General Rules for Reading Sri Sri Chandi

By Sri Swami Sivananda Source: http://www.sivanandaonline.org/graphics/activities/navaratri_04/general_rules.htm

In the morning after taking bath and finishing ones dail !u"a #Sandh a etc.$% one should sit on a clean and pure &sana #seat$ facing 'orth or (ast with mind concentrated and full of )hakti #devotion$. Sri Sri *handi should be read with firm faith% devotion and correct pronunciation. +uring the time of reading% one should not talk% think% sleep% snee,e% awn or spit% but read with full concentration on +evi in the form which appeals to him. -e should not stop in the middle of a chapter and the book should be placed on a stand% preferabl a copper plate. &t the beginning and end of each chapter bells are to be rung. )efore reading% it is necessar to do the Sankalpa and Sri +evi !u"a. .uesda % /rida and Saturda are especiall auspicious in a week for the reading of Sri Sri *handi. +evi .ithis are &shtami% 'avami and *haturdasi. .he reading should be in the following order:

+evi Suktam 0avacham &rgala Stotra 0eelakam 1atri Suktam +evi 2ahatm a !hala Sruti 0shama !rarthana

Sri Sri *handi is divided into three parts:

!rathama #first$ 2adh ama #middle$ 3ttara #final$

.he first chapter contains the glor of 2aha 0aali% the 4nd% 5rd and the 4th chapters glorif Sri 2aha 6akshmi% and the last nine chapters from the 7th to the 85th% glorif Sri 2aha Sarasvati. -e who reads Sri Sri *handi with faith and devotion attains health% wealth% long life and salvation.

Devi Suktam: #&cc:to 1ig 9eda$: .he : Slokas composed b 9ak% the daughter of 2aharshi &mbharin% are from the 1ig 9eda% 80th 2andala% 80th &nuvaka% 847th Sukta. .hese Slokas e;press the truth realised b 9ak% who identifies herself as )rahma Sakti% and e;presses herself as 88 1udras% : 9asus% 84 &dit as and all the +evas%< Indra% &gni and &svini 0umaras<who are sustained b -er and She is the source% substratum and support of the whole world. She is veril )rahmasvarupini. Devi Kavacham: +evi 0avacham consisting of =8>Slokas is in 2arkande a !uranam. .his 0avacham #armour$ protects the reader in all parts of his bod % in all places and in all difficulties. (ver part of the bod is mentioned

and +evi% in all different forms% is being worshipped. /urther% +evi% in different names% is pra ed to for happiness% wealth% health% power and prosperit . Argala Stotra: -ere 1ishi 2arkande a is telling his disciples in 4?>inspiring couplets on the greatness of +evi. She has been described in all aspects and names and at the end of each Sloka% pra er is offered to +evi for material prosperit % ph sical fitness% fame and victor . Keelakam: -ere also 1ishi 2arkande a tells his disciples in 8=>Slokas the wa s and means of removing obstacles faced b devotees while reading +evi 2ahatm a. 1eading of 0eelakam brings blessings of +evi and spiritual harmon and peace of mind and success in all pursuits. Ratri Suktam: 1atri Suktam #: Slokas$ has been taken from 1ig 9eda% 80th 2andala% 80th &nuvaka% 84?th Sukta% which shows that +evi was worshipped from time immemorial. +evi is described as the all>pervading Supreme 6ord of the 3niverse appearing in @mkara. 1atri means she who fulfils our pra ers.