In all traditional Devi rituals, whether it is Navratri which is celebrated publically, or Shakti and Shree Sadhana practiced on a personal level, the five elements of nature are offered to the Devi. Let us understand the reasons behind this offering.
Devi, or the Mother Divine, is associated with prakriti and in offering the 5 elements, we are symbolically evoking her abundant nature and generosity. The 5 elements of nature are Earth, Space, Air, Fire, and Water; and they are symbolised through fruits, flowers, dhup, diya, and panchamrit. For each offering, keep the following symbolism in mind:
- Earth: When we offer the element of Earth, we are offering all our materialistic possessions to the Devi: we are offering all that we own and possess to Her.
- Space: By offering the element of space, we are offering all our thoughts to Her.
- Air: By offering the element of Air, we are offering our 5 senses to Her.
- Fire: When we offer the element of Fire, we offer our energies to Her.
- Water: When we offer the element of Water, we are offering our emotions to Her.
Through these 5 elements, we offer our complete existence to the Devi and in return, she blesses us with Her Grace. She receives our Earth elemental offerings and infuses our materialistic wealth with abundance and prosperity. She receives our mundane thoughts and transforms them into high and inspiring ideas that can change our lives. She receives our offerings of the 5 senses and blesses them with her magical powers, so that we become expressive and effective when we connect with the world through our these senses. She receives our energies and infuses them with enthusiasm, so that we are able to attain our goals and objectives. And finally, she receives our emotions and tranforms them into joy or Ananda, so that we can enjoy our every day of life and our existence itself becomes a cause for celebration.
Always remember that Devi is the Divine Mother who reciprocates 1000 times of what we offer to her. Just as a parent gives back to a child much more than the parent receives from the child, in the same way the Divine Mother gives back much much more than what you offer Her.
