Importance of Navratri in Gujarat, Navratri Story, Navratri Story in English, Importance of Navratri, Why is Navratri Celebrated?
The basic purpose of Navratri fast is restraint of the senses and accumulation of spiritual power. In fact, Navratri is a great festival of purification. Today there is pollution of thoughts all around in the atmosphere. In such a situation, the importance of Navratri increases even more.
The months of Ashwin and Chaitra, when winter and summer meet, are called Navratri. The various components of body, mind and nature are particularly blissful on those days. Specificity prevails in the environment. The body tries to overcome the suppressed diseases.
Navratri comes four times a year in Hinduism, but Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri have special significance. The beginning of the Hindu New Year is considered to be from Chaitra Navratri. At the same time, Shardiya Navratri also has a different significance. It is said that Shardiya Navratri marks the victory of Dharma over Adharma.
According to religious beliefs, during these nine days, Mother Durga comes to the earth and the earth is called her maternal uncle. In the joy of her arrival, these days are celebrated with pomp in the form of Durga Utsav all over the country. On the first day, the devotees establish the Kalash and observe a fast for these nine days.
According to the Hindu calendar, Shardiya Navratri begins every year in the autumn from the Pratipada of Ashwin Shukla Paksha and has a special significance. This year Shardiya Navratri is going to start from 7th October.
In Navratri, devotees worship different forms of the mother for nine days and fast is also observed to please the mother. It is believed that by worshiping Goddess Durga with devotion for nine days, she becomes pleased and removes all the sufferings of the devotees.
- 1st Day of Navratri Shailpurtri Story
- 2nd Day of Navratri Brahmacharini Story
- 3rd Day of Navratri Chandraghanta Story
- 4th Day of Navratri Kushamanda
- 5th Day of Navratri Skandamata
- Story of Mahishasura
- How the lion became the vehicle of Maa Durga
- Radha Birth Story Hindu Mythology
Navratri is the only festival celebrated twice a year – one at the beginning of summer in Chaitra and the other at the beginning of winter in the month of Ashwin. Solar energy affects us the most during the summer and winter seasons.
Because life’s useful work like ripening of crops, cloud condensation for rain water, relief from cold etc. is completed during this time. Hence this time is considered best for worshiping the holy powers.
Changes in nature also cause changes in our body, mind and body. Therefore, to maintain physical and mental balance, we worship Shakti by fasting. Once it is celebrated as the victory of truth and dharma, sometimes it is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Shri Ram.
These nights are sacred: The word Navratri refers to ‘Nava Ahoratra’, which means special nights. Many obstacles of nature are destroyed in these nights. If sound is given at night rather than during the day, it travels far. That is why siddhi and sadhna are done in these nights.
Scientific Basis : The scientific basis behind Navratri is that the period of rotation of the Sun by the Earth consists of four Sandhis of a year, of which the two main Navaratris of the year fall in the Gol Sandhis falling in the months of March and September. This is the time when germs are most likely to attack. Physical ailments often increase with the seasons. Hence the process of staying healthy and keeping the body pure and keeping the body and mind pure and completely healthy is called Navratra.
What is the name of Navadurga?
These 9 forms of mother are known as ‘Navdurga’. The nine forms that are worshiped during the nine days of Navratri include Shailputri, second Brahmacharini, third Chandraghanta, fourth Kushmanda, fifth Skandmata, sixth Katyayani, seventh Kalratri, eighth Mahagauri and ninth Siddhidatri.
Why is Navratri Celebrated? : Importance of Navratri
There are two stories about why Navratri, the festival of Shakti Puja, is celebrated and why Maa Durga is worshipped.
First Story of Navratri : According to a legend, there was a very powerful demon named Mahishasura. He wanted to be immortal and because of that desire he did severe penance for Brahma. Brahmaji was pleased with his penance and appeared to him and told him that he could ask for whatever boon he wanted. Mahishasura asked for the boon of being immortal.
Hearing such talk of Mahishasura, Brahma said, ‘Whoever takes birth in this world is sure to die. That’s why people ask for whatever they want except life and death. Hearing this Mahishasura said, “Okay Lord, grant me such a boon that I should neither die in the hands of any god or demon, nor at the hands of any human. If it is, it must be in the hands of a woman.
