'Navratri' means 'nine divine nights’ dedicated to three deities; Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Shakti when her incarnations such as Shailputri, Brahmcharñi, Chandraghanta worship during these days. The next three days are dedicated to Lakshmi when her incarnations such as Kathmandu, Skandamata, and Katyayani are worshipped. The last three days are dedicated to Saraswati when her incarnations such as Kali, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri are worshipped.
Navaratri comes five times in a year. They are as follows:-
Out of these, the Sharada Navaratri and the Vasanta Navaratri are celebrated with fervor and enthusiasm. Another three are secret where prayers are offered to the divine goddess secretly by Yogis and Tantrics fulfill their desires.
Navratri is famous almost throughout India. Though in each state, people worship Goddess Durga in various forms under different names by different people. However, one basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate the Goddess in her aspect as Power and to bestow upon her devotees with wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge, and all other potent powers.
It holds particular significance in the states such as J&K, Gujrat and Bengal. In J&K people, on the first day of the Navaratri, grains of barley known as ‘Khetri’ are planted in the earthen pot in the prayer room of the house. Many people keep fast during these auspicious days. Devotees read the sacred book depicting the glory of Goddess Durga known as “Durga Saptashati”. People eat only restricted foods like, ‘makhana’, ‘kitty ate’ ‘swang rice’ and ‘sabutdaana’. They abstain themselves from eating non-vegetarian food, smoking and drinking. On the eighth day of Navratri also known as Ashtami, devotees invite young girls to their home and worship them. They offer them traditional food like Puri, Halwa and White/Black grams (channels). Many devotees gave bangles and red chunnis to wear along with a token amount of money called shagun. The ninth day is then called Navami, which means the ninth day of this holy and pious period literally. On the tenth day, these seedlings or the "Khetri” is submerged in the water. This custom suggests a link to harvesting. The sowing and reaping of barley are symbolic of the "first fruit.” It is believed that if devotees pray Goddess with full devotion, they can lead to the path of their soul’s evolution.
In Gujrat, Dandiya and Garba Rass are the highlights of the festival
In some communities, people undergo rigorous fasts during this season that lasts for the nine days of Navratri. The festival culminates in Mahanavami. With the time, the festival is commercialized, and the festival has moved on to be a social festival rather than merely a religious one. However, nothing dampens the spirit of the devout followers of Goddess Durga, as they sing devotional songs and indulge in the celebrations of Navratri, year by year.
Now, Let’s discuss the Vasanta Navratri in Particular. There is the legend behind Chaitra Navratri.
Long ago, there was King Dhruvasindhu, who was killed by a lion while hunting. After that unfortunate incident, Prince Sudarshana was crowned. Many people wanted to take the benefit of the situation, and they were, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, father of Queen Lilavati, King Virasena of Kalinga and the father of Queen Manorama. Each one of them wanted the throne of Kosala, for their grandsons. Hence, they all fought with each other. King Virasena died during the battle. On the other hand, Queen Manorama fled to the forest with Prince Sudarshana. They took the shelter under the protection of sage Bhardwaj. Meanwhile, King Yudhajit won and crowned his grandson Shatrujit at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. After that, he went out to look for Manorama and Sudarshana. When King Yudhajit found both of them under the protection of the sage. He made a plan for attacking the sage, but all his efforts were in vain.
One day, hermit approached sage place and called the prince by the name 'Kleeba'. The prince heard the first part 'Kle' and started chanting 'Kleem'. This syllable was a powerful mantra, actually the special Mantra of the divine Goddess. Due to the divine strength of the Mantra, the prince got blessed with a peaceful mind and the grace of the Goddess. His continuous utterance forced Goddess to show up and hence she appeared to him. She granted him the boon of unconquerable. She then offered him divine weapons.
Once, the convoy of representatives of Banaras King was passing by the ashram of the sage. They saw the prince and recommended for the daughter of King of Benaras, Princess Sashikala.
King asked Sashikala to meet Sudarshana. She was impressed by Sudarshana at first sight. They got married. At that time, King Yudhajit started fighting with King of Benaras. Goddess protected Sudarshana and turned Yudhajit and his army to ashes. After that, Sudarshana along with his father - in – law and his wife thanked the Goddess. Being pleased by them, Goddess asked them to revere her during Vasanta Navratri and then vanished.
Sudarshan and Sashikala returned back to the Ashram of Rishi Bhardwaj. Rishi blessed them and crowned the prince Sudarshana as a king of Kosala. Sudarshana and Shashikala along with the King of Benaras further carried out the commands of the Goddess and performed the Puja of Goddess with proper procedure in Vasanta Navratri... Read More
The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Shakti when her incarnations such as Shailputri, Brahmcharñi, Chandraghanta worship during these days. The next three days are dedicated to Lakshmi when her incarnations such as Kathmandu, Skandamata, and Katyayani are worshipped. The last three days are dedicated to Saraswati when her incarnations such as Kali, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri are worshipped.
