The Nine Goddesses - Navdurga

Vedic scriptures mention four Navratri festivals

- Runjhun Saxena

Shailputri

Hindu Vedic scriptures mention four Navratri festivals. Two of which are celebrated widely, however the other two are lesser known and observed secretly. While the Chaitra Navratri comes after Holi in the months of March-April, the Sharad Navratri is celebrated before Dussehra. The other two are Ashad and Magha Navratri.

The Chaitra Navratri marks the beginning of Creation and is symbolic of new beginnings. Henceforth, it is called as the New Year of the Hindi Calendar, Vikram Samvat, named rightly after King Vikramaditya. Currently we are in Vikram Samvat 2074.

Navratri, like Shivratri, is celebrated as night festivals with major ceremonies and austerities being performed at the night. They last for nine days, hence the name 'Nav (nine) - ratri (night)'.

The nine days are dedicated to nine forms of the Goddess Durga, each day symbolic of a particular form which holds immense metaphysical meaning to it. The nine days of fasting and praying adds a divine aura to one's life.

Of all the Purans available, the Markandey Puran contains the Durga Saptashati and the story of the evolution of the nine goddesses.

वांच्छतिलाभाय चंद्रार्धकृतशेखराम्। वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्वनीम् ॥

The first day is the day of Goddess Shailputri. She is the daughter of Himalaya, the ruling King Himvan. Thus named Shailputri, the word 'Shail' meaning mountain. In her previous birth She was Goddess Sati, the consort of Lord Shiva. In this birth as well, She undergoes tough penances and remarries Shiva.

Clad in pristine white Sari, she holds the Trishul in her right hand and lotus bud in her left hand. She wears a golden crown on her head embellished with a crescent moon. She is a symbol of purity. Her vehicle is a bull.

Metaphysically, Himalayas are in the North, and hence denote the brain of the human body.