The first day of Navarathri is given over to Goddess Shailaputri. It is told that women have seven strengths to the three of man, and on this first day of Navarathri, we reflect on woman as source of fame in the home and the society. The colour of the day is Gray!
Bhagavad Gita 10:34 … Of the qualities that, due to their grace and tenderness, are termed ‘female’, I am fame and fortune, sweet speech, memory, intelligence, steadfast perseverance, loyalty, and forgiveness.
To make up the nine nights, we will add repositories of truth and culture to the list given from the Bhagavad Gita.
The first day of Navarathri is dedicated to Goddess Shailaputri. ‘Shail’ means mountains and ‘Putri’ means daughter. She is also known as Parvati or Hemavati. Shailaputri is believed to be the rebirth of Sati, the daughter of Daksha and the wife of Lord Shiva. In her second birth she is Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya and later she became the consort of Shiva. This is one of the very first forms of Shakti and is closely associated with Lord Shiva.
Stuti:
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Shailaputri Rupena Samsthita
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha
Women Cannot Be Considered Weak
People generally speak of women as the weaker sex. At last, now people recognise that women cannot be considered as weak. The woman in charge of the home plays the main role in bringing good name and fame to the home. Not only in respect of individual homes but also in the good name of the country and the world the woman plays the main role. From ancient times, woman has been accorded a high place in the society.
The woman at home has been held in high esteem as ‘Grihalakshmi“, the goddess of prosperity of the home. When her husband faces difficulties, the wife readily shares the burden and is prepared to do anything, undergo any suffering or even sacrifice her life for the welfare of her husband and the family. It is the woman of the home who is behind the good reputation of the home. The woman is the embodiment of sacrifice. Though the male counterpart may also do sacrifice, it will be with selfish tinge while woman’s sacrifice is absolutely selfless. Therefore, we should be proud of our women.
A man has nothing to stand upon, if his wife does not stand on integrity. The reputation of the wife, the power of her faith and devotion, the intensity of her attachment to speaking truth and following righteousness overshadows the faults of the husband and brings protection to the home, the society, the nation. The man may be the breadwinner, but the wife is the one with the divine Shakti, the strength and the height, the indomitable permanence of the mountain. In this manner, the woman, the wife, the goddess of the home and heart contains the elements, the Shakti of Goddess Shailaputri.
She is the one who is the Lady of all,
and she is the one of whom I would speak,
the one who gives birth and the one who brings death,
beginning and end of the course of our lives.
You are the cauldron of wisdom,
from which inspiration flows.
You are the broad Earth,
which gives faith to all life.
You are the circling Moon,
ruling the tides of ocean and women.
You are the endless night sky,
filled with numberless stars.
You are a grove of birch trees,
shining in the forest deeps.
You are the Mother of us All,
and we look to you in wonder and awe.
108 Names of the Divine Mother (English)
Om… I bow to SHE who is the Mother of the Universe.
Each of the Divine Names (in English) ends with ~ swaha.
When you use the Sanskrit word swaha you are invoking the God / Goddess, you are arousing the God / Goddess to come and witness your action, to come and receive your prayer.
We append these 108 Names of the Divine Mother and pray that you will be understanding the significance of the prayers, along with the efficacy of same.
Download the 108 Names of the Divine Mother
It is said that each day has a colour, and that idols of the Gods worshipped on these days are clothed in sari and other clothing in the colours given. Several sources give several colours. We will be following the day colours as given by Drik Panchang, which may vary from other sources. It is not our intention to cause offence with colours given.
