By Ranjan Kumar Amritnidhi, Delhi

“Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshi Shakti Roopena Samasthita
Namastasyai- Namastasyai -Namastasya -Namo Namah”

Sarba mangal mangleya shibe sarbath sadhike
Sharanyam trambake Gauri Narayani nomo stute.

Today is first day of Sharad Durga Puja and Navratri which is popularly known as Kalashsthapan Day.There are nine forms of Goddess Durga.Shailputri is her first form. The nine different forms of Devi are worshiped over the nine days.These are the
most popular forms under which she is worshiped.

Mother goddess Sailaputri has a half moon in her forehead; she is mounted on the bullock and holds a lance in her hand.

The first form of mother Durga among the nine is Sailaputri.She is known as such,because she has incarnated from Himalaya the Emperor of mountains.Mounting a bullock the mother has a lance in her right hand and the lotus flower in the left.She is the first one among the nine aspects of Durga.

She is a daughter of Himalaya and first among nine Durgas.In previous birth she was the daughter of King Daksha.Her name was Sati- Bhavani.i.e.the wife of Lord Shiva.Once Daksha had organized a big Yagna and did not invite Shiva.But Sati being obstinate, reached there.Thereupon King Daksha insulted Lord Shiva.Sati could not tolerate the insult of husband and burnt herself the fire of Yagna. In other birth she became the daughter of Himalaya in the name of Parvati - Hemvati and got married with Shiva.

As per Upnishad she had torn and the egotism of Indra, etc. Devtas. Being ashamed they bowed and prayed that,”In fact, thou are Shakti, we all - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv are capable by getting Shakti from you.”

The word Navaratri means ‘nine nights.’During Navaratri,we worship the goddesses Durga,Lakshmi,and Saraswati,in that order for three days each.The most important day is the 10th day, Vijayadashami. The word Vijayadashami means ‘10th day of Victory.’

We worship goddess Durga because she is shakti - strength. This is meant to help us think about our positive inner selves

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