Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
The word ‘Navratri’ derived from two Sanskrit words-‘Nava’ meaning nine and ‘Ratri’ meaning night and is an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. As per the Vedic calendar, the four types of Navratras are Chaitra, Sharad, Magha Gupta and Ashadha Gupta Navratri. However, large-scale celebrations happen during Chaitra Navaratri (falls during the spring season) and Shardiya Navratri (follows the advent of the autumn season) and other two Magha Gupta and Ashadha Gupta are also called ‘Gupt Navratri’. The upcoming festival of Shardiya Navratri commencing from 15th October and culminating with the celebration of Dussehra on 24th of October 2023 is dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga’ the female cosmic power, sung, and called in her nine forms that represent power, strength, bravery, knowledge, beauty, elegance, and auspiciousness. The man is imperfect and bound with the sorrowful, riddled with thousand enemies’ within such as fear, yearnings, selflessness, jealousy, meanness, prejudice, and hatred. To get rid of these lawless villains within, these destructive masters are to be annihilated. The worshipping of Durga during Navratri is to propitiate Shakti in her aspect as power, to bestow upon man all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers. Devotees worship each avatar of the Goddess during the nine days of the fest by keeping fasts, taking vegetarian diets, ‘Japa’ (chanting mantras in honor of the Goddess Shakti), religious hymens, prayer, meditation, and recitation of sacred texts related to Devi Maa from the order of the day. The main ritual of Navratri consists of placing images of Goddess Durga, in homes and temples. There is also a custom of planting barley seeds in a small bed of mud on the first day of ‘Puja’ and its immersion in running water on the concluding day. In different parts of India, different legends describe the history and origin of Navratri. Legend in North India goes that ‘Mahishasura’ (the buffalo headed demon) was extremely powerful, won over the heavens and captured the throne of lord of gods Indra and declared himself to be the lord of gods. In order to save gods, Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, the three supreme deities emerged a light of anger, which combined to take the shape of a terrible form and this was Durga. The Trinity empowered the Durga with all powers and all the supreme weapons they had. In a battle between ‘Mahishasura’ and Durga which continued for nine days, ultimately on the ninth day Durga took up the form of Chandika and killed ‘Mahishasura’. Eastern Belief: As per the legend prevalent in East India, ‘Uma’ daughter of ‘Daksha’ wished to marry Shiva against the wishes of her father, since childhood and by worshipping managed to please Shiva to marry her. On this ‘Daksha’ broke off all the relationships with her daughter and son-in-law. Subsequently ‘Daksha’ organized a ‘Yagna’ and did not invite Lord Shiva. ‘Uma’ got so angry at her father that she jumped into the ‘Agnikund’ and ended her life. However Uma took re-birth and again married Lord Shiva. It is believed that Uma with Ganesha, Kartika. Sarswati, Laxmi and two of her Sakhi’s ‘Jya’ and ‘Bijaya’, visit every year to her parent’s home during Navratri. Another legend of Navratri relates to the Hindu epic Ramayana. It goes that Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga in nine aspects, for nine days, in order to gather the strength and power to kill Ravana. Those nine nights came to be known as Navratri and the tenth day, on which Lord Rama killed Rvana, came to be called Vijayadashami or Dussehra, signifying Rama’s (good) triumph over Ravana (evil). These nine days are worshiped in different nine forms of Durga, which are; 1. SHAILPUTRI; embodiment of the collective power of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and is worshipped on the first day of Navratri. 2. BRAHMACHARANI; worshipped on the second day and is the second form of Navdurga also called as ‘Dwitiya’. She is blissful and endows happiness, peace, prosperity and grace upon all devotees, who worship her. The color associated with the day is royal blue, since it’s synonymous with a calm-yet-powerful energy. 3. CHANDRAGHANTA; She represents beauty and grace and is worshipped on the third day for peace, tranquility and prosperity in life. Bearing a semi-circular moon on her forehead is depicted with ten hands carrying Trishul, Gada, Sword, Kamandal, Lotus, Arrow, Dhanush and Japa Mala in her right hands. The color associated with the day is yellow. 4. KUSHMANDA; fourth form of Durga also called ‘Chaturthi’ worshipped on the fourth day, created the universe with her divine smile. She is depicted with eight hands holding a Discus, Sword, Hook, Mac, Bow, Arrow and two jars of honey and blood riding on a lion. The color associated with the day is green. 5. SKANDA MATA; Fifth form of Hindu goddess Durga worshipped on the fifth day of Navratri. She awards devotees with salvation, power, prosperity and treasures depicted by three eyes and four hands seated on a lotus. The color associated with the day is grey. 6. KATYAYANI; the sixth form of Durga is known as Katyayani worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri, also called ‘Sashti’. She has three eyes and eight hands. There are eight types of weapons in her hand seated on the lion. The color associated with the day is orange. 7. KALRATRI; seventh form of Maa Durga, considered as the most violent form of Durga, has a dark complexion, disheveled hair and a fearless posture having three eyes that shine bright, with flames emanating from her breath worshipped on the seventh day. As legend goes she killed demon ‘Raktabija’ who had the boon that if any drop of blood of him fell on the ground another ‘Raktbija’ will be created, hence Kaalratri drank the blood to prevent it from falling on the ground. The color associated with the day is white. 8. MAHA GAURI; worshipped on the eighth day, is as white as a conch, moon and jasmine depicted with three eyes and four hands and rides on a bull. The color associated with the day is pink. 9. SIDDHIDATRI is the ninth form of the Durga and worshipped on the ninth day. Believed there are eight types of Siddhis as Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva, and Vashitya. Maha Maya gives all this siddhis. Depicted with four hands, rides on a lion and is worshipped by all Gods, Rishi-Munis, Siddhas, Yogis, Sadhus and devotees to attain the best religious asset. The color associated with the day is sky blue. In conclusion of the Navratri, there is a tradition of honoring the young unmarried girls (Kanjaka-Puja). These girls are believed to be representing the Shakti (power) of Durga on earth. ‘Devi Bhagvata’ provides that a girl below one year of age cannot be taken for puja and a girl of two years is taken as ‘Kumari’, of three years as ‘Trimurti’, of four years as ‘Kalyani’, of five years as ‘Rohini’, of six years as ‘Kalika’, of seven years as ‘Chandika’, of eight years as ‘Shambhvi’, of nine years as ‘Durga’ and of ten years as ‘Subhadra’.
