The pious days of Navratri 2018 have started from October 10 and will end on October 18 with Ram Navami.
Navratri days are celebrated by Hindu followers all across India to honor the feminine power. The nine manifestations of Goddess Durga is worshipped on each day.
Maa Brahmacharini Significance
On the second day of Navaratri, Maa Brahmacharini, another avatar of Maa Durga is worshipped. The form of Goddess Brahmacharini signifies love, loyalty, wisdom, and knowledge. The facade of Maa Brahmacharini symbolizes simplicity. She holds a rosary in one hand and a Kamandal in other.
Maa Brahmacharini, the word “Brahm” refers to Tapa and her name means -the one who performs Tapa. Going by the story, she was born to Himalaya. Devrishi Narada influenced her thoughts and as a result, she practiced tough tapa or penances as she was determined to obtain Lord Shiva.
The goddess spent hundred of years eating very little or nothing determined to her tapa.
Maa Brahmacharini Puja Vidhi
For performing puja of Goddess Brahmacharini, you need flowers, roli, akshat, sandalwood and you need to make proper arrangements for her bath. For the bath, you will require milk, curd, sugar, and honey and offer paan and supari to the Goddess and at the end pray to the Navagrahas and your Ishta Devta.
While worshipping, keep a flower in your hand and chant a mantra dedicated to the goddess. Now give a bath to the Goddess with Panchamrit - a mixture of five foods used in Hindu worship and puja, usually honey, sugar, milk, yogurt, and ghee. After giving a bath to the Goddess, offer different kinds of flowers, akshat, and sindoor.
The Goddess is believed to be fond of hibiscus and lotus flowers, so offer a garland made out of these flowers to her and then perform aarti.
Maa Brahmacharini Mantra
Chant the following mantra to seek divine blessings of the goddess:
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।।
दधाना कर पद्माभ्याम अक्षमाला कमण्डलू।
देवी प्रसीदतु मई ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा।।
Yā dēvī sarvabhūtēṣu mām̐ brahmacāriṇī rūpēṇa sansthitā |
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namō nama: ||
Dadhānā kara padmābhyāma akṣamālā kamaṇḍalū |
Dēvī prasīdatu ma'ī brahmacāriṇyanuttamā ||
May goddess Brahmcharini blesses you with great emotional strength and confidence even in the darkest hour. Happy Navratri!
