The second day of Navratri is dedicated to the worship of Maa Brahmacharini, one of the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga, revered for her penance and devotion. As devotees celebrate Navratri, they seek blessings from this serene yet powerful goddess, who represents perseverance, spiritual strength, and dispassion.
Who Is Maa Brahmacharini
Maa Brahmacharini is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, embodying her phase of rigorous penance to attain Lord Shiva as her husband. In Hindu mythology, it is said that after the Goddess Kushmanda form, Parvati was born as the daughter of Daksha Prajapati. Her unmarried form, known as Brahmacharini, symbolizes a young woman in the pursuit of self-discipline, spirituality, and devotion. She performed severe austerities over thousands of years to fulfill her desire to unite with Lord Shiva, earning her the name “Brahmacharini,” meaning one who practices penance.
The story of Maa Brahmacharini’s penance is awe-inspiring. Legend tells us that she undertook intense austerities to win Lord Shiva’s heart. For over a thousand years, she survived only on fruits and flowers, and for another hundred years, she lived solely on leafy vegetables, sleeping on the bare ground. Her devotion deepened as she continued her penance for another 3,000 years, subsisting only on Bilva leaves, a sacred plant associated with Lord Shiva. Eventually, she gave up even Bilva leaves and abstained from all food and water, earning her the name “Aparna.” She won Lord Shiva’s approval through her immense penance and sacrifice and married him in her next incarnation.
Maa Brahmacharini is depicted as walking barefoot, embodying simplicity and austerity. She holds a jap mala (rosary) in her right hand and a kamandal (water pot) in her left, symbolizing her meditative and ascetic life. Her calm demeanor and dedication to spirituality make her a guiding force for those seeking strength and wisdom in times of hardship.
Her association with the planet Mangal (Mars), the planet of energy and ambition, signifies that worshippers can seek her blessings to overcome challenges and attain prosperity, endurance, and emotional balance.
Rituals and Worship on the Second Day of Navratri
Worshipping Maa Brahmacharini on the second day of Navratri bestows knowledge, peace, and an abundance of spiritual energy upon devotees. Here’s how devotees perform the rituals:
1. Morning Rituals: Start the day by bathing early and wearing clean clothes.
2. Setting Up the Altar: Place the idol or image of Maa Brahmacharini on a clean, decorated platform, often adorned with her favourite flower, jasmine.
3. Offerings: Offer fruits, flowers, sweets, Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, honey, ghee, curd, and sugar), and Bilva leaves to the goddess.
4. Mantras and Prayers: Chant the following mantra while offering flowers and praying to the goddess.
Maa Brahmacharini Mantra
ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः॥ (Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah)
5. Aarti and Hymns: Recite the traditional Aarti and hymns to seek the divine blessings of Maa Brahmacharini.
Benefits of Worshipping Maa Brahmacharini
Maa Brahmacharini is worshipped for her dedication and unwavering focus on spirituality. She blesses her devotees with the power to persevere in the face of adversity. Devotees believe that by worshipping her, they gain inner strength, knowledge, and the ability to remain balanced amidst life’s challenges.
On the second day of Navratri, as devotees offer their prayers to Maa Brahmacharini, they are reminded of the virtues of endurance, peace, and spiritual strength. The goddess represents the power of self-discipline, and by honoring her, devotees seek her blessings to lead a life filled with wisdom, balance, and divine grace.
Maa Brahmacharini Mantra
ॐ देवी ब्रह्मचारिण्यै नमः॥
Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah॥
Maa Brahmacharini Prarthana
दधाना कर पद्माभ्यामक्षमाला कमण्डलू।
देवी प्रसीदतु मयि ब्रह्मचारिण्यनुत्तमा॥
Dadhana Kara Padmabhyamakshamala Kamandalu।
Devi Prasidatu Mayi Brahmacharinyanuttama॥
Maa Brahmacharini Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ ब्रह्मचारिणी रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Brahmacharini Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
Maa Brahmacharini Dhyana
वन्दे वाञ्छितलाभाय चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
जपमाला कमण्डलु धरा ब्रह्मचारिणी शुभाम्॥
गौरवर्णा स्वाधिष्ठानस्थिता द्वितीय दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
धवल परिधाना ब्रह्मरूपा पुष्पालङ्कार भूषिताम्॥
परम वन्दना पल्लवाधरां कान्त कपोला पीन।
पयोधराम् कमनीया लावणयं स्मेरमुखी निम्ननाभि नितम्बनीम्॥
Vande Vanchhitalabhaya Chandrardhakritashekharam।
Japamala Kamandalu Dhara Brahmacharini Shubham॥
Gauravarna Swadhishthanasthita Dwitiya Durga Trinetram।
Dhawala Paridhana Brahmarupa Pushpalankara Bhushitam॥
Parama Vandana Pallavaradharam Kanta Kapola Pina।
Payodharam Kamaniya Lavanayam Smeramukhi Nimnanabhi Nitambanim॥
Maa Brahmacharini Stotra
तपश्चारिणी त्वंहि तापत्रय निवारणीम्।
ब्रह्मरूपधरा ब्रह्मचारिणी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
शङ्करप्रिया त्वंहि भुक्ति-मुक्ति दायिनी।
शान्तिदा ज्ञानदा ब्रह्मचारिणी प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
Tapashcharini Tvamhi Tapatraya Nivaranim।
Brahmarupadhara Brahmacharini Pranamamyaham॥
Shankarapriya Tvamhi Bhukti-Mukti Dayini।
Shantida Jnanada Brahmacharini Pranamamyaham॥
Maa Brahmacharini Kavacha
त्रिपुरा में हृदयम् पातु ललाटे पातु शङ्करभामिनी।
अर्पण सदापातु नेत्रो, अर्धरी च कपोलो॥
पञ्चदशी कण्ठे पातु मध्यदेशे पातु महेश्वरी॥
षोडशी सदापातु नाभो गृहो च पादयो।
अङ्ग प्रत्यङ्ग सतत पातु ब्रह्मचारिणी।
Tripura Mein Hridayam Patu Lalate Patu Shankarabhamini।
Arpana Sadapatu Netro, Ardhari Cha Kapolo॥
Panchadashi Kanthe Patu Madhyadeshe Patu Maheshwari॥
Shodashi Sadapatu Nabho Griho Cha Padayo।
Anga Pratyanga Satata Patu Brahmacharini।
Maa Brahmacharini Aarti
जय अम्बे ब्रह्मचारिणी माता। जय चतुरानन प्रिय सुख दाता॥
ब्रह्मा जी के मन भाती हो। ज्ञान सभी को सिखलाती हो॥
ब्रह्म मन्त्र है जाप तुम्हारा। जिसको जपे सरल संसारा॥
जय गायत्री वेद की माता। जो जन जिस दिन तुम्हें ध्याता॥
कमी कोई रहने ना पाये। कोई भी दुःख सहने न पाये॥
उसकी विरति रहे ठिकाने। जो तेरी महिमा को जाने॥
रद्रक्षा की माला ले कर। जपे जो मन्त्र श्रद्धा दे कर॥
आलस छोड़ करे गुणगाना। माँ तुम उसको सुख पहुँचाना॥
ब्रह्मचारिणी तेरो नाम। पूर्ण करो सब मेरे काम॥
भक्त तेरे चरणों का पुजारी। रखना लाज मेरी महतारी॥