HARI OM ,
Ghat Sthapana Muhurat: Morning 6:12 to 8 Am , In HAST Nakshtra , which is too Auspicious in many ways .
- On the first day of Navratri, take a bath in the morning and vow solemnly. After this, make an altar with fertile earth and sow barley in it. On this altar, place your kalash filled with sacred water. This is your ‘ghatsthapana’. Place Maa Durga’s idol on the kalash. During all the rituals of puja, make sure that you maintain an Akhand Jyoti. (an oil/ghee lamp that alights for 24 hours constantly) While worshipping, keep all the ingredients required for worshipping, facing towards east direction. After this, perform the rituals according to the instructions given below:
- Chant the below mentioned mantra, and sprinkle water on yourself as well as the puja ingredients.
“Om Apavitrah Pavitro va Sarvastha Gatopi va
Ya Smarate Pundarikaksha Sa Bahantar Shuchiॐ अपवित्र: पवित्रो वा सर्वावस्थां गतोअपी वा |
य: स्मरेत पुण्डरीकाक्षं स बाहान्तर: शुचि:|| - Keep Akshat (sacred rice mixed with turmeric and red vermillion, used for blessing), flower, and water in your palms while praying to the divinity.
- Perform the rituals meticulously.
- Perform aarti, and after that distribute prasad amongst everyone.
- During Navratri, worship a small girl, and offer her food with some donation.
- If the above mentioned ritual cannot be done regularly, it’s advised that on the last navratra(Navmi), worship 9 girls and give them donations.
- In the Kanya Pujan( Worshipping of Girls) make sure that you only worship girls aged 2-10.
- In the 9 days of navratri, Durga Saptshati and aparajita lessons are believed to manifold the blessings of the divine on you.
- Take blessings from Kanyas
Devi Avatar: Maa Brahmacharini
Origin – After Kushmanda form, Goddess Parvati took birth at the home of Daksha Prajapati. In this form the Goddess Parvati was a great Sati and her unmarried form is worshipped as Goddess Brahmacharini.
Navratri Worship – Goddess Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day of Navratri.
Governing Planet and Rudraksh – It is believed that Lord Mangal, the provider of all fortunes, is governed by Goddess Brahmacharini. Three mukhi rudraksh should be worn
Iconography – Goddess Brahmacharini is depicted as walking on the bare feet. She has two hands and She carries Jap Mala in the right hand and Kamandal in the left hand.
Details – Goddess Brahmacharini did severe penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband. She performed hard austerity and due to which She was called Brahmacharini.
It is stated that during her penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband She spent 1000 years on the diet of flowers and fruits and another 100 years on the diet on leafy vegetables while sleeping on the floor.
Further She followed strict fasting regimen while staying at open place in scorching summers, harsh winters and stormy rains. According to Hindu mythologies She was on diet of Bilva leaves for 3000 years while She prayed to Lord Shankar. Later She even stopped eating Bilva leaves and continued her penance without any food and water. She was known as Aparna when She left eating Bilva leaves.
As legends go Goddess Brahmacharini immolated herself by wishing to get a father in her next birth who can respect her husband Lord Shiva.
Devanagari Name – ब्रह्मचारिणी
Favourite Flower – Jasmine (चमेली)
Mantra –
Prarthana –
देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥
Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama॥
Stuti –
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
Dhyana –
जपमाला कमण्डलु धरा ब्रह्मचारिणी शुभाम्॥
गौरवर्णा स्वाधिष्ठानस्थिता द्वितीय दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
धवल परिधाना ब्रह्मरूपा पुष्पालङ्कार भूषिताम्॥
परम वन्दना पल्लवाधरां कान्त कपोला पीन।
पयोधराम् कमनीया लावणयं स्मेरमुखी निम्ननाभि नितम्बनीम्॥
Japamala Kamandalu Dhara Brahmacharini Shubham॥
Gauravarna Swadhishthanasthita Dwitiya Durga Trinetram।
Dhawala Paridhana Brahmarupa Pushpalankara Bhushitam॥
Parama Vandana Pallavaradharam Kanta Kapola Pina।
Payodharam Kamaniya Lavanayam Smeramukhi Nimnanabhi Nitambanim॥
Stotra –
ब्रह्मरूपधरा ब्रह्मचारिणी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
शङ्करप्रिया त्वंहि भुक्ति-मुक्ति दायिनी।
शान्तिदा ज्ञानदा ब्रह्मचारिणी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Brahmarupadhara Brahmacharini Pranamamyaham॥
Shankarapriya Tvamhi Bhukti-Mukti Dayini।
Shantida Jnanada Brahmacharini Pranamamyaham॥
Kavacha –
अर्पण सदापातु नेत्रो, अर्धरी च कपोलो॥
पञ्चदशी कण्ठे पातु मध्यदेशे पातु महेश्वरी॥
षोडशी सदापातु नाभो गृहो च पादयो।
अङ्ग प्रत्यङ्ग सतत पातु ब्रह्मचारिणी।
Arpana Sadapatu Netro, Ardhari Cha Kapolo॥
Panchadashi Kanthe Patu Madhyadeshe Patu Maheshwari॥
Shodashi Sadapatu Nabho Griho Cha Padayo।
Anga Pratyanga Satata Patu Brahmacharini।
Devi Avatar: Maa Chandraghanta
Navratri Worship – Goddess Chandraghanta is worshipped on the third day of Navratri.
