Also known as Durga Puja, this festival comes five times a year: Chaitra Navratri, Gupta Navratri, Sharada Navratri or Maha Navratri, Paush Navratri, Magha Navratri. Among these, Chaitra Navratri and Sharada Navratri are most popular. This 9-night, 10-day festival bears high religious, spiritual, and cultural significance.
What do 9 nights of Navratri stand for?
As per the Kalpas (Puranas), there are three dimensions of Shakti (the feminine energy): Mahakali (strength or power), Mahalakshmi (wealth, passion and material well-being), and Mahasaraswati (knowledge, dissolution, transcendence of the limitations of the mortal body). They are believed to represent the cosmos as the Earth, the Sun and the Moon.
They are also symbolic of the
3 gunas (virtues/qualities): tamas
(inertia), rajas (activity,
passion) and sattva (knowledge, purity),
respectively. Therefore, the first three days are dedicated to Durga or Kali, the
next three to Lakshmi, and the last three to Saraswati. The
tenth day is called Vijayadashmi (or Dussehra) where ‘Vijaya’ means victory – of
good over evil, the victory of Lord Rama over the ten-headed demon king, Ravana.
Ravana’s ten heads represent ten negative qualities
–
Kaam (Lust),
Krodh (Anger),
Lobh (Greed),
Moh (Attachment),
Ahankar (Ego),
Bhay (Fear),
Irshya (Jealousy),
Jadta (Inertia),
Dvesh (Hate),
and Paschataap (Guilty).
Hence, this day also signifies victory over our own minds.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति
शब्दिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣu viṣṇumāyeti śabditā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में व्यक्त विष्णु की माया है, उस
देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is invoked in all beings as Viṣṇu's
māyā, we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 1 of 9 - Devi Shailaputri
Shailaputri (शैलपुत्री), is the daughter of the Mountain King Himavat and is a manifestation and form of the Hindu mother goddess Mahadevi, representing herself as the pure form of goddess Parvati. She is the first Navadurga venerated during the first day of Navratri and is a reincarnation of Goddess Sati.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति
शब्दिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣu śaktirūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में शक्ति के रूप में स्थित है, उस
देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings as
strength, we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 2 of 9 - Devi Brahmacharini
Brahmacharini (ब्रह्मचारिणी) means a devoted female student who lives in an Ashram with her Guru along with other students. She is the second aspect of the Navadurga forms of Mahadevi The goddess is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri (the nine divine nights of Navadurga). The goddess Brahmacharini wears white clothes and holds a Japa mala in her right hand and Kamandala, a water utensil in her left hand.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु दयारूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣu dayārūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में दया के रूप में स्थित है, उस
देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings as
compassion, we bow down
to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 3 of 9 - Chandraghanta
Chandraghanta (चंद्रघंटा) means "one who has a half-moon shaped like a bell. Her third eye is always opened and she is always ready for war against demons". She is also known as Chandrakhanda, Chandika or Rannchandi. Her worship takes place on the third day of Navaratri (the nine divine nights of Navadurga). She is believed to reward people with her grace, bravery and courage. By her grace, all the sins, distresses, physical sufferings, mental tribulations and ghostly hurdles of the devotees are eradicated.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विद्यारूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣu vidyārūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में विद्या के रूप में स्थित है, उस
देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings as
knowledge, we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 4 of 9 - Kushmanda
Kushmanda (कूष्माण्डा), the name signals her main role: Ku means "a little", Ushma means "warmth" or "energy" and Anda means "cosmic egg". Kushmanda is worshipped on the fourth day of the festival of Navaratri and she is believed to improve health and bestow wealth and strength. Goddess Kushmanda has eight hands and because of that, She is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi. It is believed that all the power to bestow Siddhis and Niddhis is located in her Jap Mala.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣu śāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में शान्ति के रूप में स्थित है, उस
देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings as peace,
