Maa Shailputri Upasana on the First Day of Navaratri

वन्दे वांछित लाभाय चन्द्रार्द्वकृतशेखराम्।
वृषारूढ़ा शूलधरां यशस्विनीम्॥

अर्थात्- देवी वृषभ पर विराजित हैं। शैलपुत्री के दाहिने हाथ में त्रिशूल है और बाएं हाथ में कमल पुष्प सुशोभित है। यही नवदुर्गाओं में प्रथम दुर्गा है। नवरात्रि के प्रथम दिन देवी उपासना के अंतर्गत शैलपुत्री का पूजन करना चाहिए।

The first day of Navratra (The nine holy nights) is dedicated to the worship of Shailputri. Goddess Durga’s first form in the Nava-Durga series is Shailaputri.  “Shail” means mountain and “putri” means daughter. Hence, she is called Shailputri – the daughter of mountain. Maa Shailputri is Devi’s first aspect an absolute form of Mother Nature, is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. She is also referred to as Goddess Partvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. The image of Maa Shailputri is a divine lady, holding a trishul in her right hand and lotus flower in her left hand. She rides on Nandi, a bull. The mount of Goddess Shailputri is bull and because of that she is also known as Vrisharudha (वृषारूढ़ा).

Maa Shailputri is the goddess of the muladhara chakra or root chakra, and upon awakening this Shakti one begins their journey to spiritual awakening and to their purpose in life. Without energizing the muladhara chakra one doesn’t have the power and strength to do anything worthwhile. It is said that one should worship Maa Shailputri to make full use of the precious human life. Therefore, this Avtar of Goddess Durga is worshipped on the first day of Navratri.

Shailputri is the Goddess of Nature, she exhorts mankind to maintain balance in nature and live in harmony with her. Devi says that whatever is there in the world is because of me, there is no matter or life which is not part of me. All the energies of world converge into me. Devi means illuminator, one who spreads compassion and welfare.

In the past life she was the daughter of Daksha, the son of Lord Brahma. She was known as Sati then. As the daughter of Daksha she was married to the God of Gods, Mahadeva. Amongst all the nine forms of Devi Durga, Shailaputri is the most powerful and glorified of all. According to the Upanishads this form of Durga broke the pride of the Gods by assuming the mold of Haimabati.

Bhog offered to Maa Shailputri

On first Navratra Maa Shailputri is worshiped. Pure Ghee is offered on the foot of Maa Shailputri as a Bhog. This blesses the devotee with a disease free life.