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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dhanteras

Image
Dhanteras is the first day of the five-day Diwali Festival. The festival, known as Dhantrayodashi , Dhanwantari Triodasi or Dhanvantri Jayanti and observed two days before Diwali Puja.. The word Dhan means wealth and Teras means 13th day as per Hindu calendar. It is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin.  Dhantrayodashi, is relates to wealth and prosperity and is considered significant for Lakshmi-Kuber Puja . On this day people worship Goddess Lakshmi along with Lord Kuber for material wealth and prosperity. Lord Kuber, who is considered treasurer of the riches of the world, is worshipped along with Sri Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth. Dhanteras holds special significance for the business community due to the customary purchases of precious metals on this day.  Dhanteras is ideal time to start  new businesses,  new projects, housewarming, buying vehicles or electronic items. Alpana or R
Read more

Maa Katyayini is The Sixth Manifestation of Durga

Image
कात्यायनि महामाये महायोगिन्यधीश्वरि ।   नन्द गोपसुतं देविपतिं मे कुरु ते नमः ॥ Katyayani Mahamaye Mahayoginyadheeshwari । Nandgopsutam Devipatim Me Kuru te Namah ॥   Maa Katyayini is the sixth manifestation of Durga and one of the prominent deities among Navdurga. She is grandly worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri pooja. Her appearance is immensely majestic and divine. According to a legend, there was a sage named Kat. His son “Katyayana” observed a hard penance and long austerities to receive the grace of the Goddess Durga. Kata was very famous and renowned in the ancestry of saints. The Goddess was pleased with the hard penance of Maharishi Katyayana and took birth on the earth as a daughter. In texts like the Kalika Purana, it is mentioned that it was Rishi Kaytyayan who first worshipped her, hence she came to known as ' Katyayani . To destroy demon Mahishasura, Goddess Parvati took the form of Goddess Katyayani. It was the most
Read more

Devi ‘Maha Gauri’ is Worshipped on Eighth Day of Navratri

Image
श्वेते वृषे समारुढा श्वेताम्बरधरा शुचिः । महागौरी शुभं दघान्महादेवप्रमोददा ॥ Shwete Vrishe Maha Rudha Shwetambardhara Shuchih | Maha Gauri Subham Dadhyanmahadev Pramodada || Spellbind, mesmerizing whitish look of Durga is Maha Gauri. Goddess Maha Gauri is eighth form of Devi Durga and one of the graceful Goddesses among Nav Durga. She is majestically worshipped on eighth day of Navratri Pooja. Her complexion is completely white, and thus she is revered with name 'Gauri'. Her beauty glows like gleam of white Pearl. She denotes peace and endurance. Her power is unfailing and instantly fruitful. As a result of her worship, all sins of past, present and future get washed away and devotees get purified in all aspects of life. The mount of Goddess Mahagauri is bull and because of that she is also known as Vrisharudha ( वृषारूढ़ा ). Goddess Mahagauri is compared with the conch, the moon and the white flower of Kunda ( कुंद ). She adorns white clothes o
Read more