Nava Durga - Shailaputri

Shailaputri

The first day of Navaratri puja is dedicated to Mother Shailaputri. The word ‘Shaila’ means Mountains  and ‘Putri’ means daughter. The name shailaputri means ‘Daughter of the Mountain’ .Parvathi /Hemvathi is the daughter of Himavan / Himavanth /Himalaya, The king of mountains who gets married to Lord Shiva.

Parvati is the daughter of Himavan and Mynavathi.

The word parvat means  ‘ mountains’ and parvati means ‘she of the mountains’ as she is born as daughter of Himavan and the personification  of  lord of mountains. The other names which associate  her with  mountais are Shailaja (Daughter of  the mountains) and Girirajaputri (Daughter of  King of the mountains) . Parvathi Propitiated Lord shiva and by her severe penance she begot him as her husband.

Mother Parvathi in her previous birth was Mother Sati Bhavani, daughter of  Prajapathi  Daksha. Mother Sati got married to Shiva despite many trials and tribulations. Daksha was against Shiva  so he did not leave any opportunity to insult the Lord. Lord shiva like a father forgave each mistake of Daksha  .

After Sati marriage to Shiva , Daksha organised a Yagjna for which he invited all Gods and Godess excluding Shiva. Sati wanted to attend the yagjna inspite of Shiva counsel . Sati goes to the yagjna  and she immolates herself after seeing how Daksha and her sisters illtreated her and Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva then sents his army of  ganas with veerabadran  as chieftain. He slews the head of Daksha and the entire yagjna is spoilt. On request of the Gods and Godess ,Lord shiva gives life to daksh but he gets a goat head as reminder of his ignorance.

As per Hindu Iconography, Mother Shailaputri  adorns a half moon in her forehead. Mother  Shailaputri  is mounted upon  a bull, she hold a Trishul (Trident – a weapon) in right hand  and a lotus in her left hand. Her face is serene and  a look at her face fills the devotees with joyfull bliss.

The first and the most prominent among Nava Durgas, Shailaputri is of immense importance and her glories are endless. On the first day of Navratra worship it is she who is worshiped. She is the Devi of the root chakra, who, upon awakening, begins Her journey upwards. Sitting on Nandi, and making her first journey from the Muladarachakra. As from her father to her husband – the awakening Shakti, beginning Her search for Lord Shiva or making a move towards her Shiva. So that, In navrati pooja the first day Yogi’s keep their mind concentrated on Muladhara. This is the starting point of their spiritual discipline. They started their Yogasadha from here. Shaila Putri is the Mooladhara Shakti to be realized within Self and sought for higher depths, in the yogic meditation.

Each one of the Navadurga is known by a particular name and the deity has a particular dhyana-mantra, a mantra for meditation, a free English version of which is mentioned below:

Shailaputri Stuti Mantra

वन्दे वांछितलाभाय चंद्रार्धक्रतशेखराम !
वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्री यशस्विनीम !!

Vande Vanchhitalabhay chandrardhakritshekharam !

Vrisharudham Shooldharam Shailputreem Yashasvineem !!

May the illustrious Shailputri Durga whom I salute and whose head is adorned by a halfmoon, who rides nandi, a bull and carries a spear fulfill the desires of my heart. She is known as 1st phase of Durga when she took birth as the daughter of Great Himalayas.

Explanation-

Shailputri is one of many names of goddess Parvati. She is called Shail-bala or Shail-putri because she was born as Himalaya's Daughter. Himalaya, being a mountain( parvat or Shail), she is called parvati or shail-putri. Navratre's first day is devoted to Shailputri mata. She rides on Vrash (Bull), she has Shool (Trident) in one of her hands, there is half-moon on her crown, she is benefitial for whatever one wishes.