Chaitra Navratri 2023 Day 1: Worship Goddess Shailputri; Know Puja Vidhi, Mantra and Aarti

Chaitra Navratri’s first day of the Navratri celebration is dedicated to worshipping Goddess Shailputri, the first incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga. Shail refers to mountains, and Putri, which means daughter, makes up the name Shailputri. She is also referred to as Sati, Parvati, and Hemavati. Hindu legend holds that Shailputri is the reincarnation of Sati, the daughter of King Daksha and the wife of Lord Shiva. Due to her father’s humiliation, Sati set herself on fire. In her next birth, she was born as Parvati and later became Shailputri.
 
The image of Goddess Shailputri riding a bull symbolises the strength of Dharma, or righteousness. She is holding a trishul, a lotus flower, a damaru, and a rosary or mala. She wears a red saree and adorns her hands with bracelets and bangles. These symbols represent: bravery and spiritual awakening; purity and enlightenment; the rhythmic cycle of life and death; focus and meditation; and power as well as desire. As per astrology, the moon is ruled by the goddess Shailputri. All the negative effects of the moon can be reversed by worshipping her.