Rahasya Traya
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The three Rahasyas (Prakriti, Vaikriti, and Murti Rahasya) recited as part of the Durga Saptashati's six limbs (Shadanga), typically following the 13th chapter alongside the Devi Suktam.
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Chandi path: what a full Durga Saptashati recitation contains
Setting out the difference between Chandi path, Navchandi path and samput path heard of in Navratri, the speaker first describes the full mool path. The shastras say the thirteen main chapters of the Durga Saptashati are read with six angas (Shadanga): chiefly Kavach, Argala, Keelak and the three Rahasyas that follow. With them come the Ratri Suktam, the Atharvashirsha, the Saptashati Nyasa and the Navarna vidhi, and after the thirteenth chapter the Devi Suktam and the Rahasya paath. Before the first chapter the Navarna Mantra is chanted for one mala, eleven malas as per vidhi, or nine, and again after the thirteenth, so the whole paath is chiefly enclosed by the Navarna. This whole vidhi is what is called Chandi Charitra, Durga Saptashati path or Chandi Path, and it counts as one paath.
The view that the Kilak should be dropped from a Madhyam Charitra paath, keeping only Kavach and Argala
Some people say that of the kavach, argala and kilak, the kilak should not be done — that if you are doing only the Madhyam Charitra, do the kavach and argala, then do the second adhyaya, the Madhyam Charitra, and when the Madhyam Charitra is complete, do the paath of the three Rahasyas. As to why one anga out of the six is removed, he says he has no authoritative information and so cannot say, but it is in common circulation and is said again and again.
When should the three Rahasyas of the Saptashati be recited?
The paath of the Rahasyas should be done only when you are doing the paath of the Durga Saptashati. Separately and independently you may do it for the sake of study and practice, but for the sake of a desire you should not do it in that way.
What if you cannot pronounce Sanskrit?
Then do it in Hindi. The whole vidhi-vidhan is published on the channel; but if you do not know how to pronounce Sanskrit, if you do not read it, learn to do it in Hindi. And do not attempt any vidhi-vidhan — at the very least perform the path of the Kavach, Argala and Keelak in Hindi, and if you can do the whole thirteen adhyayas daily then do so, and do the path of the three Rahasyas. Do that much.
What does nine Hindi readings in one Navratri give you?
You are not doing the path in Sanskrit, you are doing it in Hindi — so if in even one Navratri you complete the full path of the Durga Saptashati nine times in Hindi, you will get the habit of sitting; you will come to know the original subject of the Durga Saptashati; and you will come to know about the rahasyas of Bhagavati.
Why should a Shakta study the Durga Saptashati even if he does not recite it?
Because, the speaker says, even if you do not do the path of the Shri Durga Saptashati you should at least study it. When you read the Murti Rahasyam and look at the three rahasyas and the three charitras, you will come to know who the Mahalakshmi svaroopa is.
Tithi-wise Navratri schedule, Pratipada to Ashtami: Saptashati adhyayas by day and the Navdurga form japped at night
The speaker lays out the days. Every day: Kavach, argala and keelak, the day's adhyayas of the Durga Saptashati in the Mahavidya krama, then the Tantrokta Devi Suktam; and at night nine Mala of that day's Durga. Pratipada: adhyaya one; Shailputri at night. Dwitiya: adhyayas two and three; brahmacharini. Tritiya: adhyaya four; Chandraghanta. Chaturthi: adhyayas five to eight; Kushmanda. Panchami: adhyayas nine and ten; Skandamata. Shashthi: adhyaya eleven; Katyayani. Saptami: adhyayas twelve and thirteen, completing the thirteen; Kalratri. Ashtami: with kavach, argala and keelak, the three Rahasyas — Murti Rahasya and the others printed after the thirteen adhyayas and the Devi Suktam — and Mahagauri at night. The mantras of all nine Durgas are in one PDF he provides.
How is the seven-day Saptashati path arranged across the Navratri?
On the eighth day do stuti and the rest, do the path of the rahasyas; on the ninth day do havan. And if it is of eight days, complete it in seven and do the havan and the rest on the eighth. Which adhyaya is read on which day, and how everything is done, has been described.
How is the Mahavidya krama handled with a doubled Tritiya?
Simply increase your recitation by the day. First day, the first Charitra; second day, two chapters, as described; go on that way, and set the tithi aside. Everything completes by the Ashtami tithi — it completes in seven days — and on the Ashtami you have only the Rahasya and the rest to do.
How should one conduct oneself at a dham?
When you go to their dham, he says, do not go only to wander about — going and wandering and coming back, going and making reels and coming back. First of all, the dham should be gupt. Reels and photographs should be only for yourself, that yes, we had gone; they should not be for showing.
Can havan be done by the stutis of the Vaikritikam Rahasyam?
