WHO IS BRAHMACHARINI DEVI OR BRAHMACHARINI MAA
The festival of Navaratri (nine nights) is a significant festival for Hindus, dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Parvati or Maa Durga and celebrated by devotees with enthusiasm and fervour. The 2nd day of Navtrati(second day of navratri ) is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini or Brahmacharini Maa, the second form of Divine Maa Parvati. Brahma means penance and 'Charini' means whose achar (behavior) is that. So Maa Durga's manifestation as the one who does penance or 'tapasya' translates as Brahmacharini Maa. Brahmacharini Mata is also known as Devi Yogni and Devi Tapsvini.
The beautiful Brahmacharini Devi or Maa Brahmacharini's image portrays Her holding a Kamandal or water pot in Her left hand and Japa Mala (Rosary) in right. Maa Brahmacharini wears White Saree with bright-Orange border and Rudraksh as ornament with a serene, calm and graceful appearance. Mata Brahmacharini personifies love and loyalty. Brahmacharini Maa is an epitome of knowledge, wisdom, single minded dedication and said to be the mightiest of the Nava Durgas.
Maa Brahmacharini is the Goddess of
Swadhisthana Chakra
(Sacral Chakra).
Brahmacharini Maa rules the planet Mars or Mangal.
Goddess Brahmacharini Navratri Pujan 2024
Chaitra Navratri -
10th April 2024, Wednesday Dwitiya
Shardiya Navratri -
4th October 2024, Friday
Colour
- Orange
Mantra
- Om Braam Breem Broom Brahmcharinyai Namah
STORY OF MAA BRAHMACHARINI
Legend says that Goddess Parvati's previous incarnation was Devi Shakti, who had self-emulated Herself because Her husband, Lord Shiva, was disrespected and disregarded by Her father Prajapati Dakshya. So, the maiden Goddess Parvati knew that She wanted to get Lord Shiva as Her husband. Lord Shiva was in intense meditation for years during that time. It is said Naradji advised Goddess Parvati, and she followed a path of severe austerity and performed extreme 'tapa' or penance. She spent one thousand years, surviving on fruits and beetroots and then the next one hundred years by eating leafy vegetables only.
Meanwhile, the demi-Gods approached Kamadeva, who is the God of love, desire, erotic love, affection, lust and attraction. The Demi-Gods urged Kamdeva to invoke a desire in Lord Shiva to accept Parvati as a demon named Tarkasura was creating havoc in the celestial world and could be killed only by Lord Shiva’s son. And since Lord Shiva was in deep meditation, therefore it was urgent to make Lord Shiva desire Parvati.
Convinced, Kamadeva shot an arrow of love at Lord Shiva. It is believed that when Lord Shiva is disturbed in His meditation, then He takes His Rudra rupa, which is His angry, fierce form. When Kamdeva's arrow hit Lord Shiva, He opened His eyes and burned Kamdeva to ash.
On the other side, Parvati suffered the torment of nature and severe conditions like torrential rains, scorching sun and biting cold, while She lived under the open sky. It is also believed that Maa Parvati continued Her penance, austerity and asceticism for thousands of years and ate only Bilva leaves to survive. Post this, she gave up eating bilva leaves too. Brahmacharini Mata was called Aparna because of this. For several thousand years, she went on without any food or water. The only single-minded focus of Brahmacharini Maa was Lord Shiva, and Brahmacharini Devi kept Herself immersed in worshipping Lord Shiva .
Lord Shiva was aware of Maa Brahmacharini's Tapa. So once disguised as an ascetic, Lord Shiva met Brahmacharini Devi and dissuaded her from leading this dangerous path of Tapasya. But Goddess Brahmacharini was unshaken in Her resolution. Sticking Her vow, she continued Her tapasya. Lord Shiva seeing Her determination finally accepted Brahmacharini Maa as His wife, once again, Shiva and Shakti were together. . In this way, the Divine Mother devoted herself completely in the worship of Lord Shiva. This great Tapa(penance) glorified Her with the name 'Brahmacharini'. It is said - Veda, Tattva, and Tapa are synonyms for Brahma. The form of Brahmacharini Maa is tremendously effulgent, calm and extremely majestic.
Lord Shiva represents the soul or the self within, and Maa Durga/Parvati is the mind. This union indicates that after several penances and self-control, one trains oneself to achieve the self. Brahmacharini Devi helps us to understand this aspect with the way she conducted herself during Her penance with patience, focused intention and dedicated devotion to attain Her desire.
During the Navratri festival, many people keep fast throughout the day, breaking the fast in the evening post worship of the divine mother and have only one vegetarian meal, rather 'Satvik' food. Devi Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day of Navratri by devotees to be provided with the power to abstain from food and water and to develop mastery over the mind, body and senses. The Nava Durga Kavach lyrics say- Pratham Shailputri Dwitiya Brahmacharini, meaning that the first Devi form is Shailputri and the second Navratri day is of Devi Brahmacharini.
