Chandika Devālaya
House of Goddess Chandi
(a Lalita Chandika Temple)
Thanksgiving Message, November 26, 2020
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Happy Thanksgiving!
For most of you, I think you would agree that the year 2020 has been both challenging and transformative.
Though as difficult as it was, as we head into the holiday season, we are blessed with a short "time-out" from our regular routine to celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday that reminds us of the virtue of gratitude and how it can help us transform challenges into blessings.
It is so easy to get caught up into everyday life – watching the news which pits one political party against the another, engaging in gossip about family members, groups, and politicians, noticing the negative in our environment, complaining and blaming about anyone and anything just so that we don’t have to take responsibility for our own lives.
Thanksgiving is your opportunity to set that negative mindset straight.
Thanksgiving reminds you to get into the habit of gratitude. And though it is a reminder, there is nothing that prohibits you from practicing gratitude all year long. You have the luxury of living a joyous life every single day of the year.
So make it a point to recognize your blessings. Remind yourself that showing gratitude for all that you have will attract further blessings into your life.
How Does Gratitude Help Us?
The mindset of gratitude creates wellbeing in our lives. It fosters contentment, health, wealth, peace, and satisfaction.
In fact, gratitude is the common denominator linking all of these wellbeing benefits together, for you can’t have satisfaction, fulfillment, and contentment if you are ungrateful. You must be grateful to experience wellbeing.
So often we hear devotees aspiring to moksha/liberation, but are you aware that there is a Hindu Goddess that we worship every Friday that grants us satisfaction and wellbeing?
Santoshi Maa is the Goddess of Satisfaction, Contentment, Peace, and Acceptance. Her worship inspires these qualities within devotees.
Santoshi Maa is a very peaceful form of Goddess Durga. She is accepting of all situations, without judgment, and that creates contentment in Her mind. She maintains that contentment with gratitude. Her wants and needs are in harmony, balanced, and simple, which further creates satisfaction and contentment.
On Thanksgiving Day, pray to Santoshi Maa for gratitude and wellbeing.
Chant Her Mantra:
