Navaratra, Navarātra, Navan-ratra: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Navaratra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Navarātra (नवरात्र) refers to the autumnal festival of the warrior goddess Caṇḍikā, which is today one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Hindu calendar. Built up over nine lunar days and culminating on a tenth, the festival fulfills several, apparently disparate, purposes: it offers obligatory worship to the Goddess, without which her wrath could become implacable (so legends warn in dire tones); wards away omens from—and thereby symbolically cleanses and renews—a community of people; and bestows the ritual stamp of victory on the military forces of a kingdom.
Navarātra (नवरात्र) refers to one of the topics discussed in the Śaktisangamatantra, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 1 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (first series)” by Rajendralal Mitra (1822–1891), who was one of the first English-writing historians dealing with Indian culture and heritage.—The Mahāmokṣatantra manuscript contains roughly 11,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and represents a voluminous compendium of the Śākta cult comprising four books on Kālī, Tārā, Sundarī and Chinnamastā.—The catalogue includes the term—Navarātra-nirṇaya in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads—[chapter 2.20: navarātranirṇayadevīpūjāprakārādi].
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Navarātra (नवरात्र) refers to the “time of nine nights”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I shall define the nature of that highest, mind-free absorption which arises for those devoted to constant practice. [...] By means of an absorption for nine nights (navarātra), [the Yogin] who abides in his own undivided self has the Siddhi of speech, which can effect a favour or curse. [...]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
India history and geography
Navarātra.—(EI 11, 25; CII 4), the festival of Durgā; Āśvina-sudi 1 to 9. Note: navarātra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
See also (synonyms): Navarātri.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
navarātra (नवरात्र).—n f (S) A space of nine days and nights; and particularly that included between the first and the ninth days of the moon of caitra; and a similar period in the month āśvina: also the festival held at this season.
navarātra (नवरात्र).—n f A space of nine days and nights; and particularly that included between the first and the ninth days of the moon of caitra; and a similar period in the month aśvina; the festival held at this season.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Navarātra (नवरात्र).—
1) a period of nine days.
2) the first nine days of the month of Āśvina held sacred to Durgā.
Derivable forms: navarātram (नवरात्रम्).
Navarātra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms navan and rātra (रात्र).
Navaratra (नवरत्र).—n.
(-traṃ) 1. Nine precious gems, or a pearl, ruby, topaz, diamond, emerald, lapis lazuli, coral, sapphire, and one called Gomeda. 2. The nine men of letters at the court of Vikramaditya, or Dhan- Wantari, Kshapanaka, Amarasinha, Sanku, Vetalabhatta, Ghatakarpara, Kalidasa, Varahamihira, and Vararuchi. E. nava and ratra a jewel.
--- OR ---
Navarātra (नवरात्र).—n.
(-traṃ) The period of nine days, from the first of the light half of Aswin to the ninth; part of the time devoted to the worship of Durga. E. nava, and rātri a night.
Navarātra (नवरात्र).—[masculine] a period or festival of nine days.
1) Navarātra (नवरात्र):—[=nava-rātra] [from nava] m. a period of 9 days, [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; ???]
2) [v.s. ...] a Soma sacrifice with 9 Sutyā days, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra]; 9 days in the middle of the Gavām-ayana, [Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
3) [v.s. ...] n. (also trika) the 9 days from the Ist of the light half of month Āśvina to the 9th (devoted to the worship of Durgā), [Religious Thought and Life in India 431]
Navarātra (नवरात्र):—[nava-rātra] (traṃ) 1. n. Nine days & nights.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Navaratraghatasthapanavidhi, Navaratrahavanavidhi, Navaratrakatha, Navaratrakritya, Navaratranirnaya, Navaratrapradipa, Navaratrapujapaddhati, Navaratrapujavidhana, Navaratravidhi, Navaratravrata, Navaratravratakatha.
Full-text (+100): Navaratranirnaya, Navaratrakritya, Navaratravrata, Navaratrapradipa, Shalalipishanga, Navaratravidhi, Navaratrapujavidhana, Navaratrahavanavidhi, Navaratraghatasthapanavidhi, Navacandi, Ghatasthapana, Haladakunkum, Vyudhanavaratra, Uthatambasatam-Upasa, Navaratrika, Sharada, Haladikunkum, Khadenavami, Panjharata, Mahanavami.
Relevant text
Search found 22 books and stories containing Navaratra, Nava-ratra, Nava-rātra, Navan-ratra, Navan-rātra, Navarātra; (plurals include: Navaratras, ratras, rātras, Navarātras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 27 - On the virgins fit to be worshipped and the Glory of the Devī < [Book 3]
Chapter 34 - On the methods of the worship of the Devī < [Book 5]
Chapter 26 - On the narration of what are to be done in the Navarātri < [Book 3]
Activities of the All-India Kashiraj Trust < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 1 (1964)]
The Devi-Bhagavata as the Real Bhagavata < [Purana, Volume 11, Part 1 (1969)]
The Garba Dance < [December 1943]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 186 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 228 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 213 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (Study) (by Artatrana Sarangi)
The Kumari-puja (Virgin worship) during Navaratra < [Chapter 3 - General Ritual mentioned in Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika]
Description of the Navaratra Festival < [Chapter 3 - General Ritual mentioned in Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika]
Conclusion of Part 2 < [Chapter 3 - General Ritual mentioned in Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika]
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