we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 5 of 9 - Skandamata
Skandamātā (स्कन्दमाता) - the name comes from Skanda, an alternate name for the war god Kartikeya, and Mātā, meaning mother. As one of the Navadurga, the worship of Skandamātā takes place on the fifth day of Navaratri. Her abode is in Vishuddha chakra. Skandamātā is four-armed, three-eyed, and rides on a lion. One of her hands is in the fear-dispelling Abhayamudra position while the other is used to hold the infant form of her son Skanda on her lap. Her remaining two hands are typically shown holding lotus flowers.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣu mātṛrūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में माता के रूप में स्थित है, उस
देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings as
Mother, we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 6 of 9 - Katyayani
Katyayani (कात्यायनी) is seen as the slayer of the tyrannical demon Mahishasura. In Yoga and Tantra, she is ascribed to the sixth Ajna Chakra or the Third eye chakra and her blessings are invoked by concentrating on this point. She is first mentioned in the Taittiriya Aranyaka part of the Yajurveda. Skanda Purana mentions her being created out of the spontaneous anger of Gods, which eventually led to slaying the demon, Mahishasura, mounted on the lion.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु वृत्तिरूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣu vṛttirūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में वृत्ति (स्वभाव) के रूप में
स्थित है, उस देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings as Nature
(character), we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 7 of 9 - Kalaratri
Kalaratri (कालरात्रि) is considered the fiercest form of the Mother Goddess, her appearance itself invoking fear. This form of Goddess is believed to be the destroyer of all demon entities, ghosts, evil spirits and negative energies, who flee upon knowing of her arrival. Kaalratri is also known as Shubankari (शुभंकरी) - meaning auspicious/doing good in Sanskrit, due to the belief that she always provides auspicious results to her devotees. Hence, it is believed that she makes her devotees fearless.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषुच्छायारूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣucchāyārūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में छाया के रूप में स्थित है, उस
देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings the power
of reflection, we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 8 of 9 - Mahagauri
Mahagauri (महागौरी) has the power to fulfill all the desires of her devotees. The name Mahagauri means extremely bright, clean complexioned, with a shine like the moon. (Mahā, महा = great; Gaurī, गौरी = bright, clean). Mahagauri is usually depicted with four hands, the hands holding a trident, fear dispelling gesture, and drum, while the fourth is in a blessing gesture.She rides a white bull, usually shown wearing white clothes.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु कान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī
sarvabhūteṣu kāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में कान्ति के रूप में स्थित है, उस
देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings as
beauty, we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Day 9 of 9 - Siddhidhatri
Siddhidhatri (सिद्धिदात्री) - Siddhi means supernatural power or meditative ability, and Dhatri means giver or awarder. In this form Durga is seated on a lotus and is four-armed. She holds a lotus, mace, Chakra and shankha. Siddhidhatri removes ignorance and provides the knowledge.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Transliteration:
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu buddhirūpeṇa saṃsthitā।
namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ॥
Hindi
translation:
जो सभी प्राणियों में बुद्धि के रूप में स्थित है, उस देवी को नमन है।
English
translation:
The goddess who is manifest in all beings as intellect, we bow down to her.
Source: तन्त्रोक्तं देवीसूक्तम् (tantroktaṃ devīsūktam)
Source: कनकधारा-स्तोत्रम् 18
Sanskrit
transcript:
सरसिजनिलये सरोजहस्ते धवलतमांशुगन्धमाल्यशोभे
।
भगवति हरिवल्लभे मनोज्ञे त्रिभुवनभूतिकरि प्रसीद
मह्यम् ॥
Transliteration:
sarasijanilaye
sarojahaste dhavalatamāṃśugandhamālyaśobhe ।
bhagavati harivallabhe manojñe
tribhuvanabhūtikari prasīda mahyam ॥
Hindi
translation:
आप कमल में रहने वाले, हाथ में कमल धारण करने वाले,
सफेद वस्त्रों, सुगंधों और मालाओं से सुशोभित,
सुंदर विष्णुप्रिया और तीनों
लोकों को समृद्धि देनेवाली हैं। हे देवी मुझ पर कृपा करो।
तीनों लोकों को
समृद्धि देनेवाली, हे देवी, मुझ पर कृपा करो ।
English
translation:
You are the one who lives in the lotus, holding the
lotus in your hand,
adorned with white garments, scents, and
garlands,
the beautiful Vishnupriya and the one who gives prosperity to the
three worlds.