Governing Planet and Rudraksh – It is believed that the planet Shukra is governed by Goddess Chandraghanta. Kamal Gata Maala , Opal stone .
Iconography – Goddess Chandraghanta mounts on the tigress. She wears the semi-circular moon (Chandra) on her forehead. The half-moon on her forehead looks like the bell (Ghanta) and because of that she is known as Chandra-Ghanta. She is depicted with ten hands. Goddess Chandraghanta carries Trishul, Gada, Sword and Kamandal in her four left hands and keeps the fifth left hand in Varada Mudra. She carries lotus flower, Arrow, Dhanush and Japa Mala in her four right hands and keeps the fifth right hand in Abhaya Mudra.
Details – This form of Goddess Parvati is peaceful and for welfare of her devotees. In this form Goddess Chandraghanta is ready for the war with all her weapons. It is believed that the sound of the moon-bell on her forehead expel all type of spirits away from her devotees.
Devanagari Name – चन्द्रघण्टा
Favourite Flower – Jasmine (चमेली)
Mantra –
प्रसादं तनुते मह्यम् चन्द्रघण्टेति विश्रुता॥
Prasadam Tanute Mahyam Chandraghanteti Vishruta॥
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
सिंहारूढा चन्द्रघण्टा यशस्विनीम्॥
मणिपुर स्थिताम् तृतीय दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
खङ्ग, गदा, त्रिशूल, चापशर, पद्म कमण्डलु माला वराभीतकराम्॥
पटाम्बर परिधानां मृदुहास्या नानालङ्कार भूषिताम्।
मञ्जीर, हार, केयूर, किङ्किणि, रत्नकुण्डल मण्डिताम॥
प्रफुल्ल वन्दना बिबाधारा कान्त कपोलाम् तुगम् कुचाम्।
कमनीयां लावण्यां क्षीणकटि नितम्बनीम्॥
Simharudha Chandraghanta Yashasvinim॥
Manipura Sthitam Tritiya Durga Trinetram।
Khanga, Gada, Trishula, Chapashara, Padma Kamandalu Mala Varabhitakaram॥
Patambara Paridhanam Mriduhasya Nanalankara Bhushitam।
Manjira, Hara, Keyura, Kinkini, Ratnakundala Manditam॥
Praphulla Vandana Bibadhara Kanta Kapolam Tugam Kucham।
Kamaniyam Lavanyam Kshinakati Nitambanim॥
अणिमादि सिद्धिदात्री चन्द्रघण्टे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
चन्द्रमुखी इष्ट दात्री इष्टम् मन्त्र स्वरूपिणीम्।
धनदात्री, आनन्ददात्री चन्द्रघण्टे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
नानारूपधारिणी इच्छामयी ऐश्वर्यदायिनीम्।
सौभाग्यारोग्यदायिनी चन्द्रघण्टे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Animadi Siddhidatri Chandraghante Pranamamyaham॥
Chandramukhi Ishta Datri Ishtam Mantra Swarupinim।
Dhanadatri, Anandadatri Chandraghante Pranamamyaham॥
Nanarupadharini Ichchhamayi Aishwaryadayinim।
Saubhagyarogyadayini Chandraghante Pranamamyaham॥
श्री चन्द्रघण्टास्य कवचम् सर्वसिद्धिदायकम्॥
बिना न्यासम् बिना विनियोगम् बिना शापोध्दा बिना होमम्।
स्नानम् शौचादि नास्ति श्रद्धामात्रेण सिद्धिदाम॥
कुशिष्याम् कुटिलाय वञ्चकाय निन्दकाय च।
न दातव्यम् न दातव्यम् न दातव्यम् कदाचितम्॥
Shri Chandraghantasya Kavacham Sarvasiddhidayakam॥
Bina Nyasam Bina Viniyogam Bina Shapoddha Bina Homam।
Snanam Shauchadi Nasti Shraddhamatrena Siddhidam॥
Kushishyam Kutilaya Vanchakaya Nindakaya Cha।
Na Datavyam Na Datavyam Na Datavyam Kadachitam॥