Navaratri comes five times in a year. They are as follows:-
- Vasanta Navaratri: It comes in the spring season (March–April).
- Ashadha Navaratri: It comes in the month of (June–July) (Ashadha).
- Sharada Navaratri: it comes in the month of September–October (Sharad).
- Push Navaratri: It comes in the month of (December–January) (Paush).
- Magha Navaratri: It comes in the month of (January–February) (Magha).
Out of these, the Sharada Navaratri and the Vasanta Navaratri are celebrated with fervor and enthusiasm. Another three are secret where prayers are offered to the divine goddess secretly by Yogis and Tantrics fulfill their desires.
Navratri is famous almost throughout India. Though in each state, people worship Goddess Durga in various forms under different names by different people. However, one basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate the Goddess in her aspect as Power and to bestow upon her devotees with wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge, and all other potent powers.
It holds particular significance in the states such as J&K, Gujrat and Bengal. In J&K people, on the first day of the Navaratri, grains of barley known as ‘Khetri’ are planted in the earthen pot in the prayer room of the house. Many people keep fast during these auspicious days. Devotees read the sacred book depicting the glory of Goddess Durga known as “Durga Saptashati”. People eat only restricted foods like, ‘makhana’, ‘kitty ate’ ‘swang rice’ and ‘sabutdaana’. They abstain themselves from eating non-vegetarian food, smoking and drinking. On the eighth day of Navratri also known as Ashtami, devotees invite young girls to their home and worship them. They offer them traditional food like Puri, Halwa and White/Black grams (channels). Many devotees gave bangles and red chunnis to wear along with a token amount of money called shagun. The ninth day is then called Navami, which means the ninth day of this holy and pious period literally. On the tenth day, these seedlings or the "Khetri” is submerged in the water. This custom suggests a link to harvesting. The sowing and reaping of barley are symbolic of the "first fruit.” It is believed that if devotees pray Goddess with full devotion, they can lead to the path of their soul’s evolution.
In Gujrat, Dandiya and Garba Rass are the highlights of the festival
In some communities, people undergo rigorous fasts during this season that lasts for the nine days of Navratri. The festival culminates in Mahanavami. With the time, the festival is commercialized, and the festival has moved on to be a social festival rather than merely a religious one. However, nothing dampens the spirit of the devout followers of Goddess Durga, as they sing devotional songs and indulge in the celebrations of Navratri, year by year.
Now, Let’s discuss the Vasanta Navratri in Particular. There is the legend behind Chaitra Navratri.
Long ago, there was King Dhruvasindhu, who was killed by a lion while hunting. After that unfortunate incident, Prince Sudarshana was crowned. Many people wanted to take the benefit of the situation, and they were, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, father of Queen Lilavati, King Virasena of Kalinga and the father of Queen Manorama. Each one of them wanted the throne of Kosala, for their grandsons. Hence, they all fought with each other. King Virasena died during the battle. On the other hand, Queen Manorama fled to the forest with Prince Sudarshana. They took the shelter under the protection of sage Bhardwaj. Meanwhile, King Yudhajit won and crowned his grandson Shatrujit at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. After that, he went out to look for Manorama and Sudarshana. When King Yudhajit found both of them under the protection of the sage. He made a plan for attacking the sage, but all his efforts were in vain.
One day, hermit approached sage place and called the prince by the name 'Kleeba'. The prince heard the first part 'Kle' and started chanting 'Kleem'. This syllable was a powerful mantra, actually the special Mantra of the divine Goddess. Due to the divine strength of the Mantra, the prince got blessed with a peaceful mind and the grace of the Goddess. His continuous utterance forced Goddess to show up and hence she appeared to him. She granted him the boon of unconquerable. She then offered him divine weapons.
Once, the convoy of representatives of Banaras King was passing by the ashram of the sage. They saw the prince and recommended for the daughter of King of Benaras, Princess Sashikala.
King asked Sashikala to meet Sudarshana. She was impressed by Sudarshana at first sight. They got married. At that time, King Yudhajit started fighting with King of Benaras. Goddess protected Sudarshana and turned Yudhajit and his army to ashes. After that, Sudarshana along with his father - in – law and his wife thanked the Goddess. Being pleased by them, Goddess asked them to revere her during Vasanta Navratri and then vanished.
Sudarshan and Sashikala returned back to the Ashram of Rishi Bhardwaj. Rishi blessed them and crowned the prince Sudarshana as a king of Kosala. Sudarshana and Shashikala along with the King of Benaras further carried out the commands of the Goddess and performed the Puja of Goddess with proper procedure in Vasanta Navratri... Read More
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