O Goddess, bless me
Source: Bhavānyaṣṭakam 7
Sanskrit
transcript:
विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासे जले चानले
पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये।
अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहि
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥
Transliteration:
vivāde
viṣāde pramāde pravāse jale cānale parvate śatrumadhye।
araṇye śaraṇye sadā
māṃ prapāhi gatistvaṃ gatistvaṃ tvamekā bhavāni॥
Hindi
translation:
विवाद, विषाद, प्रमाद, या प्रवास में, जल, अग्नि,
अथवा पर्वत में, शत्रुओं के बीच, और जंगल में, मेरी रक्षा करो, तुम ही शरण्य हो।
तुम ही रास्ता हो, एकमात्र तुम ही रास्ता हो, माँ भवानी।
English
translation:
During the dispute, despair, intoxication, or
travelling, in water, fire, or mountains, amidst enemies, and in the forest,
protect me, for you are my refuge. You are the way, the only way, Bhavani!
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Source: Markandeya Purana, Devi Mahatyam 88.9
Sanskrit
transcript:
सर्व मङ्गल माङ्गल्ये शिवे
सर्वार्थसाधिके।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि
नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Transliteration:
sarva
maṅgala māṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike।
śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi
namo’stu te॥
Hindi
translation:
सभी मंगलो में मङ्गलमयी, कल्याणकारी, सभी मनोरथो को
पूर्ण करने वाली,
शरणागत वत्सला, तीन नेत्रो वाली शिव की पत्नी आपको नमस्कार
है।
English
translation:
Auspiciousness of all things auspicious! O consort
of Shiva, fulfiller of all our goals!
Our only refuge! O three-eyed Gauri!
O Narayani! Our salutations to you.
Source: Devyāparādha-Kṣamāpana Stotra 10
Sanskrit
transcript:
आपत्सु मग्नः स्मरणं त्वदीयं करोमि दुर्गे
करुणार्णवेशि ।
नैतच्छठत्वं मम भावयेथाः क्षुधातृषार्ता
जननीं स्मरन्ति ॥१०॥
Transliteration:
āpatsu
magnaḥ smaraṇaṃ tvadīyaṃ karomi durge karuṇārṇaveśi ।
naitacchaṭhatvaṃ mama
bhāvayethāḥ kṣudhātṛṣārtā jananīṃ smaranti ॥10॥
Hindi
translation:
जब भी मैं समस्याओं में डूबता हूँ, मैं आपका स्मरण
करता हूँ। यह मेरी सच्ची भावना है, कोई झूठ नहीं।
क्योंकि, अगर कोई बालक भूखा
और प्यासा हो, तो वह अपनी माता का ही स्मरण करता है।
English
translation:
Whenever I am sunk in difficulties in life, o
Mother Durga, I remember you, an ocean of compassion. These are my true feelings
for you and not falsity.
Because When children are afflicted with hunger
and thirst, they naturally remember their Mother (only).
Every year different colors, what is the math behind it?
The secret of the color change lies in the weekday on which Pratipada, the first day of Navaratri, falls. The remaining eight days follow a fixed cycle of colors. The first Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be having White, Red, Royal blue, Yellow, Green, Grey and Orange, respectively. Hence, 7 colors are covered by one-week cycle. In second cycle of week, the first repeating week day follows Pink and purple and/or sky blue, alternatively. Hence, 2 colors cover the remaining 2 days.
