Navratri is celebrated to worship nine different forms of Maa Durga (mother goddess) who is considered to be source of ever-flowing energy. The God is by nature motionless, absolutely changeless and Maa Durga is, actually, responsible for all the actions and reactions of the universe. It wouldn’t be exaggerated, if we say that the worshipping of Maa Durga only re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable; it cannot be created or destroyed; it is always there.
We all need energy without which we cannot do anything and cannot get anything in this world. Nine days of Navratri are dedicated to nine different incarnations of Maa Durga and should be worshipped accordingly to get desired benefits.
The first day of Navratri is dedicated to Mata Shailputri. ‘Shail’ stands for mountain and ‘putri’ stands for daughter, meaning the daughter of mountain. She is also called Parvati who is consort of God Shiva/ Mahesh (the god of destructive forces), mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya, and the daughter of the King of the mountains, Himavan. In this form, she appears with two hands with trident in right hand and lotus in left; half moon adores her on her forehead. She rides Nandi, the bull, wearing white or pink coloured sari. Maa Shailputri is considered the embodiment of the power of trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh.
She is considered the Devi of root chakra who, when awakened, begins her journey upwards, sitting on Nandi and making her first journey from muladarachakra. Hence, yogis, on the first day of Navratri pooja concentrate on muladara; this is the starting point of spiritual discipline.
Brief Legend
As said earlier, Shailputri was the consort of Shiva and the daughter of king Himavan. In her previous incarnation, she is believed to be Sati, the daughter of Daksha (the king of demons) and the wife Shiva. Once, Daksha organized a big Yagna, but he did not invite Shiva. Sati did not like it, but she went to her father’s house without invitation. During the celebration, Daksha mocked Shiva because he did not like Him. Sati got furious over her husband’s insult, but she could not do anything because Daksha was her father. This insult made her so furious and dejected that she jumped into the fire of Yagna and ended her life.
In the next birth, she became the daughter of Himavan by the name of Parvati-Hemavati. She again got married to Shiva and lived for ever in this form.
You can worship her in any temple where the idol of Shiva-Parvati is installed.
Navratri Customs and Traditions
Navratri Pooja is very simple. You should observe fast whole day or have fruits or juice in day and eat pure vegetarian food in night. If no way fasting is possible, simply chant the following mantra as much as you can:
"Om Ang Haring Kalimg Shreeng Maha Durgay Namah”
During Navratri, you should be careful about your aahar (food), vyavhar (behavior), and aacharan (character); eat pure vegetarian food, like fruits, Kuttu ka aataa, Shinghare ka aataa, curd or potatoes - strictly avoid non-vegetarian food. Consumption of garlic and onion is also not recommended. Navratri is celebrated in the honour of female form of God. Hence, during these days, you should also worship only goddesses with spiritual emotion (bhaav).
White and pink colour is associated with Maa Sailputri. Try wearing these colour dresses on this day to please her.
Maa Shailputri Pooja Vidhi with Mantras
Pooja items
- Picture or image of Maa Shailputri
- Durga Sapthashati book, Devi’s armour
- Water in a kalash, mango leaves, coconut
- Roli, moli, chawal, paan, beetle nut.
- Cloves, cardamom, sindoor, abhir, gulal
- Dhoop, deepak, matchsticks
- Flowers white or pink, such as hibiscus, lotus, roses and belpatr leaves
- Fruits of five types such as pomegranate and sweets such as laddoo and peda
- Panchpatra containing spoon and water, pata, mat to sit (Aasan)
Panchamrit- making Vidhi
Take a little raw cow milk and small amount of curd, shakkar, honey, and ghee.
Wash the place of pooja with water and gangajal. Place some grains of wheat on betle leave, put on the ground and place water-filled on kalash on it. Insert five joined mangoe eaves in the kalash and, then, place a coconut on it. Tie moli in the kalash-neck. Light up a Deepak there and keep it lit till the pooja lasts. Light up some dhoop too there.
Place Maa Shailputri on beetle leaves in front of you. Concentrate your mind on Maa Shailputri and worship her step by step chanting following mantras:
1. Atma-pooja
Perform ‘Atma-pooja’ for self-purification with the following mantra
Om Apavitrah Pavitro Va Sarvavastham Gatoapi Va,
Yah Smrait Pundarika Aksham Sa Vahy Abhyantarah Shuchih
Meaning: whoever contemplates on Vishnu gets purified physically and mentally.
2. Tilak and Aachman
Tilak is considered auspicious mark and Aachman is considered helping washing off sins committed by action, thought, and speech.
Apply Tilak on your forehead and do ‘Aachman’ (drinking of holy water after accepting it in your palm) with the following mantra:
Om Keshavaya Namah, Om Narayanaya Namah, Om Madhavaya Namah, Om Govindaya Namah
Meaning: I bow to thee Keshav, I bow to thee Narayan, I bow to thee Madhav, I bow to thee Govind.
