Navratri Day 2: Rituals and Significance of Worshipping Goddess Brahmacharini

Navratri marks the onset of the festival season. It is a period of nine days where devotees worship Goddess Durga and her nine forms. In our previous post we talked about Shailputri Mata who is worshipped on Day 1 of Navratri. As we proceed with our celebrations to the second day of Navratri we worship Brahmacharini Mata, the second form of Durga Mata. 

Brahmacharini Mata: 

The word “Brahma” stands for tapasya (penance) and “Charini” means a female devotee of the lord. Brahmacharini Mata is therefore an epitome of the pure and pious act of penance. She is seen wearing white coloured clothes and carries a japamala (rosary)  in her right hand and a kamandal (water pot) in her left hand. 

Legends and Mythology: 

As per the katha, Devi Parvati took birth in the household of parvat raj, Himalaya and his wife Maina. When the time of her wedding approached, it is believed that Narad Muni mentioned Lord Shiv in a discussion with King Himalaya. Post this discussion, King Himalaya along with his daughter Parvati set out to visit Lord Shiva and requested him to marry his daughter. Though Lord Shiva accepts Devi Parvati, the other lords get worried on noticing no interaction between the two. Taking matters in their own hands, they send Lord Kamdev, to disrupt his tapasya which was a rather vain attempt as it had no fruitful results. On this occasion Muni Raaj, Narad Muni asked Devi Parvati to immerse herself into the chanting of panchakshar mantra: Namah Shivay. The resilience and dedication to have Lord Shiva as her life partner took over her. Devi Parvati moved towards the Gangotri Tirtha to embark on her spiritual journey. Devi Parvati and her tapasya powered through harsh weather conditions, rains and thunderstorms, extreme winters and summers. Consuming only fruits and leaves in her vicinity in the jungle, Devi Parvati herself became one with her chanting of Namah Shivay. 3000 years of resilience, fasting and Tapasya went by, and this led for her to be accoladed with the name of Brahmacharini. 

Brahmacharini Mata and Sacral Chakra: 

Brahmacharini Mata is associated with the Svadishthana Chakra or the Sacral Chakra and represents the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge through tapasya. As we meditate on the form of Devi, we must bring in her attributes of resilience and the unwavering strength towards her worship of Lord Shiva. Through meditation, our sacral chakra gets activated and allows for a deeper enhancing of our creativity and emotional balance. 

Day 2 of Navratri Puja: 

Brahma Muhurta: 

In order to offer our prayers one must wake up during the Brahma Muhurta and extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Maha Shakti. The Brahma Muhurta which is the early morning hours from 4 Am to 6 Am is known to be the most auspicious period to worship Brahmacharini Mata. 

Worshipping Brahmacharini Mata: 

• Devotees must adorn themselves in blue coloured clothes on this day. 
• While facing south in the place of worship, devotees must put down a red cloth with wheat grains mounted on it. 
• By placing the image or idol of Brahmacharini Mata on the wheat grains, and with gangajal in their palms, devotees must chant her manta and meditate. 
• Devotees must light up a diya of Chameli (Jasmine) oil and guggal dhoop. After this devotees must adorn the image or idol of Brahmacharini Mata with sindoor and offer red and white flowers. 
• Gudd (jaggery) is offered to Brahmacharini Mata in the form of bhog. 

Brahmacharini Mata Mantra: 

The mantra for worshipping Brahmacharini Mata: 

“Aum Devi Brahmacharinnyai Namah!” 

Devotees must do japa of this mantra and listen or chant the Durga Saptashati.