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" Navratri
" literally means "nine nights." Navratri is celebrated twice a year,
once at the beginning of the New Samvatsar (Hindu New year) in Summers
and again at the onset of winter. Navratri or Navratra are therefor
known as Chaitra Navratra and Shaardey Navratra on the basis of their
occurrence.
These nights are devoted to the reverence of Goddess Durga (Maa Durga)
who exists in many forms and is the manifestation of the absolute energy
that pervades the Universe. During these days and nights prayers are
offered to Mother Goddess.
Hinduism is the only
religion in the world which has emphasised to such an extent the
motherhood of God. To celebrate a good harvest and to propitiate the
nine planets, women also plant nine different kinds of food grain seeds
in small containers during these nine days and then offer the young
saplings to the goddess.
The 9 nights
festival of Navratri begins on the first day of Ashwina of the bright
fortnight. Seeds are sown, sprouting is watched, the planets are
consecrated, and on the 8th and 9th days, Goddess Durga, Vijay-ashtami
and Mahanavami are worshipped.
What
is the Significance of Navratri?
The Shrimad-devi Bhagwat and Shri
Durgasaptshati mentions the significance of puja done during the
Navratri. Devi Mahaatmya and other texts invoking Goddess Durga are
cited during thir period of nine days.
According to
Surya Puraan, if a person worships Goddess during this period then he is
blessed with virtues of all kinds and all his sins are forgiven.
During
Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of universal
mother Maa Durga, which literally means the remover of miseries of life.
Maiya is also known as Shakti as she is the source of all energies in
the world. It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work
of creation, preservation and destruction.
In Shiv Puraan,
Lord Shiva says that he is Shav(meaning Dead) without
the powers of Shakti (his wife and the ultimate source of energy).
In other words, we can say that even God is motionless, absolutely
changeless without the divine support of Maa Durga.
In Bhagwat puraan,
Lord Vishnu says that he is incomplete without his better half. He
blesses those who worship his wife Maa Mahalaxmi. It is for this reason
the world says Radhey-Krishna and Sita-Raam and not Raam-Sita or Krishna
- Radhey.
This is a true
example of importance given to females in Idian culture and religion.
Navratri - Worship of Nine forms of Goddedd Durga
Navratri's each night( ratri) is dedicated
to one form of Goddess Durga.
Nine forms of Goddess Durga
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Maa Shailputri
Shailputri
means the Daughter of a Mountain. As she took birth as the daughter
of Parvatraaj Himalaya (King of the Mountain Himalaya) she is known
as Shailputri.
She is the First among Navdugra. In
her earlier life
she was born to Daksha Prajapati. In that life she was known as
Sati. Once Daksha organised a pompuos yajna and invited
all Gods but neglected Lord Shiva. Sati went to her father's
house without invitation an found that everyone present in the Yajna
neglected her.
Realising this as a disrespect of her
dear Husband Sati decided to burn herself with yoganidraa and died.
In her next life she took rebirth as Shail -putri.
Maa Shailputri is the mother of Lord
Ganesha & Lord Kartikeya.
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 Maa
Brahmachaarini
Brahma means tapasya or
meditation. Maa durga 's second form is of Maa Brahmacharini
- one of the Navdurga . Brahma-charini means one who practices
tapasya.
In her last life she was born as the
daughter of Pravatraj Himalaya. At that time she followed the
guidelines of Devarshi Narad and medidated for more than one
thousand years to have Lord Shiva as her husband. She is worshipped
on the second day of Navratri.
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Maa Chandraghantaa
Maa durga's third form is Maa
Chandraghanta. She is known as Chandraghanta because she is adorned by a
Crescent Moon (Chandra) shaped like a Ghantaa (a metallic bell).
Maa Chandraghanta punishes the demons and
devilish persons. She ensures justice by saving her devotees from all
kinds of dangers.
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Maa Kushmanda
Maa Durga's fourth form is Maa Kushmanda.
she provides the basic necessities, and every day sustenance to the
world. She is worshipped on fourth day of Navratri or Navratra.
When the world was not in existence, there
was darkness all around. At this time, Maa Kushmandaa created the
Brahmand with her 'Ishat' laughter. This way, she is
the creator ofthe whole universe and she is the aadi shakti.
She is believed to reside in the innermost
core of Sun. Her light and energy energizes all ten directions.
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Maa Skanmata
Maa Durga's fifth form is Maa Skandmata.
She is worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri.
During Navratra her worship blesses the
saadhak is blessed with bounties of all kinds. She is also known as
Padmaasanaa as she sits on a Lotus.
She is known as Skandamaata because she is
the mother of Skanda or Lord Kaartikeya. Lord Kartikeya
was the Chief of God's army during devaasur sangram.
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Maa Katyayini
Maa Durga's sixth form is Maa Katyayini.
There is an interesting story behind her name - there was a very famous
Rishi named Kat. Her son was known as Kaatya. Famous Rishi
Kaatyayan was born as his successor only. He did a very tough anushthaan
to worship Bhagwati Durga. He desired to have Maa Durga as his daughter.
Maiya accepted his request. Later when the Demon Mahishaasur
created havoc around the World then all three top gods contributed their
energies to request Maiya to take a new form to end Mahishasur. As
magharshi Kaatyayan had worshipped first she took the new form and was
adorned with the name of Kaatyayini. Maa durga's Katyayini is worshipped
on sixth day of Navratras.
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Maa Kaalratri
Maiya Kaalratri is also known as Maa Kaali
or Maa Mahaa Kaali. Her name is believed to have originated from an
incident when Lord Shiva once addressed her as Kaali out of
love and grace.
Maa
MahaaKaali is worshipped on the seventh day of Navdurga.
Maa Mahakaali
killed Raktabeeja (A demon who had the power to produce a demon from
every drop of blood that fell from his body. Goddess & Divine Mother
eventually licked the blood before it could reach the ground and hence
conquered & over powered him).
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Maa Mahagauri
Maa Durga's fourth form is Maa Mahagauri.
She is dressed in white and is one of the most soft-spoken and
simple form of Maa Durga.
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Maa Sidhidaatri
Maa Durga's ninth form is Maa Siddhdaatri.
She is a treasure house of Mystic Powers (Yantra Tantra)
and Knowledge (Gyaan). She is worshipped by all whether its rishis,
munis or Gods.
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