Devi Shailputri – Overview
During the nine days of Navratri, Goddess Durga, the holy representation of Goddess Shakti (Parvati), expressed herself in nine different forms. The first of Goddess Durga’s nine manifestations, Devi Shailputri, is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. Devi Shailputri is a manifestation of mother nature known as Prakriti and the Goddess of purity.
She is the one who protects all life forms on Earth, including people, plants, animals, and trees, as well as every other living creature in the universe.
Devi Shailputri is the beloved daughter of Parvat Raj Himalaya (The king of Mountains) and the wife of Lord Shiva. She is represented with a Trishul in her right hand, a lotus flower in her left hand, and a crescent moon on her forehead. Parvati and Hemavati are some other names of Devi Shailputri. She is also known as Vrisharudha because she has a Bull (vrisha) as her ride.
The Legend behind Devi Shailputri
Daksha Prajapati had once organized a huge yagya or hawan ceremony, for which he had invited all the Devas (gods) except his own daughter Sati and Lord Shiva, because Sati had married Shiva without Daksha Prajapati’s blessings.
Devi Sati despite Lord Shiva’s warning decided to attend the Yagya without invitation. After reaching the yagya venue she realized that her father hadn’t even reserved a place for her husband. Sati couldn’t tolerate the direspectful behaviour of her father towards her husband, so she jumped into the yagya fire and burnt herself.
Shiva tore his hair out and created Virabhadra, the most ferocious of warriors, after learning of Sati’s death, which left him feeling extremely disturbed, heartbroken, and then angry. Then he gave Virabhadra orders to go to the yajna and kill everyone there, including Daksha. Virabhadra stormed the event at Shiva’s command, killing Daksha and many of the attendees.
Shiva’s fury had finally subsided, only to be replaced by sorrow, so he took the form of Virbhadra and revived Daskha by giving him a goat’s head. Shiva then carefully picked up Sati’s body and left the area, merely intending to resume his life as a hermit. He had no idea where he was headed.
The other gods made numerous attempts to break Shiva’s grief, but they were unsuccessful and were left with no choice but to watch helplessly as he prowled the land and screamed to the roaring winds.
Finally, they prayed to Lord Vishnu to revive Shiva, who then cut Sati’s lifeless body into 52 pieces using his Sudarshana Chakra. These fragments dispersed in numerous locations and evolved into shrines known as Shakti Peethas.
Shiva, whose body was finally collapsing, sat down by the banks of the Ganges River and entered a deep meditation until he realised who he was and what he had been through.
The universe was in disarray without Shiva. Devi Sati then reincarnated as Parvati or Shailputri, the beloved daughter of Himalaya. She kept searching for Lord Shiva for years and was able to reunite with him after a lot of tapasya.
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Significance of Devi Shailputri
Devi Shailputri governs the Root chakra ( mooladhara chakra) which is the first chakra which sets as the base or foundation of all other chakras. Worshipping and meditating on the energy of Devi Shailputri energizes and balance the Mooladhara chakra which in turn makes the person grounded, humble and confident.
One begins the path toward spiritual enlightenment and discovering their purpose in life. The Muladhara chakra needs to be activated if one wants to have the strength and energy to face life’s problems.
Yogis maintain this focus on Muladhara during the first day of Navratri puja. The first day of Navratri is seen as being extremely auspicious from a yogic perspective. This is how yogis begin to connect with the energy of the Muladhara chakra for harmony and endurance and the Divine Mother Durga.
To worship Devi shailputri and energize your root chakra, you can chant the mantra associated with goddess Shailputri. The mantra is as follows ” Om Hreem Shri Shailputri Durgaaye Namaha” or ” Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah“.
Prayer for Devi Shailputri:
Vande Vanchhit Laabhaay, Chandrardhkritshekharaam |
Vrisharudham Shooldharaam Shailputriim Yashaswinim ||
Ghatasthapana Rituals
- The first day of Navratri is when the ceremony of “Ghatasthapana” marks the beginning of Maa Shailputri’s worship. She makes the Earth and everything on it manifest. She is revered in this form because she is known as Mother Nature.
- The Ghatasthapana method involves placing an earthen pot with a wide mouth. Seven different food grains and barley seeds are now sown on the Saptamatrika, the first seven types of soil, inside the pot. After it is complete, water is sprayed onto the seeds until the dust is damp.
- Set this aside, then fill a Kalash with holy water (Gangajal), add a few akshat, and finally add five different types of currency together with Durva leaves. Place coconut on top of the five upside-down mango leaves that are now covering the Kalash’s brim in a circular pattern.
- You can either tie moli (red thread) over the coconut or cover it with a red cloth. Now put this Kalash in the centre of the earthen pot that contains the grains you have sown.
- Chant the Devi Shailputri Mantra, “Om Devi Shailputryai Namah,” 108 times to invoke Goddess Durga in the avatar of Shailputri.
- Recite the shailputri arti or Durga Aarti.
- Carry out the Panchopchara Pooja, which entails doing the puja ritual using five things. To begin this puja, a ghee lamp must first be lit. Burning dhoop sticks now allows you to give the Kalash fragrant fumes, flowers, and a heady perfume before finally giving the Kalash Naivedyam.
- Offering ghee and flowers to Devi shailputri is a great way to please her in order to recieve her blessings and love
