The auspicious 9-day festival of Chaitra Navratri begins today. This year, it starts on April 2 and will culminate with Ram Navami on the 10th of the same month. The nine-day long festival calls for celebrations and worshipping of goddess Durga in her different forms.
Maa Shailputri is one of the Navadurgas and is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. Also known by the name of Sati, Parvati, Bhawani or Hemavati (daughter of Himavat – the king of Himalayas), Maa Shailputri is hailed as mother nature and prayed to for attaining spiritual awakening.
There are various legends associated with her incarnation as the daughter of King Daksha Prajapati – Sati, and then later as Parvati – the daughter of king Himavat, who is the consort of Lord Shiva.
She is the daughter of the mountains and is depicted with two hands, a crescent on her forehead, a trident in her right hand and a lotus flower in her right hand respectively. She is mounted on Nandi – the bull.
The day begins with her worship and because it is the Day 1 of Navratri, Ghatashthapana is first performed which includes Kalash Sthapana.
Chant this mantra of Devi Shailputri to seek her blessings:
ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah॥
