Navratri First Day - Worship Shailaputri Devi

Navratri First Day Worship Shailaputri Devi: To Channelize Energy to total Positivity

On the very occasion of Navratri we go on worshipping Devi Duga in various divine forms. On the very first day of the 9 day long Puja the first incarnation of Mother that is worshipped is none other than Ma Shailaputri. The name is sure to bring the meaning that it is the Mother who is the daughter of the mountains or Shaila as referred in Sanskrit. It is She who is worshipped on the very first day of the Navrtri festival.

All about Ma Shailaputri

Mother is named so as she was born as the daughter of Mountain Himalaya. Later She was known as Parvati. Shailaputri Ma has a smiling face, with a very serene appearance. Her vehicle is Nandi. There is a crescent moon on her head. She is seen to hold a trident in her right hand. There is a lotus in her left hand. Mother is noted as the first Goddess of the Navratri Puja. It is the planet Moon that is associated with the Mother and it is called that he who worships Her with utmost devotion can dodge all ominous effects of the Moon.

Mother is associated too with the Muladhar Chakra, red in color. The beginning of the Navratri catching hold of the hands of the Mother, one can lead to a very promising journey. Mother teaches Her ardent devotees how to pass the mundane days of life through various transitions. If the devotee can pray to mother with a keen devotion, the Mother is ready to make the devotee aware of the very consciousness or the basics of life.  If one comes to know of conscience, he is sure to lead the life of an ascetic. Hence all the sages and devotees keep fast on the very first day of the Puja and try to channelize their whole attention to the very Muladhar Chakra to feel the oneness with the Mother.

The First Day of Navratri

The ritual that starts with the Ghatsthapana culminates with the worshipping of the Mother Shailaputri. It is She who is manifested as the earth and everything that resides in it. She is known as the Mother Nature too.

The Puja of the Mother

The Puja starts with the Ghatsthapana. Then a kalash is kept filled with holy water. Besides these, there are some specific things to be included in the Ghatsthapana ritual that we have mentioned in our previous blog. After doing all such things it is the time to invoke Devi Shailaputri wih the Mantra:

OM DEVI SHAILAPUTRAYAI SWAHA 

One should chant the Mantra 108 times. Again there are other mantras to be chanted so that the Goddess fulfills all the aspirations. Thereafter the aarti of the Mother is done and Panchomchar Puja is arranged to propitiate the Mother lighting a lamp of pure ghee. Incense sticks are lighted too to add fragrance to please the Mother. Later on flowers are kept at the lotus feet of the mother and naivedya is offered.

Ma Shailaputri is worshipped to keep aside all types of malefic effects of moon, to offer overall happiness, to set aside evil effects, strengthen loving bond and offering stability in life of ll who pray to Her.

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The first and most prominent day during the navratri is the day ofShailaputriDevi. Shaila means mountains and putri means daughter which gives the meaning daughter of mountains. She is the first form amongst the nine forms of goddess Parvati - variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, the daughter of Hemavana - the king of the Himalayas. She is the consort of Lord Shiva and also the mother of Ganesha and Kartike. The representation of the powers of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and has a lotus flower in her two hands. She was the daughter of Daksh in her previous birth. She married Lord Shiva but father Daksh wasn't in favour of their marriage. Once, Daksh had organized a big yagna and invited all but deliberately did not invite Lord Shiva. Sati was stubborn and headstrong which made her reach there. Daksh insulted Lord Shiva there. Sati couldn't take the insult of her husband Lord Shiva and she burnt herself in the fire of yagna. In the next birth, she was named Parvati. She was the daughter of Himalaya and she got married to Lord Shiva. Devotees believe that those who pray to her and have strong faith in her, she blesses them and grants them whatever they wish for. One must wear yellow colour on this day.