Navratri: Godess Brahmacharini

After worshipping Goddess Shailputri on the first day of Navratri, comes Mata Bramacharini. ‘Brahma’ here speaks of ‘penance’ [tapa] and ‘charini’ means ‘performing’ or ‘chanting’. This unmarried form of Maa Durga is known for her extreme meditation and her love for simplicity. Maa Bramacharini is viewed as a Sanyaasini. Holding a kamandala in one hand and a jap mala (rosary) in the other, she walks barefoot in the jungle. Her calm and blissful posture reflects her shimmering and exalted beauty. She symbolizes love, sagacity and intelligence. One can attain moksha by worshipping her.

MYTHOLOGICAL STORY

Goddess Bharamcharini is the meditating roop of Goddess Parvati. We know this now that the great Sati took rebirth as Mata Parvati. One day, she was playing with her friends. Naradaji came to her and told her that she is bound to marry Lord Shiva, who was her last birth husband. Hearing this, she wanted to regain the love of Lord Shiva, who was then meditating in Himalayas. She went to jungle, practiced penance, and led a life of sanyaasini for several years. The dedication and purity in her tapa gave her inner strength and power. Her passion of being a consort of Lord Shiva ultimately got fulfilled. The long time practice of simple life as sanyasini made her emotionally strong and knowledgeable. She symbolizes the attributes of adoration and loyalty. She is also known as Devi Yogni.

COLOR DEDICATED TO MATA BHARAMCHARINI

• Maa Bharamcharini is always seen in white or orange saree, which expresses the sacrificial life led by Mata to get the love of Lord Shiva.
• The devotees should wear saffron or lemon yellow on this auspicious day, to gain mental peace and intelligence.

HOW TO OFFER PUJA THE SECOND DAY OF NAVRATRI

• The devotees should take bath early in the morning and after cleaning the idol of the deity, tilak should be applied on it.
• The devotee should offer water in the urn (kalash), placed on the first day of Navrati as Ghatasthapana.
• Akhand deep should be kept burning for nine consecutive days.
• The devotees should sit facing towards the north east and chant the following mantra 108 times
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।। दधाना कर पद्माभ्याम अक्षमाला कमण्डलू। देवी प्रसीदतु मई ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा।। This mantra translates as: Mata Brahmacharini wears white color dress. She wears rudraksha mala and carries lotus and kamandala in her hands. She is a tapasvani roop of Durga. She gives us liberty from anger. I worship her and thank her for always blessing me.
• On the last day, nine girls below the age of 16, should be invited and worshipped.

Prashad to be offered on this day