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Navaratri is an exciting festival when glittering lights, amazing dances and reverberating drum beats thump in sync with the joy and gaiety spread over nine (Nav-nine and Ratri-nights) wonderful days. Navaratri is observed from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha and Chaitra Shukla Paksha of the Hindu calendar for the worship of the Goddess Durga. It is believed that Divine Mother, Durga, who exists in all beings in the form of intelligence, mercy, beauty, who is the consort of Lord Shiva, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe, exists in many forms. Incarnations of Goddess Durga are Goddess Bhavani, Jagdamba, Mahakali etc.
| Markandey
Puran (Sri Durga Saptshati, Devi
Kawach) states that |
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| Prathamam
Shailputri cha dwitiyang Brahmacharini
Ttritiyang Chandraghanteti, Kushmandeti
chaturthakam. Panchmam Skandmateti,
shashthang Katyayniti cha Saptmam
Kalratriti Mahagauri chashtamam.
Navmam Siddhidatri ch Navdurga
prakirtita. ......
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The first amongst the Nine prime forms of Durga is Shailputri, second Brahmacharini, third Chandraghanta, fourth Kushmanda, fifth Skandmata, sixth Katyayani, seventh Kaalratri, eighth Mahagauri, and the ninth form of the supreme power of the universe is Maa Siddhidatri.
Om Namo
Durga, Durgatinashini
Adi Shakti, or the Prime power of the
cosmos is worshipped in its divine form
as Maa Durga. You found hindu scriptures
mentioning many different names for the
same cosmic force and form of Maa Durga
(along with the associated mantras) as
mentioned in Markandey Puran are :
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MANTRA |
Vande
Wanchhitlabhaya Chandraghrakritshekharam,
Vrisharudham Shuldharam Shailputri Yashashwinim. |
| The first form of Maa Durga is "SHAILPUTRI".
Born as the daughter of Parvatraj Himalaya,
she acquired the name Shailputri (daughter
of Shaila). The Oxen is her consort.
In her right hand there is a Trishul
(trident), and holds a lotus in her
left hand. She is worshiped on first
the day of Navratri. |
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