Maa Shailputri

Navaratri is a Hindu festival that spans over nine nights which is celebrated every year in the spring season and autumn season. It is celebrated differently in various parts of the Hindu Indian culture. There are two seasonal Navaratri. The post-monsoon autumn festival called Sharada Navaratri which is the most observed in honor of the divine feminine Devi Durga and Chaitra Navratri which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October and also celebrated in the month of March and April. People celebrate this festival by playing garba from first night to last night of navratri. 

Chaitra Navratri 2022 begins today i.e. Saturday, April 2, 2022. On the first day of Navratri, Goddess Shailputri is worshiped. Shailputri is the combination of two words – ‘Shail’ which means mountains and ‘Putri’ which means daughter. She is the daughter of the Himlayas and the pictorial depiction of Maa Shailputri shows her having two hands, holding a trishul in her right hand and a lotus flower in her left. She is shown sitting on a Nandi. Maa Shailputri is considered to be the first form of Goddess Durga. 

Shailputri is Free as Air, Adaptive as Water, Fierce as Fire, Compassionate as Earth, and Serene as Space. Goddess Shailputri is an absolute form of Mother Nature. She is the pure form of patience and devotion. She is also Goddess Parvati who is respected as the consort of Lord Shiva. 

It is said that Shailputri was Sati, daughter of Daksha.  Once Daksha performed a big Yagna without inviting Shiva at his place. But Sati came there with Lord Shiva as Shiva is her husband. Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not handle this insult and burnt herself in the fire of Yagna. In another Birth, she became the daughter of Himalaya and got married to Shiva as hemavati.

She is considered to be the devi of Muladhara Chakra and the color that is associated with her is red. People used to wear red on the first day of navratri. People worship her as It is believed that the Devi gives Shakti to attain higher spiritual growth. In order to worship her, place a photo of the Goddess Shailputri and light a diya of ghee along with mango leaves and coconut over the Kalash. Light the diya and while chanting the mantra, offer a garland made of white flowers to the Devi.

Maa Shailputri mantra :

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डाय विच्चे ॐ शैलपुत्री देव्यै नम 

Chant this mantra while worshipping Maa Shaiputri to get her blessings. 

Happy Navratri to you and your family ❤