Who is Goddess Shailputri
Goddess Shailputri is a profound embodiment of divine femininity, revered as the first manifestation of Navadurga, the nine forms of Goddess Durga. She is celebrated under various names including Bhavani, Parvati, and Hemavati, each reflecting her multifaceted aspects and deep significance in Hindu mythology. As Parvati, she is the consort of Lord Shiva, highlighting her essential role in the divine partnership that influences the cosmos.
Born as the daughter of the Himalayas, Shailputri’s name itself is a testament to her origin – ‘Shaila’ meaning mountain and ‘putri’ meaning daughter, thus ‘Daughter of the Mountain.’ This birth story is not just a lineage marker but underscores her deep connection with the earth and nature, embodying its strength and grace. Her parents, King Himalaya and Menaka, through their devout austerities, earned the blessing of the Divine Mother’s descent as their daughter, further emphasizing the sanctity and divinity of her birth.
Devi Shailputri rides on a bull (Nandi) while holding a trident in her right hand and a lotus flower in her left, symbols rich in significance. Here is the symbolic significance of each:
- Nandi (bull): Nandi’s attention is always focused on Lord Shiva (God). Go to any Hindu Temple and you will see Nandi always looking directly at Lord Shiva. Similarly, Śailaputrī too has her focus turned toward God. In addition the bull is symbolic of determination, which is needed particularly at the start of our spiritual journey.
- Trident: The trident is representative of past, present, future, which are qualities of the mind. It is also symbolic of three gunas (natures) which provide multiplicity in manifestation: creation (sattva), maintenance (rajas), and destruction (tamas). Mother protects Her devotional children with the Trident.
- Lotus Flower: The Lotus Flower in her hand is half bloomed, meaning it is in the process of blooming, or newly awakened. It symbolizes the awakening of kundalini and represents peace and purity. The flower blooms in the muckiest of water and yet is spared from entanglement in it. Similarly, tapping into Śailaputrī Devī ‘s energy will bring purity and keep the devotee free from maya, selfishness, and worldliness, which helps to keep us focused on the spiritual path.
- Half/Quarter-moon: The moon signifies the infinity of Nature, the contentment of being in union with the Bindu, which is infinite consciousness.
Shailputri’s essence is the earth itself, grounding and nurturing. She inspires one-pointed devotion and concentration, guiding the devotee to focus on the “Oneness” of the divine, the ultimate source of all creation. As Hemavati, ‘The Golden One,’ and the consort of Bhava (Lord Shiva), she illuminates the path of spiritual ascent, embodying the protective strength of a fort (“Durg”) for her devotees. Her worship, especially during the Nav Durga Sadhana, is a journey towards the pinnacle of consciousness, securing her grace and protection, akin to an impregnable fortress.
In essence, Goddess Shailputri is a beacon of inspiration, symbolizing the integration of divine strength with earthly grace. Her worship transcends mere ritual, inviting devotees into a profound exploration of the self and the universe, towards the ultimate realization of divine oneness and spiritual enlightenment.
The iconography of Devi Shailaputri:
Devi Shailaputri’s Roop Dhyana (visualisation of Her beautiful form) is a powerful spiritual practice in itself.
Devi Shailputri is depicted as a luminous Goddess seated on the majestic bull, Nandi. Draped in a pristine white saree with a pinkish hue of Her love, She holds a fearsome trident in her right hand and a lotus in Her left. She is both the Shikshak, and the Rakshak Herself. A crescent moon adorns her luminous forehead and Her loving and reassuring smile makes her devotee’s hearts overflow with delight and reverence.
Devi Shailaputri – The rise of the dormant primordial energy, Kula Kundalini
Devi Shailaputri is born among the mountains, in proximity to life-giving rivers and the earth itself. She is an absolute manifestation of the Earth element, the densest physical form. Ruling over the root chakra or the muladhara, the first energy vortex among the seven main Yogic chakras, She represents the Bhumi Tattva. Her energy can only travel upwards from here, hence Devi Shailaputri’s worship is considered the start point of a Sadhak’s spiritual journey.
