Navratri - Day 2

The second day of Navratri has arrived and it is time to continue our celebrations! Navratri is the festival that is based around the event when Durga Maa killed Mahishasur and freed the world from his Atyachar.

The Navratri is nine nights of festivals, where Durga Maa has her Puja done. She has 9 forms called the Nav Durga. Tonight is the second night and is dedicated to the second Nav Durga Mata, Maa Brahmacharini. The first night was dedicated to Maa Shailputri.

Information about Brahmacharni Maa

Brahmacharni is the second phase of nine Durgas. Here Brahma means penance. So, Brahmacharini is one who practices penance. It is said - Veda, Tattva and Tapa are synonyms for Brahma. The form of Brahmacharini is tremendously effulgent and extremely majestic. She holds a rosary in her right hand and Kamandalu in her left.

In her previous birth when she was incarnated as the daughter of Himalaya, then influenced by the instructions of Narada, she practiced terrible penances in order to obtain Lord Shiva as her divine consort. Due to her unearthly penances she was termed as Brahmacharini. She spent one thousand years, only on fruits and beetroots. One hundred years she spent only by eating leafy vegetables. For a sufficient period of time observing complete fast she suffered tormenting of nature like torrential rains and scorching sun and biting cold, under the open sky. After such a difficult routine she lived only on dry Bilva leaves fallen on the ground for three thousand years. She kept her engrossed for twenty-four hours in worshipping Lord Shiva. After that she gave up eating even these dry leaves. For several thousand years she went on without any food and water. Because she gave up eating dry Bilva leaves so she was known to be Aparna as one of her epithets.

After the rigorous penance for several thousand years her body became extremely lean and thin. She was reduced to skeleton only. Watching her pitiable condition mother Mena was very much pained. In order to divert her attention from the rigorous penance she exclaimed - 'U' 'Ma' meaning 'O! No, no, not'. Since then Goddess Brahmacharini was named Uma. This happened in her previous incarnation itself.

Her penance, sharpened as it was, caused great disturbance in all the three worlds. The whole universe was shaken. The gods, the Rishis, the Siddhas, the Munis all eulogized her penance as an unprecedented virtuous action. Ultimately Pitamaha Brahma through an oracle addressed her and said to her in a very pleasant manner - O Goddess, so far nobody has ever practiced such an austere penance. Only you could have done it. This wonderful deed is being praised in all four quarters. Your desire would be fulfilled. You will decidedly get Lord Shiva as your divine consort. Now stop doing penance and go home. Your father would be shortly coming to take you back.

This second aspect of Brahmachaini Durga is capable of providing unending benefit. By worshipping her the person inculcates doing penance, renouncing, dispassion, ethical conduct and restraint in himself. Even in the most critical periods of struggle the mind remains unshaken and he does not deviate from the path of duty. By the grace of mother Brahmacharini he gets success and victory always and everywhere. On the second day of Durgapuja it is the Brahmacharini aspect of mother Goddess Durga that is worshipped. This way the mind of the striver moving upward is established in Swadhisthana Chakra. The Yogi, who makes his mind stay in this Chakra, gets the devotion and blessings of the Goddess.

Info from: http://www.s-a-i.info/assoc_change/navarathri_5_2.html

Today, here is the Durga Chalisa:

Namo Namo Durge Sukh karani, Namo Namo Ambe Dukh harani.

Nirakar hai jyoti tumhari, Tihun lok pheli ujayari.

Shashi lalat mukh mahavishala, Netra lal bhrikutee vikarala.

Roop Matu ko adhika suhave, Daras karat jan ati sukh pave.

Tum sansar shakti laya kina,

Palan hetu anna dhan dina.

Annapurna hui jag pala,

Tumhi adi sundari Bala.

Pralaya kala sab nashan hari,

Tum gauri Shiv-Shankar pyari.

Shiv yogi tumhre guna gaven,

Brahma Vishnu tumhen nit dhyaven.

Roop Saraswati ka tum dhara,

De subuddhi rishi muni naubara.

Dhara roop Narsimha ko amba,

Pragat bhayin phar ke khamba.

Raksha kar Prahlaad bachayo,

Hiranyash ko swarga pathayo.

Lakshmi roop dharo jag mahin,

Shree Narayan anga samihahin.

Ksheer sindhu men karat vilasa,

Daya Sindhu, deeje man asa.

Hingalaja men tumhin Bhavani,

Mahima amit na jat bakhani.

Matangi Dhoomavati Mata,

Bhuvneshwari bagala sukhdata.

Shree Bhairav taara jag tarani,

Chhinna Bhala bhav dukha nivarani.

Kehari Vahan soh Bhavani,

Langur Veer Chalat agavani.

Kar men khappar khadag viraje,

Jako dekh kal dar bhaje.

Sohe karma astra aur trishoola,

Jate uthat shatru hiya shoola.

Nagarkot men tumhi virajat,

Tihun lok men danka bajat.

Shumbhu Nishumbhu Danava tum mare,

Rakta-beeja shankhan samhare.

Mahishasur nripa ati abhimani,

Jehi agha bhar mahi akulani.

Roop karal Kalika dhara,

Sen Sahita tum tin samhara.

Pan girh Santan par jab jab,

Bhayi sahaya Matu tum tab tab.

Amarpuri aru basava loka,

Tava Mahima sab kahen asoka.

Jwala men hai jyoti tumhari,

Tumhen sada poojen nar nari.

Prem bhakti se Jo yash gave,

Dukh-daridra nikat nahin ave.

Dhyave tumhen jo nar man laee,

Janam-maran te sau chuti jaee.

Jogi sur-muni kehat pukari,

Yog na hui bin shakti tumhari.

Shankar Aacharaj tap keenhon,

Kam aur krodha jeet sab leenhon.

Nishidin dhyan dharo Shankar ko,

Kahu kal nahini sumiro tum ko.

Shakti roop ko maran na payo,

Shakti gayi tab man pachitayo.

Sharnagat hui keerti bakhani,

Jai jai jai Jagdamb Bhavani.

Bhayi prasanna Aadi Jagdamba,

Dayi shakti nahin keen vilamba.

Mokon Matu kashta ati ghero,

Tum bin kaun hare dukh mero.

Aasha trishna nipat sataven,

Ripu morak mohi ati darpaven.

Shatru nash keeje Maharani,

Sumiron ekachita tumhen Bhavani.

Karo kripa Hain Matu dayala,

Riddhi-Siddhi de karahu nihala.

Jab lagi jiyoon daya phal paoon,

Tumhro yash men sada sunaoon.

Durga Chalisa jo gave,

Sab sukh bhog parampad pave.

Deli das sharan nija jani,

Karoon kripa Jagdambe Bhavani.

DOHA

Gahat ant Bhagvant pad, Pavat divya sharir.

Lahat mitu ke pad kamal, Rahat na bhar bhai pir.

Basahu devi tum bani sada, Bhaktan ke tan kanti.

Lasahu bhakti, main milahin ur, Shanti, shanti, man shanti.

Here is today's Navdurga picture, which has been edited from a very small picture to this better bigger picture (23rd Sept.):

So on the next day of Navratri let us say Durge Mata Ki Jai! Brahmacharini Mata Ki Jai! Nav Durge Mata Ki Jai!

|| Om Durgaye Namah ||

Hope you all have a happy and joyous Navratri and we hope Maa Durga and Maa Vaishno Devi fulfills all your wishes this Navratri and that she keeps you and your family protected!