3. Sankalpa
To achieve the purpose of the pooja, do sankalpa (resolve) by taking a little water in hand and saying your wish in mind to Maa Sailputri.
4. Aawahan
Pray to invite Maa Sailputri with the following mantra:
Aagachha Tvam Mahadevi ! Sthane Chatra Sthira Bhav. Yavata Pujaam Karisyami Tavata Tvam Snidho Bhav.
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha. shailaputri devimaawahayami. Aawahanartheye Pushpaanjali Samarpayami.
(Offer flowers to Maa shailaputri)
5. Aasan
After Dhyan and Mantras, Pray and offer:
Om sarvmangal mangaleye shivesarvaarth sadhike, Sharneye Traymbake gauri Narayani Namostute.
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha. Aasanarthey Pushpani Samarpayami.
(Offer flowers)
6. Paadha
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha. Padayoh Paadham Samarpayami.
(Offer water to Mother’s Shri Charan)
7. Arghya
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha. Hastyoh Arghya Samarpayami.
(Offer Chandan,Pushpa and Akshat mixed water)
8. Aachman
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha. Aachamanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Karpoor mixed water)
9. Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Snanartham Jalam Samarpayami.
(Offer GangaJal for Bath)
Snananga Aachaman Snanantey Punrachamaniyam Jalam Samarpayami.
(Offer water for aachman)
10. Dugdha Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha DugdhaSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Cow-milk for Bath)
11. Dadhi Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha DadhiSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer curd made from cow milk for bath)
12. Ghrit Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha GhritSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Gou-Ghee for Bath)
13. Madhu Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha MadhuSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Honey for Bath)
14. Sharkara Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha SharkaraSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer sugar for Bath)
15. Panchaamrit Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha PanchaamritSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Panchaamrit for Bath)
16. Gandhodak Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha GandhodakSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer MalayaChandan and Agaru mixed water for Bath)
17. Shudhodak Snan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha ShudhodakSnanam Samarpayami.
(Offer Holy Water for Final Bath)
18. Aachman
ShudhodakSnanante Aachamaniyam Jalam Samarpayami.
(Offer water for Aachaman)
19. Vastra
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Vastropavastram Kanchukiyam ch Samarpayami.
(Offer sarees or moli)
20. Aachman: Vastranante Aachamaniym jalam Samarpayami
21. Shobhagya Sutra
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha ShobhagyaSutram Samarpayami.
22. Chandan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Chandanam Samarpayami.
23. Haridrachurna
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Haridraam Samarpayami.
24. Kumkum
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Kumkumam Samarpayami.
25. Sindoor
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Sindooram Samarpayami.
26. Kajal
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Kajjalm Samarpayami.
27. Durvankur (Durva)
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Durvankuraan Samarpayami.
28. BilvaPatra
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha BilvaPatram Samarpayami.
29. Abhushan
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Abhushnaani Samarpayami.
30. Pushpamala
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Pushpamalam Samarpayami.
31. Nanaparimaldraviya (dravya or paisa)
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha NanaparimalDraviyaani Samarpayami.
32. Shobhagya Patika
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Shobhagyapatikam Samarpayami.
33. Dhoop
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Dhoopmaaghrapayami.
34. Deep
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Deepam Darshyami.
(Show deep to mother and wash your hand)
35. Naibaidha
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Naibaidham Nivedyami.
Aachman: offer aachaman
36. Rituphal
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Rituphalani Samarpayami.
37. Tammbul (paan)
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Tammbulam Samarpayami.
38. Dakshina
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Dakshinaam Samarpayami.
39. Aarti (karpoor and bati)
Shri Jagadambaye shailaputri Devye Namha Karpooraratirkyam Samarpayami.
Maa Shailaputri/ Parvati ki Aarti
Jay Parvati Mata, Maiya Jay Parvati Mata.,
Brahm Sanatan Devi, Shubh Phal Ki Data.
Om Jay…
Arikul Padm Vinasani, Jay Sevak Trata,
Jag Jivan Jagdamba, Harihar Gun Gata
Om Jay…
Singh Ko Vahan Saje, Kundal Hai Satha.
Dev Vadhū Jaha Gavat, Nritya Karat Ta Tha.
Om Jay…
Satyug Shil Susundar, Nam Sati Kahlata.
Hemanchal Ghar Janmi, Sakhiyan Rangrata.
Om Jay…
Shumbh Nishumbh Vidare, Hemanchal Syata.
Sahas Bhuja Tanu Dharike, Chakr Liyo Hatha.
Om Jay…
Srishti Rūp Tū Hi Janani, Shiv Sang Rangrata.
Nandi Bhrangi Been Lahi, Sara Madmata.
Om Jay…
Devan Araj Karat Ham, Chit Ko Lata.
Gavat De De Tali, Man Mein Rangrata.
Om Jay…
Shri Pratap Arati Maiya Ki, Jo Koi Gata.
Sada Sukhi Nit Rahta, Such Sampati Pata.
Om Jay…
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