नवीनतम
Magh Gupt Navratri starts from today
BHOPAL [Maha Media]: Today on 10 February, Navratri of Magh month is starting. This Navratri is referred to as ‘Gupt,’ which means secret or unheard because it is worshipped in secret, and even this Navratri is not widely known. Magha Gupta Navratri is also called 'Shishir Navratri' because it falls between the winter months of January and February. It is an important occurrence for Sadhaks, tantriks and any person desiring to resolve materialistic problems. This Navaratri is for sadhaks and those who perform powerful and unique tantrik rituals for Shatkarma. Sadhaks are meditators, while Tantriks perform rituals. They observe nine days of Shakti worship. The fifth day of this festival is often independently observed as Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami, the official start of spring in the Hindu tradition, wherein Maa Saraswati is worshipped. This festival which will last for nine days will see devotees worshipping 10 different forms of Goddess Durga and will last till 18th February.
In Gupt Navratri, the sadhana of the ten Mahavidyas or the 10 different forms of Durga Maa is done by special seekers. During these days, common people worship and fast in the name of Maa Durga. This Magh Navratri is observed during the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of Magh (January-February) month.
The worship of the Dasa Mahavidyas (great wisdom goddesses) is given importance in Gupt Navratri. According to the Tantra tradition, the Dasa Mahavidyas originate from the aggressive and subtle forms of Maa Mahakali. Unlike other Navratris, we worship the Dasa Mahavidyas during the Gupt Navratri instead of the Nava Durgas.
These are the ten Mahavidyas
Kali, Tara, Tripurasundari (Shodashi), Bhuvaneshwari, Chhinnamasta, Tripurabhairavi, Dhumavati, Baglamukhi, Matangi and Kamala. These Mahavidyas are divided into three groups. The first group consists of goddesses of mild nature – Tripurasundari (Shodashi), Bhuvaneshwari, Matangi, and Kamala.
The second group consists of goddesses who have a fierce nature and include - Kali, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, and Baglamukhi.
The third group consists of goddesses of mild-fierce nature and includes - Tara and Tripurabhairavi.
These Vidyas are worshiped in the order of Kaadi, Hadi, and Saadi. Kali, Tara and Dhumavati come in Kalikul. The remaining knowledge is considered to be of Srikul.
All knowledge has emerged from the same power. These ten Mahavidyas are also seen to be linked to the later stages of the origin of the universe.
According to astrologers, if you want to do a special sadhana during Gupt Navratri, then you should consult an expert Brahmin because the rules of sadhana done during Gupt Navratri are very strict, and if any mistake is made then the sadhana can have an adverse effect. On the other hand, devotees doing normal worship of Maa Durga can visit any temple of the Mother Goddess during the nine days of Navratri. People should also donate things related to the education of small girls, like clothes, shoes, slippers, books, or money. This will double your blessings.
How to do simple worship of Durga Maa?
During these 9 days of festivities, devotees should get up early in the morning and after having a bath first of all they should worship Lord Ganesha in their home temple. They should also bathe Lord Ganesha. Then they should offer him garlands, flowers, and other worship materials and finally, they should offer him food. Finally, they should perform aarti by lighting incense sticks. After completing Ganesh puja devotees should start with the Devi puja. They should invoke Goddess Durga in the idol of the Goddess, which means calling out Mother Goddess.
One should give a seat to Goddess Durga and bathe her. Bathing should be done first with water, then with Panchamrit, and then with water. Offer red chunari to Durga Maa and then one can offer jewellery, flowers garlands, perfume, and apply tilak with kumkuma and finally offer her red flowers. Devotees should also offer her rice, coconut, light incense, and lamps and do Parikrama after Aarti. While worshipping one should chant the mantra 'Dun Durgaayi Namah' while worshiping Goddess Durga. During the worship, devotees ask for her forgiveness for the mistakes made during puja.
After the puja, offer prasad to those present and consume some of it yourself. One should provide food to little girls and also make donations for their education.
Story of the origin of the Das Mahavidyas
Sati, the consort of Shiva was the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, a descendant of Brahma. Sati had married Shiva against the wishes of her father. The vain Daksha performed a great Yajna or Yagya (also Yagna) means “sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering” (with the sole aim of insulting Shiva), to which he invited all the gods and goddesses except his son-in-law, Lord Shiva. Sati learned about her father’s yajna from Narad Muni. She asked Shiva’s permission to attend the yajna, saying that a daughter did not need an invitation from her father. Shiva said that Daksha was trying to insult him, and so even if Sati attended the yajna, the fruit of the sacrifice would not be auspicious. Therefore, he requested Sati not to attend the yajna.
This infuriated Sati – She thought that Shiva was treating her like an ignorant lady and not as the mother of the Universe. So, to show Shiva who she was, she assumed a different form – the one of the Divine Mother. The oceans raged, the mountains shook, and the atmosphere was filled with the wonder of her form. Shiva began to shake and tried to flee. But whichever direction he tried to flee; he was stopped by the divine Mother. The Divine Mother had multiplied herself into ten different forms, guarding each of the ten directions, and try as Shiva might, he could not escape from her, as she had blocked every escape route. These ten forms of Divine Mother are known as the Das Mahavidyas. Each form has its name, story, quality, and mantras.
Ghatasthapana Muhurat of Magh Gupta Navratri
Magh Gupta Navratri Pratipada Date - Saturday morning 10 February 2024 at 04:28
AM to Sunday night 11 February at 12:47 AM.
Ghatasthapana auspicious time - 10 February 2024, Saturday morning from 08:45
am to 10:10 am (total duration 1 hour 25 minutes)
