First Night of Navratri : Shailaputri

-: देवी मंत्र :-

!! असतो माँ सदगमय !!
!! तमसो माँ ज्योतिर्गमय !!
!!मृत्युर माँ अमृतम गमय !!

"From untruth, lead me to the Truth, From Darkness, Lead me towards the Light, From Death, Lead me to Life Eternal."

Goddess Durga‘s first form among Nava-Durga divine form is Shailaputri. Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila), she is the daughter of Himalaya. In previous birth she was the daughter of Daksha the son of Lord Brahma.. Her name was Sati - Bhavani. i.e. the wife of Lord Shiva. Once Daksha organized a big Yagna and did not invite his daughter and son-in-law. But Sati being restless, reached there.On going uninvited to the ceremony, she felt that everyone was giving her a cold shoulder except her mother who greeted her with a hug. Her siblings too were no exception and were sarcastic in their remarks. The guests too present in the function were uttering disrespectful comments about her husband. To her surprise her father too was harsh and rude in his approach. Sati could not tolerate the insult of her husband, and she was so dejected and heart broken that she burnt herself to ash in the holy fire. After burning herself to death, Sati was reborn as the daughter of the king of the mountains, Himalaya and became known as Shailaputri. She is worshiped in the first day of the Navratri celebrations.

In this mold the mother is seen holding a trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left and she is mounted on an ox.

One of the oldest known temple -- Tapeshwari Devi -- has the statue of Maa Shailputri. The Goddess Tapeshwari, supposedly originated due to the years of meditation done by Goddess Sita and thus the temple has its religious and mythological significance since time immemorial.

On the second day of Navratra, Goddess Bramhcharini will be worshipped.