Worship Maa Shailputri - First Day Of Navratri

Navratri is one of the most auspicious festivals as per Hindu traditions which commemorate worshipping Goddess Durga in her nine different forms. It is the devotional essence of the festival which defines its beauty exhibited by the followers of the Goddess. Happiness starts to loom everywhere with the kick start of the Navratri festival. On the first day, Goddess Shailputri is worshipped. She is one among the nine forms of the Goddess. The first day, however, marks the Ghatasthapna, meaning the sowing of the seeds of grains in a clay pot, signifying Goddess Durga’s presence in the house. Proper care of the same should be taken by the person who plants it by watering it regularly so as to ensure its proper growth. 

Throwing light on the origin and importance of Goddess Shailputri, Shail means mountain while Putri means daughter, hence the meaning of Shailputri means the daughter of the mountain range. She was Goddess Ganga’s younger sister. The latter was brought to earth by King Bhagirathi. Shailputri was so fascinated by Lord Shiva that she worshipped him devotedly to win over him. On this day, devotees are supposed to wear yellow colored attires as a symbol of devotion for the goddess. The Goddess herself wears a grey colored saree and holds a lotus in her hand while the other hand is used for blessings her devotees. She warns of the evils by sitting on a bull named Nandi and even preaches peace. She tends to enlighten the soul of her worshippers by awakening their spiritualism.

 First day of the Navratri pujan  
•    Doing the sthapana of the Goddess at home
•    A flower garland should be put around the photo of the Goddess
•    Light a lamp in a metallic diya in front of her made out of desi ghee
•    Rice grains should be put beneath the diya before lighting it up
•    A Durga Saptashati path with one chapter everyday should be read.
•    The first day of the puja comes to an end in this manner

The following mantra should be chanted by the devotees on the first day of Navratri

Maa Shailputri Mantra
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
वृषारुढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥
Vande Vanchhitalabhay chandrardhakritshekharam |
Vrisharudham Shooldharam Shailputreem Yashasvineem ||

Day 2 - October 2, 2016 (Sunday) - Pratipada, Chandra Darshan, Shailputri Puja- There is a repetition of the puja for the Goddess Shailputri on the second day as well, as sometimes it so happens in Hindu calendar that a single day extends in a manner that it counts into the next English calendar date. Hence, on this day as well, Goddess Shailputri is worshipped in the same manner as on the first day.

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