Gupt Navratri Today on June 20, 2012

Gupt Navratri of Ashadh Mas: A Blessed Occasion To Delight Goddess Shakti

Like two main Navratri of Sharad and Chaitra mas, two Gupt Navratri in months of Magh and Ashadh are also dedicated to Maa Durge and for accomplishing Tantra practice. Rituals in Gupt Navratri differ from region to region. Ashadh Navratri is religiously celebrated in all parts of India, but great significance of this festival can be noted in South India. A very blessed occasion has come for you. Delight Goddess Shakti and get her immense grace in your life.

Devotions are certainly attached to Ashadh Navratri or Gupt Navratri which will be celebrated on June 20, 2012. As this occasion is nine-day festival it will be concluded on June 28, 2012. Like Sharad Navaratri that comes in month of October or November, and Chaitra Navratri that comes on March or April, Ashadh Navratri is not known to everyone. This is why this great occasion is admired as ‘Gupt Navratri’. Gupt means ‘unheard of’ or ‘secret’. And for this reason only, you would not notice the grand celebrations in this Navratri like other two Navratri. Ashadh Navratri is basically an occasion to delight Goddess Durga with Tantra-mantra and with offering other invocations. Like other famous Navratri or Durga Pooja, Gupt Navratri of Ashadh mas is also dedicated to nine forms of Devi Shakti. It is also a nine-night festival for pleasing Goddess Durga. But you may not see the same custom, rituals, and grand celebration during Ashadh Navratri like Sharad Navratri, as in Sharad Navratri Dandiya, Garaba, nine-day fast, Vijya Dashmi and other big rituals are followed. But in Gupt Navratri you can only join holy worship of Maa Durga.

When Gupt Navratri is celebrated?

Gupt Navratri or Ashadh Navratri is celebrated every year in Hindi month of Ashadh (June-July) during Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon). Worship of mother Durga, and other rituals are specifically performed during early morning and in evening after Sun set.

Gupt Navratri’s other names

Shakambhari Utsavam or Shakambhari Navratri, Varahi Navratri , Bhadrakaali Navratri, Gayatri Navratri or etc. India is a great land of vivid fast, festival, culture and traditions where thousands of sacred occasions are performed. Navaratri is one such holy festival for people of India, especially for Hindus that ignites color of joy. Chaitra Navratri in the month of March-April, and Sharad Navaratri in the month of October-November are main Durga Pooja festival. But Navratri in the month of Magh (January-February), and Navratri in the month of Ashadh (June-July) are known with a name ‘Gupt Navratri’.

Importance of Gupt Navratri

If you truly expect fruitful results in life Gupt Navratri or Ashadh Navratri is very auspicious opportunity for you. During this occasion you can heartily please Ma Shakti and can get her immense blessings. But it is only possible if you perform pooja religiously. For pleasing Ma Shakti you need enormous devotions in your heart and strong faith towards the Goddesses. Like Sharad or Chaitra Navratri, there is no description of nine-day fast, planting of Jau- seed on clay pot, and other big rituals during Gupta or Ashadh Navratri, but yes it is always ideal to perform pooja religiously. Usually, Gupta Navarati is for accomplishing of Tantra practice.

What Custom or Rituals are followed during Gupt Navratri?

Rituals differ from region to region. Different parts of India Celebrate Ashadh Navratri with different ways but with same fervor. South part of India shows great revelries of this festival where people are truly vivacious. However, during this holy occasion all religious people have one motto, and it is about delighting Goddessa Shakti or Durga. How simply you can perform pooja has been described below:-

• Take bath in early morning
• Clean or decorate your pooja-ghar (shrine place) of home with a piece of red cloth and establish picture or idol of Goddess Durga.
• Decorate pooja-thali with dhoop, deep, diya, colorful flowers, kum-kum, bangles, bindi, Chunni, blessed-food (Prasad), and offer these to Goddess Durga.
• Spread Gangajal in all rooms of your home.
• Ignite Diya and place it in your Pooja-ghar.
• Recite Durga Mantra, Jaap, Strotra or sing Aarti of Goddess Amba or Maa kaali.
• You can also recite Durga Chalisa.
• Repeat this process in morning and evening till nine days religiously.

Mantra for Gupt Navratri

Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Gayatri Rupen Sanshthitah |

Namah Tasmai Namah Tasmai Namah Tasmai Namo Namah ||

OR

Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Matru Rupen Sansthitah |

Namah Tasmai Namah Tasmai Namah Tasmai Namo Namah ||

Hope this Ashadh Navratra will bring mammoth blessings in your life! Wish everyone a very blessed Ashadh Navratri!