The aspiration of a devotee is to reach the highest realm of spiritual evolution, and to attain the state of Sat Chit Ananda (Truth, consciousness, bliss). Verily, Shailaputri is the dormant Primordial energy seated at the base of your spine to be awakened within the SELF.
The Birth of Devi Shailaputri
At the very beginning of time, Lord Brahma, in charge of all creation in the cosmos, created three groups of progeny to take His creation forward Prajapatis, Manus and Rishis
Among them, Lord Brahma made the Prajapatis responsible for the propagation of Uttam Vansh (superior lineages) in the Universe. One of the Prajapatis was Daksha Prajapati. Realising the immense importance of the work ahead of him, he set out to first invoke Shiva-Shakti, the primordial energies to assist his role in creation. Pleased with his penance, Divine Mother, the Adya Shakti, blessed Daksha with a boon to become Her father, while also carrying out his responsibilities of creating and propagating the finest lineages in creation.
However, She laid down a few conditions for Daksha. Daksha would have to unite Her with Lord Shiva in marriage. She would instantly leave if She or Mahadev were insulted at any point.
Overcome with gratitude at Adi Shakti’s immense karunya (compassion) for him, Daksha readily agreed to Her conditions.
The Birth of Shiva
With Jaganmata’s blessings, Daksha became the father of many sons and daughters, all of whom married illustrious Devis, Devatas and Rishis to create powerful progeny. Adya Shakti also fulfilled Her promise to Daksha by incarnating as his youngest daughter, Sati. As the daughter of Daksha, She also gained the name, ‘Dakshayani ’.
Sati grew up in Daksha’s palace as his beloved daughter, the apple of Daksha’s eye. As time passed by, the veil of Maya crept in slowly over Daksha. Forgetting the boon he had received from the great Mother Herself, Daksha began to view Sati as merely his daughter. He also developed pride and ego for his role in creation. Viewing Mahadev as only the great destroyer, Daksha, in his ignorance and hubris, began to treat Mahadev as his arch enemy. In time, he also forgot his promise to Shakti.
Sati unites with Shiva
As the time approached for Sati to choose a husband, Daksha arranged a grand Swayamvar (the event where the bride chooses her husband among many willing suitors) for his favourite daughter. He invited all the Gods, except the greatest of them all – Lord Shiva. Sati walked into the bedecked hall, wedding garland in hand, her face blushing with anticipation and longing. Her doe-like eyes roved all around, searching for Her beloved. Not finding him among the invitees, Sati cast one glance at Her father. Then, without saying a word to him, She closed Her eyes. Uttering the sacred name of Shiva, Sati simply threw the garland in the air. At that moment, Mahadev manifested there in the hall, in front of everyone, accepting the wedding garland around his neck.
Daksha was now in a fix. As Sati’s father, he could not accept Shiva as his son-in-law. Yet, he was a Prajapati. His daughter had just garlanded the mere Bhasma Dhari , Shiva, in an assembly full of his guests and followers. He could not refute that. With great reluctance, he performed the marriage ceremony of Shiva and Sati, who then proceeded to live in Kailasha
Shakti leaves Shiva
One day, Sati, in Kailasha happened to see a great procession going toward Daksha’s palace. Curious and excited at once, Sati insisted that they attend the grand yagya organized by Her father. However, Mahadev, the Trikaal Darshi and Trilok Gyani, desisted from going to the Yagya, since they would be uninvited guests. He also knew that the absence of an invite was no oversight by Daksha. Yet, it pained him to see that Sati’s exuberance and untainted love for Her father would not be reciprocated. At Sati’s relentless insistence, He finally allowed Her to go alone.
With a heart laden with both excitement (at the thought of seeing her beloved parents and all her siblings) and foreboding (after all, the ever-auspicious Shiva was not with Her), Sati left for her father’s palace. As She arrived at the grand yagyashala, no words of welcome greeted her, no pair of eyes met hers in warmth. Among the scores of Devas, Rishis and Prajapatis seated in the grand hall, Sati’s eyes scanned the hall for a seat reserved for Mahadev, the greatest of them all.
Not finding one, it finally dawned upon Sati that Her father had indeed fully intended to insult Her beloved Shankara. Grief and anger at once overwhelmed Her. Grief at her father’s ignorance. Anger at his impudence to dare insult Parameshwara Himself.
