Navratri 2017: A Miraculous Festival to Fulfill Desires

Here, AstroCAMP presents you a brief article where you will get know about Shardiya Navratri. Now, scroll down to read more about the Mantras to chant during Shardiya Navratri.

ॐ जयन्ती मंगला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी.
दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोस्तु ते.

This year Shardiya Navratri is starting from September 21 and will end on September 30, 2017. If we look at the wider concept there is a difference of six months between Chaitra and Sharadiya Navratri. Both these festivals fall towards the latter half of these seasons. There is no doubt that this is the best period to worship Maa Durga. So, in the latter half of these two seasons , a period of nine days each is indeed the best time for worship , rituals,’ Mantra Jaap’ ‘Mantra Siddhi’ and salvation Siddhi .

There is indeed no better time to worship Ma Durga than Navratri. Since time immemorial Navratri has been considered as the most appropriate time for the worship of Shakti. As such navratri falls four times in a year but the Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri are the most popular ones. From Chaitra, Ashadha or magh Shukla Paksha Pratipada till Navmi is known as Navratri. Chaitra Navratri is known as Vasanti Navratri and Aswin Navratri as Sharadiya Navratri. Moreover, it has a greater significance than the rest.

The Devi Bhagwat talks about the incomprehensible power of Shakti. Once upon a time due to the blessings of Maha Shakti, the gods won over the demons .This made them too proud. Excessive pride can leads to downfall and so to teach the Gods a lesson, the primordial power of goddess took the form of Yaksha (divine being) and destroyed the strengths of deities of air, fire and water. When the Air and Water Gods together failed to remove or burn a speck then out of sheer shame God Indra expressed his wish to understand Yaksha. That's when Ma Shakti appeared in her real form and said I’m the All prevailing Maa Bhagwati, I am that impersonal and formless divine power.That’s when all Gods worshipped Maa Bhagwati and received her blessings.

From this, Katha it is understood that Shakti is Everything. The ‘Durga Shakti, talks about all the boundless powers of Maa Bhagwati. It also talks in details about the destruction of demons. This Supreme power Goddess has many names like:

These are the nine forms of The Goddess. These forms are worshipped during Navratri.On the first day one should do ‘kalash sthapana’ and ‘Dhwaja Rohan’ with devotion. While doing Ghatasthapana (placing the pitcher), if it is either Chitra or Vaidhriti yoga, one should leave the same.Before starting the navratri rituals one must take holy bath, then in a calm place (preferably the NE direction) make a Kunda or Vedi using pure soil (vedi is the geometrical structure made for performing Yajnas).Plant jowar and wheat seeds in it. Now place the kalash (kalash made of gold,silver or copper or clay) here and on the kalash place Ma Shakti’s Photo or idol and devotionally start the worship by firstly paying reverence to Lord Ganesha.Sit next to the Goddess facing either east or west and recite “मम महामाया भगवती प्रीतये आयुर्बलावित्तारोग्य समादरा हि प्राप्तये नवरात्र व्रतमहं करिष्य”. Now eat one time food that is vegetarian, without grains or salt. You should eat only once.

• On the first day, worship Devi Shailputri
• On the second day, worship Brahmacharini
• On the third day worship Devi Chandraghanta
• On the fourth day, worship Devi Kushmanda
• On the fifth day, worship Devi Skandmata
• On the sixth day, worship Devi Katyayini
• On the seventh day, worship Devi Kaalratri
• On the eighth day, worship Devi Maha Gauri
• On the ninth day, worship Devi Durga

During these 9 days, one should sleep on floor and observe celibacy. Moreover it’s an ideal time to do ‘Devi’ Jagran path and good deeds.

In these Devi Fasts, Kumari Puja is the most important. If possible one should do kumara pujan all nine days and if that’s not possible then on Navami one should feed nine young girls after washing their feet and offering them flowers and incense .Like this for nine days one should observe fast and on Dashmi, perform Dashansh Hawan ,feed Brahmins and submerge the idol of Durga. This can be done according to individual traditions.

Navratri Mantras to make your wishes come true

1. Navratri Mantra to remove obstacles
शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे
सर्वस्यार्ति हरे देवि नारायणि नमोस्तु ते

2. Navratri Mantra to stay disease free
रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा
रुष्टा तु कामान सकलानभीष्टान
त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां
त्वामाश्रिता ह्यश्रयतां प्रयान्ति

3. Navratri Mantra for child birth
सर्वाबाधाविनिर्मुक्तो धनधान्य सुतान्वितः
मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशयः

4. Navratri Mantra to get a good husband
पत्नीं मनोरमां देहि मनो वृत्तानुसारिणीम
तारिणीम दुर्ग्संसारसागरस्य कुलोद्भवाम

5. Navratri Mantra to stay disease free and get lucky
देहि सौभाग्यमारोग्यं देहि मे परमं सुखं
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि

Further, we hope this Shardiya Navratri, Maa Durga bless you with wisdom and happiness throughout your life.