Hearing such things of Mahishasura, Brahma ji said well and left. After this Mahishasura became the king of the demons, he attacked the gods. The gods were terrified. Though they jointly faced Mahishasura in which Lord Shiva and Vishnu also supported them, but all had to face defeat at the hands of Mahishasura and Mahishasura ruled over Devaloka.
All the deities worshiped Adi Shakti along with Lord Vishnu to save him from Mahishasura. A divine light emanated from her body which took the form of Goddess Durga in the form of a very beautiful Apsara. Seeing Goddess Durga, Mahishasura was fascinated by her and proposed to marry her. He tries to do the same thing over and over again.
Goddess Durga agreed but on one condition..She said that Mahishasura would have to win the war with them. Mahishasura agreed and then the fight started which lasted for 9 days. On the tenth day Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura… and since then this festival of Navratri is celebrated.
Shri Ram Pleased the Goddess :
Second Story of Navratri : According to a legend, in the Lanka war, Brahma asked Sri Rama to please the Goddess by worshiping Chandi Devi for the slaying of Ravana and arranged for the rare 108 Nilkamal for Chandi Puja and Havan as per the rituals. On the other hand Ravana also started the Chandi path to attain immortality. Indradev told this to Shri Ram through the wind.
Here Ravana elusively made a Neelkamal disappear from the worship material of the place of worship, so that the worship of Shri Ram would be interrupted. Shriram’s resolve was seen breaking. Everyone was afraid that Maa Durga might get angry. Then Shri Ram remembered that he is also called Kamal-Nayan Navkanj Lochan.. So why not take a look at the worship of the mother. As soon as Shri Ram wanted to remove his eyes from Tunir, then Maa Durga appeared and said that she is pleased with the worship and blesses Vijayashree.
At the time of worshiping Ravana, Hanuman ji assumed the form of a Brahmin child and upon reaching there received the verses of Jayadevi..Bhutiharini..in place of Harini from the worshiping brahmins. Harini means the one who removes the sorrows of the devotee and Karini means the one who gives sorrow. Due to this, Mother Durga got angry with Ravana and cursed Ravana. Ravana got annihilated.
Read More :
- Mahabharata Story of Krishna
- Anant Chaturdashi Fasting Story
- Shree Ram and Kabandh Rakshas Story
- First Story of Vikram Betal
Importance of Navratri, According to Devi Purana, four months in a year are fixed for Navratri. The first Navratri comes in the first month of the year i.e. Chaitra. The second Navratri falls in the fourth month of Ashadha. After this comes the third and major Navratri in the month of Ashwin.
Pleased with the devotion of Shri Ram, the mother blessed him to achieve victory in Lanka. After which Lord Rama defeated the king of Lanka Ravana in battle and killed him and conquered Lanka. Since then these nine days are celebrated as Navratri.
Importance of Navratri, There was a fierce battle between Maa Durga and Mahishasura for nine days and on the tenth day Maa Durga killed Mahishasura. This day is celebrated as the victory of evil over good. According to another legend, Lord Rama worshiped Bhagwati, the goddess of power, before invading Lanka and winning the war with Ravana.
According to religious texts, keeping a fast on these days pleases the mother and all her wishes are fulfilled. According to religious mythology, the gods and goddesses also kept a fast for 9 days of Navratri to get the blessings of the mother. Devraj Indra worshiped Mother Durga and kept a fast of Navratri to kill the demon Vritrasura.
How to worship Goddess?
1. First of all, clean the wooden post by washing it with Gangajal or clean water.
2. Now wipe it with a clean cloth and spread red colored cloth. Place he Kalash on the right side of the pillar.
3. Install the picture or idol of Maa Durga on the post.
4. Offer red colored chunri to Mata Rani.
5. Worship Maa Durga by lighting incense sticks etc.
6. Light an unbroken flame in front of Mata Rani for nine days.
7. Do tilak of Mother Goddess.
8. Offer bangles, clothes, vermilion, kumkum, flowers, turmeric, roli, suhan items to Maa Durga.
9. Offer perfume, fruits and sweets to Maa Durga.
10. Now recite Durga Saptashati, Sahasranama of Mother Goddess, etc.
11. Perform aarti of Maa Durga.
12. Now sprinkle water on the food sown on the altar.
13.Worship Maa Durga for nine days of Navratri. Keep sprinkling water in the barley pot.