Her eyes flashing with anger, her lips quivering in grief, Sati said to her father Daksha, “How your ego has blinded you, Daksha! You have dared insult Parameshwara, on whose mere thought the cosmos comes alive! I am ashamed to be called your daughter anymore! With this, I give up the body I gained from you!”
So saying, Sati ignited a Yogagni from her Chit Shakti, and surrendered Her life at that very moment. As the news of Sati’s immolation reached Lord Shiva, He set forth the fierce Veera Bhadra to destroy Daksha’s Yagya. Veerabhadra not only annihilated the Yagya, He also beheaded Daksha for his impudence.
The emergence of Dakshinamurti
After Sati immolated Herself, Daksha’s wife and children implored Bholenath for forgiveness. Even through His own crippling grief, the great Karunamoortii Shiva, the one with a heart like butter, forgave Daksha and restored him to life with a goat’s head.
Thereafter, Lord Shiva immersed Himself in deep meditation. With the Vama Bhaga (left side) of His form now gone, he became deeply entrenched in asceticism and meditation, coming to be known as Dakshinamurti(the form that only has the Dakshina Bhaga or right side of Him). Dakshinamurtii is the intensely detached, ascetic form of Lord Shiva. In many traditions, Dakshinamurthi is considered the swaroopam of Adi Guru, the first Guru.
The Birth of Devi Shailaputri
As Lord Shiva was thus immersed in austerities, a demon named Tarakasur had begun tormenting the Devas. Seeing that Shakti had left Shiva, Tarakasur asked for a boon from Lord Brahma to be slayed by the son of Lord Shiva. Now, the Devas were faced with a challenge. It was impossible to even get Lord Shiva to move a hair on his body, let alone agree to find a suitable consort!
And so, they turned to Adi Parashakti, the primordial Shakti that can infuse Chaitanya (movement) in every atom of the cosmos, including the immovable Shiva. Pleased by their devotion, and moved by their plight, Shakti once again agreed to manifest as the daughter of Himavan and Mena, the king and queen of the Himalayas.
The immense benefits of worshipping Devi Shailaputri:
All nine forms of Nav Durga are incredibly powerful, and are capable of bestowing immense blessings upon the worshipper. Since Devi Shailaputri’s form is so closely connected to the Earth element, Her worship activates and heightens the awareness and emotional fitness needed for ease of living in the world.
🌸 Devi Shailaputri instils in us the courage to know right from wrong, and then to speak up for ourselves as well.
🌸 Chanting Her mantras blesses the aspirant with extraordinary stability of mind and immense strength to face the challenges of life.
🌸 She bestows upon us the ability to make quick and appropriate decisions to move forward in life with childlike faith, innocence and simplicity.
🌸 She blesses us with the conviction to remain grounded and feel safe in our environment.
🌸 She heightens in us the awareness to choose the right actions needed for success in life.
Significance of Maa Shailputri
It is believed that the Moon (the provider of all fortunes) is governed by Goddess Shailputri. So, any bad effect of the Moon can be overcome by worshipping her. Shailaputri is the essence of earthly existence. Her abode is in the Muladhara Chakra. The divine energy is latent in every human being. The Tattva (element) is Earth, with the Guna (quality) of coherence, and with the Bheda (distinct) characteristics of Gharana(the smell).
Important facts about Maa Shailputri
- Meaning: Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountain (shaila)
- Worship Date:1st day of Navratri
- Planet:Moon
- Favorite Flower: Hibiscus
- Other Names:Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati
- Chakra :– Root Chakra
Śailaputrī Devī goes by many different names which describe her attributes. By worshiping Her, the spiritual aspirant attains these qualities:
- Parvati: is known as the daughter of the mountains (parvatī)- a rugged mountain woman. Because of Her residence in Mt. Kailas, She also goes by the name of Gauri, which means white, shining, and brilliant like the snow-caps of the mountains.
- Sati: This from of the Mother is purifying, and specifically brings clarity in a sometimes chaotic world. Purity and clarity provide a one-two punch to spark the seed of inspiration, and it is this inspiration that creates a yearning to be on the spiritual path.
