A significant festival in Hinduism, we are on the second day of the Chaitra Navratri festival which spans over 9 days. Each day, a divine form of Goddess Durga is worshipped and the second day is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini. Talking to Local18, Acharya Ramashankar Ji said that Goddess Brahmacharani is the unmarried form of Goddess Parvat. She has a rosary or Japamala in her right hand and a kamandala in her left hand, which gives a sense of the mother’s penance and meditation.
Brahma means penance and charini means whose ‘achar’ or behaviour adheres to severe penance. Goddess Brahmacharini underwent severe penance to obtain Lord Shiva as her husband.
She was known as Brahmacharini because of her strict austerity. It is said that she spent a millennium fasting on fruits and flowers and an additional 100 years eating only leafy vegetables while sleeping on the ground as part of her penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband.
Goddess Parvati is attacked by Prakandasura, a demon, and his million asuras during her penance. Parvati is incapable of defending herself because she is nearing the end of her tapas. The goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati step in to aid Parvati when they see her defenceless, but the demons outnumber them. Following several days of combat, the demons are all destroyed by the ensuing flood when the kamandalu next to Parvati collapses. Finally, Parvati opens her eyes when her tapasya ends, sending out flames that reduce the monster to ashes.
How to worship the Goddess
Initially, ensure the cleanliness of the place of worship. Following this, take a thorough bath, don clean attire and position yourself in front of the goddess. Commence by bathing Goddess Brahmacharini with Panchamrit. Then, present white or yellow garments along with offerings like Roli, Akshat, Sandalwood, etc. Utilise solely hibiscus or red blossoms during worship, as it’s believed to be favoured by the deity. Subsequently, recite mantras while focusing on Goddess Brahmacharini in meditation and seek forgiveness for any mistakes done by you by performing Aarti.
Chanting of Mantra
1. ह्रीं श्री अम्बिकायै नम: का जप करें
2. या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मां ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः।।
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