Navaratri Begins with Maa Shailputri Puja: Know Her Story and Significance
Navaratri, a nine-day Hindu festival, is dedicated to the worship of Maa Durga and her nine avatars. The first day of Navaratri is devoted to Maa Shailputri, who is also known as Parvati, Sati Bhavani, and Hemavati, the daughter of the king of the Himalayas. To understand more about Navratri and its Significance check our other article on Navratri.
Story of Maa Shailputri
Maa Shailputri is the reincarnation of Goddess Sati, who was the daughter of Prajapati Daksha. Sati was married to Lord Shiva, but Daksha was unhappy with this marriage.
When Daksha organized a grand yagna, he did not invite Sati and Shiva. Sati, however, wanted to attend the yagna and went there despite Shiva’s dissuasion.
Daksha insulted Shiva in front of all the gods, and Sati could not bear this insult. She immediately immolated herself in the sacrificial fire. Lord Shiva, in his grief, carried Sati’s half-burned corpse on his shoulders and wandered endlessly about the world.
Later, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to sever Sati’s corpse, and parts of her body fell at different places, which came to be known as Shakti-Peethas.
In her next birth, Sati was born as the daughter of the God of Mountains, Himalaya, and was named Shailputri. She was also known as Parvati in this incarnation.
How to Seek Her Blessings
Maa Shailputri is worshipped with great enthusiasm on the first day of Navaratri. Devotees can seek her blessings by reciting her mantra, “ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥” (Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah), and by offering prayers to her.
Maa Shailputri is depicted with two hands and has a crescent moon on her forehead. She holds a trident in her right hand and a lotus flower in the left. She rides on the mount Nandi, the bull.
Puja to Perform
Performing the Maa Shailputri Puja with devotion and following these steps will help you seek her blessings and experience the divine aura of Navaratri.
- Prepare the Altar:
- Clean the puja area and set up a sacred space with an image or idol of Maa Shailputri on a clean cloth.
- Light the Diyas (oil lamps) and Incense sticks to create a pure atmosphere.
- Offerings:
- Present fresh flowers to the goddess as a token of devotion.
- Apply sandalwood paste and kumkum to the idol as a tilak.
- Place a coconut in front of the idol to signify purity.
- Chanting Mantras:
- Recite Maa Shailputri’s mantras and prayers to seek her blessings.
- Bhog (Sacred Offering):
- Offer fruits, rice, kheer (sweet rice pudding), and other sweets made of Desi Ghee as bhog.
- Offer white sweets as they are loved by Maa Shailputri.
- Perform Aarti:
- Wave a lit diya in front of the goddess while singing aarti songs.
- Seek Blessings:
- Pray to Maa Shailputri, seeking her strength and guidance in life.
- Share the prasad (blessed offerings) with your family and friends.
- Additional Tips:
- White items appeal to Maa Shailputri, so adorn her with white clothes during the worship.
- Recite the mantra “ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः” (Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah) during the puja.
- Offer Bhog of Desi Ghee and white sweets, as they are considered highly important for Maa Shailputri.
Maa Shailputri is the absolute form of Mother Nature and is also known to be the daughter of Mountains. Worshipping Maa Shailputri offers peace, harmony, and overall happiness to all devotees.
Prayers offered to Maa Shailputri keep diseases and negativity away and bring stability and success in career and business.
Conclusion
Maa Shailputri, the first avatar of Maa Durga, is the embodiment of power, strength, and purity. Devotees seek her blessings for a happy and successful life. By worshipping Maa Shailputri, one can invoke her divine energy and attain spiritual evolution and perfection.
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