- Bhavani is the giver of life and has power over nature. She sustains the cycles, routines, and natural order of the universe. In this sense, Śailaputrī Devī manifests as Mother Nature herself.
MANTRA
Shailputri Mata Mantra:
ॐ देवी शैलपुत्र्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Shailaputryai Namah॥
Prarthana (Prayer):
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥
Vande Vanchhitalabhaya Chandrardhakritashekharam।
Vrisharudham Shuladharam Shailaputrim Yashasvinim॥
Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ शैलपुत्री रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Shailaputri Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
Dhyana
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
वृषारूढां शूलधरां शैलपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम्॥
पूणेन्दु निभाम् गौरी मूलाधार स्थिताम् प्रथम दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
पटाम्बर परिधानां रत्नाकिरीटा नामालंकार भूषिता॥
प्रफुल्ल वन्दना पल्लवाधरां कान्त कपोलाम् तुगम् कुचाम्।
कमनीयां लावण्यां स्नेमुखी क्षीणमध्यां नितम्बनीम्॥
Vande Vanchhitalabhaya Chandrardhakritashekharam।
Vrisharudham Shuladharam Shailaputrim Yashasvinim॥
Punendu Nibham Gauri Muladhara Sthitam Prathama Durga Trinetram।
Patambara Paridhanam Ratnakirita Namalankara Bhushita॥
Praphulla Vandana Pallavadharam Kanta Kapolam Tugam Kucham।
Kamaniyam Lavanyam Snemukhi Kshinamadhyam Nitambanim॥
Stotra
प्रथम दुर्गा त्वंहि भवसागरः तारणीम्।
धन ऐश्वर्य दायिनी शैलपुत्री प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
त्रिलोजननी त्वंहि परमानन्द प्रदीयमान्।
सौभाग्यरोग्य दायिनी शैलपुत्री प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
चराचरेश्वरी त्वंहि महामोह विनाशिनीं।
मुक्ति भुक्ति दायिनीं शैलपुत्री प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Prathama Durga Tvamhi Bhavasagarah Taranim।
Dhana Aishwarya Dayini Shailaputri Pranamamyaham॥
Trilojanani Tvamhi Paramananda Pradiyaman।
Saubhagyarogya Dayini Shailaputri Pranamamyaham॥
Charachareshwari Tvamhi Mahamoha Vinashinim।
Mukti Bhukti Dayinim Shailaputri Pranamamyaham॥
Kavacha
ॐकारः में शिरः पातु मूलाधार निवासिनी।
हींकारः पातु ललाटे बीजरूपा महेश्वरी॥
श्रींकार पातु वदने लावण्या महेश्वरी।
हुंकार पातु हृदयम् तारिणी शक्ति स्वघृत।
फट्कार पातु सर्वाङ्गे सर्व सिद्धि फलप्रदा॥
Omkarah Mein Shirah Patu Muladhara Nivasini।
Himkarah Patu Lalate Bijarupa Maheshwari॥
Shrimkara Patu Vadane Lavanya Maheshwari।
Humkara Patu Hridayam Tarini Shakti Swaghrita।
Phatkara Patu Sarvange Sarva Siddhi Phalaprada॥
Aarti
शैलपुत्री माँ बैल असवार। करें देवता जय जय कार॥
शिव-शंकर की प्रिय भवानी। तेरी महिमा किसी ने न जानी॥
पार्वती तू उमा कहलावें। जो तुझे सुमिरे सो सुख पावें॥
रिद्धि सिद्धि प्रदान करे तू। दया करें धनवान करें तू॥
सोमवार को शिव संग प्यारी। आरती जिसने तेरी उतारी॥
उसकी सगरी आस पुजा दो। सगरे दुःख तकलीफ मिटा दो॥
घी का सुन्दर दीप जला के। गोला गरी का भोग लगा के॥
श्रद्धा भाव से मन्त्र जपायें। प्रेम सहित फिर शीश झुकायें॥
जय गिरराज किशोरी अम्बे। शिव मुख चन्द्र चकोरी अम्बे॥
मनोकामना पूर्ण कर दो। चमन सदा सुख सम्पत्ति भर दो॥