Maa Brahmacharini worshipped on second day of Navratri

The 9-day festival of Navrati is always a special time in India. This year, the celebration began on October 7, 2021 and will go on till Vijayadashami (Dussehra). The festival is devoted to Maa  Durga. During Navratri, devotees worship the different forms of goddess Durga collectively termed Navdurga in order to seek her blessings. Today is the second day of Navratri and hence on this day, devotees worship Maa Brahmacharini. The colour associated with this day is green, symbolising beginning and growth.

Who is Maa Brahmacharini?

‘Brahmacharini’ in its spiritual sense, means a wise, devoted woman who attains all the good qualities. Goddess Brahmacharini is the unmarried form of Goddess Parvati. Brahmacharini is an ascetic form of goddess Durga. Maa Brahmacharini is remembered as a wise woman, clad in her white saree, walking barefoot holding a rosary in her right hand and a kamandal in her left hand. It is also believed that she appeared in such a form to perform penance (tapasya) to win the attention of Lord Shiva.

Mars is considered to be governed by her, which controls good fortune, that is why she is worshipped on the second day of Navratri to seek her blessings for peace, virtue and prosperity. She is also worshipped to remove bad omens in future.

Shubh Muhurat for Maa Brahmacharini Puja

Abhijeet Muhurat: 11:58 AM to 12:51 AM
Vijay Muhurat: 2:43 PM to 3:39 PM
Godhuli Muhurat: 7:04 PM to 7:29 PM
Maa Brahmacharini Puja Vidhi

Devotees perform rituals with jasmine flowers to win the blessings as they were Maa Brahamacharini’s favourite flowers. Lamps are lit with desi ghee or sesame seed oil and placed near the Goddess' idol. The following mantra is then recited:

Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah॥
Dadhana Kara Padmabhyamakshamala Kamandalu।
Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Brahmacharini Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥

Finally, a prashad of panchamrit, fruits, coconut and dry fruits is put as bhog and later distributed among devotees.