Shailputri is the pure form of Goddess Parvati and the first Devi to be worshipped during Navaratri. In every woman lives a goddess, Navdurga. We at MahaSanskriti are taking this opportunity to remember them and pay salute to them on the occasion of Navratri. From a yogi’s perspective, the first day of Navratri is essential for spiritual development. The search for the soul, the search for oneself within oneself, as Shailaputri did. Saguna, I met her in her small village (Lamani Tanda) in the Parbhani district of Maharashtra. She was so pure and humble. She was one of the best singers in her tanda. She also sang various beautiful Lamani songs. Today, on the first day of Navratri, I remember her and her insights. “She says that every day is new for me because my songs bring me closer to myself.” Just like how praying to Shailaputri brings us closer to our consciousness, Saguna does that with her songs.

Known by the name of Bayo by the entire village, she belongs to a tribal community. The jungle is her home. She is brave, confident, knowledgeable, happy and a lovely person. She fights for tribal women’s rights and has associated herself with several local organisations. She doesn’t only for tribal women but she sometimes needs to fight wild animals, since the jungle is her home. She is deterministic just like Bramhacharini who is doing intense tapas to achieve her goal. On the second day of Navratri, Mother Divine takes the form of Brahmacharini. This is a quiet, beautiful, and yet powerful form of Durga Devi, where She undertakes severe penance to attain Lord Shiva as her consort. Both Bayo and Brahmacharini teach us to be resilient and determined to face any obstacle in this world.

Vanita is from Akkalkota, Solapur and has a business selling Chakali in Maharashtra. She was abused by her in-laws after her marriage. In order to improve her life, she showed courage and started a small business despite physical and health problems. Overcoming all odds and determined, she started her business with Solapuri Chatani. Now, she owns a small business selling Chakali. On the third day of Navaratri, we worship Chandraghanta who is riding on a lion, always ready for war and adorned with a half moon. This is a form of Devi who shows valour, grit and determination. While she shows strength, she is also calm and serene. The spirit of Vanita and Chandraghanta is the same and they teach us to be valorous in our pursuit of goals while remaining calm and serene.

Meet Laxmi from Chandrapur. She runs a small bamboo business following her tribe community’s legacy. She carries on her tribe’s legacy and has also improved the business. Her creativity in the business and in her products is very much visible to anyone. Kushmanda is worshipped on the 4th day of Navaratri. After taking form of Siddhidatri, Goddess Parvati started living inside the center of the Sun so that He can liberate energy to the universe. Since then Goddess is known as Kushmanda. It is believed that Goddess Kushmanda provides direction and energy to the Sun. Hence God Sun is governed by Goddess Kushmanda. Like Kushmanda, Laxmi is graceful provides the right direction and positive energy to her tribe.

Motherhood has always had a special place in this culture. The relationship between a mother and her child is sacred and this is shown by the worship of Goddess Skandamata. The fifth of Navaratri is for Skandamata who is worshipped as the mother of Skanda. Devi is not just the mother of Skanda. This whole universe is her child and she nurtures everyone in this universe from stars to ants. Goddess Skandamata mounts the ferocious lion. She carries baby Skanda in her lap. Lord Skanda is also known as Murugan or Kartikeya and brother of Lord Ganesha. Goddess Skandamata is depicted with four hands. She carries lotus flowers in her upper two hands. She holds baby Murugan in one of her right hands and keeps the other right hand in Abhaya Mudra. She sits on a lotus flower and because of that Skandamata is also known as Goddess Padmasana.

Ujjwala is a primary school teacher from Gadchiroli which comes under Nakshal area. She got her education with much struggle and her father was killed by Nakshals when she was a kid. After studying hard and with enthusiasm, she started working in a primary school in the Gadchiroli area for underprivileged kids. But, children couldn’t come due to the language barrier and the kids in the area spoke the Gondmadia language. Ujjwala didn’t give up. She, along with her subordinate translated the entire school syllabus into the Gondmadia language for easy access to the students. Her work is inspiring and she is completely dedicated to education and she believes that every kid should be educated. Read More

She is probably the most beautiful soul I have evert met during my travels. She sang an old Ovi which she prayed for health, well-being, and happiness for everyone in the world. Kalaratri is worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri. She is the most violent form of Durga yet, the most kind. She may look terrifying but she bestows happiness, knowledge to her devotees and destroys ignorance within. Both aaji and Kalaratri wish for well-being and happiness for everyone in the world, in their own ways.

While I was strolling around the area, I met this Grandmother. She kept looking at me and said something in an older form of Marathi with some rarely used Marathi words ‘ तुझं रूप किती सुंदर आहे गं ‘. It translated to “How beautiful you are”. I was taken aback by the use of such a pure form of language in the sweetest way. Mahagauri is the eighth form among the Navadurga aspects of the Hindu mother goddess Mahadevi. She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri. The one who worships the goddess gets relief from all the suffering in life. Mahagauri has four arms. Her right arm is in the pose of allaying fear and her right lower hand holds a trident in it. She holds a tambourine in her left upper arm and the lower one is in the form of a blessing. Mahagauri represents the purest aspect of the Goddess which represents enlightenment. Mahagauri is always calm, pure, serene and beautiful. The grandmother I met is similar to Mahagauri. Her innocence, her smile and her soul are beautiful and she sees the entire world in a beautiful way.

I met her somewhere near Nagpur during my travels and I was surprised. Why? Because she was from a Bengali community that rarely reside in the parts of Nagpur. She showed me all the foods and rituals behind creating the ‘Bhog’ for gods and goddesses. She was enthusiastic and really excited to show me all the food that she prepared. She was kind and offered me the food as well. Siddidatri is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri. She signifies the completion of the spiritual journey by awarding her devotees with siddhis. She is ever blissful, and kind and blesses people with wisdom. Just like Siddidatri, she was giving in nature and I could see the wisdom in her eyes.