New Delhi: The auspicious Chaitra Navratri began on April 13 this year and will run until Ram Navami on April 21. The goddess Durga in her various manifestations is worshipped and celebrated throughout the course of the nine-day festival.
There are four forms of Navratris, two of which occur twice a year and are the most commonly observed: Chaitra (spring) Navratri and Shardiya Navratri (autumn). Ashada and Magha Gupt Navratri are the other two.
The Chaitra Navratri festival occurs every year in the months of March and April, according to the Gregorian calendar. On April 13, 2021, the first day of Chaitra Navratri, the Ghatasthapana puja, Chandra Darshan, will take place.
Maa Shailputri is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. She is one of the Navadurgas and is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. Maa Shailputri, also known as Sati, Parvati, Bhawani, or Hemavati (daughter of Himavat, the King of the Himalayas), is revered as Mother Nature and prayed to for divine awakening. There are many stories about her incarnation as Sati, the daughter of king Daksha Prajapati, and later as Parvati, the daughter of king Himavat, who is Lord Shiva’s consort.
She is the mountain’s daughter, portrayed with two paws, a crescent on her forehead, a trident in her right hand, and a lotus flower in her right hand. She is astride Nandi, the bull. The day begins with her worship, and because it is Navratri’s first day, Ghatashthapana, which includes Kalash Sthapana, is performed first.
Mantra of Devi Shailputri:
ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah॥
Prayer to the Goddess:
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्ध कृतशेखराम् ।
वृषारूढाम् शूलधराम् शैलपुत्रीम् यशस्विनीम् ॥
Vande Vanchhitalabhaya Chandrardhakritashekharam।
Vrisharudham Shuladharam Shailaputrim Yashasvinim॥
Meaning: “I pay my obeisance to the divine mother Shailputri, who bestows upon the choicest boons to the devotees. The moon in the crescent form is adorned as the crown on her forehead. She is mounted on the bullock. She holds a lance in her hand. She is Yashasvini – the celebrated mother, Durga.
Maa Shailputri is also considered to be the goddess of root chakra — which is evoked for spiritual awakening through meditation. It is believed that the Devi gives Shakti to attain a higher spiritual growth. She is worshipped as Purna Prakriti Durga. Her abode is Muladhara Chakra and she covers the entire atmosphere.
