Navaratri is a nine-day festival celebrated by Hindus with great enthusiasm. The second day of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini, who is known for her penance and is believed to bless her devotees with power, strength, wisdom, and knowledge. To worship her, devotees wake up early, bathe, light a ghee diya, offer flowers and sweets, chant mantras, and recite Durga Saptashati Path. The story of Maa Brahmacharini involves her strict penance to marry Lord Shiva.
According to different versions of her story, maiden Parvati resolves to marry Shiva. Her parents try to discourage her, but she remains steadfast and performs a penance for about 5000 years.
Who is Maa Brahmacharini?
Goddess Parvati's unmarried form is worshipped as Maa Brahmacharini. She walks barefoot, wears white garb, and carries a Jap Mala (a Rudraksh rosary) in her right hand and Kamandal (a water utensil) in her left. While the Rudraksh symbolizes her penance to attain Lord Shiva as her husband during her forest life, the utensil symbolizes how she only had water and nothing else during the final years of her penance.
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The story of Brahmacharini Devi
Brahmacharini in Vedic scriptures means a woman with sacred religious knowledge. According to the Puranas, the celibate Brahmacharini performed akhand austerities as instructed by Narada to attain Lord Shiva. After penance, Shiva married her in the Swadhisthana Chakra. Lord Mars is believed to be ruled by Brahmacharini Devi.
The story of Brahmacharini primarily revolves around her previous birth as Sati, the daughter of King Daksha, and her intense devotion to Lord Shiva. Sati was born as the daughter of King Daksha and Queen Prasuti. She was a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism, and had a strong desire to marry him. From a young age, Sati developed a deep love and admiration for Lord Shiva. She was determined to marry him, even though her father, King Daksha, did not approve of their union. Daksha despised Lord Shiva, considering him a hermit with matted hair and unconventional habits.
Temples to visit during Navratri
Despite her father's objections, Sati's love for Lord Shiva remained unwavering. She resolved to win Lord Shiva's heart and pursued a life of strict asceticism. She left the comforts of her palace, adorned herself with simple clothes made of bark, and began her penance in a forest. She meditated upon Lord Shiva and practiced extreme austerities.
Sati's tapas (austerities) were rigorous. She stood on one leg, subsisted on meager food, and endured harsh weather conditions for years. Her dedication to her penance impressed the gods and earned her the name "Brahmacharini," which means "one who practices devout austerity." Sati's intense penance caused ripples in the celestial realm, and the gods became concerned about her well-being. They approached Lord Shiva and informed him about Sati's unwavering devotion and penance. Lord Shiva decided to test Sati's devotion. He disguised himself as an old, destitute man and appeared before her while she was deep in meditation. He questioned the purpose of her penance and her desire to marry him. Sati remained resolute and declared her love for him.
Lord Shiva, now convinced of Sati's unwavering devotion, revealed his true form to her and accepted her as his consort. Sati's tapas had borne fruit, and she had achieved her goal.
Navratri 2023: Colour
White colour is dedicated to Maa Brahamcharini
Mantra of Brahmacharini:
ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नम:
Oṃ Devī Brahmacāriṇyai Namaḥ
Prarthana or Prayer:
दधाना करपद्माभ्यामक्षमालाकमण्डलू।
देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Dadhana kara Padmabhyam akshamala kamandalu।
Devi prasidathu mayi brahmacharinya-uttama॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Brahmacharini Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥[11]
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