Asked about the havan vidhi given there, and what can be done with the stutis given in it, he says the questioner is speaking of the Vaikritikam Rahasyam. Absolutely: if you do havan by the stuti that is in all three kshetras, then that shakti will be regarded as being in the havan, and the havan of all three kshetras will be regarded in it — and it does indeed happen by that.
Can the three Rahasyas be replaced by Kavach, Argala and Keelak?
Asked whether, since the three Rahasyas are read when the adhyayas of the Durga Saptashati finish, it is right to do Kavach, Argala and Keelak in their place, he answers that it is completely wrong. There are six angas — how will you then bring the later anga forward? The whole subject will become different. There are a great many kramas of the Saptashati, and then it will go into the reverse krama.
What is the correct krama if the Saptashati is read in reverse?
Now, to do it according to that, you would have to read the three Rahasyas first, then Kavach, Argala, Keelak, then the full thirteen adhyayas, then Keelak, Argala, Kavach, then the three Rahasyas in reverse. You can go in this krama, he says — but he will absolutely not say to do it.
Which stotra or anushthan reveals all the secrets of the brahmanda?
Asked which stotra or anushthan would let one know all the secrets of the brahmanda, the speaker answers that for this, however many stotras, mantras and kavachs there are, all of them are capable in themselves. Always remember: when your aradhya has to make you fit, what to give, where to give it and how to give it is their own way. For the disclosure of a secret you will not need to do anything separate or special.
Why were the three Rahasyas joined to the Saptashati when they are not described in the Markandeya Purana?
He answers that the three Rahasyas, and beyond them the Kavach, Argala and Keelak — the whole of that subject — are there because the Saptashati has become an independent Shakta grantha. When you recite the Keelak, he says, you will then come to know what that subject is.
What are the six angas of the Saptashati?
He names them as the shadanga, the six angas: the Kavach, the Argala, the Keelak and the three Rahasyas. This entire subject, he says, is connected with what he has just described. Without these six angas, the Saptashati of seven hundred shlokas as it exists today cannot be complete.
Can the Durga Saptashati be recited in Hindi?
There is no difficulty at all, he answers. If you wish to do the path of thirteen adhyayas in one day in Hindi you can; the same vidhi will remain, do everything in Hindi. Recite the Kavach, Argala and Keelak in Hindi too, then recite the thirteen adhyayas in Hindi, and recite the three Rahasyas in Hindi as well. If you do it in the Mahavidya krama, that is thirteen adhyayas over seven days, then do it in Hindi in the same way, reciting on the day on which two adhyayas have been prescribed exactly as prescribed. The full vidhi-vidhan is in a playlist named Navratri 2022.
A Hindi Saptashati path follows the same order as the Sanskrit, whether done in one day or seven
To Shreyas Kapri ji he repeats the answer: the Saptashati path in Hindi is to be done in the same manner as the vidhi for doing it in Sanskrit. If done in one day, then Kavach, Argala, Keelak, the thirteen adhyayas, and then the three Rahasyas. If you cannot do it in one day and must do it in seven, then follow the vidhi of the Mahavidya krama path — first day the first adhyaya, second day the second and third adhyaya, and so on.
Can the Kavach, Argala and Keelak be in Sanskrit and the adhyayas in Hindi?
Yes, that can be done, there is no difficulty, he answers. If we do the Kavach, Argala and Keelak in Sanskrit because we know them, and want to do the rest in Hindi, that too can be done. And the three Rahasyas may be done in Sanskrit if you wish, or in Hindi if you wish. There is no difficulty and no dosha in Sanskrit and Hindi; take the doubt out of your mind. If Sanskrit comes well, do it; if it does not come, then do it in Hindi.
Is a separate form of Lakshmi needed alongside Parvati?
The presence of the Lakshmi tattva is within Parvati ji herself, the speaker says; there is no need to take a separate form of her for it. Look at the forms of Ganapati ji and you will find several in which shaktis connected with Bhagavati Lakshmi stand as his shakti aspects. This, he says, is exactly why it is said that such things should not be discussed before ordinary people — they will be thoroughly frustrated, saying Lakshmi ji is his mother, how can you say such a thing.
Closing a Saptashati havan: chapters 12–13, the Navarna ahuti and the three Rahasyas
The speaker says that in the twelfth and thirteenth chapters ordinary sakalya ahutis may be given. After that the Navarna mantra is offered once more, and after the Navarna ahuti the three Rahasyas must be recited.
A sadhak should study the Murti Rahasya and the Vaikrita Rahasya properly, by svadhyaya, to unveil these rahasyas
Read the Murti Rahasyam and go deep, he says. Unveil the rahasyas, relate them. If you are a sadhak, become a deep sadhak, take the plunge. Study the Murti Rahasya and the Vaikrita Rahasya properly, by svadhyaya.
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