accident, she and her friends get caught up in the horror movie where her now deceased mother was starring. So she has to work through the trauma with her mother and at the same time try to become the "Final Girl" to survive the horror movie. The friends quickly realize that they know every scene but can hardly influence the course of events. Because of the fact that all participants act very stupid, the whole thing seems more comical, but the killer takes care of one after the other.
3) Scary Movie 2: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/4248-scary-movie-2
This movie from the series has the best mix of #fun and horror in my opinion. In this movie other horror movies are made fun of. If you don't know the originals and don't like the #humor, you'll probably find it trashy.
#Smile!
Lets start the day with some useless information:
The region of Tuscany in Italy has the highest ratio of Neanderthal DNA in the world
sand #barbarians
( #photo found on the internet with #noattribution )
#natural #smile #cutties #girls will be girls
