The festival of Navaratri AUM golu

AUM GOLU
Navaratri – my most favourite festival is here. It is that time of the year when homes would be decked up with creativity, colour to emphasize the need for common good by strengthening community ties. I love keeping Golu – an arrangement of clay, wodden and paper machie dolls on a step pedestal to to resemble the royal durbar of Goddess Durga or Mahishasuramardini prior to the slaying of the demon Mahishasura.. Not just any Golu – but a themed one as a community affair like Golu gives us an opportunity to spread message concerned with our tradition to a lot of people. This year our focus is on OM or AUM – the primordial sound of the eternal that led to the creation of the universe.

AUM

The most sacred symbol in Hindu dharma, Aum (OM) is the sound of the infinite. Symbolizing the Brahman or ultimate reality, AUM is the essence of all mantras and is said to be the primordial sound that was present at the creation of the universe.  Om is also called Pranava, Omkara, and Ekakshara and is believed to be the infuser and controller of life. The Upanishads state that everything, existent (A-kara – form or shape like earth, trees, U-kāra – formless or shapeless like water, air or fire) and non- existent (Ma-kāra – neither shape nor shapeless like the energy content of the Universe), can be grasped by uttering or visualizing the sacred symbol of AUM.

A – Akaara- Creation – Brahma – Rig Veda – Earth & Netherworld

U – Ukaara- Preservation – Vishnu- Yajur Veda – Atmosphere

M – Makaara – Destruction – Shiva– Sama Veda – Heaven

All the sounds produced by the human vocal organ can be represented by AUM. A is produced by the throat, U & M by the lips. It also represents the right (Analytical action), left (emotional reaction) Sympathetic Nervous Systems and (M) Parasympathetic Nervous Systems. The psychotherapeutic efficacy of AUM satisfies every need and ultimately leads to liberation. This is why nearly all the prayers and recitals of sacred passages are prefixed by the utterance of AUM.

AUM Golu

Since this is a serious topic I have planned a Sound and light narration to make it accessible. The show starts with story of how the universe was created according to Sanatana Dharma (The precursor to Hinduism). Lord Vishnu then creates Brahma, who in turn creates all Vedas, the 14 worlds and its inhabitants.
  

AUM Meditation

 During meditation, when we chant Om, we create within ourselves a vibration that attunes with the cosmic vibration. In the momentary silence between each chant the mind moves between the opposites of sound and silence until, at last, it ceases the sound. This silence or the state of trance is what merges the individual self with the Infinite Self.

AUM & Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesha, is referred to as the custodian of this sound as his form bears acute resemble to the visual representation of Aum (Omkaraswaroopa).
 
One can also see the various forms of AUM, OM Ganesh and OM chants at our golu. The importance of AUM meditation with its four stages along with scenes from Mandukya Upanishad is also presented.

While lord Muruga explains the meaning of OM to Lord Shiva, we also explore why Mothers are referred to as ma, amma or mother in every language tracing the etymology of the words.

Since I am still in the process of setting it up, I will conclude here and tell you a bit about what I did the last two years for Navaratri golu.

Golu themes from previous years

2010-  Durga Mata – her nine forms, the various Navaratri legends and how people in different regions of India celebrate the festival.

2009 – how the Contemporary Indian Woman is an Incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

Update – Got a Special Prize from Dinamalar, Akkam Pakkam golu contest. Find here a link to my Golu feature on Chennailivenews

I hope you find it interesting
Cheers

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