The Navaratri festival began on October 3 (Thursday) with rituals to propitiate Goddess Shailputri. The supreme mother goddess is worshipped in nine different forms during the nine-day festival, with Shailaputri on day one; Brahmacharini on day two; Chandrakhanta on day three; Kushmanda on the fourth day; Skandamatha on the fifth; Kathyayani on day six; Kalaratri on the seventh day; Mahagauri on day eight and Siddhidatri on the ninth day. The nine manifestations of the Devi (goddess) are referred to as ‘Nava Durgas’.
Shailaputri, the first Durga worshipped at the start of the Navaratri festival, is considered to be Goddess Sri Parvathy, the daughter of the lord of mountains Himavan (Himalayas) and Mena Devi. Being the daughter of the lord of mountains, who is also referred to as Parvatha Rajan, Shailaputri earned the name Sri Parvathy. Similarly, as she is the daughter of Shailam, another name for the Himalayas, the goddess is called Shailaputri.
Shailaputri was born as Sathi, the daughter of Daksha, in her previous birth. In this form of Durga, the goddess appears seated on the bull Nandi, carrying a trident in one hand and a lotus in the other. Shailaputri is believed to possess the powers of all the three supreme gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara – together.
The other names of Shailputri are, Sathi, Bhavani, Parvathy and Hemavathi. In fact, as per Hindu belief, Shailaputri is the motherly figure which manifests as nature.
The favourite flower of Goddess Shailputri is jasmine. Offering this variety of flowers to Devi temples on the first day of Navaratri is considered very auspicious. Reciting the ‘Shailaputri Devi sthuti’, the Sanskrit verses praising the goddess, while visiting Devi temples is also an ideal form of prayer.
Shailaputri Devi sthuti
Ya devi sarva bhootheshu maa
Shailaputri roopena samsthitha
Namah-stasyaye Namah-stasyaye
Namah-stasyaye namo namah.
Shailaputri
(Mooladhara chakra)
Dhyanam –
Vande vanchitalabhaya
Chandraartha-kritha-sekharam
Vrishaaroodham sooladharam
Shailaputrim yasaswinim
Poornendu nibhang-gourim
Mooladharasthitham pradhamadurgam thrinetram
Padambarapathinam ratnakireedam
Nanalankarabhooshitham
Prafullavadanaam pallavadharaam
Kanthakapolaam tungakucham
Kamaneeyam lavanya-snehamukhiim
Ksheenamadhyaam nithambaneem
Stothram
Pradhama Durgathwam hi
Bhavasagara tharinee
Dhana aiswaraya dayinee Shailaputri
Pranamamyaham
Trilokajananee twam hi
Paramananda pradayinee
Sowbhagyaarogya-dayinee
Shaliputri pranamamyaham
Charachareswari twam hi
Mahamohavinasini
Bhuktimukti-dayinee Sailaputri pranamamyaham.
(Author’s details: V Sajeev Sastharam, Perunna, Changanassery. Phone: 9656377700)
