Navratri Puja: Mantras and Vidhi1. Navratri Festival
Navratri festival is dedicated to worshipping the nine forms
of Durga. Every day during the nine days of navratri, one particular
form is made the central deity and pujas are performed with the chanting
of the mantra meant for the specific deity.
2. Navrati Puja
The usual and routine navrati puja can be done in the regular
fashion on all these nine days, while the specific mantra is chanted
for the corresponding deity of the day. The altar is decorated ith
flowers and garlands. Lamp is lit and the customary puja is performed
with some offerings. At the end, camphor is waved and prasad is
distributed to the attendees and family members.
3. First Day: Shilaputri
The first day is meant to worship Shilaputri, the daughter of
mountains. She is highly effulgent comparable to crores of moons and
rides on a bull. She carries a trident and wears a half-moon on her
forehead. Her Mantra is
Om Devi Shailputryai Swaha
Vande Vanchhit Laabhaay, Chandrardhkritshekharaam | Vrisharudham
Shooldharaam Shailputriim Yashaswinim ||
4. Second Day: Brahmacharini
The second day is dedicated to worship Brahmacharini, the
goddess who is a spinster and the form of knowledge. She carries a
rosary and kamandalu in her hands. She gives eternal bliss and the
knowledge of the supreme self. Her Mantra is
Om Devi Brahmcharinyai Namah
Dadhaanaa Kar Padmaabhyaamakshmala Kamandaloo | Devi Prasidatu Mayi
Brahmcharinyanuttamaa.
5. Third Day: Chandraghanta
The third day is meant to worship Brahmacharini, who rides a
tiger and carries a huge bell in her hand with a forehead adorned with
half moon. Her mantra is
Om Devi Chandraghantayayi Namah
Pindaj Pravaarudh chandkopastrkairyuta | Prasadam Tanute Madhyam
Chandraghanteti vishrutaa ||
6. Fourth Day: Kushmanda
The fourth day is dedicated to the worship of Kushmanda, the
creator of the universe. She rides on a lion and carries seven weapons
and a rosary in her eight hands. Her mantra is
Om Devi Kushmandayayi Namah
Suraasampoorna Kalasham Rudhiraaplutamev Cha | Dadhaanaa
Hastpadmaabhyaam Kushmanda Shubhdaastu Me ||
7. Fifth Day: Skandmata
The fifth day is meant for the worship of Skandamata, the
mother of Lord Subrahmanya or Karthikeya. She rides on a lion and has
the six faced Skanda on her laps.
Her mantra is
Om Devi Skandmatayayi Namah
Sinhaasangataam Nityam Padmaanchit Kardwayaa | Shubhdaastu Sadaa Devi
Skandmata Yashaswini ||
8. Sixth Day: Katyayani
On the sixth day, goddess Kathyayani is worshipped, who
manifested as a result of the prayers of sage Katyayan. She rides on a
lion, carries ten weapons, has three eyes and a half moon on her
forehead. Her mantra is
Om Devi Katyayanyayi Namah
Chandrahaasojjval Karaa Shaardoolvarvaahanaa | Katyayani Shubham Dadyaad
Devi Daanavghatini ||
9. Seventh Day: Kalratri
Seventh day puja is meant to please Kalrathri who is a
strange incarnation of the mother in which she has removed all her
golden skin and looks shiny black. She is naked and rides on an ass. She
carries a torch and sword with blessing and boon giving poses. Her
mantra is
Om Devi Kalratryayi Namah
Ekveni Japakarnpoora Nagna Kharaasthita | Lamboshthi Karnika karni
Tailaabhyaktshariirini ||
Vaam Paadollasallohlata Kantakbhushanaa | Bardhan Moordham Dhwajaa
Krishnaa Kalratrirbhayankari ||
10. Eighth Day: Mahagauri
On the eighth day, Mahagauri is worshipped. She is youthful
in her sixteenth year and rides on a bull holding trident and a damaru.
She wears white clothes and her countenance is like that of the cool
moon. Her mantra is
Om Devi Mahagauryayi Namah
Shwete Vrishesamarudha Shwetaambardhara Shuchih | Mahagauri Shubham
Dadyanmahadev Pramodadaa ||
11. Ninth Day: Siddhidatri
On the ninth day, Durga is worshipped with the name
Siddhidatri. This manifestation occurred when the mother entered the
half body of Lord Shiva. She is seated on a red lotus and rides on a
lion too. She holds conch, discuss, mace and a lotus in her four hands.
Her mantra is
Om Devi Siddhidatryayi Namah
Siddha Gandharva Yakshdyairasurairamarairapi | Sevyamaanaa Sadabhuyaat
Siddhida Siddhidayini ||
12. Navratri puja in different ways
On the ninth day, the worship of Siddhidatri is considered to
give the fulfilment of the Navratri puja with a lot of blessings. On
this day, 5 to 12 girls are invited and their feet is washed with pure
water and decorated with turmeric and vermilion. They are given a
specially prepared food treating them equal to goddess Durga. After the
food, they are gifted with money, gifts, cosmetic items and clothes. It
is believed that whatever is given to them reaches goddess Durga
herself.
13. Navratri days Benefits
Reading of Durga Saptasati over the nine days is considered
highly auspicious and beneficial to the devotees especially on Navratri
days. For this purpose, this holy book is purchased anew from the shop
and decorated and kept on the altar for puja on the first day. The
chapters are divided into nine parts and each of the parts is read on
the consecutive days completing the whole in course of the nine day
worship.
14. Durga Saptasati
Durga Saptasati carries the divine assurance of Mother Durga
herself in which she states that whosoever reads the holy text
containing the braveries of the divine mother in the battlefield will be
abundantly blessed and their lives will be freed of hurdles and
difficulties.
People visit the houses where the Navratri puja is performed and it is
believed that Navratri puja is one of the most beneficial kinds of pujas
observed in India. Navratri is the celebration of education, wisdom,
skills, devotion, fine arts, culture and values on the whole.
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