🌼 Maa Shailputri 🌼

 🌻The Nine Forms of Nav Durgas 🌻

                        On these nine days of Navaratri, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. The nine avatars of “Maa or Mata” (Mother Divine) are known as Mata Shailputri, Mata Brahmacharini, Mata Chandraghanta, Mata Khushmanda, Maa Skanda Mata, Maa Katyayani Mata, Mata Kaalratri, Maa Maha Gauri, and Maa Siddhidatri Mata. 

  
                      Today, on day one of Navaratri, I will share the significance and story of Mata Shailputri. In Navratri, recitation of Maa Shailputri Mantra gives peace of mind and keeps away all the evil from your life and makes you healthy, wealthy and prosperous. 

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🪴 Maa Shailputri History and Origin 🪴 

• According to Hindu beliefs, Goddess Shailaputri is an incarnation of Devi Sati. In this incarnation, she was the daughter of King Daksha Prajapati who was the son of Lord Bramha. 
  
  
• Devi Sati was married to Lord Shiva. However, King Daksha was unhappy with this marriage as he did not consider Lord Shiva to be worthy of marrying a girl who belonged to an honourable family.   
  
  
• The story goes that King Daksha once invited all Gods to attend a grand religious congregation (Maha Yagna). Since he was against the marriage of Lord Shiva and Devi Sati, he did not invite them. 
  
  
• When Devi Sati got to know about this Maha Yagna, she decided to attend it. Lord Shiva tried explaining that King Daksha did not want them to be present for the Yagna, but Devi Sati insisted on attending the ceremony. 
  
  
• Lord Shiva understood that she longed to go home and allowed her to go for the Yagna. But as soon as Devi Sati reached there, she noticed that none of the relatives were happy to see her.  
  
  
• Apart from her mother, all of Devi Sati’s sisters and relatives ridiculed her. King Daksha made some derogatory comments about Lord Shiva and also insulted him in front of all the Gods. 
  
  
• Devi Sati could not bear this insult and immediately jumped into the sacrificial fire meant for the Maha Yagna and immolated herself. As soon as this news reached Lord Shiva, he grew angry and immediately invoked a fearful form – Veerhadra. 
  
  
• Lord Shiva proceeded towards the Maha Yagna and decapitated King Daksha. Later, Lord Vishnu intervened, and King Daksha was brought back to life with a goat’s head attached to his body. 
  
  
• Lord Shiva was still grief-stricken and carried Devi Sati’s half-burned corpse on his shoulders. He was unable to part with her and wandered endlessly about the world.  
  
  
• Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to severe Devi Sati’s corpse and parts of her body fell at different places. These places came to be known as Shakti-Peethas.  
  
  
• In her next birth, Devi Sati was born as the daughter of the God of Mountains – Himalaya. She was named Shailputri and was also known as Parvati in this incarnation. 
  
  
• In this incarnation, due to her prolonged path of penance, she came to be known as Maa Bramhacharini or Goddess Parvati. This time, again, she was married to Lord Shiva and had two sons – Ganesha and Kartikeya.
   

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🌻  Appearance of Maa Shailputri  🌻

                    Being an avatar of Goddess Durga, Maa Shailaputri is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. She carries a lotus in one hand, a trident in the other and uses a bull (Nandi) as her vehicle. Maa Shailaputri is worshipped with great enthusiasm, and it is believed that devotees can lead a happy and successful life with her blessings. 

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🌏 Maa Shailputri Puja Vidhi🌏
 

• On the first day of Navratri, Mata Shailputri is worshipped. On this day, you should wake up early in the morning and wear clean clothes after bathing and meditation. 
  
  
• Before worshipping the mother, clean the place of worship in the house and clean the place with Gangajal. 
  
  
• If you are going to worship Navratri properly, then first of all spread a red cloth on a stool and install the idol or picture of Mata Shailputri. 
  
  
• After this, install the Kalash while meditating on the mother. 
  
  
• After this, light incense and lamp and offer white flowers to the mother and chant the mantra given below- 
  
  Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shailputri Rupena Sansthita. 
  Namastasyai, Namastasyai, Namastasyai Namo Namah. 
    
• After this, offer white food items to the mother. 
  
  
• After offering the food, you should recite Durga Saptashati. 
  
  
• You can also chant the mantras of the mother. Those who are unable to keep fast can also receive the blessings of the Goddess by chanting mantras. 
  
  
• At the end of the Puja, you should do the Aarti of the Goddess.
   
• After the completion of the Puja, you can do Bhajan-Kirtan during the day. 
  
  
• Perform the aarti of Maa Shailputri and offer Bhog. 
  
  

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🪴 Maa Shailputri Bhog 🪴

  
                         Maa Shailputri should be offered white-looking food items such as kheer, rice, white sweets, etc. 

  
🔶 Maa Shailputri Favorite Color 🔶

 
                      Maa Shailputri’s complexion is white, so the mother’s favorite color is white. For this reason, white colored items should be offered to the mother on the first day of Navratri. 

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🌻Mantras of Maa Shailputri 🌻

  
Om Devi Shailputriya Namah॥

ऊँ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥ 

Vande Vanchitlabhay Chandrardhkritshekharam । 

Vrisharudham Shuldharam Shailputri Yashasvinim ॥ 

 वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्। 

वृषारुढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥ 

Ya devi  Sarvabhuteshu Maa Shailputri Rupan Sansthita ।

Namastesyaye Namastesyaye Namastesyaye Namo Namah ॥ 

 या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ शैलपुत्री रूपेण संस्थिता। 

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:॥ 

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🍁 Conclusion  🍁

         
                      So, when Navratri begins and you offer your prayers to Maa Shailputri, remember that she is more than just the daughter of the mountain. She is a symbol of unwavering strength, a protector, and a guiding light for the days to come. Her story resonates with anyone who has faced adversity and emerged stronger on the other side. 

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