Each color has different significance
and brings different effect in one’s life, here’s what they mean
–
Color Significance
Royal blue – Strong energy and
tranquility
Yellow – Happiness, bring optimism and
confidence
Green – Represents prosperity and unconditional
love
Grey – Show dignity & connects to the divine power
and provide protection
Orange – The color of fame, name,
and money
White – The symbol of peace, prayer, faith, and
strength
Red – This is the favorite color of goddess Durga,
it defines power and passion
Pink – Represents hope and the
new beginning
What exactly is fasting during Navratri?
Fast does not mean ‘not eating’. Rather it basically means controlling the desires and simultaneously cultivating positive mental attitudes. Desires can be of many types: to eat tasty food, smell, listen to a particular music, lust etc.
Fast, therefore, can be of many types. Food fast means controlling the desires for food items which you otherwise may not resist eating.
In Navratri, during the first three days, a person is required to indulge in activities which reduce the negativity in the body.
The physical purification involves regular bath (of the external body as well as various orifices); mental bath which involves self-confession exercises, and willful attempts not to think negative.
During these days, a person tries to restrain himself/herself from thinking, speaking or doing any activity which can harm another person. These negative thoughts should also not be suppressed or repressed as otherwise, they will manifest into some internal diseases.
The next three days, after the negativity in the mind, has been reduced, involves building positivity in the mind by way of various positive mental exercises. The last three days involve reading and understanding good scriptures and learning from the sins of others.
Once you have bid goodbye to negativity in the first three days (representing Kali) and have built up happiness and positivity in the mind (representing Lakshmi) the only thing left is to acquire spiritual knowledge (representing Saraswati).
During these last three days, a person is purified enough to understand and grasp the knowledge of ‘Self’ and to understands and discriminate between good and bad.
After the nine days of self-discipline is complete, the person acquires inner happiness which is nothing but one’s exposure or appointment with the true self or the consciousness (Rama). That is what Dussehra is with the killing of Tamas (Kumbhakarana), Rajas (Meghnath) and ego (Ravana).
The same interpretation lies in the Navratri ending up with Dussehra – the win over the ego and attaining inner happiness.
What is the scientific reason behind fasting during Navratri?
Besides religious perspective there is a scientific overview of fasting, fasting helps the human body to perform 3 main metabolic activities;
- Detoxification – since Navratri is a biannual festival; first, at the beginning of summer and second, at the beginning of winter. These are two juncture of seasonal change, this is the period when the human body is vulnerable and susceptible to fall sick; therefore it’s necessary to have a light diet and help the body cells to produce antioxidants which help in removing the waste products to avoid causing further hazards to the body.
- Mindfulness – fasting gives our digestive system time to rest. During fasting human body consumes fat as primary source of energy because of lack of carbohydrates in diet and the metabolic end product of fat is ketone bodies, ketone bodies are the energy source of brain and it promotes more acetylcholine release from nerves which finally increases one’s concentration and calculating ability and it stimulates the release of serotonin which is the hormone for happiness.
- Self-discipline – fasting brings the human body and mind to a more disciplined and ideal state which is difficult to achieve in daily life activities without fasting, this, in turn, helps in weight loss too.
Conclusion
After reading all of this, it definitely makes us think how rich and noble our traditions are. It is easy to misunderstand that all of our festivals are a form of penance to some or other god, but truly, in a subtle way, these are meant to help our selves in growing us into better human beings.
Awesome work thankyou
Thankyou so much for writing this. This made me realise a lot of things. We are taught to follow particular culture but are never taught about the significance. Navratri is nothing but a chance to focus on ourselves, gathering the positive energy into introspection and heal.
WallFrames बहुत अच्छा है उस
का भाव तोड़ा कम कर सकते है क्या आप..?
Rates जरा ज्यादा लग रहा है मुझे
🙏🙏 yhank you🙏🙏
I came across this nlost post while searching about Navarathri fasting and its reference in our vedas and puranas. The fasting riules vary between South Indian, North Indian and East Indian traditions. What is mentioned in our scriptures? Is there mention of Navaratri in Ramayana and Mahabharata? How did they spend the 9 days and what did they do?
If you have any information on this, please share 🙏🙏