WHY BRAHMACHARINI MAA PUJA IS DONE?
By the grace of Maa Brahmacharini, you strive to move forward in life without getting disheartened by the numerous challenges coming your way. Goddess Brahmcharini blesses you with great emotional strength, and you may be able to keep your mental balance and confidence even in the darkest hour. Brahmacharini Devi inspires you to hold on to your ethics and march on the path of duty with sincerity and truthfulness. By the grace of Maa Brahmacharini, you strive to move forward in life without getting disheartened by the numerous challenges coming your way. Brahmacharini Maa personifies love and loyalty. Mata Bhramacharni is the storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is Brahmacharini Mata's most favoured adorned ornament.
Many devotees organize 'Mata Ki Chauki'to which near and dear ones are invited, and devotees stay awake in the night, singing devotional songs and praises in honour of Brahmacharini Maa.
BRAHMACHARINI PUJA VIDHI AT HOME
Goddess Brahmacharini
After taking a bath in the morning, the ritual of establishing the Kalasha or Kalashsthapana is done at a suitable auspicious muhurat.
Navratri Kalashsthapana/ Ghatasthapana - The 2nd Navratri 2024 begins with the worship of Navratri day 2 Goddess Maa Brahmacharini, which is performed by using sacred puja ritual. The devotee uses a shallow pan-like utensil made of clay. Three layers of mud and Sapta Dhanya/Navadhanya (grains) seeds, including barley seeds are sown into the clay in the pan. Next, a little water is sprinkled so that the seeds get enough moisture.
A Kalasha (holy water pot or Urn) filled with Ganga jal , Supari(Betel Nut), a few coins, Akshat (raw rice mixed with turmeric powder) and Durva grass is placed in the base. A Swastik symbol is made with Red Kumkum on the outside of the pot. Then the five Mango tree leaves are put around the neck of the Kalash, which is then covered by a coconut, which is wrapped in a red cloth, and tied with sacred red thread. The pot is then kept in the middle of the pan in which the seeds are shown, and a ghee lamp, known as Akhand Jyoti, continues to burn for the nine days. This installation is kept for all 9 days of Navarati and worshipped, and it signifies prosperity, growth, abundance and auspiciousness.
With the installation of the Kalash, the devotees vow and take Sankalp to carry out the 9 days of fasting during the 9 days of Navaratri and pray for Mata Brahmacharini's blessings to be able to conduct the fast strictly and successfully.
Offerings of White flowers, Lotus, Pista Barfi in sweets, adornments of Red Chunri, Bangles, Kumkum, Ghee lamp, incense, camphor etc. and Naivedyam are made to Devi Brahmacharini. Post the offering of Naivedyam, Paan/Betel leaf and Betel Nut is offered as per rituals. Along with chanting of Maa Brahmacharini Mantras, Aarti, Durga Saptasati path(reciting), the atmosphere of the house becomes replete with Brahmacharini Maa's loving energies.
2nd day of the Navratri Mantra of Divine Maa Brahmacharini are as below.
MAA BRAHMACHARINI BEEJ MANTRA
|| Om Braam Breem Broom Brahmcharinyai Namah ||
BRAHMACHARINI MAA MANTRA/ BRAHMACHARINI MATA MANTRA:
Dadhana Karpadma Abhyamaksh Mala Kamandalu | Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmacharinya Nuttama ||
BENEFITS OF MAA BRAHMACHARINI PUJA OR WORSHIP
Worshipping Goddess Brahmacharini or Maa Brahmacharini on the 2nd day of Navratri brings significant blessings of the loving Divine Mother. Invoking Brahmacharini Devi through Maa Brahmacharini Mantras and praying to Her with pure devotion is sure to bring rich benefits.
Goddess Brahmacharini
- Brahmacharini Maa provides the strength, determination and courage to move ahead in life despite the worst of challenges and situations.
- Maa Brahmacharini brings calmness of mind, solitude and self-confidence.
- Brahmacharini Devi ensures that devotees stay resolute and persevere in their duties irrelevant of the obstacles.
- Brahmacharini Mata imparts knowledge and wisdom to Her devotees.
- Devi Brahmacharini puja ensures victory for the devotee under all circumstances.
- For bringing love, peace and harmony in the family, Brahmacharini Mata puja is very effective.
- Goddess Brahmacharini worship helps the devotee to stay balanced mentally in all situations and increases the virtue of patience in the devotee.
- Maa Brahmacharini puja ensures that all obstacles are removed, and the devotee is successful in their endeavours.
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