The three wise monkeys said, see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. This saying of the wise monkeys originated in Japan, during the Muromachi period (a time of turbulence). It is believed that they were influenced by the teachings of the Buddha. Their names were Mizaru who covered his eyes and saw no evil; Kikazaru, who covered his ears and heard no evil; Iwazaru, who covered his mouth and spoke no evil. Then there is the San Saru symbol, which says, “See the good, hear the good and speak the good.” The wise monkeys are also known as the three mystical monkeys.
Navratri, the nine days of worship of the Goddess, starts on the 3rd of October. It is a time to practice what the wise and mystical monkeys represent. It is the triumph of good over evil and expression of the power of the divine Goddess. It is a time for self-reflection. The first three days are dedicated to Tamas and the Goddess is Durga who represents inertia. The next three days are dedicated to Rajas and the Goddess Lakshmi. Rajas represents activity and passion. The last three days are dedicated to Sattva and the Goddess is worshipped as Saraswati. Sattva represents transcendence, knowledge and purity.
The purpose of Navratri
The purpose of Navratri is to gain victory over the Gunas and become centered. Learn to lead a balanced life, practicing meditation and worshipping the Goddess. The Goddess is known as ‘Trigunatmika’, and she is the Mistress of all three Gunas. In the first three days, when we pray to Ma Durga, we ask to remove the impurities from our mind, cleanse our thoughts and attain mastery over cravings, greed and anger. The next three days we ask Ma Lakshmi to nurture and nourish noble qualities in our hearts and mind. The last three days we ask Ma Saraswati to enable us to gain knowledge about the Self.
Dear ones, become aware, practice pratyahara and become like the wise and mystical monkeys and the Goddess will bless you.
The Navratri mantras
The two mantras, you can chant during the Navratri are Om Dum Durgayei Namaha and Om Hrim Klim Chamundaye Viche. Om Dum Durgayei Namaha honors Ma Durga. It has eight syllables. Om means the universal sound of all creation, Dum is the Bija sound of Durga’s Shakti and Durgayei is the formal name for the Goddess. Lastly Namaha means a humble salutation which also means that I bow to you.
Om Hrim Klim Chamundaye Viche is a Navarna mantra. It has nine syllables. It is a very powerful and sacred mantra which is especially used in the worship of Goddess Durga. It is a part of the Durga Saptashati. It is made up of three Bija mantras, Aim, Hrim Klim. These three Bija represent Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi and Maha kali. It is said that chanting these two mantras with devotion will grant one spiritual and material prosperity and protection from all evil. You can choose to chant one or both.
Aim Hrim Klim