Hindu Goddess Durga is worshipped in her nine forms, called NavaDurga, during the Navratri festival. Out of these, Maa Shailputri is the first form.
On the first day of the Navratri festival, Maa Shailputri is worshipped by devotees. There are special poojas that are performed with devotion on this day, which are dedicated specially for worshiping Maa Shailputri.
Maa Shailputri is the daughter of the king of mountains, the Himalaya. She is considered as the forever form of Mother Nature. She is also known as Goddess Parvati, the better half of Lord Shiva and mother of lord Ganesha and lord Kartikeya.
Also Read: Significance Of Each Day In Navratri
Maa Shailputri has a half moon on her forehead. You can also see a trident in her right hand and a lotus flower in her left hand. She rides on Nandi.
The abode of Maa Shailputri is believed to be in the Muladhara Chakra. Realising this divine energy is considered as an important step towards spiritual enlightenment.
Knowing the legends and importance of the form of Maa Durga will help you to perform your Navratri pooja with ultimate devotion and dedication. So, have a look at these points below.
First Among The Nine Durgas
Shailputri means daughter (putri) of the mountain (shaila). Goddess Durga is named Shailputri, as she was born in the house of the King of Mountains "Parvat Raj Himalaya". Among the nine Durga forms, Shailputri is the first and foremost one. Since she is the Goddess of root chakra, devotees pray this form keeping the Mooladhar in mind.
Legend On Maa Shailputri
In her previous birth, it was said that Shilputri was Sati, daughter of Daksha. Once Daksha performed a big Yagna without inviting Shiva. But Sati, wife of Shiva, came there with lord Shiva. Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not tolerate this and she burnt herself in the fire of Yagna. In another birth, she became the daughter of Himalaya and got married to Shiva as Hemavati.
Vande Vanchhitalabhay chandrardhakritshekharam |
Vrisharudham Shooldharam Shailputreem Yashasvineem ||
Almighty Durga is glorified with name 'Shailputri' as her first form. Navratri begins with worship of devi Shailputri. As she is the daughter of Parvat Raj Himalya (King of mountains), she is admired with name 'Shail Putri'.
Goddess Durga is personification of Shakti (power) and manifests herself in nine forms. These nine forms of Durga are religiously Worshiped one by one during nine days and nights of Navratri. Devi Shailputri is first among nine embodiments of Goddess Durga and is worshiped first during first day of Navratri. Her glory is incredible. She is the Goddess of purity. With her veneration, Navratri is given an auspicious start. She is also a form of Mother Nature (Prakriti). Worshiping this Goddess on the first day of Navratri Pooja, devotees enters in Moolchakra.
Devi Shailputri is worshiped along with Mahadev, as she is the consort (wife) of Lord Shiva. She is also the mother of Kumar Kartikeya and Ganesha. As she is Prakriti, she looks after all living organisms including human beings, animals, trees, shrubs, plants and even tiny living things on Earth. She holds a lotus flower in her left hand and a Trishul (trident) in her right hand. A half moon decorates her forehead. Parvati and Hemavati are other names of Goddess Shailputri. She rides on Vrishabha (a bull), the procession of this Goddess.
According to Shiv Mahapuran and other Hindu mythologies, Devi Sati, daughter of Prajapati Daksha, was got married with Mahadev. But King Daksha was completely not in favor of this marriage. One day, he organized a Maha Yagya. All deities and near dear ones were invited except Shiv and Sati. Finding this, Sati got deeply hurt and realized that her father was only insulting her husband Shiva. In this intolerable situation, she scarified her body burnt in fire of yogic Yagya. This sight was extremely painful for Mahadev. He made himself isolated from all and went for a penance of long eras. Without him the whole universe was in disorder. But, re-birth of Sati with name Parvati at home of King Himalaya nurtured rays of hope. However, it was very difficult for Parvati to get her Lord Shiva, as Mahadev lost himself in densest of Sadhna.
With mammoth efforts and immense devotion, Devi Parvati began her search and journey toward Lord Shiva. After many endeavors, she blessed with a re-chance to marry with Mahadev. Thereby, Shailputri symbolized herself as a true Goddess of root chakra. Her awakening was toward establishing universal love with Lord Shiva that glorified her as the Goddess of awareness.
On the first day of Navratri, devotees place enters in Moolchakra and worship Goddess Shailputri to establish dedication keeping Mooladhar in mind, and commence Durga pooja auspiciously. Jai Devi Shailputri.
"Shail" means mountains, "Putri" means daughter.Variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, the daughter of the King of the Mountains Himavan, is called Shailputri". The first among nine Durgas and her worship takes place on the first day of Navaratri - the nine divine nights. The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.
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