Maa Durga manifests herself in nine form called Navdurga. One of these nine forms of Maa Durga is worshiped every day in Navratri. The fisrt form of Maa Durga known as "Shailputri". Goddess Durga was born in the house of King of Mountains "Parvat Raj Himalaya", so she is called "Shailputri" maens the daughter of mountain.
Maa Shailputri - First Among Nava Durgas
Maa Shailputri is the absolute from of Mother Nature. She is also known as Goddess Parvati the consort of Lord Shiva & mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. In the Navratra festival the worshiping Mother Goddess has a half moon in her forehead & she is holding a trident in her right hand & lotus flower in her left hand. she rides on mount Nandi a bull.
In some scriptures like Shivapurana & Devi Bhagvatam the story of Mother Goddess is written as follow: Maa Bhagwati in her earlier birth was born as a daughter of Daksh Prajapati. Then her name was 'Sati' and she was married to Lord Shiva. But in a sacrificial ceremony organized by her father Prajapati Daksh, she got her body burnt in the yogic fire, because she could not bear the insult of her husband Lord Shiva by her father Prajapati Daksha in the sacrificial ceremony.
In her next birth she incarnated her as Goddess Parvati, the daughter of Parvatraj Himalaya and among Nava Durgas she has been referred to as Sailaputri who was again known as Himavati. In her Haimavati aspect she defeated all prominent gods. Like her previous birth in this life also Maa Shailaputri (Parvati) got married with Lord Shiva. The first and the most prominent among Nava Durgas, Shailaputri is of immense importance and her glories are endless. On the first day of Navratra worship it is she who is worshiped.
Vande Vanchitlabhaya Chandradhakritshekhram | Vrisharudh Shooldharan Shailputri Yashaswineem ||
Shardiya Navratra begins with the commencement of Ashwin Shukla Paksha by establishing a Kalash. A Kalash is considered to be a form of lord Ganesha and all the auspicious works begin with its establishment. The place where the Kalash has to be established is made pure by cleaning it with Ganga water and cow dung. A bed is prepared by mixing 7 kinds of soil. In case one is not able to collect soils of 7 different places then he can use the mud available at the bank of a river and mix it with the soil of Ganges.
The pooja begins with the establishment of the Kalash on the first day. Ma Shailputri is worshipped as a first form of Goddess Durga depicting love and compassion. Thus, all the gods, sacred rivers, planets, seas, directions, lord of the villages are called upon and prayed to settle inside the Kalash. Kalash is also filled with 7 kinds of soil (Saptmritika), clay, nut and five kinds of coins.
Below this Kalash, 7 kinds of grains and barley seeds are sown and are cut on the tenth day and are offered to all gods and goddess. This ritual is called Jayanti and is performed along with the chant, "Jayanti Mangla Kali Bhadrakali Kapalini, Durga Shama Shiva Dhatri Swaha, Swadha Namostute". After this ritual the Jayanti is sprinkled over the members of the family to get the blessing of the goddess.
Durga Ma, who was also knows as Durgam gave relief to her followers from the pain of demon. She is worshipped after the establishment of Kalash at home by chanting, "Hey Durga, accept our prayers in the form of idol we have made for you based on our belief and enter our house with your blessings". Devi Durga killed Mahishasur and blessed him that he will be worshipped along with her. This is the reason that while making the idol of Ma Durga, Mahishasura and his ride tiger can also be seen in it.
Ma Durga's idol is established at the center of the worship page with Mahalakshmi, Ganesha and Vijaya's idol on the right and Kartikeya, Devi Mahasaraswati and Yogini's idol on the left. Lord Shiva is also worshipped along with all the gods and goddesses. Shailputri is worshipped on he first day with flowers, rice, roli and sandalwood.
Everyday in the evening aarti is performed to worship goddess Durga. The worshippers sing "Jag Janni Jai Jai" and "Jai Ambe Gauri", the bhakti songs dedicated to Ma Durga.
Vande Vanchitlabhaya Chandradhakritshekhram |
Vrisharudh Shooldharan Shailputri Yashaswineem ||
Maa Brahmacharini is the second manifestation of Maa Durga who is worshippied on the second day of Navratri. Here word "Brahm" refers to "Tapa". So Brahmcharini means Tapa Charini ' The one who perform Tapa or penance. It is Said that the "Vedas", "Tatva" & "Tapa" are synonyms of word "Brahm". The form of Brahmacharini is tremendously effulgent and extremely majestic.
Maa BrahmaCharini
She holds a rosary in her right hand and Kamandalu in her left. SHE personifies love and loyalty. Mata Bhramacharni is store-house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is HER most adorned ornament. When she was incarnated as the daughter of Himalaya, then influenced by the instructions of Devrishi Narada, she practiced very hard penances in order to obtain Lord Shiva as her divine consort. Due to her unearthly penances she was termed as Brahmacharini. She spent one thousand years, only on fruits and beet-roots. One hundred years she spent only by eating leafy vegetables. For a sufficient perfiod of time observing complete fast she suffered tormenting of nature like torrential rains and scorching sun and biting cold, under the open sky. After such a difficult routine she lived only on dry Bilva pattaras (leaves) fallen on the ground for three thousand years. She kept her engrossed for twenty-four hours in worshiping Lord Shiva. After that she gave up eating even these dry leaves. For several thousand years she went on without any food and water. Because she gave up eating dry Bilva leaves so she was known to be Aparna as one of her epithets.
After the hardship of penance for several thousand years her body became extremely lean and thin. She was reduced to skeleton only. Her penance, sharpened as it was, caused great disturbance in all the three worlds. The whole universe was shaken. The Gods, the Rishis, the Siddhas, the Munis all eulogized her penance as an unprecedented virtuous action. Ultimately Lord Brahma through an oracle addressed her and said to her in a very pleasant manner-O Goddess, so far nobody has ever practiced such an austere penance. Only you could have done it. This wonderful deed is being praised in all the four quarters. Your desire would be fulfilled. You will decidedly get Lord Shiva as your divine consort. Now stop your penance and go home. Your father would be shortly coming to take you back
Brahmacharini Durga is capable of providing unending benefits. By worshiping her the person inculcates penancing, renouncing, dispassion, ethical conduct and restraint in himself. Even in the most critical periods of struggle the mind remains unshaken and he does not deviate from the path of duty. By the grace of mother Brahmacharini he gets success and victory always and everywhere. On the second day of Navratri Durga Pooja it is the Brahmacharini aspect of mother Goddess Durga that is worshipped. This way the mind of the striver moving upward is established in Swadhisthana Chakra. The Yogi, who makes his mind stay in this Chakra gets the devotion and blessings of the Goddess.
